Curriculum and Instruction

Building Problem Solvers for the Real World

At HAES we believe every student can be a successful mathematician. Our math instruction is based on the Georgia Department of Education’s Mathematics Standards-Based Classroom Framework, which is designed to help students build a deep understanding of math through real-world application and critical thinking.

📚 What Makes Our Math Instruction Unique?

We use a daily structure with four core components:
Engage, Explore, Apply, and Reflect

This structure helps students connect what they already know to new ideas, discover mathematical patterns, and build confidence in problem-solving.

🧩 Components of a HAES Math Lesson

1. Engage
Lessons begin with a fun and thought-provoking activity that gets students interested and curious. Teachers guide students to make connections to previous learning and introduce the day’s topic in a way that sparks thinking and questions.

2. Explore
Students dive into the heart of the lesson through hands-on activities, problem-solving, and discussion. They use tools, visuals, and patterns to explore concepts while the teacher provides support and guidance.

3. Apply
Here, students put their learning into action. They solve real-world problems independently or in small groups, and receive personalized instruction based on their learning needs. Students begin to see how math shows up in everyday life.

4. Reflect
To wrap up the lesson, students talk or write about what they’ve learned. Teachers ask purposeful questions to help students summarize their understanding, share their thinking, and ask new questions that keep learning going.

🎯 What Are Our Math Goals?

At HAES, we’re focused on helping students:

• Develop strong number sense and reasoning skills

• Make sense of problems and persevere through challenges

• Apply math to real-life situations with confidence

• Build communication skills by explaining their thinking

🏡 How Can Families Help at Home?

• Practice math facts through games or everyday tasks like cooking or shopping

• Talk through problem-solving steps instead of just finding the answer

• Celebrate mistakes as part of the learning process

• Encourage a positive mindset about math

We’re committed to making math meaningful, engaging, and accessible for every student. Together, we can help our scholars grow into confident, capable problem-solvers who are ready for the future.

🔬 Exploring Curiosity, Building Knowledge, and Inspiring Discovery

At Harper-Archer Elementary, science is more than just a subject — it’s a journey into understanding the world around us. Our science instruction follows the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) and is designed to spark curiosity, deepen thinking, and help students make real-world connections.

🌍 What Will Students Learn in Science?

Our curriculum includes engaging lessons across:

• Earth Science (weather, planets, resources)

• Life Science (plants, animals, ecosystems)

• Physical Science (matter, energy, forces)

These topics are taught through hands-on investigations, real-world problems, and meaningful discussions that bring science to life.

🔁 How Is Science Taught at HAES?

We follow a 5E learning model:
Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate
This approach helps students:

• Ask questions and investigate real-world phenomena

• Collaborate with classmates to explore scientific ideas

• Apply what they learn to solve problems and build understanding

All lessons are phenomenon-based, which means students begin by observing something puzzling or interesting, then work like real scientists to figure it out.

🎯 What Are Our Goals for Science Education?

Aligned with Atlanta Public Schools' vision, our goal is to help students:

• Feel the excitement and wonder of learning about the natural world

• Use scientific thinking to make smart, informed decisions in life

• Participate thoughtfully in conversations about science and technology

• Prepare for future careers with confidence in STEM fields

🧠 How Can Families Support at Home?

• Encourage your child to ask “why” and “how” questions

• Watch science shows or explore nature together

• Visit science museums or explore online simulations

• Talk about how science connects to everyday life

At HAES Academy, we believe every student is a scientist in the making. Our job is to nurture that potential and provide learning experiences that empower students to question, discover, and lead with knowledge.

At Harper-Archer Elementary, our Social Studies instruction helps students build a strong understanding of the world, their role in it, and how they can lead with knowledge and compassion. Through engaging lessons and real-world connections, students explore history, civics, geography, and economics while strengthening reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.

📚 What Guides Our Social Studies Instruction?

HAES uses the Atlanta Public Schools Units of Study, which are aligned to the Georgia Standards of Excellence. These units provide a clear framework to ensure students in grades K–5 build the knowledge and skills needed to understand their communities, their country, and the world.

✍️ How Is Social Studies Taught at HAES?

Social studies lessons are deeply connected to literacy. Students read historical texts, analyze sources, and express their learning through writing. Teachers:

• Integrate reading and writing into social studies lessons

• Align instruction to support success on the Georgia Milestones in years ahead

• Encourage students to ask thoughtful questions and draw connections between past and present

This integration helps students grow as researchers, writers, and thinkers while staying rooted in the core purpose of social studies: to understand people, places, and progress.

🏠 How Can Families Support at Home?

• Talk about history, community, and current events

• Encourage your child to ask “why” and “how” questions about the world

• Visit museums, explore landmarks, or read biographies together

• Support your child’s Social Studies Fair project with encouragement and curiosity

At HAES we believe social studies helps students see themselves as part of a larger story,  one where they can lead, influence, and make a difference.

SEL is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

Children need social-emotional skills to thrive both in the classroom and in life. At HAES we believe that SEL will help our scholars:

• Gain confidence

• Set goals

• Make better decisions

• Collaborate with others in work and play

• Navigate the world more effectively

At Harper-Archer Elementary, we believe in nurturing the whole child by providing a rich variety of special area classes that inspire creativity, curiosity, and lifelong learning. Our scholars participate in engaging courses such as Physical Education (PE), Art, Music, Computer Science, Spanish, Library/Media, Dance, Reading, and STEM. These classes allow students to explore their interests, develop new talents, and apply their learning in fun and meaningful ways. Through our specials program, we aim to ignite every scholar’s passion for learning—mind, body, and heart!

Technology is an integral part of instruction in each subject area. Every scholar has access to a Chromebook device and/or iPad. We also have an Innovation Lab, which is located across from the media center. Scholars should use technology on a regular basis and the use of technology should not be reserved for only good behavior or to reward completion of work. 

Some technology resources that allow scholars to be productive and creative are: 

• MyOn

• Canva

• Paper (Homework support)

• Book Creator

Explore a variety of other Digital Tools to Support Learning provided by Atlanta Public Schools.