2nd & 3rd Grade Earth Science / Creative Writing with Legos
     *This course is taught in a two-year rotation. The alternate year is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)/ IEW Writing Course.
This engaging, hands-on course is divided into two major components: Earth Science (Semester 1) and Creative Writing with Legos (Semester 2).
This engaging, hands-on course is divided into two major components: Earth Science (Semester 1) and Creative Writing with Legos (Semester 2). During the first half of the school year, students will explore key areas of Earth Science through interactive lessons, guided discussion, and hands-on activities. Each week, the main topic will be introduced through a brief teacher-led reading and discussion, followed by an engaging activity that helps bring the concepts to life. Throughout the week, families will receive age-appropriate enrichment materials, including library book suggestions (or read-aloud links), carefully selected videos, worksheets, and optional extension activities to reinforce learning at home.
     Quarter 1: Geography, Geology & Meteorology
     Quarter 2: Oceanography & Environmental Science
In the second half of the year, we shift from scientific exploration to creative expression. Writing can sometimes feel intimidating for young learners, so this portion of the course makes storytelling hands-on, playful, and highly engaging. Students will use LEGO® bricks to physically build their story ideas before writing them down. Just as their LEGO creations are built piece by piece, students will learn to construct stories with a clear structure, including a beginning, middle, and end. Throughout the semester, students will develop skills in: setting and character development, descriptive details, plot structure, theme and message, and clear, organised storytelling. Students will keep a writing journal to document their builds and record their stories. The year will culminate in a final writing project inspired by peer prompts.
     Quarter 3: Creative Writing with Legos (Foundations of Storytelling)
     Quarter 4: Creative Writing with Legos (Expanding Creativity)
By combining hands-on science exploration with imaginative storytelling, this course nurtures curiosity, creativity, and foundational academic skills in a joyful and developmentally appropriate way.

4th & 5th Grade Creative Writing
     *This course will be taught in a two-year rotation with an IEW curriculum.
In this engaging and imaginative Creative Writing course, 4th and 5th-grade students will develop confidence, creativity, and strong foundational writing skills using The Good and the Beautiful Creative Writing Curriculum (Notebooks 1 & 2). Throughout the year, students will explore both fiction and poetry while learning how to bring their ideas to life with vivid detail and thoughtful structure. Lessons will focus on adding rich sensory descriptions, developing memorable characters, crafting engaging plots, writing realistic dialogue, showing emotion through gestures and actions, and overcoming writer’s block. Students will work through five key areas in Notebook 1: Descriptive Writing Practice, Writing Exercises, Story Starters, Poetry, and Full Stories before continuing their growth in Notebook 2 through Writing for Fun and the creation of two longer stories. The curriculum’s beautiful, full-color format encourages creativity while guiding students step by step in developing their writing skills. By the end of the course, students will have built a portfolio of creative pieces, strengthened their storytelling abilities, and grown in both imagination and written expression. This class is designed to inspire a love for writing while equipping students with tools that will support them across all academic subjects.
Semester 1: Notebook 1: Descriptive Writing Practice, Writing Exercises, Story Starters, Poetry, and Full Stories
Semester 2: Notebook 2: Writing for Fun,  Story #1, Story #2