K/1 Classroom
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The K/1 room experience is often described as "magical." Visit the classroom and you may find yourself entering a completely different environment. The students may transform their classroom into a rain forest complete with a giant Kapok tree suitable for sitting in to ponder the secrets of the rainforest. A month later you may enter the inhospitable environment of space where you will find the K/1 students putting the finishing touches on their solar system model, manning the cockpit in preparation for launch of their "life-size" space shuttle, or making space-walk repairs on the space shuttle wearing their personal life support systems.
Students imagine, plan, and help to construct and paint these elaborate projects to immerse themselves in their unit of study. Additional benefits include teamwork, cooperation, and creativity. Perhaps the most important benefit the students gain from these science and social studies projects is a "can do" attitude that will lay the foundation for the rest of their education at Countryside. The students retain their imagination and excitement and learn to transform their dreams into reality as they mature and progress through their later years here. The scope and breadth of the ideas in the middle school science and invention fairs are readily apparent manifestations of the experiences and inspiration from their K/1 years.
When the children study a country or time period, all academic subjects are integrated with the study of that country or time period. For instance, while in ancient Egypt, the math groups measure pyramids, use the Egyptian number system (fortunately base 10!) and play ancient Egyptian games using a variety of math skills. During Reading/Writing Workshop time, the children read books about Egypt and write about Egypt. The children also enjoy writing using hieroglyphs!
The children work in math and reading groups according to achievement level, and study a world language (Chinese or Spanish). They also have P.E., music and Moventures. In addition, each year the K/1 students plan and implement a service project where they eagerly use their talents to help others in need. Field trips are incorporated into the classroom too – such as visiting the Eastern Illinois Food Bank to proudly present the money raised from the K/1 service project.
Some highlights of K/1:
- Sailing the “seas” in our Ocean Show
- Learning Chinese or Spanish
- Doing hot chocolate math
- Building the Great Pyramid
- Combining community/global service with basic economics in our pizzeria or bakery projects
2/3 Classroom
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The second and third graders are an eager, energetic, and hard working group from first thing in the morning to the end of the day. We begin each day with math, studying everything from basic math facts to practical uses of mathematics in our everyday lives.
As you look around the 2/3 classroom you will see evidence of the variety of subjects we study, including creative writing compositions, science experiments, construction projects, world geography, national government, and cultural studies. You can also see special projects from each of our reading groups that tell you a little something about the books we are reading.
We have great field trips from historical (Lincoln Museum in Springfield) to science (Tree Scavenger Hunt at a local park) to performances at Krannert Center. We also determine “Who Discovered America?”, perform our United States musical, and take part in our hugely-popular “Classroom City” simulation. We even have guest lecturers on subjects ranging from architecture to government. (We loved the stories of a student’s father riding on Air Force One and working with the President.)
Considering all the work we do, it's no wonder that we take time each day to refresh ourselves with a morning snack, lunch break, and afternoon recess. We also enjoy P.E. every day, and we study a world language (either Spanish or Chinese), music, art and Moventures.
Some highlights of 2/3:
- Welcoming the new school year with Camp Countryside
- Creating entrepreneurs with our “Classroom City” economic simulation
- Investigating buildings and creating structures
- Going West in a covered wagon in our Pioneer simulation
- Building bikes in our Simple Machines unit in science and donating them to charity
- Writing, writing, writing
- Enjoying our own desk and supplies!
4/5 Classroom
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The classroom environment is fast-paced, yet relaxed. Here the teachers strive to instill lifelong organizational skills such as project scheduling, pacing, and prioritization.
The curriculum has been organized into integrated units intended to provide students with weeks of study immersed in a topic. Literature, Science, and Social Studies units feature several projects, simulations and field trips. For example, during the biography unit in Literature, students interview an adult they admire and write a multiple-chapter biography. “Airport” and “Ellis Island” are two highly anticipated cross-curricular simulations. The classroom also takes many field trips, including Turkey Run State Park during the Literature nature writing unit, both WDWS and WILL during the Literature news writing unit, Clinton Nuclear Power Plant during Science electricity unit, and trips to Krannert Center for various productions.
The Math curriculum is designed to introduce many methods for solving each type of problem. The goal is to have each student choose the method that best fits his/her learning style and conceptual framework. Topics and methods are carefully revisited on a recurring basis to provide students with several opportunities to evaluate and solidify their methods.
Students continue to study either Spanish or Chinese and begin a two-year long study of Latin. They also are engaged in P.E., music, art and Moventures classes.
Some highlights of 4/5:
- Sketching, hiking and writing poetry at Turkey Run
- Touring the world and our Airport simulation
- Simulating the Ellis Island immigration experience
- Listening to guest speakers
- Hatching baby chicks (chick embryology unit)
- Inventing electrical and magnetic games
- Investigating the crime scene and our Mystery Powders science unit
Middle School
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Our Middle School provides an academically challenging and nurturing learning environment for up to 60 students in 6th, 7th and 8th grade. Each year we are able to accept many new students into these grades. In our warm and nurturing environment, new middle school students feel welcome and bonds quickly form on the annual camping trip. The average class size is 8-15 students. Our size allows ample opportunity for students to become leaders, develop close friendships, and bond with teachers.
Middle school students begin their day in one of four homerooms. They then rotate to core academic classes taught by specialized teachers in literature/writing, social studies, science and math. Students are assigned to the math class that is appropriate for their working knowledge level. Available levels are Level G math (6th grade ), pre-algebra, algebra, and advanced math (beyond algebra 1).
All students have specialized instruction in music, art, world language, physical education and performing arts. Students choose between Chinese, Spanish and Latin for their five day per week language instruction. Students experience a trimester each of Visual Arts, Study Skills, Music and Performing Arts instruction. The learning experience is enriched by specialized units in Math Counts, Creative Writing, Odyssey of the Mind or Fit Club – as selected by the student.
The Middle School program includes several long-term projects, with an emphasis on learning how to do research and learn new material. We emphasize communication and public speaking skills, and a focus is also placed on time management and study skills. The use of computers is integral to the curriculum, and facilitated by our many laptops for in-school work.
In addition to P.E. classes, students can participate in competitive sports by joining our soccer, basketball and volleyball teams. Students can also enjoy other extracurricular activities with our chess club, orchestra, chorus, cross-country running club, newspaper, art club, French club and book club.
Our character building program gives students the tools to be lifelong good citizens, and service learning projects instill the civic responsibility of community and global service. We also facilitate peer advisory groups to encourage the students to reach out and support one another and investigate issues together.
Whether cooking together over a camp fire or dining together at a restaurant, social growth is encouraged through activities such as our annual middle school camp out, middle school dances and the 8th grade trip. For the camping trip, the students plan all aspects of it, including organizing equipment, food, and activities. Through team activities and nature hikes, students and teachers are able to bond as a group.
And what Middle School would be complete without a school dance? Countryside has two Middle School dances each year (for Countryside students). We also have plays, musicals and other performances, ensuring a variety of creative outlets and activities for all Middle School students.
Some highlights of Middle School:
- Playing flashlight tag in the dark at the Middle School campout
- Participating in hands-on simulations such as the Renaissance Man contest
- Partying together at Middle School dances
- Enjoying daily outdoor break and snack time
- Competing in Math Counts, Odyssey of the Mind and sports
- Experimenting in science lab
- Enjoying our own lockers!