Kindergarten - Grade 3

List of 13 items.

• Art

  Kindergarten 
  Big Ideas: The kindergarten art program develops drawing, painting and sculpting skills using a range of art materials, and explores specific artists and movements in art history. In addition to technical skills, students develop creativity and a passion for the arts through activities that often complement other curricular studies. Student artwork is collected in a portfolio to be taken home at the end of the school year.   
  
  Grade 1
  Big Ideas: The grade 1 art program develops students' drawing and painting skills, using various media and applications, while nurturing their creativity, self-expression, and passion for the arts. Student portfolios are taken home at year end. Highlights include exploring colours, lines and shapes through drawing, painting and collage; exploring patterns and textures through drawing and printmaking; and exploring various art media, including clay. 
  
  Grade 2 
  Big Ideas: The grade 2 art program focuses on developing students' drawing, painting and sculpting skills using different art materials and by examining specific artists and movements in art history. Student artwork is collected in a portfolio to be taken home at year end. Highlights include exploring colour, shape, texture and superimposition through painting and collage; exploring line, multiplication and fragmentation through drawing and printmaking; and exploring radial balance through various art media. 
  
  Grade 3 
  Big Ideas: The grade 3 art program focuses on developing students' drawing, painting and sculpting skills using different art materials and by examining specific artists and art movements. Student artwork is collected in a portfolio to be taken home at year end. Highlights include exploring colour, shape, texture and superimposition through painting and collage; exploring line, multiplication and fragmentation through drawing and printmaking; and exploring radial balance through various art media.
  

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• Choral

  Big Ideas: The aim of the choral program is to encourage children to use singing as a means of self-expression and discovery. Students study standard notation, develop music literacy, and practise performance etiquette through informal and formal concert settings during the year. Highlights include singing foundations and techniques with a healthy, well-produced tone; standard notation; best practices and habits of ensemble singing; and concert polish and etiquette.

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• English

  Kindergarten 
  Big Ideas: A multisensory approach is used to accommodate different learning styles, and children engage in reading, writing, speaking and listening activities daily. Working in small group learning stations, students engage in phonetic activities that target specific letters and sounds, learning to blend sounds to develop reading and comprehension skills. Students practice holding pencils with a tripod grasp and learn appropriate upper and lowercase letter formations. Incorporating Reading Power strategies of connecting and visualizing, they develop a deeper understanding of literature and respond to stories in meaningful ways. Technology is used to reinforce teaching strategies and lessons. Highlights include letter-sound correspondence, letter formations, rhyming, predictions, digraphs (sh, ch, th), sentence structure, and story elements.

   

  Grade 1
  Big Ideas: With increasing confidence, students develop their ability to read, write, comprehend and express ideas. Our multisensory spelling program is based on learning patterns and grammar rules. Highlights include journal writing, guided reading, use of technology to practice reading, comprehension and writing, author and fairytale studies, and learning to write stories and identify story elements.
  
  Grade 2
  Big Ideas: Students' critical thinking, creativity and confidence are nurtured through continual opportunities for speaking, reading, writing and presenting using various media and learning tools. Students read fiction and nonfiction texts, demonstrate comprehension through written and verbal discussions, and create meaningful content. Highlights include story writing, guided reading and book clubs, spelling and grammar study, and a novel study. 
  
  Grade 3 
  Big Ideas: Using Reading Power strategies, students further develop literacy comprehension and critical thinking skills. Students write paragraphs, using a structured format to convey information and apply spelling, grammar and syntax rules. In exploring the writing process, they learn to express better clarity, detail and creativity in their writing. Highlights include paragraph writing, book club, literature circles, cursive writing, spelling and grammar, and oral presentations.
  

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• French

  Kindergarten 
  Big Ideas: In kindergarten, students have one language block per week. Spanish is taught the first part of the year and Mandarin and French the second and third terms. In French class, students learn basic vocabulary and become familiar with French culture. The focus for this age and development is oral expression and comprehension; lessons follow a routine and include activities such as singing, creating art, playing games, reading stories and making class books. Highlights include self-descriptions, seasons and seasonal celebrations, counting to 20, colours, dinosaurs, body parts, dance, alphabet, Paris, artist study, food and weather.

   

  Grade 1
  Big Ideas: Students take French once a week and learn the language through AIM (Accelerated Integrative Method), using gestures to help communicate the meaning of high frequency words. This engaging contextual method allows students to learn French by studying a play: in grade 1, students study "La Poule Maboule" and "Le Petit Chat Cherche Une Famille." AIM incorporates speaking, reading, writing and listening, and each play builds on the skills and vocabulary learned in previous levels.

   

  Grade 2
  Big Ideas: Students take French twice a week during the year, developing their language skills through AIM (Accelerated Integrative Method), which uses gestures to help communicate the meaning of high frequency words. This engaging contextual method allows students to learn the language by studying a play; in grade 2, students study "Où Est Mon Chien?" and "Petite Pauline." AIM incorporates speaking, reading, writing and listening, and each play builds on the skills and vocabulary learned in previous levels.

   

  Grade 3 
  Big Ideas: Students develop their French through AIM (Accelerated Integrative Method), which uses gestures to help communicate the meaning of high frequency words.  This engaging contextual method allows students to learn the language by studying a play; in grade 3, students study "Le Chat et La Lune" and "Boucles Violettes." AIM incorporates speaking, reading, writing and listening, and each play builds on the skills and vocabulary learned in previous levels.
  

  
  As well as using AIM in the classroom, students review the alphabet, numbers to 50, colours, self introductions, and simple greetings and goodbyes. Songs, stories, videos and games enrich class learning and cultural awareness. Students also learn to count to 100, write and say the date, and ask and answer questions in a variety of ways.

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• Information Technology

  Kindergarten-Grade 1
  Big Ideas: Develop students' understanding of the Internet and school technologies and how these tools communicate information in different ways. Highlights include an introduction to keyboarding technique, interactive storybook creation, file management, and computer/network organization.
  
  Grade 2
  Big Ideas: Introduce students to sound/video editing and robotics. Through project-based work, students explore music creation and computer animation systems, and become familiar with logic and design processes. Highlights include an introduction to programming with visual programming tools, robot simulation design and function, and using loops and samples to create music.
  
  Grade 3 
  Big Ideas: Introduce students to Digital Passport, a key component in WPGA's digital citizenship program. Students complete five modules in the areas of communication, privacy, cyberbullying, search, and creative credit. Highlights include concept mapping and designing an interactive fiction story.

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• Mandarin

  Kindergarten 
  Big Ideas: In grade 1, students take Mandarin and Spanish for half the year each. Students explore the Mandarin-speaking world through hands-on activities, such as making traditional food, celebrating cultural festivals and learning about their neighbours around the globe. Basic language, such as greetings, counting and colours, are introduced through songs, stories, role-plays and games. 
  
  Grade 1
  Big Ideas: In grade 1, students take Spanish for the first half of the year and Mandarin for the second half. Through fun, engaging contexts (games, songs, dialogues, stories), students learn simple vocabulary and phrases and explore the cultures and traditions of the Mandarin-speaking world. Mini skits and dialogues put high-frequency vocabulary into context and bring life to the language. Highlights include introducing self, expressing wants, learning the calendar and performing a short play.
  
  Grade 2 
  Big Ideas: Students learn to count to 100, answer yes/no questions and construct simple sentences. Through games, songs and stories, students develop a basic awareness of Mandarin sounds while developing a curiosity and respect for Chinese culture.
  
  Grade 3
  Big Ideas: Students continue to build their vocabulary through games, songs and stories and build upon previous skills such as the pinyin system and expressing greetings, family names and feelings. In the latter half of the year, students learn and perform the Accelerative Integrated Methodology (AIM)  story, "The Little Cat Looks For A Home." There is a focus on interaction and on answering basic questions (who, what, when, where) about Mandarin holidays and traditions, such as Moon Festival, Chinese New Year and Chinese Dragon Boat Festival.

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• Mathematics

  Kindergarten
  Big Ideas: By providing integrated numeracy experiences using objects, quantities and relationships, children develop a solid sense of numbers and flexible mathematical thinking. Lessons incorporate literacy, hands-on exploration, technology and reinforcement games. Concepts are explored through manipulatives (concrete), diagrams and pictures (pictorial), and symbols and numbers (symbolic); an understanding of numeracy and memory strategies for math facts to 10 is a key program component. Highlights include sorting, patterns, graphing, numeracy, measurement, part-part whole thinking and problem solving. 
  
  Grade 1 
  Big Ideas: The curriculum aims to foster positive attitudes toward the conceptual understanding of numeracy and mathematics by providing opportunities for students to explore different materials, tools and contexts. Students engage in classroom discussions and activities that link concrete, pictorial and symbolic representations and real-world connections. Highlights include sorting and patterning; graphing and data analysis; number operations and problem solving; and measurement, geometry and place value.
  
  Grade 2
  Big Ideas: Teachers introduce concepts that enable students to develop a conceptual basis of mathematical processes. Using hands-on activities, small group work and interactive tools, including iPad applications, students apply learned knowledge to symbolic numbers and formulas. Highlights include numbers to 100, place value, patterns, inequalities, addition/subtraction of 1-2 digit numbers, word problems, measurement, calendar and graphing. 
  
  Grade 3
  Big Ideas: Students apply learned math skills to daily interactions in and out of the classroom. Through hands-on, interactive lessons, students use abstract concepts and mathematical thought processes; a supportive classroom environment fosters higher-level reasoning and critical-thinking skills. Highlights include place value, addition/subtraction, mental math strategies and word problems, shapes and space, graphing, measurement, multiplication, division, fractions, time, patterns and relations. 
  

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• Music

  Kindergarten 
  Big Ideas: Students learn about music so they can explore the world and to communicate musically. Students learn basic musical sounds and elements, and are encouraged to use their voices and classroom instruments as they learn songs together. Highlights include beat, tempo, rhythm, melody, harmony, listening skills, pitch matching, rhythm instruments, and the use of nontraditional and traditional code.  
  
  Grade 1
  Big Ideas: Encourage children to explore musical sounds and to develop musical skills in singing, moving, listening, reading and writing music. Highlights include beat, rhythm and pitch awareness; introduction to solfege; audience manners; echo and rhythms; terms relating to tempo and dynamics; active listening; ostinati, traditional code for music literacy; and pitched and unpitched instruments. 
  
  

  Grade 2 
  Big Ideas: Through songs and games, children explore musical sounds, learn about different musical genres, and develop musical skills in singing, moving, listening, reading and writing music. Highlights include basic music theory, concepts, rhythm, solfege singing, active listening, percussion instruments, reading music notation, body percussion, composer studies, pitched percussion, ear training, polyphonic music, and music genres and cultures. 
  
  Grade 3 
  

  Big Ideas: Through hands-on activities, students explore musical sounds and elements, and develop a connection to the language of music through active participation, critical listening and public performance. Highlights include an introduction to recorders, singing, movement, basic music literacy, genres/styles of music, developing recorder skills, tempo and dynamics while playing instruments, audience manners, music literacy and composer studies. 

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• Orchestral Strings

  Grade 3
  Big Ideas: The strings program offers students the opportunity to explore the art of string playing by learning note-reading skills, string techniques and level-appropriate repertoire. The class orchestra performs formal and informal concerts throughout the year. Highlights include instrument set-up, string techniques, repertoire study, orchestral set-up, rhythm integration with note reading and repertoire study, and practice skills in combination with visualization for successful performing. 

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• Physical Education

  Kindergarten
  Big Ideas: Provide students with a variety of foundational movement activities that develop their ABCs (agility, balance, coordination)—the building blocks of movement. Through fun and imaginative play, children develop confidence, social and emotional skills, gross motor skills, and an understanding that an active lifestyle is important. Highlights include music and movement, ball skills, soccer, gymnastics, yoga, skipping, run jump throw, and cooperative games. *Daily PE classes 
  
  Grade 1
  Big Ideas: Develop children's fundamental movement skills (running, jumping, throwing) and promote the joy and benefits of daily physical activity through inclusive, collaborative sports and activities, many of which are outdoors. Highlights include ball skills, cooperative games, gymnastics, dance, soccer, run jump throw, skipping and tennis. *Daily PE classes 
  
  Grade 2 
  Big Ideas: Students continue to develop locomotor, nonlocomotor and manipulative movement skills. By participating in inclusive, fun activities, children follow safe procedures, demonstrate teamwork and leadership, enjoy opportunities to be innovative and strategic, and understand the benefits of daily physical activity. Highlights include cooperative games, cross country, dance, gymnastics, soccer, ball skills, swimming, run jump throw, tennis and striking/fielding games. *Daily PE classes 
  
  Grade 3
  Big Ideas: By participating in inclusive, multisport activities, student develop and refine locomotor, nonlocomotor, manipulative and sport-specific movement skills, and enjoy the benefits of daily physical activity, including improved aerobic and strength fitness, coordination, cognition and mood. Highlights include soccer, volleyball, cross country, dance, gymnastics, basketball, run jump throw, tennis, swimming, and track and field. *Daily PE classes

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• Science

  Kindergarten
  

  Big Ideas: The kindergarten curriculum is based on three concepts: life science, physical science, and earth and space science, all integrated with thematic studies. The emphasis is process skills development: observing, measuring, communicating (oral and written), inferring, interpreting, investigating, identifying, classifying and predicting. Through active participation in fascinating experiments and investigations, children discover how our living world operates. Highlights include senses, seasonal characteristics, forces and motion, rainforest animals and plants, healthy living, ocean, recycling and insects.

  
  Grade 1
  

  Big Ideas: In grade 1, the science program nurtures children's curiosity, promotes environmental stewardship, and develops students' understanding and respect for science and its relationships to technology, society and the natural environment. Highlights include matter, observable patterns and cycles that occur in the local sky and landscape, light and sound, and the needs of living things.

  
  Grade 2
  Big Ideas: In grade 2, children learn and apply core scientific skills, including inquiry, problem solving and informed decision making. The significance of science in students' lives becomes increasingly apparent as they gain a greater understanding of the relationships between science, society, technology and the environment. Highlights include solids, liquids and gases; water and the connection to the First Peoples' knowledge of water; exploring and understanding forces; lifecycles of animals; and the different adaptations of animals that allow them to be successful in their habitats.

   

  Grade 3
  Big Ideas: Students further their science knowledge through multisensory activities, hands-on experiments, and group and class discussions. They learn how all living things are diverse, can be grouped and interact in the ecosystems. Through studying biodiversity in our local environment, students develop a better appreciation for nature, exploring how all matter consists of particles and how various sources of energy can be transferred. By observing changes in the local environment caused by erosion and deposition by wind, water and ice, students recognize their impact on landforms. Highlights include a field trip with tree canopy bridges, flower dissection, nature discovery walks, experiments, and periodic table activities.

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• Social Studies

  Kindergarten
  Big Ideas: Students learn about themselves, their roles and their responsibilities as members of the classroom and school community, and identify and demonstrate responsible environmental behaviours. Children participate in groups, gather information from different sources, and present knowledge in varied and meaningful ways. Highlights include school responsibilities, family, community helpers, cultural celebrations, environmental care and community service.  
  
  Grade 1
  Big Ideas: Using social responsibility, guided enquiry and active empathy as touchstones, students develop an interest and understanding of history, geography and world issues. Highlights include roles, rights and responsibilities; an introduction to mapping skills; and symbols of Canada. 
  
  Grade 2 
  Big Ideas: In understanding their rights and roles as responsible citizens, students become thoughtful, action-oriented citizens who consider different perspectives and cultures and acquire information through various sources. Highlights include heroes; roles, rights and responsibilities; family and school communities; Canada; mapping; urban and rural communities; environment; producers and consumers; and goods and services. 
  
  Grade 3
  Through hands-on, interactive activities, students reflect on their own cultures and country relative to others. Building on their mapping skills, students explore continents and oceans, Canadian provinces and territories, and First Nations, Metis and Inuit cultures. In travelling back in time to pioneer days, students become experts on their own province of British Columbia.

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• Spanish

  Kindergarten
  Big Ideas: Students explore Spanish, Mandarin and French-speaking worlds throughout the year (equal time is allotted to each language). Hands-on activities, such as making traditional food and celebrating cultural festivals, engage students and spark their curiosity for learning about their neighbours around the globe. Basic language, such as greetings, counting and colours, are introduced through songs, stories, roleplays and games. 
  
  Grade 1
  Big Ideas: Students take Spanish for the first half of the year and Mandarin for the second half. Through fun, engaging contexts (games, songs, dialogues, stories), students learn simple vocabulary and phrases and explore the cultures and traditions of the Spanish and Mandarin-speaking worlds. Mini skits and dialogues put high-frequency vocabulary into context and bring life to the language. Highlights include introducing self, expressing wants, using a calendar and performing a short play.
  
  Grade 2 
  Big Ideas: Students focus on learning through gestures and storytelling. Curriculum highlights include introducing a friend and oneself, learning the alphabet and family terms, answering questions of "where," and continuing to explore the holiday traditions of the Spanish-speaking world. Skits and stories put language into context. In the second half of the year, students work on the stories "The Enormous Turnip" and "Chicken Little."
  
  Grade 3 
  Big Ideas: Students continue to learn through gestures and storytelling and build on previous skills such as using classroom directives, calendar dates and describing others. Students also learn and perform the stories "Cactus Soup" and "The Cat and the Moon." There is a focus on interaction and on answering basic questions (who, what, when, where) about Spanish holidays and traditions.

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