Our Lady of Victory 

Catholic School

We use Sadlier’s We Believe program in third, fourth, and fifth-grade religion classes. Third graders learn about how we are all members of the one, holy, and Apostolic Church and we worship together in a global community. Fourth grade looks at Church doctrine and focus on the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. Fifth graders go in-depth with the sacraments. All students work to grow their relationship with Jesus through reflection and Adoration. 

Third graders participate in daily prayer and learn the Apostle’s Creed & Hail Holy Queen prayer. Fourth and fifth graders learn the Nicene Creed and the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity, in addition to reviewing all common Catholic prayers. They also attend weekly Mass and host Mass at least once a quarter.

Our 3-5 Math curriculum uses the new Sadlier Math program, updated for 2021, with the guidance of the Archdiocese of Detroit standards. Students work towards mastery of math facts in all three grades. 

Third-grade topics include place value, addition and subtraction multi-digit numbers, fractions, geometry, area, perimeter, data, time, measurement, and fractions. Fourth-grade topics include place value, multiplication, long division by one number, adding and subtracting fractions, operating involving decimals, measurements, lines, angles, and polygons. Fifth-grade topics include place value involving decimals, geometry, data, long division, all four operations with fractions and decimals, area, perimeter, and volume. We use Star Renaissance’s Freckle for supplementation, targeted practice, and adaptive practice.

3rd Grade Math Curriculum Map
4th Grade Math Curriculum Map
5th Grade Math Curriculum Map

Our 3-5 Science curriculum uses FOSS, a hands-on inquiry-based curriculum, taking a deeper look into science topics and using the scientific method. We follow the Next Generation Science Standards through the guidance of the Archdiocese of Detroit to integrate critical thinking skills with Catholic identity. Third-grade topics include life science; the human body; forces and motion; and weather and climate. Fourth-grade topics include different types of energy and physical science; soil, rocks, & landforms; and the human body. Fifth-grade topics include matter; motion and stability; energy; molecules to organisms; ecosystems; engineering; and space.

3rd Grade Science Curriculum Map
4th Grade Science Curriculum Map
5th Grade Science Curriculum Map

Our 3-5 social studies curriculum follows the state of Michigan's 2019 social studies standards and uses the McGraw-Hill Impact series for textbooks. Third-grade centers around Michigan history, Michigan geography, Michigan’s first people, the British and French explorers, becoming a state, Michigan economics, and Michigan government. Fourth grade focuses on the United States, its physical and human geography, and our government. Fifth graders learn about ancient civilizations and early American history up to and including the American Revolution.

3rd Grade Social Studies Curriculum Map
4th Grade Social Studies Curriculum Map
5th Grade Social Studies Curriculum Map

Third through fifth grade have explicit grammar instruction with Hake Publishing’s Grammar & Writing. The spiraling program instructs on and reinforces all parts of speech for constant, consistent review. 

The writing program used is Simplify Writing. Students complete a formal narrative, opinion, informative, and persuasive piece, using research and all steps of the writing process from journaling and brainstorming to revision for a published final copy. We also use OLV's own curriculum tailored to the AOD standards.

3rd Grade Grammar & Writing Curriculum Map
4th Grade Grammar & Writing Curriculum Map
5th Grade Grammar & Writing Curriculum Map

Our third grade students use Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Into Reading 

Our 4th and 5th grade Reading curriculum uses Collaborative Classroom’s Making Meaning reading program to incorporate whole-group reading comprehension strategies and apply them to small-group and independent reading. As a whole group, fourth graders read Shiloh, Because of Winn Dixie, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Fifth graders read Flying Solo, Tuck Everlasting, Esperanza Rising, and The One and Only Ivan. We use Star Renaissance’s Freckle for supplementation, targeted practice, and adaptive practice.

4th Grade Reading Curriculum Map
5th Grade Reading Curriculum Map

Third grade uses Writing Our Catholic Faith for handwriting and Into Reading for spelling. Fourth and fifth grade use Zaner Bloser’s Spelling Connections. Spelling and handwriting reinforce cursive skills and build spelling skills for application.