Cottage Hill Kindergarten offers a phonics based reading program and a comprehensive, hands-on math program. We participate in an Art Docent program, a music enrichment program, and a physical education program. We also visit the library and computer lab on a regular basis. Some of our units of study include nursery rhymes, teddy bears, holidays, zoo animals, and the ocean. We also participate in a Thanksgiving feast, a performance, and take an annual field trip to the Sacramento Zoo.
Cottage Hill first graders study Johnny Appleseed, the Pilgrims, and Native Americans. We perform a patriotic musical play in November. Some of the cross-curricular themes we use to integrate science, language arts, math and fine arts include units on bats, penguins, weather and habitats. We culminate the school year with a field trip to a Bear River High School Symphonic Band Concert.
Second grade integrates many curricula topics into their year of studies: storytelling, life cycles of plants, frogs, butterflies and fish and we culminate with a springtime trip to Nimbus Fish Hatchery to release the “fries.” In December we all rise to the stage to present a musical performance “Songs of the Season”. Dinosaurs and geology captivate and amaze us in the spring. Throughout the year, we work hard to master basic addition and subtraction facts.
Third Graders at Cottage Hill School experience many cross-curricular units of study which include Matter, Animal Classification and the Solar System. Students write a research report on a North American animal and complete a biography of a famous person who has made a difference in our history. We perform the musical play, “Everybody Smiles in the Same Language” as a celebration of our unit in reading titled, “Friendship.” Our school year ends with a student created business fair which is tied to our reading unit on Money.
Stepping up to fourth grade is a big stride in the growth and expectations for our students. Each child receives an “agenda” book in which they record homework assignments, due dates, and long-term projects. This year all fourth graders are enjoying the hands on FOSS science program. You can see us building electrical systems or identifying minerals everyday. We spend the year studying California history and take an annual field trip to Coloma where gold was discovered. Near the end of the school year, we dress like the pioneers and 49ers who came to California in the musical stage performance of “Gold Dust or Bust.”
The fifth grade at Cottage Hill is an exciting place to be. We study all the states and capitals, US history from the colonies to the Constitution, and do a research project on a state of our choice. In science we learn our facts using a hands on approach with many experiments. Each year we take a field trip to the state Capitol in Sacramento and participate in the Student Council. Other activities available to fifth graders are band, choir, and after school enrichment classes. To end our year, we celebrate with an all day barbecue and party!
