Second Grade Curriculum Highlights at Paradise Valley Christian
Bible: The Second Grade Bible curriculum gives students a method of learning the Bible through the telling of the stories of the Old and New Testament, understanding God’s relationship with His people and how it affects our life today by incorporating God’s absolute truths in every 
Language Arts: The Second Grade language program provides a rich literary background to develop more effective reading, writing, and listening skills as students interact with languages. Strategies and skills are taught to sharpen creative and critical thinking enabling students to determine if what they have read honors God. Course content includes: Reading various types of literature, comprehension skills, word study skills-phonics, grammar, mechanics and composition, vocabulary, study and reference skills, listening, speaking, handwriting, spelling. Students also participate in the following: reading buddies with senior citizens at a nearby retirement center, reading incentives for independent reading, and various school sponsored programs (ACSI Spelling Bee, Read-a-Rama…)
Mathematics: The Second Grade mathematics program is designed to provide a foundation for meeting the mathematical demands of everyday life with confidence and accuracy. It provides a sequential base for mastering basic mathematical skills and concepts. There is an emphasis on forward movement from concrete to abstract concepts. Strategies for problem solving are also stressed. The understanding of these concepts should cause an appreciation for the orderliness of the Creator. Students learn whole number concepts and theory, addition, subtraction, multiplication readiness, fractions, money, time and measurement, problem solving, application, and geometry. Students use manipulatives, and Mad Minute Math drills for reinforcement.
Science: The students will investigate God’s world in four general categories: life science, physical science, earth science, and the human body. They will discover the amazing ways that God’s laws of nature work through the study of animals, plants, energy, stars and planets, weather, and the human body. They will learn and develop skills such as observing, classifying, and hypothesizing which are integral to the process of scientific discovery. Students use hands on science kits and attend several field trips to reinforce programs.
Social Studies: The students will come to know and appreciate what it means to be a productive and contributing citizen in the neighborhood, community, and the country in which God has placed them. The students will learn that God has made us caretakers of the earth that is made up of various landforms, bodies of water and other natural resources that need to be conserved. The students will learn that people such as Native Americans, the English settlers, the pioneers and the immigrants are an important part of American history. The students will learn that they can appreciate our country’s greatness through an understanding of historic people and places, and we show this by celebrating national holidays and respecting the American flag. Students participate in a nationality luncheon, field trips and various holiday celebrations to reinforce what they have learned.
Spanish: Spanish for Second Grade reinforces previous curriculum at the same time introduces new skills necessary to acquiring a second language. The goal of this course is to develop fundamental skills required to read and write Spanish properly. Students are introduced to the vowel and alphabet sound chart.
Music: Students attend Music once a week. This course is designed to instill each student with love and appreciation for music as a God-given form of expression. Previously learned concepts and skills are reviewed and built upon. The student’s add to their knowledge of music reading, writing and performing (singing and playing instruments). Listening exercises and activity songs are vital part of the course. All second graders participate in at least two memorized performances in front of an audience each school year.
Physical Education: Activities are selected to help students learn to commit to exercise on his/her own. A new and varied motor skill, along with learning quality of movement rather than quantity is reinforced through the activities. Team effort concept will be applied. The Biblical perspective is learning to use God’s creation carefully. Students participate in Physical Education twice a week.
Library: This program is weekly and designed to promote a love and appreciation for reading and to introduce the student to various authors and their works. Students will learn to appreciate the resources in a library and their responsibility for caring for it. The focus of the library is knowledge, teaching and learning.
Art: Second Grade art classes meet once a week. A variety of projects are assigned using many different type of media. The students are encouraged to use their imaginations and to be creative. They are also encouraged to recognize the importance of personal experiences and respect the originality in their own visual expressions and in the artwork of others.
Computer: This class will give the students an introduction to general technology skills at the elementary level. These skills include but are not limited to competency in the areas of: orientation to the computer, keyboarding, word processing, navigating the internet, and utilizing the computer for learning, presenting, and organizing information.