Academics at Wornick for Grades 3 - 5

Wornick's curriculum for grades 3-5 reflects a deep understanding of the neurological development of children ages 8-11.  During these formative years, our children's brains are capable of synthesizing a tremendous amount of knowledge - and applying it to new situations and analyses. 

The Wornick Fourth Grade does a multi-subject, integrated curriculum on the Gold Rush - culminated by the overnight trip back in time to 1849 to the Gold Rush.  See the photos of the 2010 Gold Rush Tawonga Trip.

Wornick's progressive curriculum and collaborative learning experiences match our students newfound appetites for learning.  Students at Wornick are expected to think, understandand and articulate concepts - striving for higher cognitive levels and engagement, rather than completing rote worksheets and memorizing just facts.

Mathematics

Wornick has adapted the award-winning Singapore Math curriculum to integrate will all the other courses of study including science, literature, social studies and Jewish studies.  Our students focus on understanding the logic of mathematics and are expected to achieve mastery of arithemetic concepts including whole-to-part relationships and variables. An introduction to the use of variables and basic algorithms is the foundation for later study of algebra and geometry.  This program prepares our students for Wornick's challenging Middle School math curriculum.

Science

The Wornick science curriculum for Grades 3-5 focuses on the development of critical thinking skills and deep understanding of the physical world. Our students perform experiments in the classroom and on campus, as well as visits to local science museums and facilities.  They study mechanical and physical matter and function.  Our curriculum teaches them geology, environmental studies and introductory chemistry.

This month at Wornick, our 3rd graders are observing crayfish grow and interact in their class aquarium.

Language Arts

Wornick is committed to stimulating a lifelong love of reading in our students and developing exceptional  expository writing skills. In Grades 3-5, we continue to have ability and interest based reading groups, class literature discussions, daily writing (creative and analytical) and long-form writing and projects. Additionally, we integrate Language Arts with Jewish Studies so that students can discuss the literature of both countries and reflect upon the cultural differences and similarities in what they read. Wornick students are expected to prepare and present their analyses of literature to practice public speaking and to demonstrate their leadership skills.

Social Studies

Social Studies at Wornick is learned and lived.  Our students study government by interacting with different government agencies in the Bay Area and in Israel.  They study the exciting history of California and in 4th grade, go back in time on a Gold Rush trip where they live and work as a true 49er. We encourage our students to discuss elections around the world and share their observations of democracy in action. Wornick students become educated citizens of the world with knowledge of global cultural history.

Hebrew

As with our beginning grades, Hebrew continues to be taught entirely in Hebrew in grades 3-5, using Chaverim B'Ivrit. Incoming students to these grades are offered support in Hebrew that will catch them up to their classmates. Native speakers are offered a native-speaker accelerated class as well. Ivrit b'Ivrit, Hebrew taught in Hebrew develops Hebrew speaking, reading and writing skills with a focus on developing conversational fluency. The students begin to read short stories, discussing meaning, formulating and answering question orally and in writing. Students concentrate on beginning Hebrew grammatical concepts and constructions. Students continue to enhance their writing and speaking skills.  They demonstrate their writing abilities while constructing stories, essays and poems. For more information on how Wornick's Hebrew program leads to conversational fluency, please explore our Hebrew curriculum.

Jewish Studies

Torah, Jewish history, values, traditions and siddur skills are the hallmarks of the Jewish Studies curriculum in Grades 3-5.  Our students have daily T'fillah (twice weekly with the entire school) to put their siddur and Hebrew reading skills into practice.  The discussions of Torah and Jewish history lead to provocative inquiry into the morals and values of our community.

Students read the Torah in Hebrew, learning through text study the literal meaning, and working independently and in groups, to expand discussions to include the important values and deeper concepts, always relating the enduring understanding to their own lives.  In the fifth grade, our students begin to learn Trope - the traditional chanting of the Torah that will make Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation a joy.

Our twinning program with The Reali School continues and strengthens. Students continue to communicate with their peers in Haifa, learning more about contemporary Israeli life. Teachers work with their Reali counterparts in to create joint units in literature, Social Studies, Math and Judaic Studies. 

Technology

Our one-to-one MacBook program continues in grades 3-5 with technology integrated into our entire curriculum in additional to being a specific course of education itself. Wornick has a cutting edge, comprehensive K-8 technology program.  Grade 3 students are taught to type and word process so that they can fully utilize their MacBooks in upper grade work.  Our students learn Smart Board skills in our digital classrooms.  Wornick also emphasizes safe surfing and teaches our students how to use the Internet responsibly.  Projects in Social Studies, Literature, Math, Science and Jewish Studies often leverage use of the computers at school and at home.

Leadership and Service

Wornick is educating the core of the next generation of Jewish leaders through our unique K-8 leadership curriculum.  Every graduate of our institution develops leadership skills and a committment to service.  In grades 3-5, Wornick students learn responsibility to the group and experience being the leader of a group.  They work together on year-long tzedakah (philanthropic) projects and participate in ongoing service including reading to seniors and pre-schoolers, creating and sending care packages to Israel and more. These projects teach them to be active participants in the community.

Physical Education

Physical Education at Wornick uses the SPARK PE curriculum that combines the ingredients of a healthy spirit and body with a healthy dose of sportsmanship and self-esteem. Each child will emerge from the Wornick Physical Education with a better understanding of who they are, and who they can be, while learning how to be a team player in society. Grades 3 - 5 learn specific sport skills and limited competition. Students have 45 minutes of PE twice a week and our campus provides fields, full gymnasium and Olympic swimming facilities that we use for our programs.

The Arts

Students in grades 3 - 5 at Wornick have art and music integrated into our curriculum.  They will study famous artists and their styles - experimenting with their own abilities and tastes.  They learn both American and Israeli choral music.