The Avalon School Lower School: Grades 3-5
Students in Avalon's lower school continue their study of nature, literature, drawing and sports by teachers serving as enthusiastic role models who are well-versed in the rich heritage of the humanities. The traditional rigors of mathematics and grammar form the counterbalance to varied and frequent adventure trips that afford small classes an opportunity to explore their world.
"He had not yet learned that if you do one good deed your reward usually is to be set to do another and harder and better one.”
--The Horse and His Boy, C.S. Lewis
Curriculum
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Religion
We have adopted the Ignatius Press series for our religion program in grades one through eight. Its authentic teaching and beautiful artwork present wonderfully the richness of the Catholic faith. In all things, but especially through our religion program, we hope to form boys into men who will make a more human, more vital society. Texts: Our Life with Jesus, Ignatius Press Jesus Our Guide, Ignatius Press Credo: I Believe, Ignatius Press Students are taught the basic prayers, the various articles of the Apostle’s Creed, major stories from the Old and New Testaments, and lives of selected saints. Mathematics
The Avalon School has adopted the Saxon Mathematics series for our math program. The classes consist of short lectures followed by students working on sample problems. The books are rigorous and there is little "fluff." The learning is incremental with continual review. There is frequent cumulative testing. There is also an emphasis on correcting mistakes, a key area where much learning can take place. The classes will be supplemented with math puzzles, mental math, and topics from the history of math. Saxon books are especially suited for students to advance above grade level and we will do our best to accommodate such cases. Texts: Saxon Mathematics 54, 65, 76 History
In the Lower School, students continue studying the history of the United States, looking at its inception as a colony up to the Mexican War in 1848. Texts: 3rd Grade Why America is Free, Mount Vernon Ladies Association 4th Grade A History of US, Oxford University Press, Bks 2 & 3 (The Colonial Period up to the Revolution) 5th Grade A History of US, Oxford University Press, Bks 4 & 5 (Revolutionary War through the Mexican War) Physical Education
Daily physical education for students in grades K-8 allows them to test their physical limits and to test each other. The Avalon School exposes boys to the regular passel of sports that are commonly played, helping them to develop the skills necessary to compete capably, and encouraging the boys to use their imagination and innate competitiveness to develop games of their own. |
Natural History
Science is a hands-on subject. Boys will be encouraged to catch insects, frogs, turtles, snakes and other small animals (little brothers and sisters excluded). We expect them to be able to identify over 50 birds, over 30 trees, and other wild life. Rocks, fossils and artifacts will be observed and collected. Peterson, Stokes, and the Golden Field Guides will be the students' guides and Anna Botsford Comstock's great opus, Handbook of Nature Study, is the teacher's guide.* In the third through fifth grades, students finish the first and second sections of the Natural History curriculum. Poetry
The reading, memorization and recitation of great poetry is an essential part of the Avalon curriculum and experience and comprises a part of the English literature course offerings. Each grade memorizes and recites a number of poems throughout the year. In addition, the competitive recitation of poetry by House representatives is a staple of festival day celebrations. Poet Laureate Contests are held for the Lower and Middle schools each spring. Reading/Phonics/Writing
In grades 3-5, students work on spelling, grammar, phonics, reading and writing. Texts: 2nd/3rd Grade The Door in the Wall, Margarite d’Angeli The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame Rikki - Tikki - Tavi, Rudyard Kipling Stuart Little, E. B. White Charlotte's Web, E. B. White 4th Grade Call It Courage, Armstrong Sperry Farmer Boy, Laura Ingalls The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C. S. Lewis The Horse and His Boy, C. S. Lewis Aesop's Fables 5th Grade Men of Iron, Howard Pyle The Hobbit, J. R. R. Tolkien Johnny Tremain, Esther Forbes Sounder, William H. Armstrong Art
Art is taught one class period per week in grades 3 – 8. Students learn elements of drawing, from basic three-dimensional shapes to more challenging assignments such as the use of perspective, drawing the human person, etc. Projects include learning about and coloringheraldic shields, understanding the color wheel, and color relationships. Students also will seeand study various great works of art. |
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