Summit Classical Christian School

Curriculum - K-6:

Way we teach (from Summit Classical Christian School's Objectives):

Summit endeavors to provide students with the tools of learning and to instill in them a life-long desire to increase in knowledge and wisdom. Summit immerses students in the history, language, and art of western culture in a manner that enables them to understand our present age and equips them to wisely build the future.

The classical approach to education was the western world's accepted method of teaching for nearly 1,500 years. Its emphasis on structure, content, and method is unsurpassed in providing the tools of learning as well as providing for intellectual development, academic achievement, and moral stability.

A classical approach emphasizes the goal of giving children the educational tools to both learn and think for themselves. The classical emphasis is grounded on the three-fold approach to the tools of learning called the trivium. The trivium consists of the three foundational academic categories, or phases, that are consistent with the specific stages of development of the child: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. The grammar phase (K-5) emphasizes knowledge mastery and memorization. The logic phase (6-8) emphasizes principle comprehension and reasoning. The rhetoric phase (9-12) emphasizes expression and application.

In addition to laying out the stages of learning, the trivium also provides a way to break down a subject of study for full comprehension. Every subject has aspects of grammar, logic, and rhetoric in that one must first grasp the facts, then learn the reasons, motivations, and logic around the facts and finally, evaluate and make applications. The trivium, while providing a way to approach each subject is also a set of subjects. Traditionally, the trivium has included Latin as part of the grammar phase, logic or the principles of reasoning as part of the logic phase, and rhetoric, the art of speaking/writing clearly and cogently, as part of the rhetoric phase.

Classical education in methodology and content equips learners with the tools of learning. The trivium provides the tools. Scripture and classics provide the core content, and Biblical truth is the fixed point of reference.

Below is a sample of the proposed curriculum schedule for Summit's 2008-2009 school year. Contact info@summitclassical.org for the most current curriculum overview.

	Kindergarten	1^st Grade	2^nd Grade	3^rd Grade	4^th Grade	5^th Grade	6^th Grade
Bible	New Testament Overview	Old Testament Overview	Genesis to Joshua	Judges to Chronicles	Survey of the Prophets	The Gospels & Acts	Romans to Revelation
Reading	Phonics	Phonics and Literature	Literature and Phonics	Literature	Literature	Literature	Literature
English	Handwriting, Letters	Grammar, Spelling, Writing	Grammar, Spelling, Writing	Grammar, Spelling, Writing	Grammar, Spelling, Writing	Grammar, Spelling, Writing	Grammar, Spelling, Writing
History & Geography	Family & Community	Basic Geography & Washington History	Old Testament and Ancient Egypt	New Testament, Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome	Middle Ages	Explorers to 1815	1815 to Present
Math	Numbers and basic math	Math at student level	Math at student level	Math at student level	Math at student level	Math at student level	Math at student level
Science	----------	Zoology (Classifications)	Zoology, Biomes, Botany	Zoology, Biomes, Botany, Earth Science	Zoology, Botany, Earth Science, Physics	Zoology, Chemistry, Earth Science Physics	Human Anatomy, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics
Language	----------	----------	----------	----------	Latin Primer I	Latin Primer II	Latin Primer III
Art	Colors, Shapes & Shades	Color, Shades & Themes	Art History & Drawing Skills	Art History & Drawing Skills	Art History & Drawing Skills	Art History & Drawing Skills	Art History & Drawing Skills
Music	Basic Pitch and Rhythm	Pitch, Rhythm & Listening	Pitch, Rhythm, & Listening	Music Notation and Vocal Skills	Basic Theory & Vocal Skill	Composers, Theory, & Singing	Music History, Theory & Singing
PE	Basic Locomotor & Stability Skills	Locomotor & Stability Skills	Ball Skills, Muscle Groups & Fitness	Game Skills, Fitness Elements	Game Skills, Fitness & Dance	FIT Program, Dance, Sports	Team Sports, Dance, FIT Program