
The K-5th classes are built around a curriculum that is Christ-centered, dynamic, research-based, and grade-appropriate. Our elementary students benefit from a strong academic foundation that allows them to excel in clarity of thought, academic intuition, and cognitive reasoning. Teachers intentionally develop lesson plans around the curriculum that promote hands-on learning, inspire engaging conversations, and spark curiosity – all integral to developing lifelong learners.
Below is a synopsis of the concepts and subject matter you can expect to be covered in your child’s class, including a few examples of the special projects, musical programs, and milestone events unique to each specific grade at West Hills.
Math: Â Developing strong number sense; beginning addition and subtraction skills; introducing geometry concepts through hands-on learning experiences.
Social Studies: Engaging students in understanding of community, holidays, and great historical figures.
Writing: Â Focus on handwriting through development of fine motor skills; introduction to the creative writing process through shared and guided writing activities.
Reading: Â Development of strong phonological awareness and concepts of print through individualized reading instruction.
Science: Â Introducing students to science concepts through hands-on activities and integrated labs.
Bible: Â Developing character traits through the study of stories in the Bible, prayer and Scripture.
Unique milestones: Â Field trip to the pumpkin patch; Kindergarten Graduation ceremony (complete with caps and gowns!)
Math: Â Gaining experience with number sense and place value; establishing strategies in addition, subtraction, and base ten operations through problem solving.
Social Studies: Â Units developed around holidays, community, and developmentally appropriate current events.
Handwriting: Â Continual progression in letter and number formation; introducing different types of writing such as narrative, opinion, and informational.
Phonics: Â Associating sounds with letters and spelling; awareness of how sound is formed in the mouth and how that is translated to the written letter and word.
Writing: Â Introducing parts of speech, sentence types, and beginning writing mechanics.
Reading: Â Comprehension strategies and skills are introduced as reading develops. Emphasis on vocabulary, phonics and sentence rules.
Science: Â Employing observation skills for students to learn about themselves and the world around them.
Bible: Â Overview of Old and New Testaments through class discussions with focus on personal application and character development.
Unique milestones: Â Spring Concert; animal dioramas; reading buddies with the 5th graders.
Math: Â Strengthening addition and subtraction concepts expanding to two- or three-digit numbers; reinforcing problem-solving skills, number concepts, data & graphs, money, and time.
Social Studies: Â Awareness of community and history through the study of historical figures.
Writing: Â Introduction to steps of the writing process: research, rough drafts, editing, revising and publishing.
Reading: Â Developing comprehension and increasing reading fluency through chapter books; strengthening phonics and sight reading concepts.
Grammar: Â Parts of speech and sentence mechanics are applied in more detail.
Science: Â Observation versus theory; research skills; the study of the interaction between living and nonliving things.
Bible: Â Study of biblical characters; characteristics and traits of godliness.
Unique milestones: Â Spring Concert; insect reports.
Math: Â Addition & subtraction skills are reviewed and reinforced. Multiplication & division facts, strategies and properties are introduced and developed. Extensive problem-solving skills are integrated along with fractions, graphs and data, measurement, and geometry.
Social Studies: Â Explorers and significant figures in United States history are studied and presented in an interactive fashion.
Writing: Â Ongoing development of writing and editing skills; identifying writing styles (i.e. informative, creative, expository).
Reading: Â Strengthening foundational skills in reading comprehension and analysis; increasing reading fluency through understanding of character development, traits & language in different literature genres; book reports.
Grammar: Â Continued instruction on paragraph building, spelling and parts of speech (i.e. prepositions, verbs, adverbs, pronouns, contractions and conjunctions).
Handwriting: Â Cursive is introduced.
Science: Â The study of life cycles and the roles of living things, space, water, energy, and nutrition.
Bible: Â Examining the life and times of Jesus and His disciples.
Unique milestones: Â Patriotic Program & Wax Museum (students dress up and give speeches as significant figures from United States history).
Math:Â Â Strengthening of skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; developing skills in comparing fractions, factors, adding/subtracting/multiplying fractions, geometry, and algebraic thinking.
Social Studies:Â Â Explorers of the Northwest, Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest, and Oregon history are researched and presented in interactive programs.
Writing:Â Â Encompasses writing conventions, organization, ideas, voice, word choice, and fluency.
Reading:  Various genres are explored, growing the reader’s skills in main ideas, sequence, summarization, comprehension, character study, and fluency.
Grammar:Â Â Sentence structure, word relationship and usage, context and ongoing grammar skills.
Science:  Earth’s land resources, properties of matter, animals, magnetism & electricity, weather & climate, body’s delivery systems.
Bible:Â Â Studies in the basic doctrine of the church.
Unique milestones:Â Patriotic Program & Wax Museum (students dress up and give speeches as significant figures from United States history); Parade of State Floats;Â participation in Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) through our Library program.
Math: Â Dividing whole numbers; addition/subtraction/multiplication/division of decimals; comparing fractions; addition/subtraction/multiplication/division of fractions.
Social Studies: Â Exploring ancient civilizations from Mesopotamia to the Middle Ages.
Writing: Â Continued advancement in complexity and creativity; students develop in ideas, word choice, voice, sentence fluency, organization, and conventions.
Reading: Â Focus on novels to increase student understanding of character, plot, setting, and comparing and contrasting.
Grammar: Â Distinguishing usage; creating sentences and phrases; identifying synonyms and antonyms; completing analogies.
Science: Â Investigating how populations and ecosystems interact; examining light and sound, space and earth, physics, energy, and plant life through hands-on experiments.
Bible: Â Coming soon.
Unique milestones: Â Christmas Concert; optional participation in Chorale; reading buddies with the 1st graders; participation in Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) through our Library program;Â first year eligible to serve in Student Council.