CURRICULUM TOPICS
Social Studies	Origins of the Earth. Early man and the foundations of civilization
Geography	The relationship of man to his environment. Landforms-mountain, hills, plains, rivers, oceans, lakes, etc.
Earth & Space	Rocks and soils
Physical science	Forces, motion and simple machines.
Life Science	Habitats and adaptation of all species
Health	Nutrition & Dental care
Civics and life skills	Individual vs. group rights and privileges. Human development-identity and behaviour. Reasoning and restraining impulsivity
Language arts/genres	Myths and expository Narrative, poetry and plays

Mathematics Perspective and Aims

Curriculum

Data Handling	Measurement	Number	Pattern & Function	Reasoning	Shape & Space
data handling allow us to make a summary of what we know and to make inferences about what we don't know.	to measure is to attach a number to a quantity using a chosen unit. The degree of approximation, and thus accuracy depends on the device and the measure.	numbers are used to determine or define quantities or relationships, to measure, to make comparisons, to find locations and to read codes. We use numbers to interpret information, make decisions and solve problems.	the study of mathematical patterns and functions enable us to organize and understand most observations of the world around us.	relationships, properties, facts and models can be used to verify, validate and extend thinking.	the regions,paths and boundaries of natural space can be described by shape..students need to understand the interrelations o f shapes and the effects of changes to shapes in order to interpret,understand and appreciate our two and three dimensional world.
Represent relationships within, between and among sets of objects.   Explore concepts of change.   Collect organize and display data in a variety of forms: pictographs,bar graphs,line graphs.   Read and make sense of displays of data.   design a model to collect organize,and describe data.   Use computer technology to learn and use more sophisticated graphs.	Understand the structure and use of non-standard and standard systems of measurement to compare phenomena.   Understand and use units of : length,capacity mass   Temperature   Time:A.M. P.M. and elapsed time.   Perimeter,Area Volume   Understand that all measurement is approximate.   Select Appropriate units and tools to measure to the degree of accuracy required in a particular situation.	Cardinal and ordinal numbers. Comparing and ordering whole numbers. Place Value: numbers to millions. Estimation: Estimation by rounding numbers. judging a quantity. Computation: Addition and subtraction of multiple digits. + - x and division with money. Equalities and inequalities Multiplication properties. Times tables up to 9 as a factor. Patterns in multiplication. Multiplying three-digit numbers. Multiplying two-digit numbers. Connecting multiplication and division. Division:0 in the quotient dividing 3-digit numbers. Fractions: fraction of a number and equivalent fractions.	Explore,describe and represent the regions paths and boundaries of space.   Explore, describe, classify and model solid shapes.   Explore ,describe classify and model plane shapes.   Investigate the combining and transforming of shapes.   relate geometric ideas to number measurement.	Recognize,describe, extend,create represent and analyze patterns. Explore patterns in number series.g. odd ,square numbers, Fibonacci sequence. Recognize and describe patterns in addition,multiplication, subtraction and division.	Use patterns and relationships to analyze mathematical situations.   Begin to use models to explain their thinking.   Justify their answer and solution processes.

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LANGUAGE ARTS

Language Perspective and Aims

Curriculum

Speaking/ Listening

• Participate as speakers and listeners in group activities including imaginative play.
• Retell a familiar story with proper sequencing of events including greater detail.
• Begin to reflect on and evaluate their use of spoken language in expressing to others their ideas.
• Develop more awareness of the use of formal vocabulary and tone in different situations.
• Share ideas, feelings, opinions and viewpoints with increasing sophistication.
• Respond and ask questions appropriately and effectively to clarify their understanding.
• Be respective to the contributions of others voicing any disagreement courteously by giving positive criticism.
• Develop skills as effective oral presenters.
• Use the language of other disciplines and develop a growing vocabulary.

Reading Mechanics & Strategies

• Able to read aloud in a variety of situations with fluency and expression.
• Able to read silently with sustained concentration.

Reading Comprehension / Literary Analysis

• Develop their own questions.
• Skim for information.
• Predict, sequence events, and recognise similarities and differences between stories.
• Begin character analysis, and determine main idea of passages in stories.
• Demonstrate a more expansive and elaborate knowledge and understanding of different genre.
• Develop a sense of personal choice in reading material.

Types of Reading

• Exposure to myths and legends.
• Beginning activities in novel studies.

Writing / Mechanics Strategies

• Use phonetic spelling
• Recognise common spelling patterns
• Write cursive proficiently
• Use capitals and punctuation accurately
• Begin to use commas in lists
• Use correct word order and simple sentences.
• Show awareness of parts of speech: nouns, verbs, adjectives and subject pronouns.
• Write about events in the past, present, and future.
• Use verb and subject agreement correctly.
• Write a story using beginning, middle and end.
• Show awareness of organising ideas into paragraphs.

Writing Process / Skills

• Demonstrate a desire to write.
• Use the writing process.
• Use peer conferencing and editing to the writing process.

Types of Writing

• During the course of the year, complete at least one piece from each area:
• Learn to use note taking.
• Create stories and poems.
• Describe ancient Athens.
• Write an interview as a way of getting information.
• Persuade others in a writing to treat people with respect.

Literature Focus

 

Myths and Legends:

• What are the qualities of the heroes in these stories?
• How did myths and legends influence the people of the time?
• What do the myths and legends tell us about the period in which they were developed?

 

Novel Studies:

• What can we know about the character's personality from the story and from his/her behavior?
• What are the main events of the story and how do they develop the plot?

WAYS TO HELP YOUR CHILD IN AMBRIT'S LANGUAGE PROGRAMME

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Science Perspective and Aims

This section is currently being updated

Science Topics:

The Earth: its composition, structure and place in the universe.
Rocks and soils
Forces, motion and simple machines
Habitats and adaptation of all species
Nutrition and Dental care

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Social Studies perspective and aims

This section is currently being updated

Social Studies Topics:

Origins of the Earth.
Early man and the foundations of civilization

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Italian Perspective and Aims (in Italian)

Aims of the Italian Program

Curriculum

 

Review and consolidation of material covered in the first two years. Emphasis is on oral skills. Grammatical structures are learned intuitively.

 

SPEAKING AND LISTENING

• Acting and creating short dialogues
• Respond appropriately to instructions and listening tasks
• Oral practice of learned structures
• Vocabulary and activities related to food, clothing, animals, city and countryside, likes and dislikes, feelings, describing people and places.

READING

• Reading exercises in students books
• Simple stories and children's magazines.

WRITING

• Writing activities in student textbook
• dictation
• puzzles and written games

CULTURE

• Introduction to Italian geography
• short poems, stories
• popular songs and games

RESOURCES AND MATERIALS

• Impariamo l'Italiano, vol 3 , GIUNTI Firenze
• Cassettes, Videos, Realia

ASSESSMENT

• class participation
• physical response to oral instructions
• creating and acting out dialogues
• extract information from audio-visual material
• drawings
• dictation
• fill in maps, charts, missing information
• answer questions
• memorize poems
• oral presentations
• individual and group research projects

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Music Perspective and Aims

Curriculum

To be able to:

• identify musical symbols
• be able to follow music and words to songs with two verses or more
• identify AB form
• identify strong beat
• group instruments into family, aurally recognize
• track music with finger and eye
• melody movement - steps, skips, repeats
• identify rhythm patterns
• echo singing
• learn notes of treble clef

Content: Orff, singing and playing in class, writing and listening, use of tapes and live music, exposure to professional performances, class performances, texts, written exercises.

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P.E. Perspective and Aims

PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR THE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Art Perspective and Aims

Curriculum overview for Grades 1-5

One 40 minute class per week

The first semester programme consists mainly of a variety of short term projects (1-4 weeks), roughly alternating between 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional media, and including drawing, painting, collage/design and sculpture. The second semester includes the above and at least one long term project (usually sculpture).

There is a natural progression from simple to more complex projects, from limited freedom and choice to greater freedom and autonomy.

The Art programme will include work with drawing, painting, sculpture and collage/design. Students will explore the possibilities of a wide variety of materials and techniques, including a selection from the following.

Drawing

• materials used singly or combined: pencil, crayon, chalk, markers, charcoal, watercolour pastels, oil pastels
• free drawing, drawing on "fixed paper", drawing from memory, experience or suggested theme
• still-life drawing

Painting

• liquid tempera
• color mixing
• combined techniques (such as crayon resist)
• free painting, painting from memory, experience or suggested theme
• composing geometrical shapes
• group painting

Collage/design

• collecting and arranging materials with a variety of textures, patterns, colours, transparencies and shapes
• simple design projects
• use of negative space
• collage combined with other media
• cardboard relief

Sculpture

• clay: exploring its possibilities and limitations, pulling out shapes, construction and modelling and texturing techniques, use of tools, painting and shining and finishing work.
• construction/assemblage, papier maché

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• Rubrics
• Anecdotal records
• Graphic organisers
• Teacher made and commercial tests
• Spelling tests
• Dictations
• Observation checklists
• Projects
• Oral presentations
• Responses to open-ended questions
• Math problem solving
• Conference records
• Written compositions
• Self-evaluation
• Portfolios for language work
• Reading sequence charts

 

VERIFICHE IN ITALIANO

• Dettati ortografici
• Test
• Temi
• Riassunti
• Interrrogazioni alla lavagna
• Giochi
• Ricerche
• Test di lettura (comprensione e fluenza)

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