We believe in equipping a life with a foundation of faith. At St. John’s Lutheran School, our private elementary school curriculum is focused on the development of the whole child through a faith-based curriculum. Our classes are taught by caring, loving staff that offer decades of experience in Christian education.
Curriculum
Our private elementary school offers students daily instruction in each our core subject areas: Religion, reading, writing, math, science/STEM, and social studies. Instruction is provided from a Biblical perspective, drawing meaning for each areas of study from the context of God’s Word.
Core Classes
Religion
Religion is approached as a relationship. By various venues and opportunities throughout the day, students will have the opportunities to practice their faith as well as mature their relationship with the Lord.
We use a Christ centered curriculum that encourages spiritual growth. It is broken down into 9 different units using the One in Christ Curriculum from CPH.
Reading/Writing
Learning how to read is a very important aspect of first and second grade. At least 90 minutes each day is spent on reading, writing, and related activities. The integrated Reading Program studies fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and celebrates a diversity of cultures, experiences, and ideas. It links all the language arts – reading, writing, handwriting, spelling, grammar, phonics, study skills, speaking, and listening together to more fully develop comprehension, decoding, and vocabulary skills.
Language Arts
Spelling: The spelling materials are integrated with our reading program. We study vocabulary words from the stories in our reading book. Words are studied for proper spelling, phonetic characteristics, and usage.
Handwriting: The curriculum relates each letter to its sound, as well as showing correct letter strokes for students to practice.
Grammar: Language materials are also integrated with the reading program. Most grammar skills are practiced during reading class. Many grammar activities are taught throughout the week using a variety of techniques.
Math
There is no way to escape math concepts in everyday life. An inquiry environment is created along with the encouragement of constructive discussion. Students invent, question, model, represent and explore, but also learn and practice important math strategies. Students use real world problem strategies to learn problem solving skills and practice computation. Through daily math talk students explain their methods and in turn become more fluent in them.
FOSS Science/STEM
This course teaches Science concepts through hands-on exploration. We center activities around themes that allow frequent opportunities to develop the science process skills, critical thinking skills, and scientific reasoning skills that support inquiry. This program also focuses on scientific literacy, instructional efficiency and systematic reform.
Social studies
This is a course that teaches history, geography and citizenship with an overall goal to connect the relationship between people, places, and events.
Technology
Each private elementary school student has access to a Chromebook on a 1:1 basis. Every classroom is fitted with a SMART board which allows both teacher and students to actively participate in teaching and learning. Technology is used as a tool to help enhance the curriculum and student outcomes.
Specials
We believe in a well-rounded education. To that end, students have recess daily, PE three times a week, and attend art, music, Spanish and computer science twice each week. Additionally, they go to our library once each week. All resource classes are taught by teachers who specialize in their field.
Physical Education
This course teaches basic coordination skills along with an introduction to several athletic sports. We incorporate games to reinforce skills and emphasize the importance of teamwork, striving to do one’s best, and sportsmanship. Physical Education classes meet 3 times a week for 30 minutes each.
Art
Art is used in virtually all subject areas. The course encourages student creativity and self expression through the use of a wide variety of craft projects and an appreciation of the beautiful world around us that the Lord created. Art projects will include an array of media, varying from simple teacher-directed crafts to independent explorations with given materials.
Music
Music has played a significant role in human lives from the days of King David to now. Music reflects cultural backgrounds, social groups, and personal preferences. Through hands-on studies as well as experiences, students will be exposed to varying genres of musical compositions and their composers during their 30-minute Music and Choir classes, which each meet once a week. They will also have the opportunity to demonstrate their acquired skills through church and program performances.
STEM
Students participate in STEM class where they explore the exciting worlds of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics through hands-on projects and collaborative learning. The curriculum encourages curiosity and critical thinking as students engage in activities like building simple machines, conducting experiments, coding, and solving real-world problems. By fostering creativity and teamwork, our STEM program aims to inspire the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.
Class Traditions, Field Trips, and Events
The primary grades are years to build a strong foundation of traditions and memories! The years are filled with many traditions you and your student will come to love!
- Reading Buddies and Tribes (Chapel Groups)
- Grandparents’ Day
- Singing in the Christmas Service
- Celebrating holiday parties with friends
- National Lutheran Schools Week
- Donuts for Dads and Muffins for Moms
- Spring Musical
- Spring Fine Arts Festival
- All School Field Trip
Each year students participate in several fun and educational field trips that correlate with our curriculum. Some of them include:
- Stages Theater
- Arboretum
- History Center
- Science Museum
- Fire Station
- Faribault Energy Center
- Mayer Lutheran during National Lutheran Schools Week
- Minnesota Zoo
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