Christian Legacy Academy, Inc.

Our comprehensive Language Arts curriculum for 3rd - 12th Grades, targets the sequential development and integration of communication skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Our curriculum addresses these skills by delivering a combination of on- and off-computer assignments. The Elementary School Grades (3rd - 6th) weave skill topics (reading, writing, listening, speaking) together within units. In the Middle & High School Grades (7th - 12th), skills are treated more discretely—i.e. unit by unit. The major strands are detailed as follows:

Reading

Vocabulary: The language arts vocabulary curriculum holds students accountable for vocabulary lists derived from the new words encountered in lesson presentations. This  curriculum also exposes students to some of the structures and meaning relationships among words. Lower grade topics include parts of speech, syllabication, prefixes, suffixes and roots, antonyms and synonyms, and dictionary skills.  Upper level topics expand to include etymology, connotation and denotation, varieties of English, and context clues.

Comprehension skills: Our Language Arts curriculum helps students develop the ability to effectively read the lines, read between the lines, and read beyond the lines. The developmental sequence across the levels includes (1) identifying main ideas and details (what was said), identifying the audience (to whom it was said), finding the purpose (why it was said), questioning the occasion (when it was said); (2) analyzing point of view (perspective from which it was said) and technique (how it was said); (3) uncovering implication and inference (what wasn't said); and (4) evaluating and applying (responding to what was heard, viewed, or read).

Literature studies: In the elementary grades, the Language Arts Curriculum uses literary works to apply basic principles in reading comprehension and to introduce students to general characteristics of literature and major literary categories such as fiction and nonfiction, poetry and prose. To expand upon the program's literature base, book-report projects (including book lists) are interspersed across the 3rd - 8th Grades to help students develop their own reading tastes. Upper grades provide instruction intended to better equip students for effective literature analysis, interpretation, and appreciation. Unit topics include literary devices, features of poetry, short story, the novel, and drama, and American and British Literature survey.

Writing

Spelling: Spelling Lessons appear in every Language Arts Unit from 3rd - 8th Grades. Instruction and word lists drill and reinforce phonics rules/skills and provide opportunities for application in composition.

Composition: In addition to providing opportunities for students to apply principles of grammar and usage in written assignments, our Language Arts curriculum provides writing instruction across the grade levels. Grades 3rd - 6th focus on techniques of invention, word choice, sentence and paragraph structure, paragraph development (e.g. narration, exposition, description), journal and letter writing, story and poetry writing, basic research writing, and writing about literature. Higher grades incorporate formal instruction on the five-paragraph composition, the essay, the research paper, literary criticism, speech writing, and creative writing.  Our Language Arts curriculum also uses writing assignments as a means of application and assessment on a variety of topics.

Speaking and Listening

Listening and speaking skills are introduced as vital components for effective communication in 3rd - 6th Grades and taught as specific skills in 7th - 12th Grades. Topics include conversational etiquette, note taking, interviewing and preparing, delivering, and evaluating speeches.

Special Topics

Viewing visual media: Upper grade courses (7th - 12th) provide instruction on using the Internet, and analyzing and evaluating content of visual media.

Nature and History of the English Language: Taught in Elementary (5th Grade), Middle (8th Grade), and High School (9th, 10th, & 12th Grade), this topic guides students into understanding the relationship between the English language and the cultures and events that have shaped it. Lessons cover basics in etymology, introductory linguistics, anthropology and sociology.

The Bible as Literature: Language Arts (5th & 6th Grades) include lessons that focus on the various literary genres found in the Bible to enrich and inform the student's experience in reading the Bible.

Book Reports: Language Arts include book reports; book lists of the genre are provided, as are templates for writing the reports.

Study and research skills: Our Language Arts curriculum includes instruction on effective practices for note taking, outlining, using visual cues, evaluating, using, and documenting sources.

Our Mathematics Curriculum (Grades 3rd - 12th) is a fully comprehensive math curriculum designed to meet and exceed necessary standards at all grade levels.

Number Skills are developed throughout the elementary grades with a significant focus on the basic operations, whole numbers, fractions, and decimals as well as estimation and rounding skills. Emphasis is also given to application and “story problems."

Geometry is introduced early on in the math curriculum.  Students learn to identify shapes and understand basic concepts. Geometry is integrated into all the grade levels to reinforce and extend the numeracy skills worked on by the student. The formal study of two and three dimensional shapes and their formulas begins in middle school. The 10th Grade curriculum contains a full year of geometry study and incorporates the formal study of logic and proof. It is equivalent to a standard high school Geometry course.

Algebra preparation begins in 6th & 7th Grades, with an introduction to equations and variables.  And, 8th Grade expands on this skill by introducing rules for handling variables in different types of equations, combining terms, FOILing, and using equations to solve word problems. The 9th Grade is our standard Algebra I course that covers such topics as inequalities, polynomials, factoring expressions, radical expressions, systems of equation, graphing, and quadratics. Advanced algebraic concepts are covered in 11th Grade and is equivalent to a standard Algebra II course.

The study of Statistics is integrated throughout the curriculum.  It begins with simple charts and graphs in the elementary grades and progresses to the formal study of permutations and combinations in high school. The 1th Graders begin their Pre-calculus study with the study of exponential and logarithmic functions and the conic sections. These topics continue and intensify up through 12th Grade where seniors continue their calculus preparation with the formal study of trigonometry and the introduction to summation, limits, and the slope of curves. The trig curriculum includes the study of advanced topics such as inverse functions, applications involving the law of sines and cosines, and polar coordinates.

Our Science curriculum for Grades 3rd - 12th focuses on the development observational skills as they study the physical universe God created. The program involves a combination of on- and off-computer assignments.

Our Science curriculum is such a diverse program, the 3rd - 9th Grades observe each area of science on an individual survey basis, usually unit by unit. The 10th - 12th Grades focus on specific areas of science; this includes Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. The four major strands that flow through the lower curriculum and into the specific classes are as follows:

Plants and Animals: Our Science curriculum introduces the study of life to elementary students through the observation of structure and life processes in all living organisms. Specific organisms are used to portray general ideas.

Human Anatomy and Personal Care: With a brief introduction in the lower grades, our Science mainly focuses on human anatomy and personal care in the Middle Grades.

Biology: From the basis of life to cellular and genetic biology, 10th Grade Science curriculum is dedicated solely to the study of Biology.

Earth and Space Sciences

Geology: The study of the Earth and what we find in and on the Earth are the topics discussed in each of the Elementary and Middle Grades.

Weather: Atmospheric conditions and how they affect each other and the planet is a vital component of the curriculum in each of the Elementary and Middle Grades.

Space: The stars, our solar system, and how the Earth relates to the other objects in space are topics of discussion in the lower grades.

Physical Sciences

Chemistry: Our Science introduces Chemistry during upper Elementary Grades and builds on that foundation through the Middle Grades. This study includes the concepts of matter, how it is structured and how it reacts with other matter.  The focus of 7th Grade Science is dedicated to the study of Chemistry.

Physics: Concepts in Physics are presented from the early Elementary through Middle Grades. The study of machines and of energy in its many forms; light, sound, heat, electrical, mechanical, can be found in each of the different grades. The final grade level in the Science Curriculum is a concentrated study of Physics.

Nature of Science

Scientific Method: The concepts of observation and reasoning using the scientific method are woven throughout the entire curriculum. The scientific method is essential to scientific study.

Experimentation:  Experiments and demonstrations are included to help students of all ages visualize abstract concepts. Lower grade students perform simple experiments and higher grade students perform experiments of increased intensity.

Technology: Technology, the application of scientific concepts for the benefit of society, is mentioned throughout the curriculum as it relates to each topic of discussion.

Our History and Geography is a comprehensive curriculum for 3rd - 12th Grades. Presented in a reading-based format, it utilizes a combination of on- and off-computer assignments and activities. The goal of this program is to develop students' understanding of and appreciation for God's activity as seen in the record of man and his relationships. The curriculum targets this goal by focusing on the strategic presentation of the following content strands:

Geography

World Geography: Focuses on geographic distinctives around the globe, including geographical and climatic impacts on lifestyles of world social groups.

American Geography: Focuses on geographic distinctives and impacts in America .

History

World History: Traces the development of civilizations, including key historical personalities and cultural distinctives.

American History: Traces the development of American civilization, including key historical personalities and cultural distinctives.

Government and Citizenship. Explores the impact of historical and modern governmental systems and peoples' cultural relationships.

Economics

Explores the history of economic systems with a focus on contemporary capitalism.

Social Studies Skills:

Map Reading

Research Skills

Historical Method

Our Bible Curriculum for Grades 3rd - 12th is a developmental and in-depth academic study of the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. Utilizing the King James Version and the New American Standard Bible, the Bible curriculum covers a variety of biblical material to assist in the development of a Christian life-view and the integration of this view into academic studies and practical living.

Strands

The Bible curriculum provides seven major themes that are covered on most levels:

Theology: important subjects such as Christ, sin, salvation, and prayer are covered.

Attributes of God: facets of God's identity and nature are studied.

Biblical literature: Psalms, Proverbs, and other books are noted for literary value.

Biblical geography: geography and archeology provide background of Bible times.

Christian growth: awareness of God and self, leading to victorious living and service.

Christian evidences: equipping the Christian for temporal and eternal life.

Special emphasis: each grade level has a unique study

• Early American Literature 1600-1800
• Romantic Period 1800-1855
• War & Reconciliation 1855-1915
• The Modern Age 1915-1946
• From Modern to Postmodern 1946-Present

Filled with works from renowned American writers, this course is a perfect companion for the Language Arts curriculum. Monumental writers included are: Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper, John Greenleaf Whittier, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Walt Whitman, Edgar Allen Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Jack London, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. The modern poetry of E.E. Cummings, Robert Frost, W. H. Auden, Carl Sandburg, and Ezra Pound is also added. A required novel, Our Town is sold separately.

British Literature. With the British Literature curriculum, students will explore the dynamic, rich world of British Literature. Packed with enriching content, this course gives students an in-depth look at the beginnings and development of written works in Great Britain. This one-semester course for 7th - 12th Grades covers a variety of periods:

• The Middle Ages
• The 16th Century
• The 17th and 18th Century
• The 19th Century
• The 20th Century

Filled with works from acclaimed British writers, this course is a perfect companion to the Language Arts curriculum. Monumental writers included are: Geoffrey Chaucer, Edmund Spencer, William Shakespeare, John Bunyan, Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, William Blake, William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Robert Browning, George Bernard Shaw, James Joyce, and C.S. Lewis. Works added include Beowulf, Le Morte d’Arthur, and The Taming of the Shrew.

Consumer Math: Our Consumer Math curriculum is a supplementary math course that explores mathematical applications for daily use. Topics include family finances, occupations, business, and transportation. Appropriate for high school students who have completed Algebra I and Geometry.

College Planner: Little or no budget for college counseling? Help your students prepare for college with our College Planner. This program is designed as a one semester course to guide students in college planning, selection, and application. And they earn high school credit while doing it! This curriculum has a homeschool student focus, but will aid any student with college decisions.

Health Quest: Our Health Quest curriculum is an interactive program for students in 4th - 7th Grades, designed as a one semester elective. Health Quest is designed to teach the importance of personal hygiene and fitness methods, as well as personal and ecological stewardship. Vocabulary is broadened through audio links and interactive drill (Vocabulocity). Techniques for proper exercise are demonstrated through step-by-step slide shows and videos. This class offers practical preparation for the next level of health education and life long benefits.

Health:This one-semester high school elective carefully considers the Christian view of health. The practice of good health starts with knowledge of the physical systems of the body. When the function of the body is understood, a person recognizes the importance of good nutrition, healthy exercise, and personal hygiene. Tending and caring for your health includes more than practicing good eating habits and getting regular exercise. Your overall health is affected by your spiritual, emotional, social, and environmental well-being. A responsible attitude toward living makes one avoid substances that destroy the body.

• What’s Cookin’
• The Clothes You Wear
• Interior Decorating
• Financial Freedom
• Child Development and Care

Filled with fun, relevant lessons, our Home Economics is the perfect supplement to any course of study. This one-year course, created for 7th - 12th Grades, teaches everything from Christian character and appearance to relationships. Give your student the homemaking skills he or she needs along with instilling the importance of living a Christian life in the home. Added are steps on how to build solid financial skills and good character qualities.

Elementary Spanish: Learning is an adventure for students with Elementary Spanish. Students will join Grandpa Glen's reminisces about his childhood adventures while on La Isla de la Providencia with his sister, Elaine. Students learn Spanish by hearing conversations, speaking, and writing. This curriculum also includes language resources, memory aids, songs, fun games, puzzles, exercises, and cultural insights. The CD-ROMs include audio recordings by Spanish speakers.

Secondary Spanish: This course introduces reading, writing, and listening to students in 7th - 12th Grades. Students find themselves in a variety of Spanish settings which create the opportunity to learn Spanish by speaking and writing about different situations and contexts. The curriculum also includes numerous language resources such as a Spanish-English dictionary, animated exercise and educational games. The CD-ROMs include all audio recordings of Spanish speakers, no extra materials required

Spanish I and II: Our Spanish I and II provide two full years of Spanish language study. Spanish I sends you on a trip to Mexico, whereas in Spanish II you venture to Ecuador. Students will have the opportunity to hear a variety of Spanish speakers using various vocabulary and verb tenses. After completing the Spanish I course, students will be able to ask and answer basic questions and initiate and respond to simple statements. After completing the Spanish II course, students will be able to read, write, and listen to more complex language structures. Appropriate for Grades 7th - 12th.

Secondary French: In Secondary French, students will become secret agents on a special mission. They must learn to speak and write French in a variety of situations before completing their mission. The curriculum also includes language resources, memory aids, songs, and cultural insights. The CD-ROMs include all audio recordings of French speakers, no extra materials required. Appropriate for 7th - 12th Grades.

The Story of the Constitution. The Story of the Constitution is a one-semester course that tells briefly of America's origins and what steps led to the formation of the U.S. Constitution. Having explained how and why the national government came about, the course also tells what principles the Constitution stands for and how it applies everyday life. The course is filled with a variety of helpful comprehension exercises for students. This course is ideal for anyone, young or old, who wishes to better understand the Constitution. Appropriate for 7th - 12th Grades.

State History: Topics include state government and leaders, a historical timeline, state growth and population, natural resources, economics and business, tourism and cultural distinctions, and Christian heritage and influence. Instead of rote memorization of facts, students use critical thinking and research skills as they prepare essays, and this makes State History an excellent curriculum for enhancing writing skills, applying math skills, and learning about business and resources. Revised editions of State History cover topics such as history and culture, government, economy, and citizenship. Student work incorporates multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blank, as well as research projects and essay questions. Appropriate for 7th - 12th Grades.