Kindergarten
A kinder "garden" where children are nurtured as they grow!
The curriculum at EDUPRIZE School focus's on the whole child. Each area of the child is nurtured as we meet their developmental curricular needs. This is completed through a comprehensive program that consists of: a phonics based curriculum, thematic/science-based units (better known as Cottages), writing program, Saxon math, music, art, computer lab and special science class just for kindergarteners.
Quarter 1 is so exciting. We focus on learning all about your child, the child's family and the child's community. We introduce the child into their school community with open arms. Students learn how to work as a team, develop friendships, and to work in small groups through our unique EDUPRIZE Labs. The Cottage focus this quarter is called All About Me. Each student will be the special kid for one week. They will also create a Celebrate Me box which describes their special interests. The quarter will finish up with a Cottage Fair that is reflective of the student, their family and community.
Quarter 2 is a blast. We get into more writing, writing, writing. We have a saying, "Reading through Writing and Writing through Reading!!" Our focus at this time is Fall and Harvest as well as Animals, Animals, Animals. One of the most exciting adventures is at the end of the quarter. We will issue passports to the children and take off on our adventures around the world. This is fun and exciting time for all.
We believe Quarter 3 to be the children's favorite. They love the cold and hot deserts! Did you know that a desert can be "cold"?We learn all about the environment in each desert such as: snakes, lizards and penguins. It is unbelievable all that the children learn. Here their journal writing really takes off as they are anxious to write about all that they have learned!!! We end this quarter with an incredible "Beach Day"
Quarter 4's surprises keep them wanting more. As we learn about life cycles by hatching eggs, turning caterpillars into butterflies and watching tadpoles turn into frogs. If we can find anything else, we'll try that too! The children will create their own Life Cycles 3-D book. We also plant in our own EDUPRIZE garden. The children love to watch, wait and see the changes. They enjoy caring for our "cycle" projects.
The year ends with a kindergarten celebration unlike any other. This is a wonderful display of songs and movements reflective of the curriculum throughout the year.
This science based program continues through the year with a strong phonics program, the continuation with Saxon math and in incredible Four-Blocks Writing program. Reports are also done by the students twice a year. But most importantly we work with you to nurture a love for learning and education that only EDUPRIZE can provide.
Primary
Grades 1-2
The early school years of a child's life are the most important for setting a foundation of excellence in learning. The goal of the primary team is to develop, nurture and encourage positive learners. Children begin to blossom into excited learners with the low student teacher ratio and close classrooms. Students will also participate in various learning methods such as independent learning, group work and centers. Creating such an environment allows the teacher to meet the individual needs of all students within the classroom. Students are tested in the basics and placed appropriately in curriculum to address gifted and needs students. Students are able to work at their academic ability while developing cooperative learning skills.
The primary setting offers an enjoyable and challenging academic program. Children are offered a hands-on approach. Students improve their reading through the Harcourt Brace Reading Series. Children are also introduced to the seven steps of writing. Writing skills are developed through the Writers' Workshop program, which provides opportunities to brainstorm, write, edit with peers, publish, and share. EDUPRIZE also offers a curriculum rich in science. Students at the primary level are continually engaged in fun, exciting and hands on science.
The following thematic science units are taught at the primary level:
Sweet Shop
Japanese Boutique
Plant Nursery
Card Shop
Bird House
Native American Boutique
Mineral Market
Bookstore
Weather Station
Prehistoric Palace
Desert Lab
Plymouth Plantation
Students learn about these science based units through science experiments, field trips, guest speakers, literature, poems, songs, art, dramatic plays, and productions.
Intermediate 1
Grades 3-4
The curriculum of our team is aligned to the Arizona State Standards. We use Saxon Math and manipulatives in our math program. In reading we use Harcourt Brace, Literature Studies, and Great Books. In writing, we use Writers Workshop, Step Up to Writing, and the 6 traits of writing. Our cottages are all science-based and our instruction is geared to the level of the child. Our program also includes Character Counts and Standards based language instruction. Each child is pretested and appropriately placed in each curriculum.
The students enjoy and study various cottages such as:
Poetry Palace
Arizona Adventure
Invention Convention
Mystery Mansion
Aquarium
Hawaii House
Reptile Ranch
Planetarium
African Adventure
Conservation Plantation
Water Shed
Photo Shop
Intermediate 2
Grades 5-6
The Intermediate 2 Team very closely together to plan its programs, instruction and events for the students. Highlights include: Wax Museam, Project Exploration, Geography Bee, 100 hour reading, and our spelling bee.
The Intermediate II team has fascinating, science based thematic unites called Cottages. Each nine-week cottage is designed with hands on activities and lessons to stimulate children's interests in many different genres and allow students to solidify basic skills through application in the sciences. The cottages for the Intermediate II team consist of:
Weather Bureau
Bug Farm
Greenhouse
Power House
Masters Mansion
Physics Foundry
Body Shop
Cultural Museum
South American Adventure
Speech and Debate
Authors Attic
Piggy Bank
Our program also relies heavily on:
Daily use of planners
Saxon Math program
"Do It Right reading program"
Music
Students coming to music class at EDUPRIZE get a chance to "Step Into the Spotlight!" Frequently included in music lessons are opportunities to sing, dance, play instruments, listen, and move. Lessons are tailored to correlate with the classroom cottage theme, if possible, and contain high interest songs and activites designed to assist the students in meeting the Arizona and National Standards in music.
Physical Education
Through the Pangrazi teaching methods, we ensure each child is given the opportunity to develop and learn a plethora of physical education skills. Positive reinforcement and certificates of achievement encourage the students to continously perform at their optimum levels. Our curriculum is broad and includes cross curricula activities such as problem solving, decision making, and allows children to apply science, geography and math. We also work on skills associated with all the traditional sports as well as some which are not as recognized.
Science
Students at EDUPRIZE participate in a Science Lab rotation each 9 week quarter. The rotation lasts 6-8 days and incorporates 35 minutes of hands-on scientific exploration during each of those days. By utilizing the hands-on approach to learning, students naturally move through the 12 processes of basic scientific investigation. These processes start as simple as students learning to observe and move to more complex tasks such formulating and testing hypotheses. Incorporated into the move through the 12 processes of science students are also learning to use the scientific method of solving problems. Students start with a question, come up with a hypothesis, perform experiments and come up with conclusions based on their experiences.
The scientific topics covered in the Science Lab support the student's homeroom cottage theme for that quarter. For example, those students in the Planetarium cottage will take a closer look at Jupiter and 4 of its moons while on a virtual tour in the classroom. The Invention Convention cottage has students observing, feeling and learning about a foreign substance called "Oobleck" which comes from a planet in another solar system. While primary students are learning about weather in their classroom Weather Station cottage, they get to learn about the water cycle in the Science Lab. Their weather experiences are culminated by making home-made ice cream the real "old-fashioned" way.
This is just a small sampling of the many experiences students have in the Science Lab at EDUPRIZE. Besides these phenomenal experiences within the classroom, students also get to be a part of scientific investigations outside the classroom. Students get their hands dirty while planting in our own soil garden. They get to experience the process of composting utilizing a composter and making worm tea with a worm farm. Again these are just a couple of the many live learning experiences students get to experience on the campus.
Science at EDUPRIZE is a thoroughly unique and educational experience for the students. The best part of all is that the students are constructing their own knowledge through their personal experiences not solely by what textbooks are telling them. The learning that takes place is exciting and stays with them for years to come.
Technology
EDUPRIZE School has multiple computer labs dedicated to 35-minute Specials classes. Our labs are equipped with one computer for each student in class. We utilize color laser printers, digital cameras, scanners, Proxima equipment, VCRs, and other technology equipment.
Software used in the labs includes Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Publisher, Spanish programs, All the Right Type, KidPix, and Storybook Weaver. Internet resources are used to develop research skills in the areas of Math, Science, and Reading.
Each lab cultivates distinct computer skills. Our Cottage Lab instructor has designed distinctive technology-based activities for all of our cottage themes.
Skills Lab is used to develop students' keyboarding and writing abilities, and to introduce foreign language skills.
All students must have a parent/guardian permission slip signed and on file in order to use the Internet in the computer lab and in the classrooms.