Curriculum Guided by Passion, Purpose, and Possibility
As an independent school in Colorado and proud member of the Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS), we have the freedom—and the responsibility—to design a curriculum that meets the unique needs of our students and reflects the values of our community. Free from the constraints of standardized state mandates, our educators are empowered to shape dynamic, integrated learning experiences that nurture curiosity, critical thinking, character, and creativity.
This autonomy doesn’t mean we teach in isolation. Our curriculum is grounded in proven best practices, informed by current research, and enriched by the expertise and passion of our faculty. Teachers are not simply delivering content—they are co-creators of learning journeys that honor the whole child. We set high academic standards while fostering a culture of belonging and deep connection.
The result? A purposeful and personalized education that equips students not only with strong academic foundations, but also with the resilience, empathy, and adaptability they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Choosing an independent school is an investment in your child’s future—a choice that reflects the value you place on meaningful relationships, joyful discovery, and the freedom to learn beyond the test. Here, curriculum isn’t dictated—it’s inspired.
Explore the options below to dive more deeply into the subjects and topics offered at each grade level.
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Fifth Grade Outdoor Education
Review of Bible Composition, History of Christianity, Indigenous Spirituality
Having studied the stories from the sacred texts in Hebrew and Christian traditions, fifth graders begin the year with an overview of the Biblical timeline and structure, as well as its major figures and events. Picking up with the book of Acts, we proceed to study the formation of the Church as a movement within the context of the Roman Empire. We cover the East-West Schism, beginning of Protestantism and Anglicanism, and Social Gospel. In spring time we transition to the indigenous spirituality (North American and African traditions). Emphasis is placed on the ethical implications of religion and spirituality. Like in all grades in Lower School, we mark significant religious observations in Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, which is an entryway into non-Christian faiths that lays the foundation for further study of world religions in the Middle School. By the end of 5th grade students will have solidified their knowledge of the Judeo-Christian stories and can navigate the Bible; they have general knowledge of how Christianity came together and can explain its central beliefs. Students who complete this year will know basic facts about five world religions and will conduct a summarizing project when they prepare for a dialogue with a person who practices one of those traditions.
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Fifth Grade Religion
Review of Bible Composition, History of Christianity, Indigenous Spirituality
Having studied the stories from the sacred texts in Hebrew and Christian traditions, fifth graders begin the year with an overview of the Biblical timeline and structure, as well as its major figures and events. Picking up with the book of Acts, we proceed to study the formation of the Church as a movement within the context of the Roman Empire. We cover the East-West Schism, beginning of Protestantism and Anglicanism, and Social Gospel. In spring time we transition to the indigenous spirituality (North American and African traditions). Emphasis is placed on the ethical implications of religion and spirituality. Like in all grades in Lower School, we mark significant religious observations in Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, which is an entryway into non-Christian faiths that lays the foundation for further study of world religions in the Middle School. By the end of 5th grade students will have solidified their knowledge of the Judeo-Christian stories and can navigate the Bible; they have general knowledge of how Christianity came together and can explain its central beliefs. Students who complete this year will know basic facts about five world religions and will conduct a summarizing project when they prepare for a dialogue with a person who practices one of those traditions.
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Fifth Grade Drama
The focus of the fifth-grade drama curriculum is to understand the importance of working as an ensemble and the significance of contributing to the bigger picture through the creation of a theatrical piece. In the creative process, students are introduced to a variety of improvisational techniques: exploration of characterization, pantomime, movement, and character motivations. At the conclusion of their fifth-grade year, students will have the opportunity to both perform and critically respond to their performance through reflection and evaluation of their participation in the artistic process.
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Fifth Grade Library
The fifth-grade library curriculum promotes students’ critical thinking, centers effective and ethical use of information, and fosters a lifelong love of reading and learning. The librarian collaborates with teachers to align library activities with classroom units of study and support student learning across subjects.
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Fifth Grade Design Thinking and Innovations
Fifth graders embark on their final year of Lower School Technology within the Design Thinking and Innovations Lab. Students continue to explore ways technology can enhance our ability to research, learn and communicate, as well as transform and reshape our world. They engage in discussions about digital citizenship, computer sciences, and digital design.
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Fifth Grade PE
The ultimate goal of St. Anne’s physical education program is to involve students in developmentally appropriate movement experiences that focus on learning to move and learning through movement. In “Developmental Level Two,” third, fourth, and fifth graders learn to cooperate, apply rules and strategies, and compete in a sportsmanlike manner. Students learn how to make healthy choices. They transfer previously learned movement skills to new activities and other challenging movement skills. Various sports, fitness, and rhythmic activities are introduced and practiced. Participation in games, learning stations, and drills assists in the development of mature movement patterns. Such participation provides a process that encourages all students to refine their skills and engage in lifelong physical activities.
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Fifth Grade Spanish
Fifth-grade Spanish is a cultural and linguistic exploration of Spanish, Spanish-speaking countries around the world, and the value and importance of learning another language and culture.
Through their discovery of Spanish culture, students will acquire vocabulary for:
- Greetings
- Numbers
- Colors
- Food
- Animals and more
In addition, students are exposed to the immersion classroom by participating in activities, using the Organic World Language (O.W.L.) methodology and/or CI (comprehensible input), primarily used in the middle-school Spanish curriculum.
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Fifth Grade French
Fifth-grade French is a cultural and linguistic exploration of France and the francophone world.
Through their discovery of French culture and language, students will acquire vocabulary for:
- Greetings
- Numbers
- Colors
- Food
- Animals
- Family
- Students start the semester by taking a virtual journey to discover Paris and Provence.
- Students then head to Brittany, France, to learn about its landscape and history.
- Finally, the class discovers francophone countries, including Senegal and Canada (Québec).
In addition, students are exposed to the immersion classroom by participating in activities, using the Organic World Language (O.W.L.) methodology and/or CI (comprehensible input), primarily used in the middle-school French curriculum.
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Fifth Grade Art
Fifth graders will start the year drawing southern Chinese mountain landscapes, then using watercolor and other mediums to complete a finished work of art. Students will produce ceramic seated figures, chia pets, optical illusion art, Northwest Native American masks, renderings of historical masterworks, life drawings, nature drawings, and other projects, time permitting. We integrate classroom curriculum in the art space to add depth to the students’ learning.
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Fifth Grade Music
The fifth-grade curriculum is designed to cultivate a well-rounded musical experience, fostering creativity, expression, and a deeper understanding of the language of music. Through a variety of engaging activities, students will develop skills in singing, playing instruments, improvisation, composition, and the ability to read and notate designated rhythms. Students are encouraged to try new instruments and explore. Each day of class emphasizes active listening to diverse musical excerpts; establishing connections between emotion and human experience; and developing empathy, cultural awareness, and an appreciation for the language and skills learned.
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Fifth Grade Science
Fifth-grade science is a very hands-on, project-based program. Creative thinking and problem-solving are the main focus of all of our classes. In the fifth-grade performance expectations, students are expected to demonstrate grade-appropriate proficiency in developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, using mathematics and computational thinking, engaging in argument from evidence, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information. They will use these practices to demonstrate understanding of the core ideas.
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Fifth Grade Math
Students will apply all they have been learning in math to accurately solve real-world problems. By the end of fifth grade, students will add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, decimals, and fractions.
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Fifth Grade Reading
In fifth-grade reading, students read fiction, nonfiction, informational text, and other genres. Students read class novels and complete an independent reading project. They have writing assignments throughout the novel responding to the reading and checking for comprehension. They also learn comprehension strategies, including cause/effect, character traits, story elements, making connections, inferences, drawing conclusions, analyzing, and using text evidence. Fifth graders also learn about using inflection, pausing at punctuation, and reading fluently and accurately.
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Fifth Grade Word Study
The primary goals of the Grade 5 Word Study program
- Phonics: To teach the phonetic principles in single-syllable words or word parts so students can apply that knowledge when reading unfamiliar multisyllabic words
- Structural Analysis: To identify familiar parts of words within unknown multisyllabic words
- Morphemic Analysis: To use prefixes, suffixes, base words, and roots to build word meaning
- Vocabulary: To teach the direct meaning of word parts to help students unlock the meaning of multisyllabic words; to expose students to new vocabulary, multiple meanings, parts of speech, and synonyms and antonyms
- Spelling: To teach common spelling patterns to facilitate student’s ability to read and write more efficiently
- Fluency: To facilitate a student’s ability to read and write words with more automaticity and accuracy so more of their attention can be focused on comprehending the text
In fifth grade, Word Study is taught four times per each 7-day cycle for 30 minutes each lesson. Students engage in whole class lessons, complete homework assignments, and read a weekly fluency passage. An end-of-unit assessment evaluates a student’s mastery of the concepts taught in the unit. Students are assessed on their ability to apply the spelling rules taught in a list of words, and then integrate their knowledge through a sentence dictation. Vocabulary instruction is also integrated into the fifth-grade Word Study class curriculum.
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Fifth Grade Grammar
In fifth grade, students move from a study of grammar concepts to application. They compose multi-page works to defend opinions and document research. As they mature as writers, there is an increased focus on finding and correcting run-on sentences and sentence fragments.
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Fifth Grade Writing
By the end of fifth grade, students will be able to write in the following genres:
- Narrative Writing:
Students will write stories based on personal experiences. They will organize their stories with a natural sequence of events, following a story arc. Various storytelling strategies will be used to make the stories engaging. - Persuasive/Opinion Writing:
Students will write both a personal essay and a persuasive essay. They will form thesis statements and use the structure of an essay (introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion). Students will incorporate hooks, transition statements, topic sentences, evidence, and supporting details. - Informative Writing:
Students will complete a research process to learn how to collect information and give proper credit to sources. They will create an informative report to convey information on a chosen topic.
- Narrative Writing:
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Fourth Grade Outdoor Education
Fourth graders embark on a journey of self-discovery as we continue our skills-based recreation adventures and ecosystem explorations at SAITH. This year, students add an overnight to the roster. Beginning in the spring of 2025, fourth graders participate in a one-night trip where they focus on social-emotional skills in preparation for fifth grade. They learn to have faith in themselves and in their community as they step out of their comfort zones. The winter and fall trips for fourth graders focus on fire ecology and winter forest adaptations.
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Fourth Grade Religion
Bible as a Sacred and Historical Document, Proverbs, Letters of St. Paul, and Wisdom Traditions
Fourth grade begins with a review of the composition of the Bible and how it came to be the way it is. Students learn to locate books in the Bible, chapters, and verses. After studying the book of Proverbs, we cover the remaining stories about Jesus and the letters of Paul. Then we turn to explore wisdom found in other traditions - Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shintoism. Fourth graders work in groups to find out where else wisdom can be gained. We talk about listening and respecting the elders, observing patterns in nature, paying attention to our own bodies and souls, practicing art, and more. All this turns into self-made books of proverbs of gathered wisdom!
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Fourth Grade Drama
The focus of the fourth-grade drama curriculum is to understand the importance of working as an ensemble and the significance of contributing to the bigger picture through the creation of a theatrical piece. In the creative process, students are introduced to a variety of improvisational techniques, exploration of characterization, pantomime, movement, and character motivations. At the conclusion of their fourth-grade year, students will have the opportunity to both perform and critically respond to their performance through reflection and evaluation of their participation in the artistic process.
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Fourth Grade Library
The fourth-grade library curriculum promotes students’ critical thinking and effective, ethical use of information, and it fosters a lifelong love of reading and learning. The librarian collaborates with teachers to align library activities with classroom units of study and to support student learning across subjects.
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Fourth Grade Innovations
The ultimate goal of St. Anne’s physical education program is to involve students in developmentally appropriate movement experiences that focus on learning to move and learning through movement. In “Developmental Level Two,” fourth graders learn to cooperate, apply rules and strategies, and compete in a sportsmanlike manner. Students learn the concepts of how to make healthy choices. Students are provided with challenging experiences to transfer previously learned movement skills to new activities and other movement skills. Various sports, fitness, and rhythmic activities are introduced and practiced. Participation in games, learning stations, and drills assists in the development of mature movement patterns. Such participation provides a process that encourages all students to refine their skills and engage in lifelong physical activities.
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Fourth Grade PE
The ultimate goal of St. Anne’s physical education program is to involve students in developmentally appropriate movement experiences that focus on learning to move and learning through movement. In “Developmental Level Two,” fourth graders learn to cooperate, apply rules and strategies, and compete in a sportsmanlike manner. Students learn the concepts of how to make healthy choices. Students are provided with challenging experiences to transfer previously learned movement skills to new activities and other movement skills. Various sports, fitness, and rhythmic activities are introduced and practiced. Participation in games, learning stations, and drills assists in the development of mature movement patterns. Such participation provides a process that encourages all students to refine their skills and engage in lifelong physical activities.
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Fourth Grade Spanish
Our focus in fourth-grade Spanish is to establish routines and build classroom community in order to have an environment in which students feel comfortable receiving and comprehending as much Spanish as possible. We use a combination of mini-stories, drawing, small talk, games, and more to build students' enthusiasm for language and culture and to help them understand what they hear and read in Spanish. Because exposure to the language happens in the classroom, students are assessed primarily on showing their understanding and the degree to which they are engaged with activities and content.
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Fourth Grade Art
Fourth grade starts the year drawing castles and then uses watercolor and other mediums to complete a finished work of art. Students produce ceramic subtractive castle sculptures and then construct larger ceramic castles using slab construction. They also draw self-portraits and create Northwest Native American totem poles, life drawings, nature drawings, and other projects. We integrate classroom curriculum in the art space to add depth to the students’ learning.
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Fourth Grade Music
The fourth-grade music curriculum focuses on further developing each child's understanding of pitch, melody, and rhythm by singing, playing instruments, and exploring ensemble elements. Each class consists of a variety of rhythm games (recognizing eighth notes, quarter notes, half notes and rests), physics of sound, movement and body connection, and instrument exploration (pitched and unpitched percussion). Students are expected to learn the names of the notes in the treble clef and bass clef, identify dynamic and tempo markings, and define basic music vocabulary.
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Fourth Grade Science
Fourth-grade science is a series of hands-on activities designed to enable our students to explore the world around them, including the study of energy, waves, physical features of organisms, and geology. In fourth grade, students are expected to demonstrate grade-appropriate proficiency in asking questions, developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, constructing explanations and designing solutions, engaging in argument from evidence, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information.
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Fourth Grade Math
The main focus of fourth-grade math is learning how to solve multi-step word problems using the four operations: division, multiplication, addition, and subtraction. Students will use numerous strategies and different tools to solve real-world problems. Not only will they be able to assess the reasonableness of their answers, but they will also be able to justify their conclusions. Students will also be able to find patterns and use algebraic structures.
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Fourth Grade Reading
In fourth-grade reading, students explore a variety of genres, including fiction, nonfiction, informational text, poetry, and more. Depending on individual reading needs, they either read class novels or participate in reading groups. Writing assignments offer opportunities to respond to readings and assess comprehension.
Students are introduced to "signposts" from the book Notice and Note by Kylene Beers. These strategies include:
- Contrast and Contradiction
- Aha Moments
- Tough Questions
- Words of the Wiser
- Again and Again
- Memory Moments
Additionally, students practice comprehension strategies such as cause/effect, character traits, story elements, making connections, inferences, drawing conclusions, and using text evidence. They also work on inflection, pausing at punctuation, and improving fluency and accuracy in reading.
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Fourth Grade Word Study
In fourth grade, word study focuses on the following key areas:
- Phonics: Applying phonetic principles to read unfamiliar multisyllabic words.
- Structural Analysis: Identifying familiar parts within unknown multisyllabic words.
- Morphemic Analysis: Using prefixes, suffixes, base words, and roots to understand word meaning.
- Vocabulary: Using word parts to unlock the meaning of multisyllabic words.
- Spelling: Recognizing common spelling patterns for more efficient reading and writing.
- Fluency: Developing automaticity and accuracy in reading and writing to improve text comprehension.
Students participate in whole-class lessons, complete homework, and read a weekly fluency passage. They are assessed at the end of each unit on their ability to apply spelling rules and integrate knowledge through sentence dictation.
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Fourth Grade Grammar
Fourth-grade students apply their writing skills to multi-paragraph projects in both fiction and non-fiction. Students are expected to demonstrate mastery of writing at the sentence level and then apply that knowledge to create multi-paragraph works.
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Fourth Grade Writing
By the end of fourth grade, students will be able to write personal narratives, informative/explanatory pieces of work (in non-fiction reports), persuasive essays, and poetry. Students will demonstrate an ability to organize and sequence their writing into organized paragraphs composed of complete sentences with correct capitalization, spacing between words, and punctuation. In their writing, students will learn to use a storyteller’s voice to give their work more life by including dialogue and descriptive writing. When writing poetry, students will practice using figurative language and specific word choices to create images and evoke emotions in the reader.
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Third Grade Outdoor Education
Third grade marks the introduction of an additional SAITH trip and focuses on outdoor skill development. Third-graders also continue their seasonal outdoor exploration of the world around them. Students look at color connections and begin to understand the role that color plays in our environment. Concepts such as camouflage, mimicry, and using colors to communicate are introduced. Students are encouraged to dig into their exploration of the space through curiosity and community-based exploration.
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Third Grade Religion
Review of Biblical Characters; the Book of Acts, Psalms, and Prayers
Third-grade religious education starts with a major overview of the Biblical characters studied so far. We create the Bible’s “Hall of Fame,” where each figure is remembered and his or her story analyzed. What was their quest? What did they do right? What mistakes did they make? What character traits can we learn from them? Students also begin to learn about various religious communities, historical and contemporary, Western and Eastern, beginning with the early Christians. We read psalms and prayers, and try writing our own. As always, we lean into religious holidays to remember who observes religious practice and how. Students are invited to share elements of their own religion practiced at home.
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Third Grade Library
The third-grade library curriculum promotes students’ critical thinking, effective and ethical use of information, and fostering a lifelong love of reading and learning. The librarian collaborates with teachers to align library activities with classroom units of study and to support student learning across subjects.
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Third Grade Innovations
In third grade, students are assigned Chromebooks to enhance their learning experience. Key focuses include:
- Typing techniques to improve accuracy and speed
- Using Google and other software tools for word processing and presentations
- Developing media literacy by recognizing bias, misinformation, and practicing responsible online behavior
- Exploring engineering design practices and applying them to real-world problems
- Using tools for data collection and analysis, deepening their understanding of the design process
- Increased collaboration as students work together on complex projects
These skills help students become proficient in both technology and critical thinking.
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Third Grade PE
The ultimate goal of St. Anne’s physical education program is to involve students in developmentally appropriate movement experiences that focus on learning to move and learning through movement.
In “Developmental Level Two,” third, fourth, and fifth graders learn to cooperate, apply rules and strategies, and compete in a sportsmanlike manner. Students learn the concepts of how to make healthy choices. Students are provided with challenging experiences that enable them to transfer previously learned movement skills to new activities and other movement skills. Various sports, fitness, and rhythmic activities are introduced and practiced. Participation in games, learning stations, and drills assists in the development of mature movement patterns. Such participation provides a process that encourages all students to refine their skills and engage in lifelong physical activities.
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Third Grade Spanish
In third-grade Spanish, students engage with the language and cultures through group and individual projects, games, technology, and interactive stories. Key components include:
- Target-language stories in Spanish, which students read and share with their families to reinforce language acquisition
- Demonstrating comprehension through reading, translation, and charades
- Learning new vocabulary through stories and applying it in projects that make the language their own
- Completing the cycle by creating videos for students to watch, reflect on, and take home
This approach fosters both language comprehension and cultural understanding.
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Third Grade Music
The third-grade music curriculum focuses on further developing each child's understanding of pitch, melody, and rhythm by singing, playing instruments, and exploring creative movement. Each class consists of a variety of rhythm games (recognizing eighth notes, quarter notes, half notes and rests), vocal games and exercises, partner games and dances, and instrument exploration (pitched and non-pitched percussion). Students are expected to learn the names of the notes in the treble clef, identify dynamic and tempo markings, and remember basic music vocabulary.
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Third Grade Science
Third-grade science focuses on hands-on activities that help students explore the world around them. Key skills include:
- Asking questions and defining problems
- Developing and using models
- Planning and carrying out investigations
- Analyzing and interpreting data
- Constructing explanations and designing solutions
- Engaging in argument from evidence
- Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
Students use these practices to demonstrate understanding of core scientific concepts, fostering inquiry and critical thinking.
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Third Grade Math
The main focus of third-grade math is multiplication. Students start by building on second-grade strategies, expanding their addition and subtraction skills to larger numbers. Key topics include:
- Multiplication and division with factors 0-10
- Understanding multiplication and using it to support division
- Learning about area and perimeter, applying addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to real-world scenarios
- Studying fractions, telling time, understanding graphs, and describing shapes.
This curriculum enhances students’ mathematical fluency and prepares them for more complex problem-solving.
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Third Grade Reading
In third-grade reading, students are engaged in a mini-lesson where the teacher teaches a specific reading skill or strategy. The teacher uses a mentor text to teach comprehension strategies. Students then meet in guided reading groups, where they practice the skill or strategy that was taught. Students are grouped by their reading level. During this time, the teacher meets with groups to provide students with explicit instruction based on the group’s needs and level. Students read fiction, realistic fiction, narrative fiction, nonfiction, fantasies, mysteries, biographies, poetry, informational articles, and fluency passages. A goal of reading is to instill a love for learning.
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Third Grade Word Study
In third grade, word study is taught daily for 30 minutes. Students engage in daily lessons, complete homework assignments, and read a weekly fluency passage. An end-of-unit assessment evaluates a student’s mastery of the concepts taught in the unit. Students identify different ways to spell phonemes, apply the spelling rule in a list of words, and then integrate their knowledge of the current and previous concepts taught through sentence dictation.
In third grade, word study focuses on the following:
- Phonics: applying phonetic principles when reading unfamiliar multisyllabic words;
- Structural Analysis: identifying familiar parts of words within unknown multisyllabic words;
- Morphemic Analysis: using prefixes, suffixes, base words, and roots to build word meaning;
- Vocabulary: using the direct meaning of word parts to help students unlock the meaning of multisyllabic words;
- Spelling: recognizing common spelling patterns that facilitate students’ ability to read and write more efficiently;
- Fluency: facilitating students’ ability to read and write words with more automaticity and accuracy so more of their attention can be focused on comprehending the text.
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Third Grade Grammar
In third grade, students start to consolidate all their understanding of grammar concepts to compose longer written works. This includes original fiction stories with multiple characters and nonfiction research projects. Students should be able to apply basic sentence structure concepts and will start to add more complex descriptive language and dialogue to their writing.
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Third Grade Writing
By the end of third grade, students will be able to write and differentiate between narrative writing and informational writing. Writing experiences include personal narratives, informative/explanatory paragraphs (in the form of biographies), opinion pieces, and fairy tales. Students will demonstrate an ability to organize and sequence their writing and craft complete sentences with a focus on conventions such as capitalization, spacing between words, and punctuation. Writers learn to use a storyteller's voice to give life to their writing, including descriptive language, dialogue and paragraphing.
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Second Grade Outdoor Education
Second-grade students continue their trips to St. Anne’s in the Hills, building on previous experiences to explore the natural world through humility and self-development. Key activities include:
Reflecting on how they fit into the larger world and considering the impact of their actions
Participating in projects that benefit native species, such as:
- Building and maintaining pollinator gardens
- Installing nest boxes for birds of prey
- Acting as stewards of the landscape
These trips offer valuable opportunities for students to connect with nature and contribute to conservation efforts.
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Second Grade Religion
Second Half of the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) and the Gospels
Second-grade religion class continues to be centered around the stories of the Bible. We pick up with the story of the Jewish people in the Promised Land and proceed to learn about famous Biblical figures like Joshua, Samson, Ruth and Naomi, Samuel, King David, and King Solomon among others. Around Easter time, we turn, again, to Jesus of Nazareth, this time towards the second half of his ministry and life. Was Jesus the Messiah, the awaited savior and king? Did everyone want to follow Jesus? How was he the light of the world? Did he overcome darkness forever? Students interact with the stories through readings, discussion, videos, acting, and drawing. They learn to notice God-moments in their daily life and to do great acts of kindness like many heroes of faith. We continue to study and celebrate various religious traditions, understanding that the world is beautifully diverse and all can choose how they would like to live, whether they are religious or not.
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Second Grade Library
The second-grade library curriculum promotes students’ critical thinking, effective and ethical use of information, and fostering a lifelong love of reading and learning. The librarian collaborates with teachers to align library activities with classroom units of study and to support student learning across subjects.
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Second Grade Innovation
Building on first-grade foundations, second-grade students tackle more complex engineering design challenges and refine their problem-solving skills. Key components include:
- Learning to define and approach problems systematically
- Introducing sophisticated modeling and iterative design concepts
- Advancing online navigation skills and exploring presentation software and block coding
- Developing an understanding of how modern technology works and using coding for computational thinking and creative expression
Students also learn to manage their digital footprint, understand online safety and privacy, and recognize the importance of making responsible online choices.
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Second Grade PE
The second-grade Spanish program engages students in play-based, exploratory, and technology-based activities that promote language acquisition through music, movement, stories, games, and art with increased opportunities for self-directed efforts and demonstration of learning.
In class, we work on stories that are entirely in Spanish, and students bring home those stories to share with their families as part of the language acquisition process. In this process, students demonstrate their comprehension by reading, translating, and/or playing charades with the Spanish vocabulary. A typical unit of study starts with vocabulary introduced from the target-language stories. Students then apply the new vocabulary to a project where they make the learning their own. We complete the cycle by creating videos for students to watch and reflect on at school and at home.
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Second Grade Spanish
The second-grade Spanish program engages students in play-based, exploratory, and technology-based activities that promote language acquisition through music, movement, stories, games, and art with increased opportunities for self-directed efforts and demonstration of learning.
In class, we work on stories that are entirely in Spanish, and students bring home those stories to share with their families as part of the language acquisition process. In this process, students demonstrate their comprehension by reading, translating, and/or playing charades with the Spanish vocabulary. A typical unit of study starts with vocabulary introduced from the target-language stories. Students then apply the new vocabulary to a project where they make the learning their own. We complete the cycle by creating videos for students to watch and reflect on at school and at home.
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Second Grade Art
In second-grade art, young artists primarily create through drawing, painting, and creating different types of 3-D sculpture. They learn about various artists and their styles and try to implement different pieces of those styles throughout their own work. Another important attribute to a growing artist is practice of the proper use of tools and strategies to create different effects in their artwork.
Most importantly, the young artists are encouraged to experiment with different processes and try new things to explore their creativity and voice through art. This may include showing feelings or an idea through color or lines. Working in a more representational or realistic way vs. abstract are all things artists learn, practice, and create during their time in class.
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Second Grade Music
The second-grade music curriculum focuses on further developing a student's understanding of pitch, melody, and rhythm by singing, playing instruments, and exploring creative movement. Each class consists of a variety of rhythm games (recognizing eighth notes, quarter notes, half notes, and rests), vocal games and exercises, partner games and dances, and instrument exploration (pitched and non-pitched percussion). Basic musical terms and vocabulary are developed further.
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Second Grade Science
Second-grade science emphasizes hands-on activities to explore cycles in nature and the local environment. Key topics include:
- The study of matter, plants, and geology
- Developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, and analyzing data
- Constructing explanations, designing solutions, and engaging in evidence-based arguments
- Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
Students use these practices to demonstrate understanding of core scientific concepts.
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Second Grade Math
The second-grade math curriculum focuses on building math fluency and understanding key concepts. Students will:
- Recognize patterns in numbers up to 1,000 and identify different forms of numbers
- Expand their understanding of addition and subtraction
- Begin learning about fractions and measurement
- Explore place value, time, geometry, and probability
Students are encouraged to solve problems in multiple ways, explain their thinking, and connect math concepts to real-world situations using visuals and manipulatives.
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Second Grade Reading
In second grade, students participate in mini-lessons where the teacher teaches specific reading skills or strategies using a mentor text to model comprehension techniques. Afterward, students gather in guided reading groups based on their reading level to practice the skill or strategy.
During group time, the teacher provides explicit instruction tailored to each group's needs. Students read a variety of texts, including fiction, realistic fiction, nonfiction, poetry, informational articles, and fluency passages.
The ultimate goal is to instill a love for reading and a lifelong passion for learning.
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Second Grade Word Study
Teaching fundamental skills is important because they lead to strong decoding and fluency. Word study systematically teaches phonics and phonemic awareness, which helps to unlock the English code in simple and complex words.
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Second Grade Grammar
Second grade students are constantly expanding their spoken and written vocabulary. Although we still see phonetic spelling, we are taking more time to use resources around the classroom (word wall, spelling lists) to increase the accuracy in writing words. Second-grade students are starting to take their skills from the sentence level into short paragraphs that employ transition words and more detailed descriptions.
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Second Grade Writing
By the end of second grade, writers will be able to brainstorm topics, draft ideas, and write several types of texts. Students will apply phonics concepts to their writing and will practice spelling sight words. They will also begin to improve their writing by revising and editing work individually and in groups. Examples include retelling small moment stories, researching and writing about non-fiction topics, explaining opinions, writing friendly letters, and writing fiction series stories.
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First Grade Outdoor Education
First-grade students continue their trips to St. Anne’s in the Hills (SAITH), participating in fall, winter, and spring trips. These experiences expand their understanding of the environment, focusing on how and why people interact with it in different ways.
Key learning areas include:
- Environmental stewardship: understanding how to care for and interact with nature at SAITH
- Team-building activities
- Gaining foundational knowledge of the montane ecosystem, exploring its different levels and how they connect
- Learning compassion and respect for organisms of all sizes through challenges and exploration
All outdoor education activities are grounded in the school’s core value of compassion.
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First Grade Library
The first-grade library curriculum promotes students’ critical thinking, effective and ethical use of information, and fostering a lifelong love of reading and learning. The librarian collaborates with teachers to align library activities with classroom units of study and to support student learning across subjects.
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First Grade Innovations
In first grade, students embark on their journey into the world of innovation. Here, the integration of the Engineering Design Process (EDP), computer fundamentals, and digital citizenship establishes a holistic approach to technology education. Students engage in simple engineering design activities and use basic technology skills to explore and learn in engaging ways. Simultaneously, the introduction to digital citizenship concepts ensures that the use of technology is guided by establishing ethical principles and responsible online behavior.
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First Grade PE
The goal of St. Anne’s physical education program is to provide developmentally appropriate movement experiences that focus on learning to move and learning through movement. Basic skills form the foundation for a more active and healthy life.
In Developmental Level One (kindergarten through second grade), students participate in a daily, comprehensive program that includes:
- Fundamental movement and physical fitness
- Basic locomotor, non-locomotor, rhythmic, and manipulative skills through exploration and games
- Learning the basics of wellness and sportsmanship
This program encourages physical development and lays the groundwork for lifelong fitness.
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First Grade Spanish
The first-grade Spanish program engages students in play-based and exploratory activities that promote language acquisition through music, movement, stories, games, and art with increased opportunities for self-directed efforts and demonstration of learning.
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First Grade Art
In first-grade art, young artists primarily create through drawing, painting, and creating different types of 3-D sculpture. They learn about various artists and their styles and try to implement different pieces of those styles throughout their own work. Another important attribute to a growing artist is practice of the proper use of tools and strategies to create different effects in their artwork.
Most importantly, the young artists are encouraged to experiment with different processes and try new things to explore their creativity and voice through art. This may include showing feelings or an idea through color or lines. Working in a more representational or realistic way vs. abstract are all things artists learn, practice, and create during their time in class.
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First Grade Music
The first-grade music curriculum is designed to develop and strengthen each child’s ability to sing, dance, and play rhythm instruments with their classmates. Skills taught during music class include reading rhythms, matching pitch vocally, moving and responding to music, and an introduction to music terms and vocabulary.
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First Grade Science
First-grade science includes hands-on activities that help students explore the world and understand the processes shaping it. Key areas of focus include:
- Scientific skills: measuring, observing, comparing, asking questions, and critical thinking
- Learning the scientific method and lab safety
Demonstrating proficiency in:
- Planning and carrying out investigations
- Analyzing and interpreting data
- Constructing explanations and designing solutions
- Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
Students apply these skills to understand core scientific concepts and build a foundation for future learning.
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First Grade Math
The main focus of first-grade math is addition and subtraction. Starting at the beginning of the year, students learn to recognize number patterns by counting to 100, and then they understand place value to solidify their knowledge of number value. Beginning with addition facts and strategies within 20, students are given two Standards, one based on skill and one on metacognition. Subtraction is reinforced within 20 to lay the foundation and groundwork for higher-level subtraction. Ultimately, the goal for first graders is to add and subtract within 100. Real-world applications enable students to concretely see math in the world around them. Additional areas of study include telling time, money, shapes, solids, and data.
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First Grade Reading
First-grade students are focusing on writing complete and descriptive sentences with the correct use of capital letters at the beginning of each sentence. They may also explore the additional use of adjectives and adverbs to add information to their work.In first-grade reading, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension skills are taught in whole-group instruction. Students also learn in small reading groups, where they are grouped by reading level and needs. Depending on the group’s needs, the students work on decoding, fluency, and reading comprehension. Students read fiction, nonfiction, and informational articles. Students also listen to read-alouds throughout the year to develop their listening comprehension.
In first grade, students learn how to master reading words with complex consonant constructions in closed syllables, open syllables, vowel-consonant-e syllables, vowel team syllables, and inflectional endings. They learn how to apply functional strategies to successfully read multisyllabic words with ease. The first-grade word study program targets the skills that students need to build confidence with decoding skills in order to become accurate, fluent readers.
First Grade uses Really Great Reading’s Blast program for word study. These daily lessons include explicit instruction and progress monitoring of letter-sound correspondences, phonemic and phonological awareness, high-frequency word fluency, phonics knowledge, and spelling. The lessons are designed to teach these essential skills, which promote strong decoding and fluent, accurate reading.
Intervention lessons are supplemented with Heggerty’s Phonemic Awareness Primary Curriculum. These daily lessons include rhyme, phoneme isolation, blending, segmenting, and manipulation. Students also have opportunities to build alphabet knowledge, language awareness, and phoneme-grapheme connections.
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First Grade Word Study
First-grade students are focusing on writing complete and descriptive sentences with the correct use of capital letters at the beginning of each sentence. They may also explore the additional use of adjectives and adverbs to add information to their work.
In first grade, students learn how to master reading words with complex consonant constructions in closed syllables, open syllables, vowel-consonant-e syllables, vowel team syllables, and inflectional endings. They learn how to apply functional strategies to successfully read multisyllabic words with ease. The first-grade word study program targets the skills that students need to build confidence with decoding skills in order to become accurate, fluent readers.
First Grade uses Really Great Reading’s Blast program for word study. These daily lessons include explicit instruction and progress monitoring of letter-sound correspondences, phonemic and phonological awareness, high-frequency word fluency, phonics knowledge, and spelling. The lessons are designed to teach these essential skills, which promote strong decoding and fluent, accurate reading.
Intervention lessons are supplemented with Heggerty’s Phonemic Awareness Primary Curriculum. These daily lessons include rhyme, phoneme isolation, blending, segmenting, and manipulation. Students also have opportunities to build alphabet knowledge, language awareness, and phoneme-grapheme connections.
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First Grade Grammar
First-grade students are focusing on writing complete and descriptive sentences with the correct use of capital letters at the beginning of each sentence. They may also explore the additional use of adjectives and adverbs to add information to their work.
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First Grade Writing
In first grade, writing focuses on introducing students to the writing process. Throughout the year, first-graders expand on concepts learned in kindergarten, such as generating ideas, writing, applying phonics concepts, and editing for punctuation and conventions (capitalization and spacing between words). Students should be able to master these skills by the end of the year. Students learn how to use detail and feeling words to write stories. They also learn how to recount sequenced events using transition words and how to provide a sense of closure.
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Kindergarten Outdoor Education
Students begin trips to St. Anne’s in the Hills in kindergarten. Students participate in a fall, a winter, and a spring trip, and during each of these trips, they participate in exploration-based activities to help develop both their connection to the natural world and an understanding of their place in it. Students are introduced to the history of SAITH with regards to the school, church, and founding sisters. Students learn about nature reflection tools, work to identify patterns and seasonal changes in nature, and spend time exploring and adventuring alongside their peers. Kindergarten students find that all of their activities tie back to the founding value of “community.”
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Kindergarten Library
Our early education library curriculum involves fostering a love for books, storytelling, and early literacy skills. Activities, story times, and books are tailored based on students’ interests, development and feedback. The librarian collaborates with teachers and provides library materials for units of study to ensure a holistic approach to early literacy development.
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Kindergarten PE
The goal of St. Anne’s physical education program is to engage students in developmentally appropriate movement experiences that focus on both learning to move and learning through movement. In Developmental Level One, kindergarten students participate in a daily program that includes:
- Fundamental movement and physical fitness
- Locomotor, non-locomotor, rhythmic, and manipulative skills through exploration and simple games
- Learning basic wellness concepts and practicing sportsmanship
This foundation promotes an active and healthy lifestyle.
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Kindergarten Spanish
The kindergarten Spanish program engages students in play-based and exploratory activities that promote language acquisition through music, movement, stories, games, and art with increased opportunities for self-directed efforts and demonstration of learning.
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Kindergarten Music
The kindergarten music program focuses on developing each child’s ability to sing, dance, and play rhythm instruments with peers. Skills taught include:
- Keeping a steady beat
- Matching pitch vocally
- Moving and responding to music
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Kindergarten Science
Kindergarten science offers hands-on activities that allow students to explore the world and understand the basic processes that shape it. Key areas of focus include:
- Approaching the environment scientifically
- Understanding how force impacts motion
- Exploring how ecosystems affect organisms
- Studying weather
Students develop scientific skills such as measuring, observing, comparing, asking questions, and critical thinking.
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Kindergarten Math
Kindergarden Math Focus
The kindergarten math program emphasizes:
- Number names and the counting sequence
- One-to-one correspondence for counting objects and comparing numbers
- Addition (putting together/adding to) and subtraction (taking apart/taking from)
- Working with numbers 11–19 to build a foundation for place value
- Describing and comparing measurable attributes
- Classifying objects and counting objects in categories
- Identifying, describing, and working with shapes, including skills to analyze, compare, create, and compose them
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Kindergarten Reading
Kindergarten reading combines letter identification, letter-sound association, and contextual clues to develop reading and comprehension skills. Students listen to read-alouds throughout the year to develop their listening comprehension. In the middle of the year, students start to read decodable books independently. The decodable books align with the skills taught in class. Students reread these books to develop fluency.
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Kindergarten Word Study
Kindergarten focuses on daily lessons that provide direct, explicit, multisensory, and systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, phonological awareness, and phonics to give students a firm foundation in the subskills that lead to strong decoding and fluent reading. The primary goals of the word study program include:
- To help students build robust phonemic awareness skills with an understanding that words are made out of a sequence of sounds and that we can isolate individual sounds and distinguish them from one another (phoneme segmentation)
- To teach students how to use phonemic awareness skills to read and spell;
- To help students understand the alphabetic principle, or the idea that letters represent sounds;
- To build students’ automaticity with letter-sound relationships;
- To help students decode simple closed-syllable words with accuracy and automaticity;
- To help students read a set of high-frequency words with accuracy and automaticity;
- To build students’ phonics knowledge related to consonant digraphs and consonant blends, and to provide strategies for reading simple two-syllable words.
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Kindergarten Art
In kindergarten art, young artists primarily create through drawing, painting, and creating different types of 3-D sculpture. They often learn about various artists and their styles and try to implement different pieces of those styles throughout their own work. Another important attribute to a growing artist is practice of the proper use of tools and strategies to create different effects in their artwork.
Most importantly, the young artists are encouraged to experiment with different processes and try new things to explore their creativity and voice through art. This may include showing feelings or an idea through color or lines. Working in a more representational or realistic way vs. abstract are all things artists learn, practice, and create during their time in class.
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Kindergarten Writing
By the end of kindergarten, students will be able to:
- Write short books with pictures and words on each page.
- Use phonetic spelling and form complete sentences.
- Begin using basic writing conventions, including capitalization, spacing between words, and punctuation (proficiency is not expected).
- Types of writing will include narrative, informative, and opinion pieces.
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Pre-K Outdoor Education
Pre-K students will expand their outdoor education adventure by adventuring into and investigating the outdoors and natural spaces around them, beyond the outdoor classroom space. Students will be encouraged to explore new things, step out of their comfort zone, and find an appreciation for other people's interests beyond their own. Exploration will be done through the lens of “Everyone is a scientist!” with different topics
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Pre-K Library
Our early education library curriculum involves fostering a love for books, storytelling, and early literacy skills. Activities, story times, and books are tailored based on students’ interests, development, and feedback. The librarian collaborates with teachers and provides library materials for units of study to ensure a holistic approach to early literacy development.
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Pre-K PE
The Pre-K PE program focuses on movement concepts and skills, understanding basic health-related and skill-related components of fitness, and how these relate to personal fitness, demonstrating respect, and the ability to follow directions.
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Pre-K Spanish
The Pre-K Spanish program engages students in play-based and exploratory activities that promote language acquisition through hands-on experiences, music, movement, stories, and art with increased opportunities for creative movement, collaborative play, and self-directed efforts.
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Pre-K Music
The Pre-K music curriculum is designed to develop and strengthen each child’s ability to sing, dance, and play rhythm instruments with their classmates. Skills taught during music class include steady beat, matching pitch vocally, and moving and responding to music.
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Pre-K Science
Pre-K science focuses on developing children’s natural curiosity about the world around them, enhances their problem-solving skills, and encourages them to explore and discover new things.
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Pre-K Math
Throughout the year, preschoolers are introduced to a variety of math concepts.
Students learn to:
- Count with one-to-one correspondence to 10
- Rote count to 10
- Identify numbers up to 5
- Understand and create simple patterns
- Sort objects into categories
- Recognize two-dimensional shapes and their attributes
- Compare and contrast objects
- Use key math vocabulary to describe their thinking
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Pre-K Emergent Reading
Pre-K emergent reading combines letter identification, letter-sound association, and contextual clues to develop pre-reading and comprehension skills.
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Pre-K Writing
Pre-K writing builds a strong foundation for early literacy and provides developmentally appropriate instruction for early learners, ages four to five. Pre-K combines cross-curricular activities, the early-literacy curriculum, and daily handwriting practice to prepare students for Kindergarten.
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Preschool Outdoor Education
Preschool students begin their SAES outdoor education journey through seasonally appropriate exploration of the outdoor classroom and their larger surroundings. Students observe changes in their environment, learn how to be safe outdoors, practice caring for their environment, and find comfort and confidence in outdoor exploration alongside their peers. Outdoor education at this age centers on inquiry-based exploration and student safety in the outdoors. Students participate in outdoor education on a semi-monthly basis.
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Preschool-Kindergarten Religion
Introduction to the Bible, Church Calendar, Chapel, and World Religions
In the first three years at St. Anne’s, students begin to develop awareness of the Bible as a special book that contains important stories about God, people, character, miracles, and mystery. Relying on Godly Play, storytelling, and exposure to imagery, objects, and sacred spaces, young learners visit and revisit major narratives and characters of the Hebrew Bible. In the seasons of Christmas and Easter, students learn the story of Jesus of Nazareth and his ministry. We respectfully use other celebrations in world religions as an entry point into learning about them. All faiths are approached with reverence, and while we often turn to mindfulness and prayer to learn the rhythms of gratitude and care, no one way of practice is elevated above others and always remains invitational.
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Preschool Library
Our early education library curriculum involves fostering a love for books, storytelling, and early literacy skills. Activities, story times, and books are tailored based on students’ interests, development, and feedback. The librarian collaborates with teachers and provides library materials for units of study to ensure a holistic approach to early literacy development.
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Preschool PE
The preschool and pre-K PE program focuses on movement concepts and skills, understanding basic health-related and skill-related components of fitness, and how they relate to personal fitness, demonstrating respect, and the ability to follow directions.
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Preschool Spanish
The preschool Spanish program engages students in play-based and exploratory activities that promote language acquisition through hands-on experiences, music, movement, stories, and art.
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Preschool Music
The preschool music curriculum is designed to develop and strengthen a child’s ability to sing, dance, and play rhythm instruments with their classmates. Skills taught during each class include steady beat, matching pitch vocally, and moving and responding to music.
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Preschool Science
Preschool science focuses on developing children’s natural curiosity about the world around them, enhances their problem-solving skills, and encourages them to explore and discover new things.
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Preschool Math
Throughout the year, preschoolers are introduced to a variety of math concepts.
Students learn to:
- Count with one-to-one correspondence to 10
- Rote count to 10
- Identify numbers up to 5
- Understand and create simple patterns
- Sort objects into categories
- Recognize two-dimensional shapes and their attributes
- Compare and contrast objects
- Use key math vocabulary to describe their thinking
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Preschool Emergent Reading
Preschool emergent reading focuses on introducing students to stories and helping them identify what is happening in a story.
Students learn to:
- Look through pictures in books to answer questions and retell events
- Understand that English is read from left to right
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Preschool Writing
Preschool writing focuses on introducing students to the alphabet and the idea that print carries meaning. Throughout the year, preschoolers are introduced to letters and sounds. Students are taught proper letter formation and how to write their names.