Gateway Christian Elementary

1st–5th grades

Gateway Christian Academy Elementary

Elementary school at Gateway Christian Academy is a time filled with excitement, discovery, and growth as students embark on their academic and spiritual journeys.

Serving students from 1st through 5th grade, our curriculum provides a strong academic foundation with engaging subjects such as Bible, Phonics, Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science, History, Handwriting, Art, Music, and P.E. All students learn to write in cursive before transitioning to print, fostering essential handwriting skills. In addition, all grade levels are offered Spanish, P.E., Art, Music (including Violin and Piano), and weekly chapel services that reinforce biblical truths and spiritual growth. Our academic program incorporates resources from A Beka, BJU Press, ACSI, and Gateway Christian Academy–created content, allowing us to deliver a well-rounded, Christ-centered education tailored to the unique needs of our students.

We create special spiritual moments where students are guided to experience God’s love in meaningful ways.

Our goal is to nurture not only their academic success but also their spiritual development, laying a strong foundation for the future.

Elementary Program Objectives

At Gateway Christian Academy, we’ve established specific elementary program objectives that enable ours students to thrive spiritually, academically, socially, and physically as we prepare them to impact the world for Christ.

1st Grade Objectives

Bible: Students engage in daily Bible lessons that focus on the themes of creation, redemption, and the life of Christ, helping them develop a biblical worldview from an early age.

Phonics & Literature: Phonics-based instruction is central to literacy development in 1st grade, with an emphasis on mastering special sounds and complex sound combinations. A literature-rich curriculum complements phonics lessons, fostering vocabulary development and comprehension through engaging guided-reading circles.

Spelling: Spelling instruction builds fluency through weekly practice, word pattern recognition, and high-frequency word application, supported by data-driven assessments to target areas for improvement.

Writing: Students are introduced to cursive handwriting through structured, developmentally appropriate lessons that support fine motor skills and written expression.

Math: Math instruction uses hands-on manipulatives and guided practice to introduce concepts such as multiplication, time, money values, fractions, and measurement. Spiraled instruction and fact fluency drills ensure skills are revisited and strengthened throughout the year, with data-driven monitoring to support individual student growth.

Social Studies: Students explore foundational concepts such as national symbols, key moments in history, a love for America, places of interest, and the roles of community helpers through thematic, age-appropriate instruction.

Science: Science units include the five senses, simple machines, mammals, flowers, and the changing seasons, using hands-on exploration and observation to nurture curiosity and scientific thinking.

Health: Health lessons promote good manners, safety habits, and personal responsibility, reinforcing character development in both classroom and social settings.

2nd Grade Objectives

Bible: Students explore key Old Testament stories including Creation, Jacob’s Ladder, and David and Goliath, laying a strong foundation of biblical knowledge and God’s faithfulness throughout history.

Phonics & Literacy: Our literature-rich curriculum emphasizes phonics-based instruction, where students build advanced decoding skills through syllabication, special sounds, and vocabulary development. Guided reading circles are used daily to promote fluency, comprehension, and a love for reading through meaningful stories and discussion.

Language: Students develop sentence structure and grammar skills, learning how to express ideas clearly while expanding their written and spoken communication.

Spelling: Spelling is practiced with an emphasis on fluency and application, helping students master patterns and high-frequency words in context.

Writing: Cursive handwriting is taught as students continue to develop fine motor skills and written communication through structured writing exercises.

Math: Math instruction includes hands-on manipulatives, guided and spiraled practice, and frequent reviews to support fact fluency and long-term mastery. Students explore counting, telling time (“quarter till”), fractions, liquid measurement, temperature, money, Roman numerals, multiplication and division tables, line graphs, pie charts, and comparing fractions. Instruction is data-driven to meet each child’s progress and learning needs.

Social Studies: Students journey through early American history, beginning with Native American cultures and continuing through the development of the United States as a country of immigrants. Lessons highlight key historical figures, cultural contributions, and the diverse foundations of American society.

Science: Through hands-on experiments and inquiry-based learning, students study human anatomy, energy, space, plants, animals, and matter, all within the framework of God’s purposeful design.

Health: Health education covers personal safety procedures, health management strategies, and proper manners, helping students grow in self-care and interpersonal awareness.

3rd Grade Objectives

Bible: Students study the life of Christ using ACSI’s Purposeful Design curriculum, helping them grow in their faith and develop a biblical worldview.

Language: Instruction includes sentence structure, grammar, paragraph development, basic report writing, and book reports to build strong written communication skills.

Reading: Our literature-rich curriculum emphasizes whole-class reading of literary works, reading comprehension, and critical thinking skills. Guided reading circles are used regularly to support fluency, vocabulary development, and a deeper understanding of texts.

Spelling & Vocabulary: Spelling instruction is designed to strengthen phonics skills while expanding each student’s vocabulary through meaningful application.

Writing: Students continue developing cursive handwriting while also learning to write with purpose. Creative writing assignments help build strong composition and expression skills.

Math: Math instruction is hands-on and data-driven, using manipulatives, guided practice, and spiraled review to ensure concept mastery and fact fluency. Students explore multiplication and division tables, measurement, conversions, story problems, decimals, fractions, geometry, and graphing.

History: Students examine world regions by studying geography, major world religions, climate, economics, and cultures. They learn how people groups and civilizations have shaped our world from both historical and biblical perspectives.

Science: Science instruction fosters curiosity and a biblical understanding of God as Creator. Topics include physical, earth, space, and life sciences. STEM is emphasized through regular experiments, inquiry-based learning, and engaging science projects.

4th Grade Objectives

Bible: Students explore the full arc of God’s redemptive story by connecting the Old and New Testaments. Lessons include themes of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration, while also introducing apologetics to help students defend their faith with confidence.

Language: A literature-rich curriculum develops grammar, sentence structure, and writing mechanics. Students engage in structured writing projects that encourage clarity, creativity, and organization.

Reading: Guided reading circles support fluency and comprehension while fostering critical thinking through rich literature selections. Instruction remains rooted in phonics-based strategies to strengthen decoding and understanding.

Spelling & Vocabulary: Students broaden their vocabulary and reinforce spelling fundamentals through targeted practice that builds fluency and confidence in word usage.

Writing: Students continue to refine cursive handwriting and participate in weekly writing enrichment activities designed to strengthen composition and encourage thoughtful written expression.

Math: Math instruction emphasizes hands-on learning through manipulatives, guided and spiraled practice, and daily fact fluency development. Students cover fractions, geometry, basic algebra, long division, common denominators, and story problems, with instruction tailored through data-driven assessments.

History: Students study U.S. History with a special emphasis on Virginia History, which is mandated by the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs). Topics include state geography, early settlements, key historical figures, and the development of American government.

Science: Students explore life, earth, and physical sciences through a biblical worldview. Topics include plants, animals, the human body, natural resources, engineering, skeletal systems, and the earth’s surface, with an emphasis on hands-on activities and inquiry-based learning.

5th Grade Objectives

Bible: Students study God’s redemptive plan through a New Testament survey, with connections to Creation, the Fall, and Redemption. Apologetics is introduced to help students articulate and defend their faith.

Language: Through a literature-rich curriculum, students focus on grammar, mechanics, and writing structure. They complete book reports, comparison essays, and research projects on historical figures to strengthen communication and composition skills.

Reading: Guided reading circles help improve reading speed, comprehension, and critical thinking. Students analyze literary elements such as theme, plot, and character while continuing to grow through phonics-based instruction.

History: Students journey through American history, from early native cultures to westward expansion and beyond. Learning tools include maps, timelines, photographs, quick-check questions, and integrated cross-curricular connections.

Spelling & Vocabulary: Vocabulary is expanded through poetry and themed word study. Students develop an appreciation for language while strengthening spelling fundamentals.

Science: Science instruction follows a Socratic approach, encouraging scientific reasoning and questioning. Students explore life, physical, and earth sciences with hands-on activities designed to build vocabulary and inquiry skills.

Math: Math focuses on conversions, problem solving, algebraic thinking, proper and improper fractions, mixed numbers, and division of fractions. Instruction incorporates manipulatives, guided practice, spiraled review, and fact fluency, all supported by data-driven assessments to meet student needs.

In line with our mission to train students spiritually, academically, socially, and physically, preparing them to impact the world for Christ, we provide ample opportunities for play and physical activity. Students enjoy our large fenced-in playground, expansive athletic fields, and on-site gymnasium. Creativity thrives in our art classes, and P.E. keeps students active, building teamwork and friendships that last a lifetime.

Schedule a tour of our beautiful campus today to experience the nurturing environment of Gateway Christian Academy’s elementary program. With a balance of academic excellence and spiritual growth, we are excited to show you what makes our school the perfect place for your student to thrive!