Upper School (3-6)

Third Grade

3The third grade program marks the beginning of the “ Upper School” at Village. Third graders complete the transition from a more developmental “ Lower School” environment into one that is more traditionally academic while engaging in challenging, experiential learning projects across the curriculum. They participate in cooperative and collaborative learning activities designed to develop their social and academic skills.

The language arts curriculum encompasses both a traditional approach to grammar and writing as well as a more progressive approach with projects extending from the novel studies. Students solidify literacy skills, in addition to constructing genuine responses to literature. The writing program, one of the hallmarks of the third grade program, is integrated extensively throughout the curriculum. Students practice writing in a variety of genres and experience Writer’s Workshop, where they learn the process of composing a published piece. Writing is an essential skill that transcends all academic disciplines.

As with all grades at Village, the Everyday Math series is used as a way to explore math concepts such as place value, positive and negative numbers, measurements, decimals and fractions. This exploration of math concepts is supplemented with skill building activities to assist students in making calculations transparent so that they may more fully focus on their problem solving skills.

The social studies curriculum incorporates literacy skills into the study of Native Americans and Westward Expansion. Students study the ways various groups of people lived, how they interacted with others, and how geography shaped their lives.

Fourth Grade

4The fourth grade program focuses on discovery: discovering learning styles, becoming self-aware of how you learn best, what skills you need to improve, and how your actions impact a group. The study of California, its history, and the people who settled here provide the foundation of the curriculum, that is integrated whenever possible.

In language arts, novel studies focus on events within California history, as do writing and research projects. Students examine an author’s purpose, style, and tones; study poetry; and read plays to understand form and function of the narrator and to gain insight on a character’s motives. They then learn the art and craft of play writing and performance through the production of a California History Play.

The math curriculum evolves with the students’ ability to perform higher-level thinking. Instead of working in the millions students work in the billions. Instead of dealing with single or double step word problems, students deal with multiple step word problems with extraneous information. Fourth graders continue to master the concepts of large numbers positive and negative numbers, measurement, decimals, fractions, geometry, patterns, functions, sequences and algebra.

In social studies, students participate in a year-long exploration of the history and people of California. A highlight of the year is playing “The Great and Glorious Gold Rush Game,” where students maintain a journal and balance a bankbook, recording the events and expenses as if living during the Gold Rush era. The year culminates with a trip to Sacramento where fourth graders tour the capital, visit the gold fields and experience panning for gold firsthand.

Fifth Grade

5The Fifth Grade program is a partnership between teachers, parents, students, and the school community, that guarantees the effective use of all available resources to create, provide, and support quality instruction and environments. Every student will develop the skills, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in order to be a responsible, productive citizen and a lifelong learner in a diverse and changing global society. As Morris Adler once said, "The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live." It is this continued growth of the mind that we strive to discipline and bolster in the fifth grade.

In Language Arts, students will read and respond to historically or culturally significant works of literature. They will develop their abilities to discern main ideas and concepts presented in texts, identifying and assessing evidence that supports them. They will also draw inferences, conclusions, or generalizations about text and support them with textual evidence and knowledge. Fifth grade students will write narrative, expository, persuasive and descriptive texts, as well as develop the skills needed to edit and revise their writing to improve its meaning and focus by adding, deleting, consolidating, clarifying, and rearranging words and sentences.

Using the University of Chicago's Everyday Math program, fifth grade students will increase their facility with the four basic arithmetic operations applied to fractions, decimals, and positive and negative numbers. They will learn to use common measuring units to determine length and area, and use formulas to determine the volume of simple geometric figures. Students will learn the concept of angle measurement and use a protractor and compass to solve problems. They will also learn how to use grids, tables, graphs, and charts to record and analyze data.

In Social Studies, students in the fifth grade will study the development of the nation up to 1850, with an emphasis on the people who were already here, when and from where others arrived, and why they came. Students will learn to recognize that ours is a nation that has a constitution that derives its power from the people, that has gone through a revolution, and that experienced a conflict over land with the original inhabitants. They will also develop a fundamental understanding of how the principles of the American republic form the basis of a pluralistic society in which individual rights are secured.

Sixth Grade

6Sixth grade is the culminating year at Village, so the program strives to balance students’ current needs while preparing them to transfer to middle school. A strong emphasis is placed on students' developing greater responsibility and independence.

In Language Arts, students closely study and analyze literary works that include short stories, novels and plays. Sixth graders develop an appreciation and understanding of the craft of writing by heightening their awareness and examination of figurative language, symbolism and theme. Students also continue their mastery of applying correct spelling, grammar and mechanics to their writing.

University of Chicago, Everyday Mathematics provides the foundation of the math program, which is supplemented through the use of additional materials. Sixth graders work to express multiple strategies when solving word problems, understand coordinate graphing and practice the use of a compass to form geometric constructions. The students continue to work with algebraic variables in addition to working with formulas and equations. Students learn rates, ratios and map scale while identifying, expanding and creating complex patterns and sequences. Students at all levels work together, but opportunities are included both to enrich advanced students and to give additional support to students who may work at a slower pace.

The Social Studies program starts with a focus on archaeology and the development of ancient civilizations, from pre-historical communities, to Mesopotamia, and through ancient and classical Greek periods. Later in the school year, the focus shifts from archaeology to a variety of modern, foreign countries. Students research a country, write a complete report, then celebrate and present the studied country during Village School’s annual World’s Fair. To enrich their understanding of foreign cultures, students study five major world religions and take field trips to corresponding sites of worship. The sixth grade ends the year with a three-day excursion to Catalina Island, providing an opportunity to utilize the concepts learned in science and history, while having a final community bonding experience.

Responsibility doesn’t just appear in the Village Values. Responsibility also appears in several long-anticipated projects and programs set aside for sixth graders because of their ability to see beyond their immediate concerns. Sixth graders are paired with a kindergarten “buddy” with whom they participate in many activities both on and off campus. In October, the students organize and run a Halloween pumpkin exhibition for the entire school. Sixth graders also participate in a community service partnership with the St. Joseph's Center of Venice, providing the priceless experience of working with pre-school age children. Beginning in January, St. Joseph's students come to Village bi-monthly to read and do craft projects with sixth graders. Also, in the spring, the sixth grade puts on a musical play for the school.

Being a sixth grader at Village means that you look beyond yourself. You look for ways that you can use your talents to improve the community and lives of those around you. In essence, the students become philanthropists, altruistic ambassadors for the school, their families and their communities.