Elementary Course Catalog
Elementary School Course Catalog
The following catalog outlines the specific learning objectives, core textbooks, and academic milestones for the Franklin Academy Elementary Division. Our curriculum is designed as a rigorous ladder, ensuring that students master foundational skills in the lower grades (1–3) before transitioning to the complex, inquiry-based challenges of upper elementary (4–5). Through this structured progression, our students build the analytical and linguistic stamina required for Middle School excellence.
Literacy, Literature, and Historical Analysis
English Language Arts (ELA) & Humanities
Core Methodology: Structured Phonics, Tier-2 Vocabulary Acquisition, and Integrated History & Literature.
Key Textbooks: Saxon Phonics, Wordly Wise, Spelling Power.
Grade-Level Benchmarks:
Grade 1: Phonics and Early American Heritage
ELA: Mastery of CVC words, digraphs, and consonant blends using Saxon Phonics. Transitioning from decoding to reading short, fluid sentences.
History: Introduction to American symbols (the flag) and key historical figures, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
Grade 2: Expanding Vocabulary & Early Civilizations
ELA: Introduction of Wordly Wise and Spelling Power to elevate academic vocabulary and spelling accuracy.
History: Study of the 13 Colonies and daily colonial life. Exploration of early American geography and early indigenous civilizations, including the Mayan, Incan, and Aztec empires.
Grade 3: Paragraph Structure & U.S. Geography
ELA: Focus on organizing ideas clearly to write well-structured, complex sentences and foundational paragraphs.
History: Timeline analysis of early American history. Students learn to identify and locate all 50 U.S. states on a map.
Grade 4: Narrative Structure & State Government
ELA: Literary analysis using Charlotte’s Web to explore character themes. Mastery of the “hamburger” structure for drafting clear, multi-paragraph essays.
History: Project-based exploration of California’s heritage (the Gold Rush and the mission system). Introduction to the American Government, focusing on the three branches and how laws are formed.
Grade 5: Literary Symbolism & The Ancient World
ELA: Deep literary analysis using Holes and The Giver. Students participate in “fishbowl” discussions to debate complex concepts like justice, individuality, and symbolism.
History: A comprehensive study of the Ancient World. Students map Mesopotamian irrigation, decipher cuneiform, and debate ancient ethics using Hammurabi’s Code, connecting the ancient past to modern society.
Logic, Operations, and Geometric Reasoning
Advanced Mathematics
Core Methodology: Clear reasoning, computational accuracy, and multi-step word problem solving.
Grade-Level Benchmarks:
Grades 1–4 (Foundations): Mastery of core operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division).
Grade 5 (Pre-Middle School Transition):
Advanced Operations: Fluency with operations involving whole numbers, fractions, and decimals. Accurate application of the order of operations.
Algebraic Thinking: Evaluating expressions and combining like terms.
Geometry: Calculating the perimeter and area of triangles and quadrilaterals. Exploring angle relationships.
3D Geometry: Introduction to three-dimensional figures (cubes, cuboids, prisms, and pyramids). Students calculate volume and recognize the geometric “nets” of these solids.
Data Application: Solving complex, multi-step word problems involving percentages and ratios.
Inquiry-Based Scientific Discovery
Comprehensive Science
Core Methodology: Hands-on experimentation, systems thinking, and cross-disciplinary projects.
Grade-Level Benchmarks:
Grades 1–4 (Foundations):
Exploration of plant and animal life cycles, habitats, foundational physical phenomena, and Earth’s weather systems through hands-on observation.
Grade 5 (Comprehensive Lab Science):
Physics: Investigation of motion, force, energy, and the behavior of moving electric charges, magnets, light, and sound.
Chemistry: Understanding matter, molecules, and chemical reactions (including acids, bases, pH levels, and neutralization).
Biology: Study of protists, the interconnected systems that sustain life, and biological polymers like proteins and DNA.
Earth Science: Introduction to geology, rock/soil structures, and Earth’s interacting spheres (atmosphere, hydrosphere, etc.).
Assessment: Includes collaborative group tasks and “Creativity Challenges” where students design physical solutions to engineering prompts.
Developing Native-Like Fluency & Cultural Empathy
Trilingual Immersion Program
🇪🇸 Spanish Language Acquisition
Grade 1:
Grade 2:
Grade 3:
Grades 4–5:
🇨🇳 Mandarin Chinese (Ma Liping Curriculum)
Grade 2: Recognition: ~ 250 Chinese characters.
Writing: 118 characters from memory.
Fluency: Reading short passages at 45 characters per minute. Ability to use Pinyin independently and express ideas in 5+ word sentences.
Grade 3: Recognition: ~ 350 Chinese characters.
Writing: 174 characters from memory.
Fluency: Reading speed of 75 characters per minute.
Composition: Writing structured paragraphs consisting of 6–8 sentences, laying the foundation for essay writing.
Grades 4–5:
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