The Whole Child Curriculum: Social Science, Geography, History World Language

GEOGRAPHY/SOCIAL SCIENCE
Kindergarten to 3rd Grade
Pupils get to know and feel connected to their physical surroundings and to the work that human beings do.

4th Grade
The immediate surroundings of the school, the locality, the town or city are shown to the children in their geographical and historical development up to the present. Through these studies, their more generalized relationship with the world can be transformed into a sense of belonging, both socially and spatially. The students recite poems relating to the main-lesson topics, such as the study of animals, local geography and history. Map-making (draw 2-dimensional and construct 3-D topo): (a) map of pupil's bedroom; (b) student's route to school (c) map of school (d) map of California. Make basic geographical land forms out of clay or paper mache. Field trips locally and throughout California habitats. Role play, dramatize earth changes. Create small examples and models of earth changes. Observe using five senses: (a) describe observations orally, in writing, and artistically. Develop questions of what, where, and why.

5th Grade
Contrast life by different ecosystems (the sea, in the hills, desert, etc.). Discussion of industrial growth and its effect on the environment. Continuation of map drawing, wall maps, using an atlas, economic interdependence and geographic linkages, regional geography of US and North America.

6th Grade
Main lesson on United States & Global Overview - polarities of water, light, soils, landscape, economy. The earth as a whole - shape and distribution of oceans and continents, dependence on vegetation, seasons in relations to earths' orbit, old and young parts of the earth - major mountains, valleys, rainforests, deserts, outbacks; see the globe as a whole, not just US-centric view. Forest clearing, dustbowls, mineral deposits and trade relations, opening of transport routes.

7th Grade
Africa and Asia: climactic, topographical, plant zones, different ways of life and traditions, developing nations and economic relationship to developed world. Famine and civil war, future of Pacific Rim in relations to global economy, issues around rainforest exploitation.

8th Grade
North and South America - structure of double continent, diverse social and ethnic groups, demographic issues in US, cloud formations observed and painted, meteorological readings, rainfall, etc. Mediterranean lifestyle and climate, desert, arctic. A geographic and economic comparison between Africa and Europe or Europe and Asia, etc.

HISTORY/SOCIAL SCIENCE
1st - 3rd Grade
In the first three years at OCS, pupils will learn 'history' in a non-chronological way through myth and legend that provide them with an understanding of narrative, the primary mode of historical documentation. Many main lessons contain stories of human challenges and quests while familiarizing them with older cultures. (see also the language arts curriculum, APPENDIX F))

4th Grade
Pupils get their first sense of historical time from their studies of local geography and environment (above).

5th Grade
Initial introduction to: Ancient Civilizations: Asian and Middle Eastern peoples, i.e. the culture and religions of Ancient India, China, Ancient Persia, Mesopotamia, Egypt lead up to studying the myths and history of Ancient Greece from Homer's time up to its encounter with oriental culture at the time of Alexander's campaigns. Contrast how ancient life is affected by environment, climate, food, clothing, beliefs and religion. The economic and geographic links between the home and neighboring countries, stressing mutual interdependence. Study of how our culture today is founded on the achievements of past ages. This gives the pupils an early appreciation that the different flowers of human civilization unfolded in the many peoples of the earth, and that every culture has its own essence. This lays a foundation of understanding of how culture belongs to humanity as a whole.

6th Grade
Grade six encompasses an entire cultural epoch, approximately 2100 years, from the eighth century B.C. to the fifteenth century A.D. The founding of the Republic of Rome, cultural achievements of the Romans in the area of building and architecture, sewer system, aqueducts, military roads and the invention of the rounded arch are covered. The migrations of the peoples of Europe after the decline of Rome, the origin and expansion of Islam lead to cultural changes in the Middle Ages, what changes were brought about for Europe through contact with Islam. Here the aspect of causality is taken into account as Europe lagged far behind the Orient. Then with contact with Islam and the East new technological and industrial progress developed in European towns, particularly Italy. The monastic settlements and the growth of urban cultures as well as the early influence of technology such as water wheels, building techniques, advancements in navigation and shipbuilding and inventions such as gunpowder, telescope, clock, paper and the art of printing are important themes.

7th Grade
History from 1400 to Renaissance, biographies, African and European geography. History of European Explorations, invention of printing, the Renaissance, birth of modern science, Joan of Arc, Martin Luther, de Medicis, Thirty Years' war, the Plague.

8th Grade
1700's to present, biographies, American history, Geography of Asia, Australia and Antarctica. Pilgrims, the Constitution, Civil war, Gandhi, Nightingale, Red Cloud, Wounded Knee, Industrial Age, child labor, newer technologies, WWI.

WORLD LANGUAGE
1st Grade
First graders will be introduced to two foreign languages (Spanish and Japanese) through the immersion method. Songs and stories from the country, counting and games are all incorporated. Colors, parts of the body, days of week and seasons, and numbers are taught.

2nd Grade
Activities from first grade to be continued and enlarged upon: poems, songs etc. Recitation of numbers. Vocabulary of nature, articles of clothing, daily routine activities. Listening to simple stories.

3rd Grade
Continue with six lessons per week, 2 per foreign language. Immerse the children totally in a foreign language and allow them to experience its genius. The child can obtain a good pronunciation unconsciously and not through correction which only increases his inhibitions.

4th Grade
Focus on writing and reading in the foreign language. Expand vocabulary. Continue writing the language lesson ("textbook"), to include numbered pages and table of contents. Include grammar and poetry in the language lesson book.

5th Grade
Practice reading using a reader, be able to respond to simple questions to a text, be able to retell small portions of a story freely, be able to use and identify present, past, and future tense of verbs learned, be aware of different sentence structures.

6th Grade
Speak more freely about self and environment, understand grammatical terminology, have a good imaginative picture of country where language is spoken.

7th & 8th Grade
Understand and use cases. Grasp sentence structure, express clearly in range of everyday situations.

For more information about the curriculum, please email: curriculum@oceancharterschool.org