Special Classes
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From Art and Digital Skills to Mind, Body, and Spirit, Music and PE, our full range of Special classes is a part of the student curriculum from Kindergarten through 8th grade. These classes empower creativity and develop our students’ capabilities to be visual, critical, and well-rounded learners. Students attend one Special class: Art, Digital Skills, Mind, Body, and Spirit, Music, or PE every school day.
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Art
Students in Kindergarten-8th grade will learn about a variety of techniques, mediums, and artists to form the solid foundation and understanding needed to be an artist and lifelong learner. All students will participate in the spring Art Show.
Primary Department (Kindergarten-2nd grade)- In grades K-2, projects emphasize the development of fine motor skills while experiencing a varity of art materials and reading project relevant books.
- In grades 3-5, students form a solid understanding of the Seven Elements of Art to better create well composed and visually interesting pieces.
- In grades 6-8, students explore creative expression with focus on the principles of design. Students also engage in critical evaluation.
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Digital SkillsIn Digital Skills class, students gain an understanding of the essential technology tools needed to be proficient 21st century learners. This class, for Kindergarten-8th grade students, involves developing skills and knowledge that enables them to safely navigate and discover the numerous areas of digital technology.
Within each grade level in the departments, different programs are used with the units and various topics are covered. The Google Workspace apps are also reinforced to students in 3rd-8th grade throughout the school year.
Primary Department (Kindergarten-2nd grade)- Digital Citizenship, Keyboarding, Coding, Computing Systems
- Additionally, 2nd grade is introduced to the Google Workspace apps
- Digital Citizenship, Keyboarding, Coding, Animation & Design
- Additionally, 5th grade is introduced to Digital Literacy
- Digital Citizenship, Digital Literacy, Keyboarding, Coding & Programming, 3D Animation, Video Creation
- Additionally, 8th grade learns about website design and development
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Mind, Body, and Spirit
As part of the Junior High curriculum, Incarnate Word implements a weekly enrichment program for students in 6th-8th grade. Our goal is to develop true Leaders and Role Models of the Catholic Faith both in our school and our community.
Students will engage in various lessons led by Specialists, Faculty, and Parish Staff to help grow them in Mind, Body, and Spirit. The year will start with Goal Setting, Executive Functioning, and Planning & Time Management training. We will introduce the “On the Path” program which is designed to help our students excel as exceptional teenagers, thriving in their Catholic Identity. We will continue the Amazing Shake program, creating exciting and fun opportunities for our students to learn and practice Professionalism and Leadership skills. This program helps prepare our students for their High School journey!
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Music
Western music notation was created by Catholic Church musicians to help communicate liturgy in 1025 A.D. Kindergarten-5th grade students will learn the fundamentals of this notation by studying how to read notes and rhythms, to solfege (sing with syllables), and to sing hymns artfully. Notable classical composers, musical periods, and various musical styles will also be introduced. Musical literacy realized in the performance practice of the liturgy is the goal for this curriculum.
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Kindergarten
Preliminary to basic iconic music notation
- Understand the concepts of line and space notes
- Introduction to solfege syllables (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol)
- Recognize and clap quarter and half notes
- Demonstrate awareness of loud and soft
- Learn and sing simple Christian songs
Second Grade
Introduction to musicianship
- Solfege from middle C to up an octave in treble clef with ease
- Recognize and clap short rhythmic patterns
- Solfege notes in rhythm from a musical score, level 1
- Sing traditional hymns and praise and worship songs with appropriate vocal quality and dynamic range
Fourth Grade
- Solfege treble clef notes include leger line notes
- Solfege notes in rhythm from a musical score, level 3
- Learn to create a melody, with and without a text
- Learn to solfege antiphons
- Sing traditional hymns and praise and worship songs with more refinement in pitch, rhythm, tone quality, and dynamic range
6th, 7th, and 8th Grade
- Students will first and foremost be encouraged to have fun and be creative
- Students will learn about various styles of music and how it ties in with the human experience and culture
- Students will be invited to create music and record using recording programs on their Chromebooks
- Students will learn about cool, interesting, and different instruments
- Students will be invited to participate musically in the school liturgies and also in various musical performances
- Students will be invited to find out how the Holy Spirit works through music, to teach us how to pray, how to praise God and to help interpret scripture, as well as help understand the emotions we feel when we hear certain types of music
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First Grade
Introduction to basic iconic music notation
- Learn and solfege notes in treble clef (do – sol, possibly extend to an octave)
- Recognize and clap quarter, half, and whole notes
- Begin to solfege in rhythm from a musical score
- Demonstrate awareness of dynamics and appropriate vocal performance quality for liturgy
- Learn and sing traditional hymns
Third Grade
- Solfege from middle C to up an octave in treble clef with ease
- Introduction to leger lines
- Clap rhythmic patterns
- Solfege notes in rhythm from a musical score, level 2
- Sing traditional hymns and praise and worship songs with appropriate vocal quality andndynamic range
Fifth Grade
- Solfege treble clef notes include leger line notes
- Solfege notes in rhythm from a musical score, level 4
- Learn to create a melody, with and without a text
- Learn to solfege and perform antiphons
- Sing traditional hymns and praise and worship songs with more refinement in pitch, rhythm, tone quality, and dynamic range
- Learn to participate and possibly lead in liturgy
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PEPrimary Department (Kindergarten-2nd grade)
- Demonstrate motor skills through individual and group activities
- Students will build their locomotor and non-locomotor skills, body awareness, balance, and manipulative skills
- Safety skills will be taught and developed through proper use of equipment and rules
- Student will demonstrate propoer sportsmanship with their peers
- Student will particpate in low organizational games appropriate for their skill level
- Student will participate in the motor perception program
- Students will participate in individual, partner, and group activity encouraging skill development
- Participation in various team sports such as volleyball, soccer, basketball, floor hockey, pickleball, and softball
- Students will demonstrate proper sportsmanship with their peers
- Participation by students in units on personal fitness, gymnastics, recreational sports, and in rhythms and dance
- Safety skills will develop through proper use of equipment and rules
- Students particpate in "The Presidential Fitness Challenge" beginning in the 4th grade
- Participation in various team sports such as volleyball, soccer, basketball, floor hockey, pickleball, and softball
- Students participate in "The Presidential Fitness Challenge"
- Students evaluate their own personal performance in comparison to their own past performances (PFT)
- Development of a working knowledge of rules, techniques, terms, and strategies suitable to their level
- Appropriate use of equipment will be demonstrated by the students during activities
- 7th and 8th grade students will be captains of their Faith Family/Field Day team
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