Curriculum
The primary goal of the program of instruction in the schools of Unified Catholic Schools – Diocese of Colorado Springs (UCSDCS) is to provide learning experiences which most effectively inculcate worthwhile attitudes and impart the knowledge and skills necessary for the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical development of the student.
The Office of Total Catholic Education provides courses of study/curriculum guides for mandatory use in all Diocesan schools. Corpus Christi Catholic School follows the Core Knowledge Sequence Pre-K-8 curriculum in alignment to the curriculum guidelines established by UCSDCS.
Kindergarten Curriculum
Language Arts/Reading: Listening and Speaking, Reading, Writing, Language Conventions, Poetry, Fiction, Sayings and Phrases
History and Geography: World Geography, Spatial Sense, Overview of the Seven Continents, American Geography, Native American Peoples; Past and Present, Early Exploration and Settlement, Presidents; Past and Present, Symbols and Figures
Mathematics: Patterns and Classification, Numbers and Number Sense, Money, Computation, Measurement, Geometry
Science: Plants and Plant Growth, Animals and Their Needs, Human Body (Five Senses), Introduction to Magnetism, Seasons and Weather, Taking Care of the Earth, Science Biographies
Religion: The Mass, Prayers, Creation, Our Church Family, Bible Stories, The Sacrament of Baptism, Religious Holidays, Saints, Christian Values
1st Grade Curriculum
Language Arts/Reading: Listening and Speaking, Reading, Writing, Language Conventions, Poetry, Fiction, Sayings and Phrases
History and Geography: World Geography, Early World Civilizations, Modern Civilizations and Culture, Mexico, Early American People and Civilizations, Early American Exploration and Settlement, From Colonies to Independence, The American Revolution, Early Exploration of the American West, American Symbols and Figures
Mathematics: Patterns and Classification, Numbers and Number Sense, Money, Computation, Measurement, Geometry
Science: Living Things and Their Environments, Human Body (Body Systems), Matter, Properties of Matter, Measurement, Introduction to Electricity, Astronomy, The Earth, Science Biographies
Religion: Revelation That All Creation is a Gift From God, The Holy Trinity, The Great Commandment, Jesus’ Words and Actions Teach Us To Show Love and To Serve God, Liturgy and Sacraments, Recite Traditional Prayers Independently
2nd Grade Curriculum
Language Arts/Reading: Listening and Speaking, Reading, Writing, Language Conventions, Poetry, Fiction, Sayings and Phrases
History and Geography: World Geography, Early Asian Civilizations, Modern Japanese Civilization, The Ancient Greek Civilization, American Government, The Constitution, The War of 1812, Westward Expansion, The Civil War, Immigration and Citizenship, Fighting for a Cause, Geography of the Americas, Symbols and Figures
Mathematics: Numbers and Number Sense, Fractions, Money, Computation, Measurement, Geometry
Science: Cycles in Nature, Seasonal Cycles, Life Cycles; Water Cycle, Insects, Human Body, Cells, Digestive and Excretory Systems, Magnetism, Simple Machines, Science Biographies
Religion: Mission of Jesus, Holy Trinity, Seven Commandments, Parts of the Mass, Assist With Preparation of First Reconciliation, Assist With Preparation of First Communion
3rd Grade Curriculum
Language Arts/Reading: Reading, Writing, Poetry, Fiction, Sayings and Phrases
History and Geography: World Geography, The Ancient Roman Civilizations, The Vikings, The Earliest Americans, Early Exploration of North America, The Thirteen Colonies, Life and Times Before the Revolution
Mathematics: Numbers and Number Sense, Fractions and Decimals, Money, Computation, Measurement
Science: Introduction to Classification of Animals, Human Body (Muscular, Skeletal, and Nervous Systems, Vision and Hearing), Light and Optics, Sound, Ecology, Astronomy, Science Biographies
Religion: Learn About the Family of God, Responding to God Through Prayer and Holy Trinity, Church leaders, The Seven Sacraments, Kingdom of God, The Liturgy, Participation in Mass, Human Dignity, Family Life
4th Grade Curriculum
Language Arts/Reading: Writing, Grammar and Usage, Poetry, Fiction, Speeches, Sayings and Phrases
History and Geography: World Geography (Spatial Sense; Mountains), Europe in Middle Ages, The Spread of Islam and the “Holy Wars”, Early and Medieval African Kingdoms, China: Dynasties and Conquerors, The American Revolution, Making a Constitutional Government, Early Presidents and Politics, Reformers, Symbols and Figures
Mathematics: Numbers and Number Sense, Fractions and Decimals, Money, Computation, Measurement, Geometry
Science: Human Body (Circulatory and Respiratory Systems), Chemistry; Basic Terms and Concepts, Electricity, Geology; The Earth and Its Changes, Meteorology, Science Biographies
Religion: 10 Commandments, Beatitudes, Prayer of the Church, Parts of the Mass, Sin, The Liturgical Year, Holy people and Modeling Our Lives After Them, Sacraments and Sacramentals, History of the Catholic Church in Colorado, The Corporal Works of Mercy, Vocations
5th Grade Curriculum
Language Arts/Reading: Writing, Grammar and Usage, Poetry, Fiction and Drama, Speeches, Sayings and Phrases
History and Geography: World Geography (Spatial Sense; Lakes) Early American Civilizations European Exploration, Trade, and the Clash of Cultures, The Renaissance and the Reformation, England from the Golden Age to the Glorious Revolution, Russia: Early Growth and Expansion, Feudal Japan, American Westward Expansion, The Civil War: Causes, Conflicts, Consequences, Native Americans: Cultures and Conflicts, U.S. Geography
Mathematics: Numbers and Number Sense, Ratio and Percent, Fractions and Decimals, Computation, Measurement, Geometry, Probability and Statistics, Pre-Algebra
Science: Classifying Living Things, Cells: Structures and Processes, Plant Structures and Processes, Life Cycles and Reproduction, Human Body (Endocrine and Reproductive Systems), Chemistry: Matter and Change, Science Biographies
Religion: Sacramental Celebration of the Eucharist and Doctrine, Focus on the Dignity of the Human Person; Family Life, Morality, Service, Social Justice, and Servant Leadership, Continuously Study Prayer and the Goodness of One Another
6th Grade Curriculum
Language Arts/Literature: Writing, Grammar and Usage, Poetry, Fiction and Drama, Sayings and Phrases, Novels include: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Mildred Taylor), Out of the Dust (Karen Hesse), and Tom Sawyer (Mark Twain)
History and Geography: World Geography (Spatial Sense; Deserts), Lasting Ideas from Ancient Civilizations, The Enlightenment, The French Revolution, Romanticism, Industrialism, Capitalism, and Socialism, Latin American Independence Movements, American Immigration, Industrialization, and Urbanization, Reform
Mathematics: Numbers and Number Sense, Ratio, Percent, and Proportion, Computation, Measurement, Geometry, Probability and Statistics, Pre-Algebra
Science: Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Ocean Chemistry and Zones, Weather/Climate, Plants and their Lives, Geologic Time, Stars, Galaxies and Universe
Religion: The Bible, Old Testament (Sacraments rooted in Scripture, covenants, important figures), Church history (roots in the Jewish faith), 10 Commandments, Vocations, Social Justice, Prayer, Liturgy
7th Grade Curriculum
Language Arts/Literature: Writing, Grammar and Usage, Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction and Drama, Foreign Phrases Commonly Used in English, Novels include: My Brother Sam is Dead (James Lincoln Collier), The Giver (Lois Lowry), and A Wrinkle in Time (Madeline L’Engle)
U.S History: 1880-1945 – Urban Reform and Immigration, America’s new social and cultural identity, The Gilded Age, Child Labor, Spectator Sports, Jazz Age, Progressive Reform and Progressive Presidents, Women’s Suffrage, Political Machines, America’s growing role in world affairs (Age of Imperialism), New territories (Hawaii, Alaska), controversy of Imperialism, World War I Era, Russian Revolution, Roaring 20s and Great Depression Era (Capitalism, FDR/New Deal, culture), World War II (Holocaust, Age of Dictators, fronts/theaters/battles, Nuclear technology)
Mathematics: Ratios and Proportional Relationships, The Number System, Expressions and Equations, Geometry, Statistics and Probability
Science: Cells, Genetics, Dissection, Bacteria Protists Fungi, Human Body and Health
Religion: Prayer and Spirituality, New Testament, Morality; Theology of the Body, Stewardship, Liturgy
8th Grade Curriculum
Language Arts/Literature: Writing, Grammar and Usage, Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction and Drama, Foreign Phrases Commonly Used in English, Novels include: Across Five Aprils (Irene Hunt), Animal Farm (George Orwell), Lord of the Flies (William Golding), To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
U.S. History and Civics: 1945-Present, The Cold War Era, The 1950’s (Capitalism and Rock ‘n Roll), The Space Race, The Korean War, The Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam Era, Modern Geopolitical Issues (The Presidents, Natural Resources, American Foreign Policy, Civil Rights Today, Modern Culture, Political Parties)
Mathematics: The Number System, Expressions, Equations, Inequalities, Functions, Linear and Non-Linear Equations, Geometry, Statistics and Probability
Science: Chemical Building Blocks (Matter, Atoms, 25 Elements to Know, Periodic Table), Chemistry in Action (Chemical Equations, Solutions, Acids, Bases), Motion Forces and Energy (Simple Machines, Newtons Laws, Principles of Fluids)
Religion: Prayer and Spirituality, Creed, Morality; Theology of the Body, Sacraments; Emphasis on Confirmation, Church History, Stewardship, Liturgy