Portland Christian Schools: Elementary Course Description

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Course Description

Portland Christian provides a Biblical framework for the educational process. A Portland Christian education is one of partnership between parents and school; it is a partnership wherein students can receive the highest quality education within a caring and nurturing environment.

The Faculty
Portland Christian has approximately 70 full-time faculty and administrators, with 25 educators at our elementary campus. The teacher-student ratio is 20-1 in primary grades and 25-1 in the remaining grades. This teacher to student ratio, coupled with the dedication of Portland Christian teachers to their students, assures individual attention and an optimum learning environment.

Chapel: Students are involved in a weekly worship experience, during which time they pray, sing, recite Scripture, and are exposed to Biblical truths through a wide variety of speakers and programs.
Scripture Memorization: Emphasis is on Bible verses, making God's Word a working principle of life, chosen for appropriateness to a lesson objective and/or applicable to the needs and understanding of students at each grade level.
Monthly Character Trait: Emphasis is placed on applying Biblical principles to personal character development.

Elementary (Market St.) Campus hours are

Kindergarten 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
1st through 6th grades 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Contact Number: (503) 256-5455 ext. 303

KINDERGARTEN

Bible: Emphasis is on Bible stories from the Old and New Testaments, which teach children about God's character. Our goal is to help children apply Biblical truths to their everyday lives. Weekly Scripture memorization reinforces these truths.
Reading/Language Arts: Emphasis is on readiness, alphabet recognition, beginning sounds, learning to read phonetically, and comprehending what has been read. The student is involved in strengthening written and oral language, writing, speaking, and listening skills.
Mathematics: Emphasis is on recognition and writing numbers 0 - 100, organizing and reading data from charts and graphs, money values (pennies, nickels and dimes), telling time to the hour and half hour, and problem solving using beginning addition and subtraction skills.
Science: God's perfect creation is emphasized by studying matter, weather, our bodies, plant and animal life, and the cyclical nature of our environment.
Social Studies: Emphasis is on developing respect for others, working cooperatively, appreciation and respect of our country, and our Christian heritage and Christian holidays. Awareness of other cultures is achieved through mission outreach and support.
Physical Education: Emphasis is on large-muscle group development with the majority of activities individual in nature and centered on movement, exploration and theme development. Fitness is incorporated through the playing of games and participation in various activities.
Computers: Emphasis is on beginning keyboard and computer skills.
Music: Emphasis is on participating in group singing, rhythmic activities and musical games, and developing an appreciation and enjoyment of music.
Library: Emphasis is on book care, library procedures and cultivating a love of the written language.
Art: The Art of God: Emphasis is on discovering God's art in creation and replicating it while incorporating the basic elements of design: line value, texture, and color. Books and illustrators are incorporated into lessons.

FIRST GRADE

Bible: Emphasis is placed on relating Christian faith to everyday life experiences by memorizing Scripture and developing Christian character by examining lives of people in the Bible.
Reading: Emphasis is on development of reading skills, which include phonics, vocabulary, sight words, comprehension and study skills.
Language Arts: Emphasis is on the development of writing skills. The student will be involved in written and oral language along with speaking and listening skills.
Mathematics: Emphasis is on recognition and use of number values 0 - 100, measurement, time measurement concept, basic addition and subtraction facts, place value, and ordinal numbers.
Science: Emphasis is on how God has made us, our senses, and different types of animals, plants and characteristics of weather.
Social Studies: Emphasis is on developing an appreciation for our country, its people and historical places in America.
Physical Education: Emphasis is on large muscle group development with the majority of activities individual in nature and centered on movement exploration and theme development. Fitness is incorporated through the playing of games and participation in various activities.
Computers: Emphasis is on becoming familiar with the location of letters and numerals on the keyboard and being able to respond to questions generated from the computer.
Music: Emphasis is on participating in group singing, rhythmic activities, learning basic treble clef notes, note values, and developing an appreciation and enjoyment of music.
Library: Emphasis is on book care, library procedures and cultivating a love of the written language.
Art: Color My World: Beginning with the color wheel, art lessons will teach color theory - blending, contrasting, and utilizing color. Art words such as warm and cool colors, primary, secondary, complementary and analogous will be taught.

SECOND GRADE

Bible: Emphasis is placed on knowing God in a personal way through in-depth study, active involvement, life application, creative response, and memorization of Scripture.
Reading/Language Arts: Emphasis is on teaching children to read, write, think, listen and communicate independently by acquainting children with outstanding literary selections. Manuscript writing continues to be developed.
Mathematics: Emphasis is on continued development of addition and subtraction facts, place value, time and money, regrouping in addition and subtraction, basic geometry and fractions, measurements, and introduction to multiplication and division.
Science: Emphasis is on the areas of life science, physical science, earth science, and health and safety.
Social Studies: Emphasis is on America and its development from early settlements through today and into the future. Patriotism is stressed through the study of our flag, holidays, and songs. Map skills are also presented.
Physical Education: Emphasis is on large-muscle group development with the majority of activities individual in nature and centered on movement exploration and theme development. Fitness is incorporated through the playing of games and participation in various activities.
Computers: Emphasis is on familiarizing students with computers and exposing them to enrichment type programs.
Music: Emphasis is on learning and review of basic treble clef notes, note values, playing various rhythm instruments, rhythmic activities, singing as a group in the classroom, and performing in a major all-school production.
Library: Emphasis is on fiction, nonfiction, biographies, and the location of these books.
Art: Art Ingredients: Emphasis is on the basic elements and principles of design and will provide the basis for art projects, with work by famous artists used as examples. Some examples are Andre Dorain and texture; Henri Matisse and space.

THIRD GRADE

Bible: Emphasis is on student discovery of what the Bible teaches by looking up the verses in each unit. The material focuses on an overview of Christ and His church.
Reading: Emphasis is on developing reading skills for information and recreation.
Composition: Content is designed to increase students' skill in organizing their thoughts into paragraphs and encouraging creativity.
Handwriting: Emphasis is directed toward improving students' skill in cursive writing.
Mathematics: Emphasis is on a well-rounded exposure to math concepts and skills. This is accomplished by problem solving with a partner, number computation, fractions, decimals, mental math, estimations and memorizing multiplication facts.
Science: Emphasis is on life science, physical science, earth science, and good health habits.
Social Studies: Emphasis is on American history and the godly people who founded our country. Special units include Indians, pioneers and learning the 50 states and their capitals.
Physical Education: Emphasis is on knowledge and development of skills used in individual team sports. Refinement of fundamental skills occurs at this level of development. Fitness and conditioning are introduced through skill development and games.
Computers: Emphasis is on learning basic keyboarding skills.
Music: Emphasis is on developing the singing voice, playing various rhythm instruments, and beginning recorder, studying music of other cultures, theory, developing an appreciation and enjoyment of music, and performance in a major all-school production.
Library: Emphasis is on use of the card catalog.
Art: Art Around the World: Emphasis is on various countries and cultures, both ancient and modern. A few foreign artists are featured, as well as arts and crafts particular to certain regions. Discover African Andinkra cloth, Swedish Dala horses, Indonesian batik, Ming Dynasty pottery, and Panamanian Mola designs.

FOURTH GRADE

Bible: Emphasis is on traditional doctrinal subjects such as God, His Word, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, Salvation, Heaven and Hell. Students gain an understanding of these doctrines and learn how to apply them to their personal lives.
Reading: Emphasis is on development of reading skills for information, entertainment, and enhanced vocabulary and comprehension skills.
English/Composition: Emphasis is on developing effective writing skills and a practical understanding of the rules of grammar.
Mathematics: Emphasis is on multiplication and long division and knowing how to incorporate principles of math into students' daily lives.
Science: Emphasis is on the scientific method applied in areas of life, physical and earth science and in the study of the human body.
Social Studies: Emphasis is on United States history and geography, with an in-depth study of the state of Oregon and the Oregon Trail.
Physical Education: Emphasis is on knowledge and development of skills used in individual team sports. Refinement of fundamental skills occurs at this level of development. Fitness and conditioning are introduced through skill development and games.
Computers: Emphasis is on familiarizing the students with the components of a computer and learning about word processing, desktop publishing, databases, and spreadsheets.
Music: Emphasis is on developing the singing voice, review of beginning recorder skills, the study of music theory and history, and developing an appreciation and enjoyment for various musical styles. Songs are also used to focus on social, cultural and historical values.
Library: Emphasis is on call number and location.
Art: Art in America: Emphasis is on the history of American art with a focus on American artists, from the Revolutionary War to current living artists. Arts and crafts unique to our country will also be featured. Certain projects tie into the Oregon State Social Studies curriculum.

FIFTH GRADE

Bible: Students will be taught an overview of the Old Testament and various Bible characters. Their evaluations of the decisions made by these characters (whether good or bad) will challenge the students to examine their own decision-making.
Reading: Emphasis is on development of reading skills for information, entertainment, and enhanced vocabulary and comprehension skills through several reading sources, including the use of book reports.
English/Composition: Emphasis is on developing effective writing skills and a practical understanding of grammar.
Mathematics: Emphasis is on long division and knowing the meaning of fractions with extensions into multiplying, adding, and subtracting fractions. Pre-Algebra concepts are also introduced.
Science: Emphasis is on the scientific method applied in areas of life, physical, and earth sciences. Also, study is made of the support and movement of the body as well as a study of the transport systems of the human body.
Social Studies: Emphasis is on United States History and Geography, with an in-depth look at states by writing a research paper, giving an oral report, and doing a project.
Physical Education: Emphasis is on specialized skills and sports activities. There is an increased emphasis on physical fitness and developmental activities as well as manipulative activities.
Computers: Emphasis is on keyboarding and being able to learn through a variety of educational software.
Music: Emphasis is on developing the singing voice, rhythmic activities, the study of music theory and history, and developing an appreciation and enjoyment for various musical styles. Songs are also used to focus on social, cultural and historical values.
Library: Emphasis is on call number and location, and use of a card catalog.
Art: Art in the real World: Emphasis is on how art is used in daily life, including architecture, advertisement, media, product design, logos, fashion design, public sculpture and transportation design. Several guest artists are brought in to share how they use art in their jobs. The students also participate in The Oregonian's annual student advertisement contest.

SIXTH GRADE

Bible: Students will be taught an overview of the New Testament, an in-depth, personalized study of popular passages; and application of these Scriptures to students' own lives.
Reading: Emphasis is on development of independent reading, listening, and oral language skills through a wide variety of quality literature.
Spelling: Emphasis is on weekly lesson objectives and exercises through frequently used words appropriate for sixth graders in interest and difficulty. Each lesson incorporates Scripture verses, Bible stories, moral principles, or similar topics familiar to students.
English/Composition: Emphasis is on mechanics and usage of the eight parts of speech, sentence revision, study skills, and four-step writing process leading to independent writing.
Mathematics: Emphasis is on addition, subtraction, multiplication, division of whole numbers, decimals, fractions, application to problem solving and basic geometry. Mental math and measurement in metrics and customary systems are also taught.
Science: Emphasis is placed on concept development in the areas of life sciences, physical sciences, and the study of the human body with appropriate depth for sixth grade. Worshipping the Creator, not the creation, is emphasized.
Social Studies: Emphasis is on the history of the Western Hemisphere and world geography.
Study Skills: Emphasis on the use of notebooks and assignment notebooks to develop organizational skills.
Physical Education: Emphasis is on specialized skills and sport activities. There is an increased emphasis on physical fitness and developmental activities as well as manipulative activities.
Computers: Emphasis is on becoming familiar with keyboarding and continued skill building in the areas of spreadsheet, database, and word processing.
Music: Emphasis is on developing the singing voice, rhythmic activities, the study of music theory and history from Medieval through Modern periods, and developing an appreciation and enjoyment for various musical styles. Songs are also used to focus on social, cultural and historical values.
Library: Emphasis is on call number and location, and use of a card catalog.
Art: Art Through the Years: Emphasis is on Western art history beginning with the Renaissance up to the Modern Masters, with a key artist and style being examined for each period Featured artists are: DaVinci, Michaelangelo, Rembrandt, Constable, Monet, Degas, VanGogh, Klee, Kaninsky, Mondrian, Chagall, O'Keefe, Stella, and Pollock.