Elementary School (K-Grade 5)
Known, Loved, & Learning
In Elementary School, your child will discover a joy of learning, guided by teachers committed to the development of the whole child—their hands, head, and heart. Our caring community, rooted in Christ, fosters a welcoming and safe environment that inspires each child to grow their natural curiosity, creativity, and desire to learn. When your child attends Minnehaha, they will have the opportunity to not only grow in knowledge, but also in faith and leadership.
Small class sizes, incredible hands-on learning opportunities, and specialist classes provide our youngest learners with a strong foundation that prepares them for success in Middle School and beyond. Our balanced approach of exceptional academics, innovative programs, and meaningful experiences foster children who love school and have strong relationships with their teachers and peers.
What Makes Elementary School at Minnehaha Transformative?
Character & Leadership
Leadership skill building and character development curriculum
Service Learning
Hands-on, student-led service learning with a real-world impact
Specialist Programs: Integrated Learning Beyond the Core Subjects
Art
Creative expression, technique development, and art appreciation
Music
Vocal and instrumental education, performance opportunities, and musical literacy
I-Lab
STEM activities, robotics, coding, real-world engineering challenges, and tech skills
"From our first visit, our son felt at home. His future classmates warmly welcomed him and made him feel like he belonged. He found his crew among a group of student-artist-athletes. It's been so great seeing him grow in a challenging yet supportive environment."
Current Parent
Exceptional Academics: A Journey Through Elementary School
Kindergarten
Academic Highlights
Animal Research Writing
In kindergarten, students become researchers and writers by writing a non-fiction book on an animal of their choice. A community celebration of learning gives them the opportunity to share their newfound expertise with others and practice public speaking.
What Students Learn: Students learn what it means to be an expert, research information, decide what to share, learn how to draw detailed scientific pictures, practice time management, craftsmanship, and more.
Why It Matters: The animal research project allows students to follow their own passions and interests, while developing key skills.
Phonics
An explicit and systematic program that teaches students the foundational skills necessary for proficient reading and spelling. Students learn through engaging whole group lessons, reading connected texts, and a multi-sensory approach.
What Students Learn: Students learn to develop an awareness of segmenting and blending sounds and how those link to letters, decode words, analyze word parts, and write and recognize words. Students read connected texts to support reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension.
Why It Matters: Research on how students learn to read emphasizes the importance of developing these foundational reading skills. To become proficient readers, children need to learn how to read words, and this requires understanding sounds, letters, and the relationships among them.
Number Bonds
Number bonds help students grasp mathematical concepts in a highly visual, hands-on way.
What Students Learn: By manipulating blocks or counters students begin to grasp addition and subtraction concepts and how they relate to each other through physical objects.
Why It Matters: This approach provides a strong foundation for students as they grow in skill and ability and is part of Singapore Math.
Meet the Kindergarten Teachers
Our full-day Kindergarten program provides an enriching Christian environment for students to experience a wide variety of activities in academics and socialization. One size does not fit all, which is why we use various approaches to challenge and encourage your child. We believe children learn best when they are engaged in meaningful activities that promote cognitive, social, emotional, physical, spiritual growth, and well-being.
Literacy
Reading, writing and grammar are all taught using a workshop approach, where students learn to apply new skills while participating in authentic literacy activities. In the reading workshop, daily lessons on topics like letter recognition, blending sounds, and making sense of text are applied through choice-based reading activities and guided reading. During writing workshop, students learn about ways authors can choose to share information as they examine, and then write new genres. Your child will have access to our incredible library and librarians who can provide 'just-right' book suggestions that will help them grow in their reading abilities.
Phonics
We use a multi-sensory approach in our emergent literacy program, inviting students to practice and master letters, words, and early writing through touch, sight and sound. Our instruction includes direct instruction in phonics, guided reading for applied practice, a developmentally appropriate approach to handwriting and letter formation, as well as mastery of high frequency sight words. This multi-pronged approach supports learning for all styles.
Singapore Math
Kindergarten presents foundational mathematical concepts through songs, rhymes and hands-on activities. Students at this level cover topics related to numbers and operations, measurement, geometry, simple algebra, data analysis, and problem solving. Students begin to develop methods for communicating their mathematical discoveries through language as well as pictorial representations. Students are also encouraged to recognize connections between mathematical topics, and understand how concepts build on one another.
Science
Science is all about exploration in kindergarten. Your child will learn more about the world around them through hands-on activities throughout the year. Science themes include weather and seasons, animals and their habitats, plant life and environmental awareness, dinosaurs, and among other topics.
Social Studies
Kindergarteners learn about their place in the world in a variety of social studies units that include community, notable African Americans, map skills, Minnesota, Christmas and holiday celebrations around the world, and more.
Bible
Conveying the love and goodness of God is the primary goal of the Christian Schools International Bible and the Walking with God and His People curriculum. Prayer and community building is an important aspect of their spiritual formation. All elementary school students and teachers meet together weekly for a chapel service.
Specialists
Beyond our core curriculum, kindergarten students work with specialists in art, library, music, physical education, and core.
Brain Boosting SMART Program
Kindergarten children at Minnehaha Academy benefit from current brain research in our SMART program. Each day they have fun moving their bodies in specific activities that challenge their visual, motor, auditory, sensory, and proprioceptive systems – ultimately boosting their brain power.
First Grade
Meet the First Grade Teachers
Literacy
Reading, writing and grammar are all taught using a workshop approach, where students learn to apply new skills while participating in authentic literacy activities. In the reading workshop, daily lessons on topics like phonics, understanding textual conventions and comprehension are applied through choice-based reading activities and guided reading. During the writing workshop, students learn about ways authors can choose to share information as they examine, and then try to write, new genres. Your child will have access to our incredible library and librarians who can provide 'just-right' book suggestions that will help them grow in their reading abilities.
Phonics
We use a multi-sensory approach in our emergent literacy program, inviting students to practice and master letters, words, and early writing through touch, sight and sound. Our instruction includes direct instruction in phonics, guided reading for applied practice, a developmentally appropriate approach to handwriting and letter formation, as well as mastery of high frequency sight words. This multi pronged approach supports learning for all styles.
Singapore Math
First Grade continues to address the foundational topics of number and operations, measurement, geometry, simple algebra, data analysis, probability, and problem solving, while also introducing basic facts, place value, and mental math. Students communicate their thinking in a variety of ways, including written expression, and develop a higher level of skill of real-world problem solving using addition, subtraction and measurement. First Graders are expected to express mathematical ideas through representations and make connections between mathematical ideas and concepts.
Science
Each grade level offers three types of classroom science units: Earth, Life, and Physical Science. Units are taught through guided inquiry, using hands-on experiments and activities that allow for students to learn through doing.
Additionally, a fourth engineering-based unit is presented during Innovation Lab. This unit ties in to one of the classroom units, and gives students an opportunity to engage in hands-on design in order to solve a meaningful problem.
Social Studies
Each grade level studies four key content strands during their social studies block: Economics, History, Geography and Citizenship & Government.
Bible
Conveying the love and goodness of God is the primary goal of the Christian Schools International Bible and the Walking with God and His People curriculum. Prayer and community building is an important aspect of their spiritual formation. All elementary school students and teachers meet together weekly for a chapel service.
Specialists
Beyond our core curriculum, students work with specialists in art, library, music, physical education, and core.
Second Grade
Academic Highlights
Researching & Writing Nonfiction Books
Students employ their nonfiction skills training to research and write a book on a topic of their choosing. They read portions of their bound, hardcover work from the chapel stage for an audience of peers and parents.
What Students Learn: They research their topic by taking notes in their own words. Students organize their notes into three subtopics and draft each subtopic using a topic sentence, detail sentences with transition words, and a closing sentence. Finally, students write a conclusion that explicitly explains how their nonfiction book makes God's world a better place. Students add nonfiction text features like a table of contents, maps, and labeled illustrations to complete their hardcover book.
In their Own Words: "I learned that researching is harder than you think. You can't just borrow mom's phone and look on Safari. You have to work through it step by step. I researched slowly and took my time. When I finished my book I felt both excited and happy." -Eliana, Grade 2
Branches of Government
Students learn what it means to be a good citizen who makes God's world a better place.
What Students Learn: After identifying examples of good citizenship in multiple domains like at home, at school, and in their communities, students create a poster showing the three branches of government in which they explain how each branch of the government functions.
Why It Matters: Students learn that they have a responsibility to honor God by making their communities better places, that authority comes from God, and that checks and balances are necessary to correct and prevent human corruption.
Material Magic: It's Science!
Students explore the properties of materials by testing which materials are best for certain uses.
What Students Learn: They melt candy to experiment with melting point, build hats to learn about durability and softness, and build models of different soils to determine structural stability.
Why It Matters: Students are introduced to scientific concepts in an age-appropriate way, setting the stage for further scientific exploration in later grades.
Meet the Second Grade Teachers
Literacy
Reading, writing and grammar are all taught using a workshop approach, where students learn to apply new skills while participating in authentic literacy activities. In the reading workshop, daily lessons on topics like fluency, understanding textual conventions and comprehension are applied through choice-based reading activities and guided reading. During writing workshop, students learn about ways authors can choose to share information as they examine new genres and write samples of those genres themselves. Your child will have access to our incredible library and librarians who can provide 'just-right' book suggestions that will help them grow in their reading abilities.
Phonics
Your child will gain an understanding of the relationship between letters and sounds, decoding, and fluency, building a strong understanding of word patterns and sounds. They will also receive vocabulary, comprehension, and writing instruction to ensure your child not only recognizes words but also understand their meanings and use them effectively in context.
Singapore Math
Second grade students address topics of numbers and operations, measurement, geometry, simple algebra, data analysis, problem solving, multiplication and division while building more advanced basic facts, place value, and mental math skills. Students communicate their thinking in a variety of ways, including concrete models and written expressions. They also develop a higher level of skill of real-world problem solving using addition, subtraction, multiplication and measurement. This is the year where initial connections between fractions and geometric representation are made. Students also develop a foundation for multiplication and division using repeated addition, equal groups, and arrays. Second grade students are expected to express mathematical ideas through representations and make connections between mathematical ideas and concepts.
Science
Each grade level offers three science units: Earth, Life, and Physical Science.
Units are taught through guided inquiry, using "mysteries" that pose questions to spark students' natural interest. Each lesson is designed to be interactive, incorporating experiments and activities that help students understand scientific concepts in a fun and meaningful way. For example, students melt candy to learn about melting point and the properties of materials. Additionally, a fourth engineering-based unit is presented during Innovation Lab which gives students an opportunity to engage in hands on design in order to solve a meaningful problem.
Social Studies
Each grade level studies four key content strands during their social studies block: Economics, History, Geography and Citizenship & Government. Second grade students also learn history related to relevant holidays, like the history of Thanksgiving and important people from Black History. There is also an integrated literacy unit studying Christmas traditions around the world, connecting students’ study of folktales with appreciation for other cultures and other places.
Bible
Conveying the love and goodness of God is the primary goal of the Christian Schools International Bible and the Walking with God and His People curriculum. All elementary school students and teachers meet together weekly for a chapel service.Students have daily lessons in Bible that include scripture readings, formative discussions, and Bible memory. Prayer and community building is an important aspect of spiritual formation as well. In second grade, students’ focus is on the life and ministry of Jesus and the work of the early church as recorded in the New Testament. All elementary school students and teachers meet together weekly for a chapel service.
Specialists
Beyond our core curriculum, students work with specialists in art, library, music, physical education, and core.
Third Grade
Meet the Third Grade Teachers
Literacy
Reading, writing and grammar are all taught using a workshop approach, where students learn to apply new skills while participating in authentic literacy activities. In the reading workshop, daily lessons on topics like fluency, understanding textual conventions and comprehension are applied through choice-based reading activities, book clubs, and guided reading. During the writing workshop, students learn about ways authors can choose to share information as they examine, and then try to write, new genres. Your child will have access to our incredible library and librarians who can provide 'just-right' book suggestions that will help them grow in their reading abilities.
Singapore Math
Third Grade curriculum continues to build on the concepts presented in kindergarten through second grade. These topics are developed with an emphasis on problem solving, skill consolidation, and a deep understanding in preparation for Algebra. Additionally, third graders are introduced to new topics, including fractions, decimals (money), model drawing, and algebraic thinking with expressions, equations and inequalities. Students communicate their thinking in a variety of ways, including written expression, and develop a higher level of skill of real-world problem solving using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and measurement. Third graders are expected to express mathematical ideas through representations and make connections between mathematical ideas and concepts.
Science
Each grade level offers three types of science units: Earth, Life, and Physical Science. Units are taught through guided inquiry, using hands-on experiments and activities that allow for students to learn through doing. Teachers may also use an integrated non-fiction literacy unit, teaching students how to more effectively use non-fiction, informational text while exploring science content.
Social Studies
Each grade level studies four key content strands during their social studies block: economics, history, citizenship, and government. Topics of study include financial literacy, communities, geography, and mapping.
Bible
Conveying the love and goodness of God is the primary goal of the Christian Schools International Bible and the Walking with God and His People curriculum. Prayer and community building is an important aspect of their spiritual formation. All elementary school students and teachers meet together weekly for a chapel service.
Specialists
Beyond our core curriculum, students work with specialists in art, library, music, physical education, and core.
Fourth Grade
Meet the Fourth Grade Teachers
Literacy
Reading, writing and grammar are all taught using a workshop approach, where students learn to apply new skills while participating in authentic literacy activities. In the reading workshop, daily lessons on topics like textual analysis, self-correction and comprehension are applied through choice-based reading activities and book clubs. During writing workshop, students learn about ways authors can choose to share information as they examine, and then try to write, new genres. Your child will have access to our incredible library and librarians who can provide 'just-right' book suggestions that will help them grow in their reading abilities.
Singapore Math
Fourth Grade continues to build depth around previous math topics, but emphasizes fractions, decimals, model drawing, and algebraic thinking with expressions, equations and inequalities in the curriculum. Students communicate their thinking in a variety of ways, including written expression, and develop a higher level of skill of real-world problem solving using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Fourth Graders are expected to express mathematical ideas through representations and make connections between mathematical ideas and concepts.
Science
Each grade level offers three types of science units: Earth, Life, and Physical Science. Units are taught through guided inquiry, using hands-on experiments and activities that allow for students to learn through doing. Teachers may also use an integrated non-fiction literacy unit, teaching students how to more effectively use non-fiction, informational text while exploring science content.
Additionally, a fourth engineering-based unit is presented during Innovation Lab. This unit ties in to one of the classroom units, and gives students an opportunity to engage in hands-on design in order to solve a meaningful problem.
Social Studies
Each grade level studies four key content strands during their social studies block: economics, history, geography, and citizenship and government. Topics of study include states and capitals, regions of the United States, and Minnesota History.
JA Biztown
Your child will study business, economics and free-enterprise through hands-on lessons and simulations by JA Biztown. The unit concludes with a full day trip to Biztown where students, accepting jobs such as CEO, CFO, scientist, DJ, and mayor, participate in a simulated economy. STEM skills are integrated during the experience through activities such as alternative energy exploration and research, water quality testing, weighing, measuring, and accounting. While exploring STEM careers, students actively use STEM skills such as employing the scientific process, thinking critically, problem solving, using math, and collaborating as a team.
Bible
Conveying the love and goodness of God is the primary goal of the Christian Schools International Bible and the Walking with God and His People curriculum. Students have lessons in Bible that include scripture readings, constructive discussions and Bible memory. Prayer and community building is an important aspect of spiritual formation as well. All Lower School students and teachers meet together weekly for a chapel service.
Fifth Grade
Meet the Fifth Grade Teachers
Literacy
Reading, writing, and grammar are all taught using a workshop approach, where students learn to apply new skills while participating in authentic literacy activities. In the reading workshop, daily lessons on topics like textual analysis, advanced comprehension strategies and independence as a lifelong reader are applied through choice-based reading activities and book clubs. During writing workshop, students learn how authors can choose to share information as they examine, and then try to write, new genres. Your child will have access to our incredible library and librarians who can provide 'just-right' book suggestions that will help them grow in their reading abilities.
Singapore Math
Fifth Grade curriculum emphasizes fractions, decimals, algebraic thinking with expressions, and equations. Students at this level are able to communicate their thinking in a variety of ways, including written expression, giving them opportunities to apply previous learning to solve complex, authentic problems in creative ways. Fifth Graders are expected to express mathematical ideas through representations (bar models) and make connections between mathematical ideas and concepts.
Science
Each grade level offers three types of science units: Earth, Life, and Physical Science. Units are taught through guided inquiry, using hands-on experiments and activities that allow for students to learn through doing. Teachers may also use an integrated non-fiction literacy unit, teaching students how to more effectively use non-fiction, informational text while exploring science content.
Additionally, a fourth engineering-based unit is presented during Innovation Lab. This unit ties in to one of the classroom units, and gives students an opportunity to engage in hands-on design in order to solve a meaningful problem.
Social Studies
Each grade level studies four key content strands during their social studies block: economics, history, geography, and citizenship and government. Topics of study include United States history (early peoples through the Revolutionary War) and map skills.
Bible
Conveying the love and goodness of God is the primary goal of the Christian Schools International Bible and the Walking with God and His People curriculum. Students have weekly lessons in Bible that include scripture readings, constructive discussions and Bible memory. Prayer and community building is an important aspect of spiritual formation as well.
JA Biztown
Students study business, economics and free-enterprise through hands-on lessons and simulations. The unit concludes with a full day trip to Biztown where students, accepting jobs such as CEO, CFO, scientist, DJ, and mayor, participate in a simulated economy. STEM skills are integrated during the experience through activities such as alternative energy exploration and research, water quality testing, weighing, measuring, and accounting. While exploring STEM careers students actively use STEM skills such as employing the scientific process, thinking critically, problem solving, using math, and collaborating as a team.
Eagle Bluff
Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center visits fifth grade! During the visit, students are encouraged to grow in environmental awareness as well as respect and personal responsibility through a program of thoughtful stewardship and choices. Students connect with Pre-Columbian studies as they learn about the Oneota People who populated the vicinity from AD 900 to around 1650 or 1700.
Students extend their life science studies as they dissect owl pellets to discover and reassemble their contents. Our students learn about the raptors that populate Minnesota’s skies as they view and interact with live raptors.
Family Project
As they prepare to enter Middle School, fifth graders dive into an in-depth study of their family heritage. The Family Project gives them the opportunity to learn about their own family and the historical events connected with it, while working on skills of researching, writing, drawing, graph-making, interviewing, making presentations and managing their time. Each student completes a research paper that integrates an event from American history and the impact it had on his or her family. Students collect family memoirs in a letter writing project, conduct interviews to gather family history, and design and construct 3-D landmarks, homes, flora or fauna. Then, in a celebration of our diverse heritages, families have the opportunity to enjoy displays designed and presented by our fifth graders.
"Minnehaha Academy provides a warm and nurturing community, emphasizing academic challenge, leadership, service, and a strong Christian faith. They prepare students to be passionate and confident young adults." Parents of Lower, Middle and Upper School children
Take the Next Step!
An education that shapes the hands, heads, and hearts of the next generation starts here. Discover how a your child will thrive in our caring community that is rooted in faith.