Elementary School
Language development is a fundamental aspect of our primary school curriculum. To achieve bilingualism, children must engage in various language dimensions (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) in both languages within a supportive and stimulating environment that resonates with them. We perceive bilingualism as an independent language rather than a mere amalgamation of simultaneous learning. It is essential to note that no prior knowledge of French or English is required to partake in this enriching experience.
International Program
The International Elementary School Program is a rigorous. yet innovative academic program. We offer a supportive academic atmosphere, yet set a high level of expectation for the quality of thought, work, mastery of content, and skills.
French Program
The French Elementary School Program is taught by specialists across all subject areas who help students develop strong relationships with others, build communication skills in French and English, and prepare students for more structured learning in Middle School.
Empowering Every Student to Reach Their Full Potential
At the LIH, educators tailor lessons to optimize the complete potential of every student. They prioritize identifying unique learning profiles and pathways to triumph for each individual. The objective is not for students with varying abilities to accomplish different goals, but rather to empower all students to achieve the same objectives through diverse approaches.
First Grade
Curriculum Highlights:
Language Arts: Students learn to read and write in French cursive, focusing on syllabic decoding, writing skills, and reading comprehension. English Language Arts emphasizes phonics, vocabulary, grammar, and handwriting through interactive activities.
Math: French system covers numbers up to 100, addition, subtraction, and basic geometry, while the American system includes number recognition, simple addition/subtraction, and measurement. Both programs integrate data management and pattern recognition.
Science & STEAM: Bilingual science lessons explore time, space, the environment, and the living world. STEAM activities introduce basic coding, matter properties, energy transfer, and problem-solving, while also studying the Earth’s place in the universe.
Enrichment: Students engage in art, music, and physical education. Art emphasizes creativity and fine motor skills, music focuses on rhythm and pitch, and PE develops teamwork and motor skills. Spanish lessons cover daily greetings, vocabulary, and basic conversational skills.
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French System
Language Arts
Children in Grade 1 learn to read and write sounds, using the French cursive script, to construct syllables to decipher words and sentences. In parallel to the syllabic method, the programs also focus on reading comprehension of small texts. Building on the graphic skills developed in preschool, writing skills are taught in conjunction with the reading program. Writing, language skills, and oral expression are integrated as the basis of this cycle. The areas of study reinforce one another, and class projects, such as journals, are often assigned to support the acquisition of these skills.
Math
In Grade 1, using the CAPS, students will learn the numbers up to 100, the additions in columns with carrying, the linear subtractions. In geometry, they will learn to recognize shapes and use a ruler. They will practice measurement with standards than with cm and compare weights and lengths. They will learn to organize and manage data.
Science
During the weekly bilingual time, children in Grade 1 will explore the notion of time, space, and the environment. They will learn to identify the day, week, month, and year, and comprehend distance (from very close to very far). Students will study the living world, the water, the plants, and the way the human body grows.
American System
Language Arts
English Language Arts for Grade 1 focuses on Reading and Writing. Through read aloud and shared reading exercises, we engage in word study, including Phonics, Spelling, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Dictation. Writing Workshops allow students to practice new knowledge, as well as their print handwriting skills, cover all the lower- and upper-case letters.
Math
Math in English for Grade 1 focuses on addition and subtraction of small numbers, with an exploration of numbers up to 100, and the basics of measurement and geometry as well as data collection and pattern recognition. Number games and story problems are a key element of coursework, and all concepts are reinforced through hands-on activities.
Social Studies
Grade 1 Social Studies in English introduces students to the idea of “Community”. Through explorations of the world and the people and animals who inhabit it—and the relationships between them—students gain an understanding of how to think about and answer the fundamental, foundational question, “What is all around me?”
Enrichment
Art
The exploration of color and design, through the use of basic techniques and acquisition of art terms, is emphasized. The continued development of fine-motor skills and gross-motor skills is incorporated in projects and activities. Vocabulary and definitions, art critiques, and inclusive class discussions are developed to build self-esteem and creativity. Students begin to maintain an art journal as an opportunity to respond to their own artistic process. Interdisciplinary projects with music are created to contribute to one of the school concerts. All students contribute to the annual art show.
Music
Music is taught in French and through five different approaches: instrumental; vocal; cultural; music theory; and a multimedia project. First-grade students learn to keep a steady beat and execute simple rhythmic patterns on a percussion instrument. They focus on developing good pitch and breathing skills while learning both French and American songs. Students study Mozart, the instrument families, and fundamental concepts of music theory.
Physical Education
The emphasis is on developing one’s personal best, as well as individual skill development in movement patterns and ball activities. Fitness through participation in organized team games, cooperative activities, gymnastics, and dance is encouraged. Specific attention is given to proper throwing, catching, and kicking patterns. Sportsmanship and fair play are modeled and reinforced in each class.
STEAM
At LIH, students will learn what is the universe and what is the earth’s place in it, patterns within the moon-earth-sun system, how organisms external structures help them survive grow and meet their needs, and how individuals of the same species have different characteristics. First grade students will learn how to explain the structures, properties, and interactions of matter, how waves transfer energy and how to predict the interactions between objects. First grade students will also learn how to find a simple problem and a solution and how to improve upon that solution. First grade students will be introduced to coding and how computer science is a foundational skill for all students.
World Languages Spanish
Spanish lessons in first grade include daily greetings and calendars. Students copy vocabulary words and sentences pertaining to the days of the week, polite words, colors, months of the year, numbers 0-20, classroom objects, alphabet, food, animals, parts of the body, community, and family. Practice of pronunciation and short conversations are included.
Second Grade
Curriculum Highlights:
Language Arts: In both French and English, Grade 2 students focus on enhancing reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and writing skills. French cursive writing is further developed, while English instruction covers punctuation, parts of speech, and spelling. Both systems emphasize reading for meaning and writing conventions.
Math: French Math covers numbers up to 1,000, introduces decimal numeration, and explores basic multiplication, subtraction, and problem-solving. Students also learn geometry, measurement, and data management. In the American system, students deepen their understanding of addition and subtraction, place value, and explore money, patterns, and geometry.
Science & STEAM: Students explore Earth’s physical environment, the universe, and the interactions between organisms and their surroundings. They participate in a science fair and engage in problem-solving projects. STEAM lessons introduce basic coding and computational thinking, laying the foundation for computer science.
Enrichment: Students develop skills in Art (exploring techniques and major artists), Music (learning notation, instruments, and songs in French and English), and Physical Education (building strength, coordination, and teamwork). Spanish lessons focus on vocabulary, basic expressions, and simple conversations, with an emphasis on pronunciation and grammar.
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French System
Language Arts
In Grade 2, the focus is on language, reading, and writing—strengthening the skills that have been acquired in Grade 1. In Reading, as they have learned to decode the sounds of language, it will be time to focus on the meaning of the text. In Writing, students are led to create their first writing samples, using the French cursive script. During this year, we begin the study of basic grammar and vocabulary in order to better understand the language.
Histoire Géographie
Social Studies (Histoire Géographie) in French in Grade 2 is part of a wider subject: “Questioning the World”. There are two general objectives: enable students to acquire the necessary knowledge to describe and understand the world around them and develop their reasoning skills; contribute to their development as citizens.
Mathematics
Grade 2 is about searching, modeling, representing, reasoning, calculating, and communicating. The objectives are the mastery of the main elements of numeration and calculation, problem solving and acquisition of mechanisms. Children will be able to count to 1,000. They will start to master decimal numeration and addition and begin to learn both multiplication and subtraction. They will recognize and build simple geometric figures, learn measurements of length, weight, time, and money, and will acquire data management knowledge such as tables, graphs, and problem-solving.
American System
Language Arts
English Language Arts for Grade 2 focuses on Reading and Writing. Through independent reading and read aloud exercises, we practice skills and strategies to ensure comprehension, enable interpretation, and develop vocabulary. In Writing, we explore basic conventions of English grammar, including punctuation and parts of speech, as well as spelling.
Math
Math in English for Grade 2 focuses on more complex addition and subtraction relationships and strategies, including place value explorations of tens and ones, grouping by 2, 5, and 10, odd and even numbers, and patterns to 100, and deepens student’s investigation into data collection and graphing as well as measurement and geometry. Key concepts are reinforced and connected to the real world by working with money.
Science
Science in English for 2nd Grade is focused on the physical environment, here on Earth and in space. Students will participate in group projects that they will present to other students and parents during the yearly science fair.
Enrichment
Art
Class projects challenge and further develop motor skills. Students learn new vocabulary and use new media. They continue to acquire knowledge of new techniques and applications. Major artists are introduced, and their contributions to the art world and history are shared with the students. Students use computer technology to add information to their work. They maintain an art journal throughout the year and participate in the art show in the spring.
Music
Music is taught in both French and English and through five different approaches: instrumental; vocal; cultural; music theory; and a multimedia project. Students learn basic notation and fingerings for the recorder and a percussion instrument. They focus on good pitch and breathing while learning French and American songs, are introduced to jazz, and continue their study of the instrument families and concepts of music theory.
Physical Education
Activities that build skills, strength, speed, coordination, self-confidence, and self-image form the basis of the game’s students play each week. Social and emotional development is addressed through the teaching of concepts such as cooperation, problem-solving, team building, fair play, and respect for human differences.
STEAM
Second grade students will learn how organisms interact with their environment and the effects of these interactions, how and why the earth is constantly changing, what is the universe and the earth’s place in it, and how one can explain the structure, properties, and interactions of matter. Second grade students will also learn how you find a simple problem and a solution and how to improve upon that solution. Second grade students will be introduced to coding and how computer science is a foundational skill for all students.
World Language Spanish
Second graders are able to work more independently. Their lessons include basic expressions, numbers 0-39, colors, the days of the week, classroom objects, clothing, food, community and family, parts of the body, vocabulary about the house, the alphabet, the use of tú, usted, adjectives, commands, and verbs in the present tense. Practicing pronunciation and short conversations are included.
Third Grade
Curriculum Highlights:
Language Arts: In French, students focus on reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, conjugation (present, future, passé composé, and imparfait), and written expression. They also practice spelling, recite texts, and engage in bilingual group work. In English, the focus is on reading comprehension, literary elements, writing conventions, and grammar, with an emphasis on narrative, opinion, and informative writing.
Math: French math includes addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division up to 9999, along with geometry, measurements, and data. Students will also explore problem-solving with multiple operations. In the American system, students build fluency in addition/subtraction, explore multiplication/division, and begin learning about fractions, as well as time, capacity, and area.
Science & STEAM: In French, students study states of matter, the water cycle, living organisms, and healthy behaviors. In STEAM, students learn about interactions in systems, inheritance of traits, environmental impacts, Earth processes, and human influence. They are introduced to coding and problem-solving techniques.
Enrichment: Students engage in art by exploring elements of style, vocabulary, and cultural contexts, and continue with their art journals. In music, they learn solfege, music terminology, and create a percussion instrument while studying composers like Bach and Beethoven. Physical education emphasizes movement, coordination, team sports, and character education, while Spanish lessons cover vocabulary, grammar, and conversation skills with a focus on everyday expressions.
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French System
Language Arts
French Language Arts in Grade 3 focuses on reading: elaborate written answers to written questions, decipher an unknown word, read without hesitation and with expression, recognize different types of writings; grammar: know the classification and nature of words, the types of sentences, the subject and verb accordance; written expression: reinvest the knowledge acquired during the writing phases; vocabulary: be able to search in the dictionary, acquire the different meanings of a word, the words families; conjugation: identify and use the present, the future, the passé composé and the imparfait for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd group verbs; oral Language: recite texts from memory (poetry, fable, …), foster group work in a bilingual context, individual and collective presentations; and spelling: be able to correctly spell words, using different types of exercises.
Math
Math in French for Grade 3 will focus on calculations related to everyday life and will reinforce concepts that are necessary for the acquisition of new skills. Children will be able to calculate with numbers from 0 to 9999: addition, subtraction, multiplication, comparison. They will be solving more and more complex problems with multiple operations. They will practice mental calculation, written calculation, and learn to use a calculator. They will learn multiplication tables and written multiplication with one digit. In Geometry, they will acquire positioning in a 2D and 3D space, measurement of sides and perimeters, construction of geometric shapes, parallel and perpendicular lines, to the beginning of area calculation. Quantities and measures will be taught in detail: length, mass, volume, area, angle, time, duration, and currency.
Science
Science in French in Grade 3 is part of a wider subject: “Questioning the World”. In Grade 3, children will identify the states of the matter, observe the changes of states, study the cycle of water, get to know the characteristics of the living world (e.g., stages of life, animal families, and the food chain), and recognize healthy behaviors (e.g., sleep, nutrition education, and physical activity)
American System
Language Arts
English Language Arts for Grade 3 focuses on Reading and Writing. In Reading, we build on skills addressed in the 1st and 2nd grades, while introducing new skills, to ensure students fully understand key literary elements, such as characters, plot, and theme, develop reading comprehension that enables them to determine the main idea, a sequence of events, and cause and effect. Students explore making text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections. A focus on phonics skills to decode words supports vocabulary and spelling development. In Writing, we teach and reinforce the conventions of standard English grammar and usage, including parts of speech, verb tense, punctuation, and capitalization. Students will practice these by writing narrative pieces, opinion pieces, informative or explanatory texts, as well in their personal Writer’s Notebooks.
Mathematics
Math in English for Grade 3 focuses on ensuring students can fluently add and subtract within 1,000 and understand the attributes of two-dimensional shapes, while introducing multiplication and division of whole numbers and the concept of fractions as numbers, including fraction equivalence and comparison. Students apply these tools to solve problems of time, capacity, mass, area, and perimeter.
Social Studies
3rd Grade Social Studies in English deepens understanding of the part of the world in which we live. Students explore the varied territories and landscapes of North America—from mountains to seascapes, rural towns to big cities—as well as the structure and function of the U.S. government.
Enrichment
Art
Class projects begin to include a broader vocabulary of the basic elements of art, encouraging students to develop their own style and introducing cultural aspects of art that can be applied to project work. Students become increasingly independent in the art studio and participate in interdisciplinary projects that enhance their academic program. All students continue to maintain their art journals and participate in the annual art show.
Music
Music is taught in French and through five different approaches: instrumental; vocal; cultural; music theory; and a multimedia project. Students learn the notes of the staff and elements of solfege, music terminology in both languages, and good pitch and breathing techniques. They are introduced to Bach and Beethoven and continue their study of jazz. Each student creates a percussion instrument of their own and prepares a presentation on a music hero.
Physical Education
In third grade, the emphasis continues to be on the joy of movement and playing games, as well as the continued development of spatial awareness and coordination. Team sports are introduced with a skills-based approach and a small-games focus. Character education is reinforced throughout the year, especially during the cooperative games unit. Students are encouraged to demonstrate sportsmanship and inclusion during all activities.
STEAM
Third grade students will learn How can one explain and predict interactions between objects within systems, how are the characteristics of one generation passed to the next, how can individuals of the same species and even siblings have different characteristics. Third grade students will learn how and why organisms interact with their environment and what are the effects of these interactions, how the characteristics of one generation are passed to the next, and how individuals of the same species and even siblings can have different characteristics. Third grade students will also learn how and why the earth is constantly changing and how the earth’s processes and human activities affect each other. Finally, third grade students will be introduced to coding and how computer science is a foundational skill for all students.
World Languages Spanish
The continuation of concepts taught in previous years is always reviewed in class. New concepts include basic expressions, numbers 0 – 59, days of the week, colors, classroom objects, alphabet, months, clothing, food, community and family, parts of the body, facial expressions, animals, gender, singular and plural, definite and indefinite articles, and adjectives. Students learn the usage of tú, usted, and verbs in the present tense. Practicing pronunciation and short conversations are included.
Fourth Grade
Curriculum Highlights:
Language Arts: In French, students focus on grammar (nominal and verbal groups, sentence structure), conjugation, spelling, and vocabulary, as well as poetry and writing workshops to enhance their creativity. They study literature across various genres, developing reading comprehension and writing skills. In English, students work on reading comprehension, exploring themes, characters, and narrative structure, while also improving their writing skills through narrative, research, and persuasive essays.
Math: French math covers whole numbers up to a million, geometry (perpendicular and parallel lines, polygons), and measurement of length, mass, capacity, and time. In the American system, students deepen their understanding of multiplication, division, and fractions, as well as geometric properties and problem-solving skills.
Science & STEAM: French science focuses on the environment, states of matter, and health, while STEAM lessons explore energy transfer, the Earth’s processes, and how organisms respond to their environment. Both systems introduce basic coding and emphasize hands-on, investigative learning through the scientific method.
Enrichment: Art encourages students to develop their style and use new media, with interdisciplinary projects linking to other subjects. Music lessons introduce classical and contemporary music, and Physical Education focuses on teamwork, strategy, and fitness assessment. Spanish lessons expand vocabulary, grammar, and cultural knowledge, with an emphasis on conversation and understanding Spanish-speaking regions.
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French System
Language Arts
In Grade 4 students will reinforce and update knowledge seen in Grade 3 but also discover new notions. They will continue to build a database of tools to better understand and master the French language; grammar: we will work throughout the year on the nominal group, the verbal group, and the sentence. Children will recognize the nature and function of words and spend a lot of time on the grammatical analysis of sentences to create automatisms; conjugation: we will ensure the search and recognition of conjugated verb in an automatic way and identify the family of verbs: 1st, 2nd, or 3rd group. We will review all the past, present, future in their regularities but also learn the most frequent irregular verbs. Spelling/Vocabulary: students will take the habit of asking themselves the correct questions when writing. Poetry/Writing Workshop: poetry will be learned. This exercise will allow us to enrich the French cultural heritage of students and to use the techniques of oral memory. The Writing Workshop will allow the students to stimulate their imagination and promote their skills to write in a natural way. Literature/Reading: children will study several complete books during the year. They are organized around different literary genres (humor, novel, drama, fiction…)
Histoire Géographie
Grade 4 Social Studies in French is composed of “Histoire” and “Géographie”. In Histoire, the program covers the periods from prehistory to the first Empire. We will work with themes that trace through all these historical periods. In Géographie, we will study the different places of life, housing, work, leisure, and consumption in France.
Mathematics
In Math in French, Grade 4 students will review and reinforce the learnings of Grade 3 as well as integrating many new concepts and skills. Counting: students will acquire a formal knowledge of whole numbers and their designation up to a million, they will be able to compare, classify, and practice approximations. This is a necessary learning to gradually approach new numbers like fraction and decimals. Geometry: we will study perpendicular and parallel lines, polygons including triangles, parallelograms, circles, solids, and axial symmetry. Measures: children will continue to deeper discover measurements of length, masses, capacities, durations.
American System
Language Arts
English Language Arts for Grade 4 covers three areas of competency: Reading, Writing, and Grammar. In Reading, students work with a range of genres from realistic fiction, historical fiction, biography, fables, expository text, fiction, and poetry, developing sufficient accuracy and fluency to support overall comprehension, as well as to determine a theme, describe in depth a character, setting or event, and compare and contrast narrative points of view. Throughout our reading work, students develop and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. In Writing, students learn to produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. We start off the year with a personal narrative, followed by a cross-curricular research piece related to social studies, and poetry, persuasive essays, and biographies round out the year. Students strengthen their writing skills, as needed, through focused efforts in planning, revising, and editing. Grammar is focused on ensuring students can (1) use their knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening, (2) demonstrate an understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings, and (3) determine meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases.
Mathematics
Math in English for Grade 4 focuses on developing problem-solving and reasoning abilities, going above and beyond computational abilities. Three critical areas are covered: (1) multi-digit multiplication and dividing to find quotients with multi-digit dividends, (2) fraction equivalence, addition, and subtraction of fractions with like denominators, and multiplication of fractions by whole numbers, and (3) analysis and classification of geometric figures based on their properties, such as having parallel sides, perpendicular sides, particular angle measures and symmetry.
Science
Science in English for 4th Grade employs a hands-on discovery approach to science that promotes the implementation of the scientific method and encourages students to think critically and reason scientifically. Topics covered include (1) Plants and animals in their environment, (2) Properties of Magnetism and Electricity, (3) Properties of Water, and (4) The effect of Natural Events on Earth.
Enrichment
Art
In fourth grade, the emphasis is on encouraging students to develop their own style while applying new media and techniques. New vocabulary, renowned artists and their work, and definitions of art are discussed in class critiques. Interdisciplinary projects in connection with social studies and science are part of the curriculum. Creating art on an iPad is introduced. All students continue to expand their personal art journal and contribute to the annual art show.
Computer Science
Students will learn the commands of Microsoft Word, basic Excel, and PowerPoint through fun and engaging lesson plans. This is an interactive class that engages students through computer software activities. Students will work individually and in pairs to learn the functions of these Word, PowerPoint, and Excel applications.
Music
Music is taught in French and through five different approaches: instrumental; vocal; cultural; music theory; and a multimedia project. Fourth graders learn the notes of the staff (expanding the recorder range from low D to high F) and elements of solfege, good pitch, and proper breathing. They are introduced to opera, the Beatles, and contemporary pop music. Each student presents an oral and written report on a famous classical musician or composer.
Physical Education
The focus on team sports continues with the introduction of the racquet sport of Pickleball. In the team-sports units, the focus is on teamwork, strategy, and skill development. The Fitness-gram assessment program is introduced; at two different points in the school year, students perform a series of tests, with the goal of measuring their level of fitness against established standards.
STEAM
Fourth grade students will learn how can one explain and predict interactions between objects within systems, how energy is transferred and conserved, how waves are used to transfer energy and information, and how organisms live, grow, and respond to their environment. Fourth grade students will learn how and why the Earth is constantly changing and how Earth’s processes and human activities affect each other. Fourth grade students will also be introduced to coding and how computer science is a foundational skill for all students.
World Languages Spanish
Spanish lessons in fourth grade include reviews -ar -er verbs in the present tense, and the irregular verbs ir, dar, and estar, in the present tense. Conversation, written exercises, and story reading are continued. Students also learn about lifestyles in Spain and Latin America.
Fifth Grade
Curriculum Highlights:
Language Arts: In French, Grade 5 students focus on enhancing their oral, reading, writing, and grammar skills. They study a variety of books and texts, improving comprehension, fluency, and language structure. The bilingual approach integrates both French and English, encouraging seamless language switching. In English, students deepen their reading comprehension, writing (opinion and narrative pieces), grammar, and vocabulary, with an emphasis on critical thinking and text analysis.
Math: In French, students continue to develop skills in large numbers, decimals, fractions, and geometry (including solid shapes and measurements). They focus on problem-solving and applying mathematical concepts in real-life situations. In the American system, the emphasis is on fraction operations, word problems, rounding, and estimation, along with concepts like probability and ratios.
Science & STEAM: French science explores the structure and properties of matter, energy conservation, and ecological interactions, while also emphasizing the scientific method. The American system integrates similar themes but adds a focus on the impact of human activities on Earth. Both systems introduce coding and technology, promoting a hands-on, inquiry-based approach to learning.
Enrichment: Art projects focus on creativity and self-expression through 2D and 3D techniques, including digital art and photography. In Music, students expand their knowledge of musical theory, practice instruments, and engage in cultural studies. Physical Education emphasizes teamwork, strategy, and fitness, while students also engage in extracurricular activities. Spanish lessons build on prior knowledge, enhancing conversational and storytelling skills.
More Information
French System
Language Arts
French Language Arts for Grade 5 covers five areas of competency, all interacting with each other: Oral Language, Reading, Writing, Study of the language and Bilingual times. Oral language: develop fluency in oral language in order to present information clearly in different contexts, students will be introduced to the world of theater and verbal play situations. Reading and reading comprehension: acquire fluent oral and silent reading and to be able to understand and interpret, we will study several complete books during the year. The understanding will be verified by activities requiring a fine reading and understanding of the text. Writing: practiced daily, it is primarily a training in cursive writing and the use of word processing, but it is also convened in writing projects. Copy and layout activities help to develop the skills of the graphomotor gesture. Writing is also used in all activities to assume, question, analyze and show understanding. Study of the language (grammar, spelling, lexicon): Grade 5 is an opportunity to fully engage in an explicit and reflective language study. In writing texts students learn the regularities of the language’s system. They are led to master the relationships between oral and written and acquire the structure, meaning and spelling of words, the form of words related to the context (e.g., gender, number, and complement of the verb), the functioning of the verb.
Bilingual world: the practice of the second language is done in close collaboration with the first. This is why the English and French programs will often meet to study the same idea, read the same book, use the same tools and be bilingual. Everything will be done to switch seamlessly from one language to another, avoiding translation work.
Histoire Géographie
For Grade 5, the Social Studies program in French is composed of “Histoire and “Géographie”. In Histoire, the program covers the Republic, the industrial age in France, France from world wars to the European Union. The Géographie program is also adapted to the local context. France is studied in parallel with the State of New York and the United States. The main themes are moving and communicating from one end of the world to the other.
Mathematics
In the continuity of Grade 4, Grade 5 remains focused on the six major skills of mathematics: search, model, represent, calculate, reason, and communicate. The three different areas covered are numbers and calculations (e.g., large numbers, decimals, simple fractions, solve problems), quantities and measures (e.g., compare, estimate, measure geometrical quantities with measuring instruments), space and geometry (e.g., locating and moving in space, reproducing, and describing common figures and solids, recognizing, and using geometric relationships).
American System
Language Arts
English Language Arts for Grade 5 covers five areas of competency: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, Grammar, and Vocabulary.
In Reading, students develop the ability to read in fine detail through discussions, illustrations, character studies, invented text revisions, and reading comprehension exercises. Students become adept at seeking evidence in the text to support their ideas and personal responses to the books and passages, as well as making inferences. In Writing, students practice the arts of fact and fiction writing. They learn both how to write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information, and to express themselves creatively, crafting narratives of real or imagined experiences and events. As a vital part of developing their language skills, in Speaking and Listening, students will engage in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly. Grammar study is integrated into our reading and writing work or else in contextualized grammar exercises. In all cases, the goal is to sensitize students to the presence of grammar and mechanics in all aspects of expression, particularly as we find them in everyday texts of various kinds. The expansion of Vocabulary is addressed through weekly spelling activities as well as in our reading work, as students continue to develop their word decryption strategies, such as seeking clues in the context to understand the meaning of a word and looking for roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
Math
Math in English for Grade 5 in large part covers fractions. Students learn to convert improper fractions, work with mixed numbers in performing the four operations, hone the techniques of rounding and estimation, and become familiar with the concepts of probability and ratio. Working with word problems is a key element of coursework, focused on helping students learn to identify the information needed to complete a given problem.
Science
Science in English for 5th Grade builds from the content categories required in the French program, fostering an overall perception of science as a means to understand the world and man’s effect on Earth’s resources. Students learn to implement the scientific method, working independently, in pairs, or in groups, to draw meaning from informative texts or hands-on activities. Presentations to their peers then provide an opportunity to fix knowledge in students minds through the act of explaining to others.
Enrichment
Art
Class projects encourage creativity and individuality. They encourage students to use techniques in two-dimensional and three-dimensional art. Using additional equipment and new techniques enhances the challenge of each project. Students explore creating art with iPads and beginner photography. Throughout the year, each student maintains an art journal with written and graphic responses to each project conducted in class. All students contribute to the annual art show, which showcases their artistic development and the creativity of their accomplishments.
Music
Music is taught in both French and English and through five different approaches: instrumental; vocal; cultural; music theory; and a multimedia project. Fifth graders learn the notes of the staff (expanding the recorder range from low C to high C) and elements of solfege, good pitch, and proper breathing. They are introduced to several different musical forms, including the symphony, as well as periods of music—from Renaissance to Modern. They also create the choreography for a musical piece.
Physical Education
In fifth grade, students are challenged to increase their knowledge of the rules specific to each sport in order to enhance their basic strategies during play. Cooperative games and dance complement the team-sports units. Fifth graders participate in the FitnessGram assessment twice during the year. In addition, they are encouraged to take part in the intramural sports program during recess and the annual Hoops for Hearts event.
STEAM
Fifth grade students will learn how one can explain the structure, properties, and interactions of matter, how energy is transferred and conserved, how organisms live, grow, respond to their environment, and reproduce, and how and why organisms interact with their environment and what are the effects of these interactions. Fifth grade students will learn what is the universe, and what is Earth’s place in it, how and why Earth is constantly changing, and how Earth’s processes and human activities affect each other. Fifth grade students will also be introduced to coding and how computer science is a foundational skill for all students.
World Languages Spanish
The 5th Grade Spanish curriculum builds upon the language students learned in the previous years. Students continue to consolidate the skills learned in the past, and expand their knowledge about daily life, places, and future plans etc. Building upon mimicking the language, students will be able to apply what they have previously learned to describe themselves and tell stories.
Give your child the gift of a multilingual education
By enrolling them in our Preschool-Kindergarten program today! With daily immersion in French and English, plus an introduction to Spanish, they’ll thrive in our dynamic STEAM environment—secure their spot now for a brighter future!
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