Physical Education 1
Description:
Physical Education activities include yoga, participating in a team or individual sport, and Connections Academy’s own fitness program.
Units:
Get Up and Move
In this unit your student will be introduced to the three different Physical Education programs that he will be able to participate in this school year. These programs include Connections Academy Fitness, Personal Fitness, and Yoga.
Your student will have the opportunity to learn how to play various games, continue playing an individual or team sport that he is involved in, or begin practicing yoga. Regardless of the program your student chooses to participate in, he will have the opportunity to be physically active on a daily basis.
Making Healthy Choices
The unit explains to your student the importance of making healthy choices, and the effects that those choices have on her overall health.
Your student will examine the food pyramid and proper nutrition guidelines, so that she will learn how to make appropriate food choices for a regular, healthy lifestyle. Also, the topics of exercise and personal hygiene will be discussed.
Make Your Own Fun
Your student will have the opportunity to let his creative side shine in this unit. He will not only participate in some fun and exciting activities, he will make the items that are used in each of the games.
Once your student has built a kite, a plisbee, and a catcher's cup, it is time to put them to the test and see how much fun he was able to make!
Games from Around the World
In this unit your student will learn about games that children from different cultures, and different parts of the world play. Your student's journey will take her to Spain, Japan, China, Indonesia, and Australia. She will also learn a game played by Native American children. Your student will uncover that even though the children in these countries are very far away geographically, the styles of games that they play are very close to what your student plays at home.
Show Your Strength
Throughout this unit your student will demonstrate the motor skills necessary to play various types of games. Some of these games will test his physical strength, while others will test his balance and precision during movement.
Your student will be challenged, both physically and mentally, as participates in challenges that will show his strength!
CD/DVD
Supplies
Art 1
Description:
Students expand their understanding of color, line, and shape. Activities include drawing, cutting, creating designs, and paper construction. We also introduce the concepts of texture and three-dimensional forms.
Units:
Elements of Art
This unit address the elements of art. The elements of art are line, shape, color, value, texture, space and form. In this unit your student will learn about the seven art elements and how to use them to create a work of art. As your student applies the elements of art to his work, he will gain a greater understanding of and appreciation for the different styles of art and the techniques used to create them.
Principles of Design
In this unit, your student will learn about the principles of design. Artists use the principles of design to create effective artwork. The principles of design are combined with the elements of art to enable the artwork to become a unique visual expression. By learning the principles of design, your student will discover new and exciting ways to make her artwork creatively effective. The principles of design are balance, emphasis, contrast, harmony, movement, pattern, rhythm, and unity.
Art Media
Art media are the materials and supplies that are used in the creation of works of art. The lessons in this unit will enable your student to become familiar with various types of art media and to explore creative freedom. In this unit, your student will work with paint, crayons, clay, and markers as well as objects found in the home and the out of doors.
Themes in Art
Artists often use the subject matter taken from their envrionments as well as from objects seen and used in everyday life. This unit is designed to enable your student to develop his observational and critical thinking skills. She will be introduced to several art themes, including portrait, still life, landscape, and themes that focus on special occasions with family and friends. Your student will continue to work with a variety of art media and techniques as she explores and develops her creative side.
Kit
- Art 1-2 Kit
- Art set (21 piece)
- Colored pencils (set of 12)
- Construction paper
- Drawing pad
- Paint, tempera (set of 4 colors)
- Paint, watercolor (set of 12 colors)
- Paintbrushes (set of 6)
Language Arts 1 A
Description:
In first grade, beginning readers work to become fluent readers. In the first semester, the students are taught to attack new words using a variety of decoding and contextual strategies. Students are given daily opportunities to apply these skills to decodable and authentic texts. They are taught to think about what they read through a variety of guided reading strategies. In writing, students create increasingly complex compositions and improve their handwriting.
Units:
You're in First Grade Now
In this unit, your student will review letters and letter-sounds introduced in kindergarten. He will build on existing reading skills by reading brief, easily decodable books that give him the opportunity to practice both phonics and comprehension skills. These decodable books are linked and printable from your student's lesson page. Reading selections also improve your student's understanding of fantasy, realistic fiction, and nonfiction. Your student will learn and practice essential skills for decoding and understanding text, such as blending and segmenting sounds. Phonics and spelling instruction reviews each letter of the alphabet. Comprehension skills include understanding the main idea of a selection and retelling key events of a story. Reading instruction also addresses fluency skills and the development of sight vocabulary. Brief writing assignments introduce your student to the writing process.
Animals, Tame and Wild
In this unit, your student will learn about animals through reading selections that improve her ability to distinguish between fantasy, realistic fiction, and nonfiction. Your student will learn and practice essential skills for decoding and understanding text. She will continue to practice blending and segmenting sounds. Phonics and spelling instruction focuses on consonants, short vowels, and inflected endings for base words. Comprehension skills include self-monitoring comprehension, using fix-up strategies, summarizing, and visualizing. Reading instruction also addresses fluency skills, such as reading with expression, and vocabulary development, such as using context clues. Additionally, your student will learn the characteristics of nouns and verbs and the parts of a simple sentence. She will apply this knowledge in weekly writing assignments that teach her to write sentences in response to a given prompt. Writing models, graphic organizers, and checklists for drafting and revising are provided as support.
Communities
In this unit, your student will explore the theme of communities. Your student will read fiction and nonfiction selections about communities as he continues to learn essential skills for decoding and understanding text. He will continue to practice blending and segmenting phonemes and words, including words with the consonant digraphs th and sh. Phonics and spelling instruction focuses on long vowel sounds spelled with the CVCe pattern. Students also learn about contractions and the inflected ending –ed. Reading comprehension skills include finding the main idea, understanding causes and effects, understanding sequence, comparing and contrasting, and thinking about the author's purpose for writing. Reading instruction also addresses fluency skills, such as reading accurately and paying close attention to punctuation, as well as vocabulary development skills, including understanding categories of words such as time-order words and directional terms. Additionally, your student will further develop his understanding of nouns, including proper nouns and the function of nouns in sentences. Writing instruction provides additional practice in writing sentences and builds to writing short paragraphs. Writing models, graphic organizers, and checklists for drafting and revising are provided as support.
Ira Sleeps Over
In this unit, your student will read the book Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber. This enjoyable story focuses on Ira's sleepover at his friend Reggie's house. Ira must decide whether or not to take his beloved teddy bear to the sleepover and risk being teased. As your student explores this conflict, she will give her opinion of what Ira should do as well as relate Ira's experiences with her own. She will work with long vowel words as well as compound words. Your student will work with a group of vocabulary words in a variety of contexts. Your student will have the opportunity to read the story aloud, building her fluency.
Manual/Guide
- Language Arts 1 A and B Course Guide
- Language Arts 1 A and B Answer Keys
Supplies
Textbook/Novel
- Scott Foresman Reading Street 1 (Unit 1)
- Scott Foresman Reading Street 1 (Unit 2)
- Scott Foresman Reading Street 1 (Unit 3)
- Scott Foresman Reading Street 1 (Unit 4)
- Scott Foresman Reading Street 1 (Unit 5)
- Ira Sleeps Over
Workbook
- Zaner-Bloser Handwriting 1
- SF Phonics and Spelling Practice Book 1
- Scott Foresman Grammar and Writing Practice Book 1
- Scott Foresman Practice Book 1 (Volume 1)
- Scott Foresman Practice Book 1 (Volume 2)
Language Arts 1 B
Description:
In first grade, beginning readers work to become fluent readers. The second semester course continues to teach students to attack new words using a variety of decoding and contextual strategies. Students are given daily opportunities to apply these skills to decodable and authentic texts. They are taught to think about what they read through a variety of guided reading strategies. In writing, students create increasingly complex compositions and improve their handwriting.
Units:
Changes
In this unit, your student will explore the theme of changes. Your student will read fiction and nonfiction selections about human and animal characters as he continues to learn essential skills for decoding and understanding text. He will continue to practice blending and segmenting phonemes and syllables. Phonics and spelling instruction focuses on the long e and long i sounds; words with ng and nk; words with er, ir, and ur; and words with the added endings –es, –ed, –er, and –est. Comprehension skills include comparing and contrasting, drawing conclusions, and understanding plot, theme, and story sequence. Reading instruction also addresses fluency skills, such as reading accurately and paying attention to punctuation cues, as well as vocabulary development skills, such as understanding synonyms and antonyms and using a dictionary. Additionally, your student will learn about how to use verbs correctly, including singular and plural verb forms, past- and present-tense verbs, forms of the verb to be, and verbs used within contractions. Your student will apply this knowledge as he completes a variety of writing assignments, including numbered steps and lists, a greeting card, a poem, and a song. Writing models, graphic organizers, and checklists for drafting and revising are provided as support.
Treasures
In this unit, your student will explore the theme of treasures. Your student will read fiction and nonfiction selections about different kinds of treasures as she continues to learn essential skills for decoding and understanding text. She will continue to practice blending and segmenting phonemes and words, including words with three-letter consonant blends. Phonics and spelling instruction focuses on long vowel sounds spelled with digraphs, such as ay, ai, ea, oa, and ow. Your student will also learn about word endings, such as possessives endings, –er, –est, –ly, and –ful, and learn about base words whose spelling changes when an ending is added. Reading comprehension skills include drawing conclusions; and understanding character, setting, plot, and theme; understanding causes and effects; and thinking about the author's purpose for writing. Reading instruction also addresses fluency skills, such as reading accurately and with expression, as well as vocabulary development skills, such as understanding homophones and identifying words borrowed from other languages. Additionally, your student will learn about how to use adjectives correctly, including adjectives to describe color, size, shape, and other characteristics. Writing instruction focuses on learning to write paragraph-length compositions, including a book review, numbered steps, a poster, and explanatory paragraphs. Writing models, graphic organizers, and checklists for drafting and revising are provided as support.
Great Ideas
In this unit, your student will explore the theme of great ideas. Your student will read fiction and nonfiction selections that explore this theme as he continues to learn essential skills for decoding and understanding text. He will continue to practice blending and segmenting phonemes and words. Phonics and spelling instruction focuses on diphthongs, such as ow, ou, oo, oi, oy, aw, and au. Your student will also learn about suffixes. Reading comprehension skills include understanding character, setting, and plot; drawing conclusions; understanding sequence; comparing and contrasting; and finding the main idea. Reading instruction also addresses fluency skills, such as reading accurately and with expression and using appropriate phrasing. Your student will continue to learn essential vocabulary development skills, such as understanding synonyms, homonyms, and words with multiple meanings. Additionally, your student will learn about pronouns and sentence types, including commands and exclamations. Writing instruction continues to develop your student's confidence in writing paragraph-length compositions. Writing models, graphic organizers, and checklists for drafting and revising are provided as support.
Manual/Guide
- Language Arts 1 A and B Course Guide
- Language Arts 1 A and B Answer Keys
Supplies
Textbook/Novel
- Scott Foresman Reading Street 1 (Unit 1)
- Scott Foresman Reading Street 1 (Unit 2)
- Scott Foresman Reading Street 1 (Unit 3)
- Scott Foresman Reading Street 1 (Unit 4)
- Scott Foresman Reading Street 1 (Unit 5)
- Ira Sleeps Over
Workbook
- Zaner-Bloser Handwriting 1
- SF Phonics and Spelling Practice Book 1
- Scott Foresman Grammar and Writing Practice Book 1
- Scott Foresman Practice Book 1 (Volume 1)
- Scott Foresman Practice Book 1 (Volume 2)
Math 1 A
Description:
In first-grade math, students will develop an understanding of numbers to 100 using a variety of models. In the first semester, the student is introduced to building strategies for addition and subtraction of whole numbers up to 18, students will also practice problem solving and reasoning skills. Hands-on activities and tools let students practice money and measurement concepts. We also explore geometry topics—shapes, congruence, and symmetry—as well as data analysis with picture graphs, data, and bar graphs.
Units:
Numbers to 12
In this unit, your student will practice reading and writing numbers from 0 to 12. Your student will associate concrete objects with numerals in order to tell how many objects are in a set, and he will recognize dot patterns as the representation of a number. This unit serves as a base for the further development of your student’s ability to denote addition and subtraction number relationships. Your student will build upon numbers in the five- and 10-frame counting systems. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “use objects.”
Comparing and Ordering Numbers
This unit reinforces numerical relationships through comparing and ordering numbers. Your student will determine the order of numbers from concrete examples using the terms least, between, and greatest. Employing the help of visual models, your student will place numbers in the correct order and determine their respective values on a number line. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “act it out.”
Understanding Addition
In this unit, your student will use number relationships to develop an understanding of basic addition principles. Your student will explore strategies for adding two numbers, including joining stories and part-part-whole situations. Your student will also become familiar with addition terminology associated with writing addition number sentences. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “use objects.”
Understanding Subtraction
This unit is dedicated to your student’s understanding of the ideas behind subtraction. Your student will find the missing parts of the numbers 7, 8, and 9, and then will transfer this skill into identifying the need to subtract in separation and comparison stories. Connecting subtraction and addition facts will help your student uncover the relationship between these two operations and enrich her knowledge of number sentences involving each of the operations. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “use objects.”
Five and Ten Relationships
This unit develops your student’s understanding of numbers in a base-ten numeration system by using five and 10 as points of reference. Within a 10-frame structure, your student will represent numbers through 10 and identify the “missing part” in part-part-whole relationships. The ability to recognize numbers using this organizational pattern builds a foundation that will help your student move from counting to mental math as a strategy to performing addition and subtraction operations. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “make a table.”
Addition Facts to 12
In this unit, your student will continue to explore addition relationships between numbers through 12 with ten-frames and breaking a sum into its parts. Your student will be introduced to near doubles and doubles facts, a strategy for remembering sums, so that your student will associate mathematical logic with real-world situations and commit addition facts to memory. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “draw a picture and write a number sentence.”
Subtraction Facts to 12
This unit reinforces the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction. Your student will become more comfortable recalling basic subtraction facts. Using prior knowledge of addition and double facts, your student will develop different approaches to solving subtraction sentences. He will learn to mentally compute the differences between two numbers through recognition rather than counting. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “draw a picture and write a number sentence.”
Geometry
Your student will examine the similarities and differences between plane shapes and solid figures. Through relating plane and solid shapes to real-world representations, your student will develop a clearer understanding of geometry and its presence in the world. This unit introduces and explores the features and concepts of different geometric shapes, including transformation, congruence, and symmetry. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “make an organized list.”
Patterns
In this unit, your student will explore strategies to identify and predict pattern repetition. Your student will begin to recognize familiar patterns using colors, shapes, and concrete objects, before moving to more complex number patterns. Your student will develop a greater understanding of the repeated structures that are the foundation of our numerical system. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “look for a pattern.”
Counting and Number Patterns to 100
This unit is dedicated to reinforcing the recognition of patterns within our numerical system. Your student will develop strategies to identify repetition and visually represent number patterns through 100. The introduction of skip counting will allow your student to build upon groups of 10 and discern the significance of place-value. Your student will also be introduced to the naming system for ordinal numbers and to denote position and order within a set. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “look for a pattern.”
Kit
- Math 1-2 Kit
- Base-ten flats, green (1)
- Base-ten rods, green (10)
- Base-ten units, green (20 cubes)
- Clock face (1)
- Coins (44)
- Connecting cubes (snap cubes) (20)
- Counters, 2-color (20)
- Dollar bills (40)
- Game spinner, blank (1)
- Number cubes, blank with 50 labels (2)
- Pattern blocks (27)
- Tiles, color (20)
Manual/Guide
- Math 1 A and B Course Guide
Online Text/eBook
- Scott Foresman enVisionMATH 1
Textbook/Novel
- Scott Foresman enVisionMATH 1
Workbook
- SF enVisionMATH 1 Interactive Homework Workbook
Math 1 B
Description:
In the second semester, students continue to develop an understanding of numbers to 100 using a variety of models. While building strategies for addition and subtraction of whole numbers up to 18, students will also practice problem solving and reasoning skills. Hands-on activities and tools let students practice money and measurement concepts. We also explore geometry topics—shapes, congruence, and symmetry—as well as data analysis with picture graphs, data, and bar graphs.
Units:
Tens and Ones
In this unit, your student continues to explore the concept of grouping by tens. He will notice the efficiency of a base-ten numerical system, as well as express a set of objects as multiple groups of ten and leftovers. Your student will connect visual representations with both written and spoken numbers. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “make an organized list.”
Comparing and Ordering Numbers to 100
By emphasizing comparisons, this unit enhances your student’s knowledge of numerical order. The introduction of mathematical symbols, less than, greater than, and equal to, coupled with visual examples helps your student comprehend the quantitative significance of numbers. Estimating place on a number line reinforces ideas of the order and relative size of multiple numbers in relationship to each other. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “make an organized list.”
Counting Money
Your student identifies, compares, and skip-counts to classify and organize money in this unit. Assigning a value to each different coin allows for comparison; and through manipulating the coins to express varying amounts, the unit provides an opportunity to associate our monetary number system with real-life experiences. In addition to learning multiple ways to express a given amount, your student judges which coins are necessary to make certain purchases. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “try, check, and revise.”
Measurement
This unit expands your student’s knowledge of measurement concepts. Your student uses estimated measurement and exact measurement to compare and order everyday objects. Standard units for length, capacity, weight, and temperature are introduced. The idea of magnitude is reinforced as your student is asked to choose appropriate units for measuring objects of varying sizes. The ability to decide upon the correct measurement system for a given quantity helps your student develop a base knowledge for a further expansion of measurement ideas in the units that follow. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “use reasoning.”
Time
In this unit, your student explores the measurement of time. Familiarity expressing time with minutes, hours, and days helps your student understand the concept of elapsed time. He also learns how to represent time on both digital and analog clocks. While our system for measuring time is more arbitrarily based than our base-ten numeration system, it is important that your student understands the fundamental units of time and the comparative significance of each. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “use data from a table.”
Addition Facts to 18
This unit encompasses all possible addend combinations for which the sum is 18. Building upon your student’s prior knowledge of doubles facts, this unit uses doubles-plus-1 and doubles-plus-2 strategies to solve addition sentences. Your student also makes use of her base-ten knowledge to add by making groups of ten in order to add 9 and 8. The unit sets a foundation for the later development of arithmetic principles by introducing the idea that a set of numbers can be added in any order. This unit’s problem solving strategies are “two-question problems” and “make a table.”
Subtraction Facts to 18
Your student revisits work with subtraction facts in this unit. Throughout the unit, he continues to explore the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction by using visual part-part-whole representations of equations. Your student also identifies corresponding addition and subtraction facts as fact families, which helps in the mastery of both operations. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “draw a picture and write a number sentence.”
Data and Graphs
In this unit, your student learns the most effective ways to collect, categorize, and display data. Differentiating between real-object graphs, picture graphs, and bar graphs depends on the amount and type of data being collected. Graphs provide a useful way to organize and present information in real-life situations. Additionally, this unit investigates the likelihood of events as expressed through probability. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “make a graph.”
Fractional Parts
In this unit, your student expands his knowledge of fractions as parts of a whole. Your student identifies and describes equal parts of an object, and learns to equate them to real-life situations. The concepts your student masters in this unit serve as a foundation for furthering knowledge of fractional parts. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “draw a picture.”
Adding and Subtracting with Tens and Ones
This unit provides your student with the opportunity to continue working with tens and ones while adding and subtracting. With help from visual representations and the reinforcement of addition and subtraction strategies, your student will develop a greater understanding of place value with multi-digit numbers. This unit encourages your student to experiment with different approaches to a problem, which include counting cubes as a tens and ones model, using a hundred chart, and implementing a mental math addition or subtraction strategy. This unit’s problem-solving strategy is “extra information.”
Kit
- Math 1-2 Kit
- Base-ten flats, green (1)
- Base-ten rods, green (10)
- Base-ten units, green (20 cubes)
- Clock face (1)
- Coins (44)
- Connecting cubes (snap cubes) (20)
- Counters, 2-color (20)
- Dollar bills (40)
- Game spinner, blank (1)
- Number cubes, blank with 50 labels (2)
- Pattern blocks (27)
- Tiles, color (20)
Manual/Guide
- Math 1 A and B Course Guide
Online Text/eBook
- Scott Foresman enVisionMATH 1
Textbook/Novel
- Scott Foresman enVisionMATH 1
Workbook
- SF enVisionMATH 1 Interactive Homework Workbook
Science 1 A
Description:
Science encourages students to explore the natural world. In the first semester, students will study Earth, its resources, and how to protect them. We will explore how plants and animals grow and change. We will create a model of a mountain and investigate the way sunlight affects leaves. Students will also learn about the scientific method and explore possible careers in science.
Units:
Be a Scientist
In this introductory unit, your student will learn about scientists and what they do. He will study the basic steps of the scientific method, and he will learn why it is important for scientists to be careful during experiments.
Plants are Living things
In this unit, your student will learn about plants. She will find out what plants need to live and grow, and she will compare different plants and their parts. Your student will also complete a hands-on activity that requires her to make observations of a plant.
Plants Grow and Change
In this unit, your student will learn how plants grow and change. He will explore flowers, fruits, and seeds, and he will learn how plants are able to survive in different places of the world. Your student will also complete a hands-on activity to explore how sunlight affects a plant’s leaves.
All About Animals
In this unit, your student will learn about animals. She will explore different kinds of animals, and how they eat, grow, and change throughout their lifetime. Your student will also complete an activity on animal comparison.
Places to Live
In this unit, your student will learn about habitats. He will explore land and water habitats, and he will find out how plants and animals live together in different habitats. Your student will also practice his communication skills when learning about desert habitats.
Looking at Earth
In this unit, your student will learn about landforms on Earth. She will learn what different landforms look like, and she will explore characteristics of rocks and soil. Your student will also complete a hands-on activity about using models in science.
Caring for Earth
In this unit, your student will learn about Earth’s resources. He will explore what natural resources are, how people use them, and how they can be protected by reducing, reusing, and recycling. Your student will also complete an investigation to find out how much water soil can hold.
Kit
- Science 1 Kit
- Dropper
- Goggles, safety
- Hand lens
- Magnet, bar
- Modeling clay
- Thermometers (2)
Manual/Guide
- Science 1 A and B Course Guide
Online Text/eBook
- McGraw-Hill Science: A Closer Look 1
Textbook/Novel
- McGraw-Hill Science: A Closer Look 1 (opt)
Workbook
- McGraw-Hill Science: Reading and Writing 1
Science 1 B
Description:
Science encourages students to explore the natural world. In the second semester, students continue to study Earth, its resources, and how to protect them. We will explore how plants and animals grow and change. We will create a model of a mountain and investigate the way sunlight affects leaves. Students will also learn about the scientific method and explore possible careers in science.
Units:
Weather and Seasons
In this unit, your student will learn about weather and seasons. He will identify different weather conditions, and he will describe common weather during winter, spring, summer, and fall. Your student will also complete a hands-on activity to explore different types of weather throughout a week.
The Sky
In this unit, your student will learn about Earth and the solar system. She will study the movements of Earth, the moon, and the sun, and she will learn why the sun is important to living things. Your student will also complete an activity in which she will record data about the sun at different times of day.
Matter Everywhere
In this unit, your student will learn about matter. He will come to understand that all things are made of matter, and he will identify properties of solids, liquids, and gases. Your student will also practice measuring objects using standard and nonstandard units.
Changes in Matter
In this unit, your student will learn about changes in matter. She will learn how to make mixtures, and she will explore the processes of freezing, melting, and evaporation. Your student will observe evaporation as it occurs.
On the Move
In this unit, your student will learn about position and motion. He will identify pushes and pulls as forces, and he will explain why magnets attract magnetic objects. Your student will also investigate how quickly different liquids flow.
Energy Everywhere
In this unit, your student will learn about energy. She will study energy in different forms, such as heat, sound, and electricity. Your student will also complete an investigation about heat energy.
Kit
- Science 1 Kit
- Dropper
- Goggles, safety
- Hand lens
- Magnet, bar
- Modeling clay
- Thermometers (2)
Manual/Guide
- Science 1 A and B Course Guide
Online Text/eBook
- McGraw-Hill Science: A Closer Look 1
Textbook/Novel
- McGraw-Hill Science: A Closer Look 1 (opt)
Workbook
- McGraw-Hill Science: Reading and Writing 1
Social Studies 1 A
Description:
In the first semester, students will learn about the ways in which people contribute to their communities and work together to the benefit of all. This course explores the concepts of good citizenship, neighborhoods, and economics. We will also study maps, photos, biographies, illustrations, poetry, and music to help explain the concept of communities and extend the concept of community to the larger world.
Units:
Time for School
In this unit, your student will explore the question “Why do we go to school?" He will learn that people form groups. A family is one type of group. He will discuss the rules and routines for home and school. Using biographies and stories about the past, he will understand how schools have changed over time.
In My Community
In this unit, your student will study the features of a neighborhood, focusing on her own neighborhood as well as other neighborhoods in our country. She will use maps to learn more about her community and country. She will identify how community leaders and volunteers work to improve their communities. She will explore how communities come together to celebrate.
Work! Work! Work!
In this unit, your student will examine the importance of work to a community. He will learn how different people contribute to the community by working. He will study basic economic concepts such as needs, wants, spending, and saving. He will examine different types of jobs. Your student will explain how different types of transportation help to move goods and people.
CD/DVD
- SF Digital Learning CD-ROM: All Together
Manual/Guide
- Social Studies 1 A and B Course Guide
Textbook/Novel
- Scott Foresman Social Studies: All Together (opt)
Workbook
- Scott Foresman All Together Workbook
Social Studies 1 B
Description:
In the second semester, students continue to learn about the ways in which people contribute to their communities and work together to the benefit of all. This course explores the concepts of good citizenship, neighborhoods, and economics. We will also study maps, photos, biographies, illustrations, poetry, and music to help explain the concept of communities and extend the concept of community to the larger world.
Units:
Our Earth, Our Resources
In this unit, your student will learn about our environment. He will study how the weather, seasons, and resources affect our lives. He will use maps and globes to identify land and water features. He will explore how people work together to conserve resources.
This Is Our Country
In this unit, your student will study our country’s history, traditions, and symbols. She will read biographies of famous Americans, including Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, and Eleanor Roosevelt. She will learn how we choose our country’s leaders.
Our Country, Our World
In this unit, your student will learn how our country is part of the global community. He will study the inventions, communication tools, and means of transportation that allow us to connect to the rest of the world. He will explore how children around the world are similar and different.
CD/DVD
- SF Digital Learning CD-ROM: All Together
Manual/Guide
- Social Studies 1 A and B Course Guide
Textbook/Novel
- Scott Foresman Social Studies: All Together (opt)
Workbook
- Scott Foresman All Together Workbook
Educational Technology and Online Learning 1
Prerequisites:
To participate in this course the student must have Microsoft® Office including Paint, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint installed on his or her machine. It should be installed before the course begins.
Description:
First graders learn basic skills and terminology, and are introduced to the Internet and Internet safety skills using child-friendly tools. Your child will also learn how to properly place his or her fingers on the keyboard and how to write words and short sentences on the computer.
Units:
Introduction and Internet Safety
In this unit, your student will be introduced to the basics of K to the 8th Power lesson structure and procedures. Your student will then learn about Internet safety. The goal of the lessons in this unit is to educate your student on how to avoid dangerous, inappropriate, or unlawful online behavior. Your student will become aware of the dangers associated with the Internet by reading stories and scenarios, learning safety tips, and completing related activities.
National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S) Performance Indicators:
All students should have opportunities to demonstrate the following performances. Prior to completion of Grade 2, students will:1. Use input devices (e.g., mouse, keyboard, remote control) and output devices (e.g., monitor, printer) to successfully operate computers, DVDs, audiotapes, and other technologies.
2. Use a variety of media and technology resources for directed and independent learning activities.
5. Work cooperatively and collaboratively with peers, family members, and others when using technology in the classroom.
10. Gather information and communicate with others using telecommunications, with support from teachers, family members, or student partners.
NETS-S were developed by the
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).
Study Skills
The Study Skills unit will introduce your student to basic study skills. The lessons in this unit include listening skills, organizational skills, and other skills to help your student become a successful learner. Your student will learn how to set realistic goals and will have the opportunity to create her own goals for this course. The important skills taught in this unit apply not only to Educational Technology and Online Learning but to all academic areas, as well as to the real world.
Keyboarding
In this course, the student will explore letter and number recognition. The student will identify the home row and the rows above and below the home row. The student will demonstrate correct posture and finger position while typing and apply proper touch typing skills to type the letters of the home row, y, and t. Finally the student will complete a typing speed test.
Microsoft® Paint
In this unit, your student will learn the basic tools of Microsoft® Paint. Your student will learn how to use the text tool, the rectangle tool and fill bucket, in addition to learning how to add a variety of colors to the shapes using the paintbrush tool. He will also be able to draw a picture using each of the functional words in the featured lessons.
Microsoft® Word
In this unit, your student will learn basic Microsoft® Word techniques including how to type text, insert and format tables, copy and paste sentences, use the spelling and grammar tool, insert and resize pictures, understand how and when to use certain fonts, and type descriptive paragraphs.
Microsoft® Excel
In this unit, your student will create formulas, adjust column width, and enter text into a Microsoft® Excel spreadsheet. Your student will also create borders, resize fonts, and format cells. He will also learn how to align text and fill cells with different colors, in addition to being able to calculate perimeter and area. Finally, your student will learn how to use Microsoft Excel to carry out mathematical processes.
Microsoft® PowerPoint
In this unit, your student will explore and be introduced to a variety of features in Microsoft® PowerPoint. She will learn how to make a presentation with slide layouts, how to resize and paste images into slides, and how to change the font and background within a presentation. Your student will also learn how to use a design template and learn how to create and type in text boxes to describe pictures on a slide.
Children's French I
Description:
The Children’s French I course introduces students to the French language through activities such as singing, acting, drawing, and telling stories. Interactive games allow students to master vocabulary from adventure-based stories. The differentiated activities in this course help the students to express themselves in French and gain a general understanding of French grammar.
Children's French II
Description:
Children's French II employs a unique approach to building French fluency quickly and effortlessly. The stories are first introduced in English and then retold a number of times with progressively more French. Although the course focuses on the oral aspect of the language, there is more exposure to reading and writing than in the previous level.
Children's French III
Description:
This course engages students through the use of storytelling and solving puzzles, allowing students the opportunity to be active participants. The vocabulary learned in Children’s French II will help students adapt to the faster pace of this course. The Children’s French III course encourages the development of language skills by incorporating more French into the adventure-based stories. By the end of the course, students are able to read and understand passages written entirely in the target language.
Children's Spanish I
Description:
The Children’s Spanish I course uses a series of creative stories and games to build motivation for learning the language. Through these adventure-based stories, students gain new vocabulary and start to understand sentence structure. The stories are first introduced in English and then retold a number of times with progressively more Spanish. Eventually, it becomes an all-Spanish story, and students are prepared to understand and retell the stories in Spanish.
Children's Spanish II
Description:
Children's Spanish II employs a unique approach to building Spanish fluency quickly and effortlessly. The stories are first introduced in English and then retold a number of times with progressively more Spanish. Although the course focuses on the oral aspect of the language, there is more exposure to reading and writing than in the previous level. Fascinating information on Hispanic culture is gracefully interwoven into the captivating adventure stories.
Children's Spanish III
Description:
This course engages students through the use of storytelling and solving puzzles, allowing students the opportunity to be active participants. The vocabulary learned in Children’s Spanish II will help students adapt to the faster pace of this course. The Children’s Spanish III course encourages the development of language skills by incorporating more Spanish into the adventure-based stories. By the end of the course, students are able to read and understand passages written entirely in Spanish.
Music II
Description:
The Music courses, with content developed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, focus on teaching basic music concepts through traditional children’s songs and classical music examples. Students develop fine and gross motor skills that will enable them to keep a steady beat and learn rhythm instruments.
Units:
Opposites
In this unit your student will compare three basic elements in music: dynamics, loud and soft; tempo, fast and slow; and pitch, high and low. Through traditional folk and children's songs, he will begin to develop his singing voice. Your student will also learn important repertoire that will be used throughout the year to teach many music concepts and skills.
The Steady Heartbeat
In this unit your student will first move to music in a variety of ways to develop gross motor skills and keep a steady beat. After many opportunities to keep and feel the steady beat, your student will then identify the beat in music. Your student will identify the beat of a song as being fast or slow. Reading a heartbeat chart is another way to keep the beat and also prepares your student for music reading in units five and six.
Melody
In this unit your student will review and further develop his singing voice. He will identify the melody and tune or part of the song you sing. Your student will be introduced to musical phrases. The concept of "pitch" will be reviewed. Icons showing the relationship between pitches will be used, which will prepare the student for reading music in units five and six. Finally, form, the way a composer puts phrases together to create a melody, will be explored.
The Orchestra
In this unit your student will discover four families or groups of instruments in the orchestra. She will discover how all the instruments in one family are related by the way their sound is produced. The instruments of the percussion and brass sections will be further explored.
Rhythm
In this unit your student, using traditional folk songs and children's songs, will identify, read, write, and perform, basic rhythm patterns. He will define the music term rhythm and distinguish between the steady heartbeat and the rhythm of a song. He will play on rhythm instruments and perform rhythmic ostinatos with songs.
The Pentatonic Scale
In this unit, your student through folk songs and children's songs, will identify, read, write, and perform melodic patterns. She will distinguish between pitches that are higher and lower than each other. Additionally she will sing in canon and perform a melodic ostinato.
Sign Language
Description:
In this course, students are introduced to the fundamental concepts of American Sign Language. Students explore vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills using basic signing and fingerspelling techniques.
Units:
Intro
In this unit, your student will be introduced to American Sign Language, or ASL. He will study the history of ASL and learn how it became the standard language for deaf and hard of hearing people in North America. He will also learn about some of the accepted rules of etiquette in Deaf culture. This introductory unit also teaches your student how to sign the letters of the alphabet and the mechanics of fingerspelling.
Numbers
This unit introduces the signing of numbers. Your student will learn how to sign numbers 1–100, as well as the signs for dollars and cents. A variety of fun activities give your student a chance to practice using ASL to discuss counting and using money.
Time
In this unit, your student will study various aspects of time. Not only will he learn how to communicate time using ASL, he will also learn the signs for the 7 days of the week and the 12 months of the year. The signs for various holidays as well as the four seasons are also taught in this unit.
Nouns
Your student will learn the signs for some commonly used nouns. The categories of family, places, food, colors, and animals are explored as your student practices these signs to add to her growing library of American Sign Language knowledge.
Descriptions
The lessons in this unit will teach your student how to sign various descriptions using American Sign Language. He will learn how to sign descriptive words that express feelings, sizes, possessions, and locations. In addition, he will combine some previously taught signs for numbers, time, and nouns, with descriptive signs taught in this unit.
Web Quest
Description:
This interactive elective will allow students to participate in a unique and individual Web Quest experience. The course is primarily based on students' collecting, submitting, and tracking data. In addition, students will be able to share collected information with other Connections Academy students online.