First/second grade

Students explore the lives of key men and women of the Bible, gaining insight into their character, strengths, weaknesses, and the choices that shaped their journeys. Through these stories, students learn practical, timeless truths—such as how obedience brings blessing, disobedience brings consequences, and God faithfully works through imperfect people.

Throughout the cycle, students study a variety of Bible figures, including Joshua, the Judges, Ruth, Jonah, Moses, and others. Using Abeka Flash-a-Cards and engaging narratives, students visualize major events—such as Moses’ journey from Egypt to the Promised Land—and discover how his choices, courage, and trials reveal God’s guidance and faithfulness.

As students examine the victories, failures, joys, and hardships of these biblical characters, they learn how to respond to real-life challenges with wisdom, humility, and trust in the Lord.

Text Used: Abeka Bible

Math with Confidence Level 1 is a full-year, hands-on math curriculum designed to give first-grade students a strong foundation in essential math skills. Through interactive lessons, real-life examples, and playful activities, students explore number sense, addition and subtraction, place value, measurement, time, money, and beginning geometry. The program uses a gentle spiral approach with built-in review and engaging practice to ensure deep understanding and long-term mastery. With its clear, step-by-step instruction, Math with Confidence Level 1 helps students develop fluency, confidence, and a positive attitude toward math.

Texts Used: First Grade Math with Confidence

Math with Confidence Level 2 is a full-year, hands-on math curriculum designed to help second-grade students develop strong number sense and essential math skills. Through a blend of engaging lessons, real-life applications, and playful activities, students explore place value, addition and subtraction within 1,000, mental math, time, money, geometry, and beginning multiplication and division concepts. Each week includes review and practice to ensure mastery and confidence. With its clear instruction and gentle, spiral approach, Math with Confidence Level 2 builds a solid foundation for future math success while helping students enjoy learning math.

Texts Used: Second Grade Math with Confidence

Students discover a whole new world of reading as they build confidence and fluency through stories that coordinate directly with the phonics concepts they are learning. They begin with simple one- and two-vowel word stories and gradually progress to beautifully written early readers inspired by classic children’s literature. These selections not only strengthen decoding skills but also nurture character and a love for reading.

Language 1, designed for independent work time, provides daily practice that strengthens thinking skills, reading comprehension, and early writing abilities. Throughout the year, students learn to write complete sentences, use correct capitalization, add appropriate ending punctuation, alphabetize words, and recognize common prefixes and suffixes.

In Writing with Phonics 1, students develop cursive handwriting while reinforcing phonics knowledge. They learn proper letter formation, consistent slant, and clear spacing. Practice begins with single letters and gradually moves to special sounds, words, sentences, short paragraphs, and even simple poems. Beginning around Lesson 81, penmanship transitions into creative writing, guiding students step-by-step as they learn to craft their own stories while maintaining neat handwriting habits.

In Spelling and Poetry 1, students apply their phonics skills as they master the spelling of approximately 420 words. Because most spelling lists are arranged phonetically, children naturally learn common spelling patterns. They also memorize sight words, contractions, and abbreviations that will appear frequently in their reading and writing. Throughout the year, students memorize and recite eight poems—building oral speaking skills, expression, and an early appreciation for the beauty of poetry.

Texts Used:

• Abeka Reading 1

• Abeka Language 1

• Abeka Writing with Phonics 1

• Abeka Spelling and Poetry 1

Students continue building a strong foundation in reading and language as they advance through the next level of Abeka’s intensive phonics program. After reviewing basic vowel and consonant sounds and how to blend them, they move into more complex concepts such as consonant blends, diphthongs, digraphs, and clue words that help reinforce sound recognition. Students apply these skills at a deeper level than in first grade, strengthening fluency, accuracy, and confidence.

Language concepts learned in earlier years are expanded and applied more independently. Students learn to:

• Recognize and correctly punctuate the four types of sentences

• Identify and correctly use nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs

• Identify the subject and predicate of a sentence

• Use and identify compound words, rhyming words, antonyms, synonyms, contractions, and singular possessive nouns

• Form plural nouns by applying appropriate spelling rules
  
  

Spelling & Poetry 2 continues to integrate spelling with phonics so students clearly see the connection between sounds and spelling patterns. As the year progresses, students begin learning vocabulary words and their definitions. They also memorize selected poems chosen for their beautiful language, literary quality, and strong character-building themes.

Writing with Phonics 2 emphasizes neat, consistent cursive handwriting and reinforces phonics concepts through daily practice. Students begin with focused penmanship work and, beginning around Lesson 81, transition into creative writing, where they practice imaginative storytelling, descriptive language, and higher-level thinking skills while maintaining good handwriting habits.

In reading, students strengthen comprehension and fluency through stories that directly correlate with the phonics concepts they are learning. As they progress, they enjoy a rich variety of literature including children’s classics, stories from American history, biographies, Scripture readings, poetry, fables, animal tales, and selections from well-known authors. Students also read a juvenile novel and a beautifully illustrated reader about life in Israel during the days of Christ. Across these texts, children encounter heroes to emulate, timeless lessons, and stories that spark a lifelong love of reading.

Texts Used:

• Abeka Spelling & Poetry 2

• Abeka Writing with Phonics 2

• Abeka Language 2

Our early elementary history program helps first- and second-grade students understand their place in God’s world by exploring America’s heritage, community life, and the people and events that shaped our nation. Using a two-year rotating cycle, students build a strong foundation in citizenship, geography, and patriotism while developing map skills, reading comprehension, and an appreciation for God’s hand in history.

In My America and My World, students explore the foundations of the United States and the freedoms we enjoy. They meet influential American patriots, travel across the regions of the country, and learn what it means to be a responsible, engaged citizen. Students also learn patriotic songs, practice basic map and globe skills, and are introduced to key countries and U.S. territories. Additional resources—America: Our Great Country, Children of the World, and Community Helpers—enrich the study by helping students understand how people around the world live, work, and contribute to their communities.

Text Used: Abeka My America and My World

In Our America, students journey back through time to discover what life was like in the earliest days of our nation. They study the Pilgrims, Native Americans, early colonists, pioneers, cowboys, and immigrants—learning about their daily lives, challenges, and important contributions to American history. Students continue building geography skills as they explore maps, regions, and landforms. Lessons also help students understand national symbols, the meaning behind patriotic holidays, and the stories connected to our flag and beloved patriotic songs.

Text Used: Abeka Our America

At BHCA, our early elementary science curriculum is designed to help first- and second-grade students marvel at God’s creation while building foundational scientific understanding, curiosity, and critical thinking. Using a two-year rotating cycle, students explore the world around them through engaging lessons, vibrant visuals, and hands-on activities—all taught through a biblical lens that highlights God as the Master Designer.

In Discovering God’s World, students are introduced to essential scientific concepts through studies of plants, animals, insects, energy, health, the seasons, and the five senses. Colorful illustrations and interactive demonstrations draw students into the wonder of creation, strengthening early comprehension skills and building confidence as young scientists.

In Enjoying God’s World, students continue their scientific journey by exploring the human body, various habitats, matter and energy, and God’s incredible design in earth and space. Lessons emphasize the order and purpose evident throughout creation, guiding students to ask meaningful “how” and “why” questions that deepen learning. Hands-on activities, demonstrations, and simple experiments help students connect concepts to real-world observation and exploration.

Across both cycles, first- and second-grade students learn to appreciate the beauty, complexity, and intentionality of God’s creation while developing the skills needed to observe, analyze, and understand the world around them.

Texts Used:

• Abeka Discovering God’s World

• Abeka Enjoying God’s World
  
  

Health, Safety, and Manners 1 is an interesting and attractive health reader that introduces first graders to the importance of good health habits and gives God the glory for the way He has designed us. Students will learn about nutrition, exercise, proper sleep habits, good posture, safety habits, and manners. Activities and checklists help students apply good principles of health, safety, and manners.

Text Used: Abeka Health, Safety, and Manners 1

Our art program is designed to nurture creativity, build confidence, and help students appreciate the beauty of God’s creation through hands-on artistic expression. Rotating on a two-year cycle, students explore a wide range of techniques, styles, and mediums while enjoying meaningful monthly projects that align with seasons, holidays, and classroom themes.

Throughout the program, students are introduced to foundational art concepts—such as the color wheel, basic design elements, and principles of composition—while experimenting with various media, including crayons, markers, paint, paper crafts, and chalk. Each project is crafted to encourage imagination, develop fine motor skills, and guide students in expressing themselves in ways that are pure, lovely, and of good report.

Seasonal, patriotic, academic, and keepsake projects add variety and excitement, giving students plenty of opportunities to create artwork they are proud to share. A glossary of art terminology and guided instruction help students understand important concepts while still enjoying the fun, exploratory nature of art.

Texts Used:

• Abeka Art Projects 1

• Abeka Art Projects 2