Four basic strands--perception, creative expression/performance, historical and cultural heritage, and critical evaluation--provide broad, unifying structures for organizing the knowledge and skills students are expected to acquire. Students rely on their perceptions of the environment, developed through increasing visual awareness and sensitivity to surroundings, memory, imagination, and life experiences, as a source for creating artworks. They express their thoughts and ideas creatively, while challenging their imagination, fostering reflective thinking, and developing disciplined effort and problem-solving skills.

By analyzing artistic styles and historical periods students develop respect for the traditions and contributions of diverse cultures. Students respond to and analyze artworks, thus contributing to the development of lifelong skills of making informed judgments and evaluations.

First grade students are introduced to the importance of good health habits and giving God the glory for the way He has designed us. Nutrition, exercise, proper rest, good posture, safety habits, and good manners at home, church, and school are emphasized.

In Second grade, special emphasis is placed on cleanliness, good nutrition, proper mental health, courtesy, and safety.

Third grade students enjoy learning about good posture, personal hygiene, exercise, nutrition, courtesy, first aid, safety, and spiritual growth.

Fourth grade students study physical fitness with emphasis on the skeletal, muscular, and respiratory systems. They also learn proper personal hygiene and the care of teeth and skin. Towards the end of the year, fourth graders learn about interpersonal relationships. They are taught how to have a right relationship with God and with others, stressing the necessity of maintaining close family relationships and the importance of choosing the right friends.

Four basic strands--perception, creative expression/performance, historical and cultural heritage, and critical evaluation--provide broad, unifying structures for organizing the knowledge and skills students are expected to acquire. In music, students develop their intellect and refine their emotions, understanding the cultural and creative nature of musical artistry and making connections among music, the other arts, technology, and other aspects of social life.

Because of the variety in instructional presentation in NTCA’s music classes, students learn that musical expression is fun. NTCA students enjoy showcasing the skills that they are mastering by performing. After working on the skills for vocal expression, performance styles, and audience etiquette, the students prove that they are second to none during several performances each year.

In Physical Education, students acquire the knowledge and skills for movement that provide the foundation for enjoyment, continued social development through physical activity, and access to a physically-active lifestyle. The student exhibits a physically-active lifestyle and understands the relationship between physical activity and health throughout the lifespan.

Elementary students develop basic body control, fundamental movement skills, and health-related fitness components such as strength, endurance, and flexibility. Students can state key performance cues for basic movement patterns such as throwing and catching. Students learn rules and procedures for games and activities and apply safety practices associated with physical activities. Tailored to each specific grade level as developmentally appropriate, the primary objectives are to foster in children a love of physical activity and play, to develop a sense of fair play and cooperation in children and to encourage the ability to work in groups.

Beginning in Kindergarten Readiness classes, students are introduced to Spanish. Students in our lower grades learn the Spanish words for colors, shapes, numbers and other common nouns. They begin to communicate through conversational phrases and simple questions.

Our Spanish class for third through eighth grade utilizes a web based curriculum, Ignitia, which is developed by Alpha Omega Publications, for Spanish. Students use this innovative course as an introduction to Spanish. Courses include text-based lessons, assignments, quizzes, and tests that engage students while they learn. Students immerse themselves in the language and culture. As a part of a complete learning management system, elementary Spanish is a self-directed course infused with technology-based lessons, tools, and exercises to enrich learning for students and streamline instruction and administrative tasks for teachers. Like all Ignitia courses, Bible verses and biblical references support the development of a Christian worldview and encourage practical Christian living.