SZKOŁA POLSKA W WASZYNGTONIE

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Course descriptions

POLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (GRADES 1 THROUGH 3)

This course focuses on writing, reading and understanding of the Polish language. The difficulty of writing and reading are increased with each grade. The increasing level of difficulty in writing own sentences and short essays is measured at each level.

MATHEMAICS (GRADES 1 THROUGH 3)

The course includes basic knowledge of mathematics with the focus on learning numbers and their addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. It includes adding and subtracting 3-place numbers and basic math theory.

POLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (GRADES 4 THROUGH 6)

The education in those grades is aimed at integrating skills and knowledge about the language, literature and culture. At this stage, students use the textbook “Jutro pójdę w świat” by Hanna Dobrowolska.
The choice of the texts allows students to compare them to his or her personal experience, therefore helping to develop his or her sensitivity. Problems that are encountered in the discussed works of fiction are also looked at from other points of view (in both social or historical contexts), thus preparing the student to develop an active and critical approach to literature.
The students read classical children’s literature, by both Polish and foreign authors (such as H.Ch. Andersen, J. Brzechwa, A. Lindgren, H. Sienkiewicz, M. Twain, F. Molnar, S. Lem, L.M. Montgomery, Homer). They also learn about the mythology of the ancient Greeks, the most beautiful and well-known Polish legends, and read both classic and contemporary poetry (by J. Kochanowski, A. Mickiewicz, J. Słowacki, I. Krasicki, J. Tuwim, J. Twardowski, A. Kamieńska, Cz. Miłosz, Z. Herbert).
The students also read non-literary texts, such as press articles, music lyrics; they are encouraged to interpret, describe and discuss both literature and arts.
Analyzing non-fiction texts is also an important part of education; students become familiar with some literature theoretic terms; they learn to recognize poetic language, as well as discover differences between this type of language and the one we use every day. Stylistically and grammatical exercises are aimed at helping students develop flexibility of language and understanding of its structures, so that they would not encounter problems with using it in different types of situations (official, private, etc.).
Students are taught to pay attention to stylistic and grammatical correctness, as well as to cultured manner of speaking.

HISTORY (GRADES 4 THROUGH 6)

The educational goal of history and social science courses in grades 4 through 6 is learning about the past and the future in such a way as to see their interactions, developing skills in observing and interpreting events important for the society. By teaching about human values, and by helping students develop their own sets of values, the school carries out its most important task with regards to social education, which is preparing its students to taking an active and productive role in society.
Essential skills in learning history are developed by analyzing different sources (both material and written), as well as by getting familiar with notions used to measure time.
The students learn to analyze the differences between human beings and the rest of animate environment; they also learn to take responsibility for that environment.
Encounters with the history of Poland emphasize the contributions made by Polish historical and cultural figures (Copernicus, F. Chopin, M. Skłodowska-Curie) to the world’s cultural heritage. By this we hope to give our students a sense of patriotism and pride of being Polish.
The school also deems important to emphasize the ties binding Poles all over the world (such as history, language, cultural heritage, national traditions). Profound knowledge about the history of one’s own country is essential to developing one’s cultural identity.

GEOGRAPHY (GRADE 5)

During the geography classes in the 5th grade of elementary school, students are learning the basics of geography and about landscapes in Poland. The introductory course, introducing students to geography of Poland, covers:
 geographical directions (N, S, W and E) and the ways to recognize them;
 weather elements and methods of its observation;
 description of hydrological features;
 methods of cartographic presentations of topography (lowlands, uplands, mountains).
Next, the geographical regions of Poland are discussed. Selected from all types of Polish landscapes: young mountains, old mountains, uplands, lowlands and Baltic seashore, they give an overview of diversity of environmental features in Poland. Human activity, industry, agriculture, and environmental protection are included in the teaching process.
The geography course in the 5th grade of elementary school aims at learning the location of main geographical features on the map of Poland (regions, rivers, lakes, cities, etc.) as well as developing the ability to derive spatial information from the map’s content. Some geographical regions are discussed in details. The students’ attention is drawn to environmental and economic issues of each region. For example Upper Silesia abundant with deposits of hard coal is an industrial part of Poland. The Tatra Mountains with their unique environment are a protected area by the national park.

MATHEMATICS (GRADE 4 THROUGH 6)

This course is a continuation and development of the knowledge from the previous grades. It includes, among other topics, fractions and mathematical operations on decimals, long division, ratio/proportion, solving equations, analyzing linear relationships, graphing points. This course includes basic geometry, two and three dimensional figures, calculating their perimeters, surface, and volume. Pre-algebra course is included at this level of math teaching as well.