our place in the world
Computer is taught to all 4 and 5-year-old students. While the primary lesson plan is World Geography, Computer class seeks to bridge all of the specials and classroom activities in which the students are involved. Each month, the students are introduced to a different continent, its people, culture, food, festivals, and animals. All students are expected to be able to name and locate on a map the seven continents by the end of the school year. We also learn some vocabulary: Map, Globe, North Pole, South Pole, Equator, and Continent. The Kindergarten students are expected to also identify the 5 oceans, the equator, and cardinal directions. Kindergarten enrichment includes a coding component as well (see below).​​
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Each of our older classrooms contains a smart board for group activities and games as well as a kindle for each student. These devices are used in a balanced manner with all other teaching to emphasize the equal importance of collaborative play, song, movement, technology, and pencil-to-paper learning. At NFUMC, we believe children process and retain information in a variety of ways and strive to present them with many different learning activities for each lesson.
Wendy Fox
ABC MOUSE
All of our primary lessons are taught using the ABC Mouse program. Within this program, students listen to songs, books, and lessons geared to our study of the month. They complete complex puzzles, color sheets, mazes and many other learning activities.
IXL MATH
In addition to ABC Mouse, the students use a math program called IXL. IXL is an online math tool geared to Georgia state standards. Students receive awards for completing small amounts of this program at home as well. Many of our students complete their entire age-appropriate math section by the end of the school year!
BOOM LEARNING
We also create our own classroom games on a platform called Boom Learning. These games support the geography, math, social studies, reading, and sight word lessons they are receiving in class. Students can login from home and play the games to show you what they have learned.
CODING
Kindergarten students receive additional enrichment in the area of coding. Beginning coding concepts are taught using the Learning Resources Code & Go Robot Mouse and the Scratch Jr app on their classroom kindles. The app is free for everyone and can be downloaded on your home device to further their learning.