Subjects
BIBLICAL STUDIESSOCIAL STUDIES
LANGUAGE ARTS
FINE ARTS
SCIENCE
MATHEMATICS
TECHNOLOGY
MEDIA EDUCATION
BUSINESS EDUCATION
FAMILY LIFE
HOME ECONOMICS
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
CAREER AND PERSONAL PLANNING
BIBLICAL STUDIES introduces children to the most significant insights and ideas of the Bible and our Christian heritage. Students explore the drama of covenant history as it moves from Genesis through Revelation. They study the promises of the Old Testament and the fulfilment in Christ of the New Testament. They learn a Biblical view of man, woman and child created as images of God, both as sinners and as saints. Biblical themes of salvation, grace, faith, covenant, kingdom, church, world, salvation, judgment, law, and gospel are developed. Students see that the Bible's message applies to knowledge, love, human relationships, government, war and peace, and justice. For Biblical Studies, the Bible is the main source for giving students an encounter with God, studying it as God's Word for their lives and finding their place in the story.
SOCIAL STUDIES teaches children about human relationships and actions-today and in the past-so that they live as citizens of God's kingdom in their own community. They learn about their own culture, as well as cultures in other parts of the world and in different time periods. Social studies in Christian schools recognizes that God created people to develop and take care of the creation. In response people have developed many different cultures that have religious frameworks that accept God as Creator and Lord, or worship other gods and/or aspects of the creation. Sin distorts human cultural development yet through the renewal that Christ's redemption brings students can understand and learn to be culture formers themselves. Students learn that all people are called to live justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God as they live in their families and communities. They develop a sense of place and sense of time that is guided by principles of service, justice, stewardship
LANGUAGE ARTS acknowledges that human language is a gift from God to be used to communicate with Him and with other people. Christian schools foster the development and effective use of language so that students learn to express themselves clearly and honestly in serving God and others. Listening and reading develop understanding; speaking and writing develop the ability to express and communicate ideas and beliefs. Literature allows children to experience delight in the varied nature of human beings; students see with other eyes and feel with other hearts, thereby combating a certain amount self-centeredness. In Christian schools, students ask some basic questions: Is the writer faithful to their craft, and obedient to the Lord in using language as a gift of the Lord? What view of life does the author convey? Does the writer's work acknowledge or suppress the sovereignty of God?
A Balanced Menu for Language Arts K-Gr. 5 (password protected for SCSBC Members only)
FINE ARTS are designed to explore our God-given abilities to express experiences through art, music and drama. Christian schools assist children in developing their aesthetic awareness and creative expression. Children learn to appreciate people's artistic gifts, grow in their understanding of the fine arts and learn to interpret the varied forms of expression in the fine arts. The Christian school fine arts program gives students opportunity to concretely express their joy and delight, as well as their struggles. It seeks to open up to children the world of the arts, to teach techniques, and to help them see how these are affected by the spirit of the age in which the art was produced. When students respond in the fine arts to their perceptions of God's Word and world, the results are valid expressions of faith.
SCIENCE encourages children to take joy and delight in exploring and coming to understand God's world. They learn that physical and living things are created by God and not merely nature, environment or natural resources. Science is a human cultural activity through which God can be glorified and human life enhanced or used in life distorting ways. Students study science in the context of human history and develop a Biblical perspective in personal and communal decision-making. Through the study of science, students gain a deepened understanding of how they are the care-takers of creation and responsible to God for maintaining, developing and restoring it. Students are involved in designing experiments, making observations and contributing to existing knowledge in science.
MATHEMATICS-the study of numbers and space-is an integral part of learning to understand the creation. Christian schools teach children about numbers and help them to develop their ability to use numbers honestly and accurately to describe aspects of life and make sense of human experiences. Mathematics is based on the reality of a created order and involves children in discovering the wonder and place of numbers and patterns in God's creativity and design. Children learn mathematics not merely to find correct answers to problems but to explore possible solutions to new problems. Students learn that mathematical principles are derived from people's experiences and explorations in God's world throughout history. They learn to assess the incomplete nature of human understanding of creation and to base their own interpretations on God's faithfulness in upholding the world.
TECHNOLOGY is part of God's good creation and working with it is part of being human. On the one hand, technology is a blessing that has great potential for enriching lives and education. On the other hand, it is part of the fallen creation and can enslave us into thinking that it is all-powerful and holds the key to all learning. Christian schools help students understand the place of technology and to develop skills for using technology appropriately. Technological activity enables teachers and students to extend learning beyond the classroom into increasingly diverse and global settings. Christian schools do not shun the use of computer technology but, instead, learn to use computer technology critically, in ways that provide service to God's world and to each other.
MEDIA EDUCATION in a Christian school teaches that God created communication so that people could live in harmony with Him and with each other. Human communication can promote honesty and understanding, or the opposite. Christian schools help children to develop their oral, print, visual, and digital communication skills for service and not for domination. Christian schools foster an appreciation of various media and involve children in a celebrative use of media to enrich human life. Furthermore, Christian schools assist students in critically analyzing media forms and content, teaching discernment in terms of a Biblical worldview.
BUSINESS EDUCATION in Christian schools helps children learn about and be involved in business activities as an important part of being servants and stewards in God's creation. Educating children about business means demonstrating the ways in which business creates places for people to work, provides goods and services that meet people's needs, provides owners with income, and contributes resources for community life. Christian schools teach children that God is the owner and ruler of everything and that people are given responsibility for managing the earth and its resources in God-honouring ways that provide all people with meaningful and productive lives. Christian schools help children learn to make wise choices in buying and selling products that enhance life and promote stewardship of creation.
FAMILY LIFE teaches about human relationships and family, and is a key area where parent and teacher roles complement one other. Parents provide children with foundational nurture about life's relationships. Teachers educate children in ways that contribute to their understanding of themselves, their relationships with others, their bodies, human sexuality, healthy living, and personal and social growth. Christian schools promote balanced attention to children as unique individuals and as members of families, churches and communities. Children are encouraged to take responsibility for good health, learn decision-making skills and develop a healthy way of living that honors God and builds community with others.
HOME ECONOMICS expands children's experiences with food and clothing, initially shaped in their home and their cultural background. In the elementary grades, Christian schools increase children's awareness about food and clothing most often as part of social studies, science and literature. In middle and higher grades, students study food and clothing more directly in exploratory modules or a home economics course. Christian schools teach children that God created the world with sufficient resources for our basic needs and, through a combination of natural circumstances and human decisions, people have sufficient, excess, or insufficient food and clothing for their needs.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION in Christian schools teaches children that to value and take care of their bodies is an integral part of serving God and others as a member of the Christian community. "You are not your own; you are bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body." (I Cor. 6:20). Physical education involves learning about and doing physical activities: movement, fitness, play, a variety of individual and team sports, and responsible actions. Physical education in Christian schools assists students in increasing their understanding through muscular and fitness activities, using physical activity in service to God, relating this activity to other parts of God's creation, and learning how physical activity helps form the human being.
CAREER AND PERSONAL PLANNING in Christian schools enables children to develop their gifts as they explore and study all areas of life. Education includes guiding children in exploring ways in which they can exercise their gifts in service and work. Children are called to be Christians in all of life and are gifted to serve in particular areas of life. Career and Personal Planning allows students to explore interests and abilities, and consider educational, career, and occupational choices. Learning activities such as self-assessment, goal setting, seeking advice from parents, teachers and mentors, career exploration projects, community service and work experience can increase student awareness and assist them in making decisions about their future education and/or work.
