The Legacy Bible curriculum teaches students the story of God and his people from the beginning of creation to the end of time as presented by the Bible.  The Bible stories fit together to tell one overall story of the creation, the fall, and redemption.  This story has implications for our lives, and teachers challenge students to apply what they learn in Bible to the way they live. 

Students learn about the context of the Bible, so that they can deepen their understanding of God’s relationship with his people.  Students also memorize Bible passages that they will carry with them the rest of their lives.

The textbook series used at all levels is The Story of God and His People, published by Christian Schools International.

Connections between the mathematics curriculum and other disciplines are explored as appropriate, but the sequential development of concepts and skills is the “backbone” of the mathematics curriculum. 

Because students vary greatly in the speed at which they learn mathematical concepts and acquire mathematical skills, provisions are made at all levels for those who struggle and those who show exceptional ability. 

The Everyday Mathematics Curriculum is used in K-grade 6; The University of Chicago Mathematics Project Curriculum (Transitions and Algebra) is used for grades 7 and 8. 

At LCS students see the Creator in the creation and learn how God is much bigger
and more complex than they ever thought.  Teachers ask “big questions” which lead to discussions about the relationship between God and the world of science.  They learn the process of exploring God’s world and see science as a tool for making wise decisions as God’s stewards.

At all levels knowledge of science concepts is balanced with hands-on experience of scientific inquiry and discovery.   Students use a variety of textbooks, trade books, kits, and teacher-made units as resources for learning.

Science is taught in relationship to the other subject areas in interdisciplinary units at the elementary school and through interdisciplinary planning at the middle school.
  
The curriculum “spirals” most topics taught in grades 3-5 in grades 6-8 to further develop them.  It covers the topics and objectives in the Michigan Science Standards, revised to reflect a Christian perspective.   These are the science units for each grade level:
 
Kindergarten - Bears, Apples and Pumpkins, Fall/Leaves, Snow/Ice/Winter, Ocean/Sea Life, Spring, Insects, Plants/Seeds, Farm Animals

1st - Magnets, All About You, Animals

2nd - Weather, Light Energy, Seeds and Plants,  Ponds

3rd - Biomes, States of Matter, Recycling, Heat Energy, Sound Energy, Solar System

4th - Rocks & Minerals, Electrical Energy and Magnetism, Great Lakes/Dunes,  Digestive Systems/Nutrition, Skeletal System, Muscular System
      
5th - Kinetic Energy and Simple Machines, Plants, Trees & Leaves, Vertebrates and Invertebrates, Chemical and Physical Changes, Circulatory System, Respiratory System, Reproductive System

6th - Oceans , Aerodynamics, Weather & Natural Disasters, Engineering

7th - Ecology, Cells/Simple Organisms, Space, Chordates, Geology, Body Systems
 
8th - Plants, Electricity, Genetics, Energy, Invertebrates, Motion

In addition to the core curriculum areas, Legacy Christian students have Physical Education, Music, Art, Library, and Computer Technology classes. 

These areas develop students’ skills, concepts, and attitudes and enable them to be healthy and productive citizens of God’s kingdom, developing the gifts God has given them and appreciating the gifts He has given others. 

When possible these co-curricular subjects are interrelated with the core subjects. 

K-5 students have two half hour PE classes per week.  Grades 6-8 students have two 41-minute classes per week. 

K-4 students have two half hour music classes per week.  Fifth grade students have band or orchestra three half hours per week.  Grades 6-8 students have band or orchestra three 41-minute periods per week and two 41-minute choir periods per week. 

K-5 students have one 45-minute art class per week. Grade 6-8 students have two 41-minute art classes per week.

Kindergarten students have one 30-minute computer technology class per week.  Grades 1-2 have one or two computer classes per week and grades 3-5 have two computer classes per week.  Grades 6-8 classes have one 41-minute computer technology class per week.

K-5 students have one 30-minute library period per week.  Grades 6-8 classes have at least one study hall per week that meets in the library. 

Students learn to read through developmental, differentiated methods which teach a variety of strategies for word attack and comprehension.

Students read literature from many different countries and cultures in order to develop respect for the variety in God’s images. 
Teachers and students use a variety of resources and materials for reading, including two booklabs with multiple copies of trade books and paperbacks, the Houghton-Mifflin Reading Series, Silver Burdett Literature Anthologies and classroom and school libraries. 

The Accelerated Reader program guides and evaluates students’ independent reading at their individual reading levels.  

The writing program develops each student’s writing voice and ability to write for a variety of audiences.  Students write in a variety of formats at each grade level.  Students’ writing is integrated into the other language arts and the other subject areas whenever possible.
 
Each year each student in grades 2-5 writes and publishes a ”young authors” book. Each year each student in grades 6-8 participates in “Research Week.” During this week each student chooses a topic, researches it at local libraries, prepares a display which shows what was learned, and presents an oral report.

Legacy Christian uses The Write Source resources for teaching writing at all levels. 
The Handwriting Without Tears curriculum guides the development of students print and cursive handwriting.

Legacy Christian students study language at every grade level in order to develop “sentence sense.” They learn to identify and properly use parts of speech in the
context of real-life practice. 

Learning the difference between formal and informal language, using language for a variety of purposes and adapting the language to the audience are all part of the language study curriculum. 

Spelling and word study (word patterns, dictionary study, word choice, and word origins) are taught at every level.

At all levels speaking and listening skill instruction is integrated with other subjects.  In grades 6-8 speaking and listening is taught in units as well. 

As much as possible LCS uses real audiences for speaking and listening.  Middle school and elementary school students interact with and perform for each other.  They also have opportunities to speak to and listen to community members at special events.

At all levels, students learn critical discernment of media, including television shows, movies, DVDs, cartoons, computer and electronic games, advertising, websites, and music.  Teachers discuss with students not only what is unworthy and dangerous, but also what media experiences are worthwhile and helpful.

Students also learn how to use media to communicate with people, for example in digital pictures, power point presentations, and slide shows.  Teachers work with the Technology Specialist to coordinate computer time with grade level units.

In Social Studies, LCS students learn about the relationships God has given His image-bearers:  relationships to each other, to God, and to their natural and cultural worlds.  It includes history, economics, political science, geography, sociology, and psychology, and reflects the diversity of nations, cultures, and subcultures God has given his world. 

Social studies is taught in relationship to the other subject areas in interdisciplinary units at the elementary school and through interdisciplinary planning at the middle school.

Teachers use a variety of resources and methods to make learning come alive for students, such as simulations, creative drama, model and artifact making, projects, and media, in addition to textbooks and print media. 

The social studies curriculum covers the topics and objectives in the Michigan Social Studies Standards, revised to reflect a Christian perspective.   These are the social studies units for each grade level:

Kindergarten - Columbus, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day/Black History Month, Easter

1st - Friends and Family,   Pilgrims,   Christmas Around the World
    
2nd - Communities,   Pioneers,   Japan, Australia

3rd - Planet Earth, Native Americans.  Egypt, Kenya, and Africa, City of Grand Rapids, Washington DC or Elections (in an election year)

4th - U.S. Regions, Michigan, Europe/Immigration

5th - Economics, US History:  Exploration/Colonization/Central America,
Revolutionary War,  Constitution and Bill of Rights or Elections (in an election year),   Civil War and Reconstruction,  Civil Rights,  Industrial Revolution/Inventions,  US Neighbors:  Canada and Mexico  

6th - Ancient History:  Mesopotamia, Egypt/Africa, Babylon/Assyria/Persia.
 Greeks/Romans, Middle Ages, Reformation/Renaissance

7th - US History:  Age of Exploration, Colonies, Revolutionary War - Becoming a Nation, Civil War/Reconstruction,  Economic Growth

8th - Civics:  Constitution, National Government, State Government,
Local Government; World Geography:  Latin America, Asia, Middle East
(All topics are integrated with US History after WWII)