Curricular Expectations

Horizon Academy Curricular Expectations (2011-2012)

Horizon Academy visualizes curriculum as a process - not merely textbooks and other learning materials - which needs to extend beyond an emphasis on acquiring fact-based knowledge to include skills, attitudes, and values. Curriculum also consists of the teaching strategies and techniques and makes links with what children already know. Direct improvement of teaching and learning at the classroom level contributes to better learning outcomes. That’s why our teachers are involved at all levels of writing, developing, and evaluating the curriculum, and we hope the parents of our students and community members could join in to build more understanding, support and confidence in the Academy. The textbooks used in the Academy follow a clear, well-organized scope. In Arabic language arts, the academy adopted a new series of books that aim at developing the students’ skills of Arabic as a second language fast through the development of the four main areas of the language: speaking, listening, reading and writing. The series of Islamic studies books is particularly designed to meet the needs of Muslim children raised in North America and thus the books are fun to learn and at the same time address the mind of the students and help to develop their critical thinking faculty. However, the curriculum review and growth cycle expeditiously proceeds to ensure that the curriculum would always be relevant and current. This ongoing process of evaluation examines and makes judgments on the value of intended, taught, and learned curricular objectives. These learning outcomes describe what students should know and can do, and they are observable in the course of classroom life through a variety of mechanisms. To learn about the curricular objectives of your child’s grade level, see below.

Islamic Social Studies (2011-2012)

Pre-KG

(Qur’an) Memorize Surat-ul-Fatiha, Surat-ul-Ikhlas, Surat-an-Nas, and Surat-ul-Kawthar.
Be able to use the Islamic greeting and respond to it accurately.
Practice some daily duaa’s for eating, entering and exiting the washroom…etc.
Understand and practice the value of respect especially toward parents.
Describe the importance of cleanliness in Islam and perform ablution.

(Qur’an) Revise and Memorize Surat-ul-Fatihah, Surat-ul-Nasr, surat-ul-Asr, surat-ul-Kawthar, Surat-ul-Naas, Surat-ul-Falaq and al-Ikhlas.
List and explain the 5 pillars of Islam.
Know the story of Prophet Mohamed (peace be upon him) and some details of his childhood.
Memorize some daily Dua’a and athkar.
Practice Islamic etiquettes (greetings, good speaking habits, respect for others, Islamic greeting and response, …etc)
Practice ablution and prayer.
Introduce the meaning of Al-Asmaa’ul Husna and identify two of the beautiful names of Allah.

Level 1

(Qur’an) Revise and memorize Surat-Al-Ikhlas , Surat-ul-Kawthar , Surat-ul-Duha , Surat-Quraish, and Ayat-ul-Kursi .
Learn and understand four Ahadeeth and four dua’a.
Identify seven of the Most Beautiful Names of Allah with their meaning.
Learn the five pillars of Islam in more details.
Learn the six Pillars of Iman in more details.
Develop a more detailed knowledge of the biography of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his companions.
Practice ablution and prayer with emphasis on the arkan.
Recognize Muslim's celebrations of Eidul- Fitr and Eidul-Adha.
Demonstrate some of the daily Islamic manners.

Level 2

(Qur’an) Learn Surat-ul-Nabaa’.
Recognize the basic beliefs of Islam.
Identify the attribute of Allah as The only Creator.
Extend the students’ knowledge about the Prophets.
Be able to explain the basics of Aqeeda (pillars of Faith).
Memorize and understand the relevant Ahadeeth.
Show love to Prophet Muhammad, Peace be Upon Him,
recognize his significance to Muslims and the world, and follow his Sunna.
Recognize the essential role of the Qur’an in the Muslims’ lives.
Describe the Islamic events of Ramadan and Eid.

Level 3

(Qur’an) Learn Surat Al-A'la and Surat Ul-Alaq.
Define the pillars of Islam and Iman.
Learn about the trials of Prophets like Ibraheem and Mohammed.
Learn different forms of worshiping Allah SWT.
Develop a more detailed knowledge of Islamic manners and Etiquettes of sleeping, eating, and personal grooming.
Learn about the characters of a good Muslim.

Level 4

(Qur’an) Learn Surat-ul-Ghashiya.
Define the essential fundamentals of Islam.
Memorize and apply the relevant Ahadeeth and du’aa’s.
Describe the stories of prophets: Ibraheem, Ishaq, Isma’eel, Ya’qoub and Yusuf, peace be upon them all.
Learn six new names of the most Beautiful Names of Allah (SWT).
Recognize the objectives of different prayers in different contexts.
Learn how Islam reached African countries and be able to list the characteristics of the early Muslims.

Level 5

(Qur’an) Learn surat-ul-Mulk.
Define Tawheed and list its types and characteristics and link them to the
explanation of the meanings of Surat-ul-Mulk.
Describe some of the Most Beautiful Names of Allah (SWT) and describe ways to implement them in daily life.
Explain the meaning of Surat-Nooh and the lessons derived from it.
List the Islamic traits of the Muslim and suggest ways to apply them in daily life.
Comprehend and memorize the relevant ahadeeth and du’aa’s.
Identify the importance of the Sunna of Prophet Muhammad Peace be Upon Him and suggest ways to apply it in everyday life.
Identify the characteristics of racism and the reasons Islam does not tolerate it.
List and describe other types of voluntary prayers.

Level 6

(Qur’an) Learn Surat-ul-Mudathir.
Recognize that Islam is the religion of peace.
Appreciate the wisdom and gentleness Prophet Mohammad (SAW) showed during Dawa’a.
Comprehend the importance of believing in the unseen.
Learn about the world of Angels and the Day of Judgment.
Learn about faith and miracles.
Learn about Musa, the Prophet, and internalize the value of trusting Allah and relying on Him.