Physical Education 3
Description:
Students enhance their personal fitness through daily participation in a variety of fitness plans, including yoga, an individual or team sport, or Connections Academy’s fitness plan.
Units:
The Presidential Fitness Challenge: Introduction
In this unit, your student will learn about the Presidential Fitness Challenge. The President’s Challenge is a program created by the United States government that rewards students for being physically active and fit. Your student will learn about the activities he can participate in, the awards that he can win, and how to keep track of his progress. By the end of this unit, your student will have taken his first step toward earning the Presidential Physical Fitness Award or the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award or he will have qualified for one.
Moving, Stretching, and Strengthening
Throughout this unit the student will demonstrate motor skills and knowledge of rules in games. In addition, the student will review how to jump rope, stretch, throw, and catch. Each lesson includes individual and partner activities. These activities may be revised or replaced to meet the needs of the student.
Developing a Healthy Exercise Routine
In this unit your student will learn the four principles of exercise: regularity, overload, specificity, and progression. He will also learn about the four components of an effective exercise routine, which are warm-up, stretching, exercise, and cool-down, and will understand why each one is important. He will then begin the suggested daily exercise activities.
Your Body and Exercise
In this unit your student will learn about how different factors affect her body during exercise. The unit explores body type and composition, proper diet and nutrition, the importance of fluids during exercise, how the human body maintains a healthy balance, and how exercise-related injuries can be prevented and cared for.
The Presidential Fitness Challenge
In this unit, your student will participate in the Presidential Fitness Challenge. The President’s Challenge is a program created by the United States government that rewards students for being physically active and fit. Your student will take part in an endurance run/walk, a shuttle run, curl-ups, push-ups, and the v-sit and reach. His best performance in each of these events will be recorded and submitted to his teacher so that he receives the appropriate recognition and award for his achievement.
Games Around the World
In this unit your student will learn about games that children play. However, the games that your student will learn are probably not ones that she has played before. Your student is going to take a look at games that children play in different countries around the world. In the first lesson, she will learn games from countries in Asia. Next she will look at games that are played in countries in Europe. The third lesson will concentrate on countries of Africa. Finally, your student will learn some games from Australia.
CD/DVD
- Elementary Yoga DVD (set of 2)
Course Sets
- Physical Education (3, 4, 5)
Lesson Manual/Course Guide
Supplies
Art 3
Description:
Our theme is “The Four Seasons,” featuring arts and crafts based on the characteristics of each season. Art history and art criticism are introduced, and students study the arts of various cultures. Your child will also use various media to create two- and three-dimensional projects.
Units:
Summer Strokes
In this unit, your student will explore his summer experiences while learning about basic drawing, design, and watercolor techniques. Topics include patterns, portraits, seascapes, and book arts. He will have the opportunity to draw and paint, as well as construct a book.
Autumn Arts
In this unit, your student will explore her autumn experiences while learning about basic drawing, paper construction, and clay handbuilding techniques. She will have the opportunity to draw and create three-dimensional objects. Your student will also explore basic aesthetics by describing, judging, and drawing conclusions about a historical artwork.
Winter Highlights
In this unit, your student will explore his winter experiences while learning about drawing faces, printmaking, fiber arts, and adding shadows to pictures. He will have the opportunity to draw, paint, print, and weave. Your student will also explore the artwork of an important American artist from history.
Spring into Art
In this unit, your student will explore her spring experiences while learning about basic drawing, collage, and clay handbuilding techniques. Topics include illustration, Japanese prints, weather in art, Mexican folk art, and drawing people in motion. Your student will have the opportunity to draw, paint, collage, and sculpt. She will also explore basic aesthetics by describing, judging, and drawing conclusions about a historical artwork.
Course Sets
Kit
Supplies
- Drawing pad
- Paintbrushes (set of 5)
Gifted and Talented Language Arts 3 A
Description:
Connections Academy’s Gifted and Talented Language Arts 3 course provides students opportunities to work at an accelerated pace, while engaging in more complex and challenging instructional activities. Students are provided opportunities for increased student-teacher interaction and discussion, as well as increased interaction with their peers. This course focuses on developing critical thinking and analytical skills. Students also create compositions throughout the course by moving through the five stages of the writing process: planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. Students continue to master the basic skills of writing with instruction in spelling, handwriting, grammar, and language usage.
Units:
Dollars and Sense
In this unit, your student will explore the theme of money’s importance in people’s lives, while also learning essential reading and writing skills. The reading selections encompass several genres, including historical fiction, fables, realistic fiction, and articles. Your student will learn and practice reading comprehension skills such as previewing a text, connecting reading to prior knowledge, understanding sequence and story structure, visualizing, and checking for comprehension. Reading instruction also addresses fluency skills such as reading with expression, and vocabulary development strategies such as using context clues and referring to a dictionary. Additionally, your student will learn the steps of the writing process and apply them in weekly writing assignments, which culminate in a narrative paragraph submitted as the first assignment for his writing portfolio. Writing models, graphic organizers, and checklists for drafting and revising are provided as support. Finally, your student will receive weekly spelling instruction, which focuses on understanding vowel and consonant patterns, as well as grammar instruction in using complete sentences and understanding different sentence types.
Smart Solutions
In this unit, your student will explore the theme of how people solve problems effectively, while building on the reading and writing skills introduced in Unit 1. This unit provides thorough instruction in reading comprehension skills, such as understanding characters, determining the main idea of fiction and nonfiction selections, asking questions while reading, and drawing conclusions. The fluency and vocabulary development strategies taught in Unit 1 are reinforced throughout the unit. Your student will further develop her writing skills by composing in a variety of forms, including a story summary submitted as part of her portfolio. Spelling instruction addresses new word patterns and endings, including compound words and words beginning with three-letter blends. Grammar instruction develops your student’s understanding of nouns by addressing topics such as common and proper nouns, singular and plural nouns, and possessive nouns.
People and Nature
In this unit, your student will explore the theme of people’s relationship to the natural world. He will read a variety of selections, including a short fiction book, Miss Rumphius; fables; a play; and nonfiction articles. Reading instruction will help your student to recognize common text structures, such as texts that compare and contrast or that show causes and effects. Your student will also become a more critical reader by learning how to understand an author’s purpose and how to make generalizations based on his reading. Throughout the unit, your student will continue to practice fluency skills and vocabulary development strategies. He will gain additional confidence as a writer as he learns to compose longer works, including a descriptive journal entry submitted as part of the writing portfolio. Spelling instruction addresses contractions, prefixes and suffixes, and silent letters. Grammar instruction focuses on verbs, including action and linking verbs, helping verbs, verb tenses, and subject-verb agreement.
Course Sets
Lesson Manual/Course Guide
- Gifted Language Arts 3 A and B Course Guide
Novel
- If Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island
- Miss Rumphius
- The Mouse and the Motorcycle
Online Text/eBook
- Partial iText Scott Foresman Reading Street 3
Textbook
- Scott Foresman Reading Street 3 (Volume 1)
- Scott Foresman Reading Street 3 (Volume 2)
Workbook
- Scott Foresman Practice Book 3 (Volume 1)
- Scott Foresman Practice Book 3 (Volume 2)
- Scott Foresman The Grammar & Writing Book 3
- SF Phonics and Spelling Practice Book 3
- Zaner-Bloser Handwriting 3
Gifted and Talented Language Arts 3 B
Description:
Connections Academy’s Gifted and Talented Language Arts 3 course provides students opportunities to work at an accelerated pace, while engaging in more complex and challenging instructional activities. Students are provided opportunities for increased student-teacher interaction and discussion, as well as increased interaction with their peers. This course focuses on developing critical thinking and analytical skills. Students also create compositions throughout the course by moving through the five stages of the writing process: planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. Students continue to master the basic skills of writing with instruction in spelling, handwriting, grammar, and language usage.
Units:
One of a Kind
In this unit, your student will explore the theme of uniqueness. She will read a variety of selections, including biographies, fantasy stories, folktales, and expository articles. Reading instruction will further develop your student’s understanding of story elements—such as plot and theme—and common text structures, such as texts that compare and contrast, or that show causes and effects. Your student will practice critical reading by learning how to make generalizations, and distinguish between facts and opinions in a text. Throughout the unit, your student will continue to practice fluency skills and vocabulary development strategies. Her confidence as a writer will grow as she learns to write in different genres, including poetry and memoirs. She will write a sample of each to be submitted as part of the writing portfolio. Spelling instruction addresses irregular plurals, prefixes and suffixes, and vowel and consonant patterns. Grammar instruction focuses on pronouns, contractions, and prepositions.
Cultures
In this unit, your student will explore the theme of cultures. She will read a variety of selections, including realistic and narrative fiction. Reading instruction will futher develop your student’s understanding of story elements such as sequence and common text structures, such as text that compare and contrast. Your student will practice critical reading by learning how to draw conclusions, determine the author’s purpose, and distinguish between facts and opinions in a text. Throughout the unit, your student will continue to practice fluency skills and vocabulary development strategies. Her confidence as a writer will grow as she learns to write in different genres, including an editorial and story review. She will write an opinion essay to submit as part of the writing portfolio. Spelling instruction addresses syllables, homophones, the vowel sound in ball, and suffixes. Grammar instruction focuses on adjectives, adverbs, and conjunctions.
Freedom
In this unit, your student will explore the theme of freedom. He will read a variety of fiction and nonfiction selections, including realistic fiction, a photo essay, and fantasy stories. In addition, students will read The Mouse and the Motorcycle written by Beverly Cleary, which tells the story of a young mouse named Ralph who lives in a hotel. Reading instruction will further develop your student’s understanding of story elements, such as plot and theme, and common text structures, such as texts organized with a main idea and details or texts that show causes and effects. Your student will also become a more critical reader by learning how to make generalizations and distinguish between facts and opinions in a text. Throughout the unit, your student will continue to practice fluency skills and vocabulary development strategies. He will refine his writing skills as he writes in different genres, including an informative and a descriptive paragraph submitted as part of the writing portfolio. Spelling instruction addresses assorted vowel sounds, multisyllabic words, and related words. Grammar instruction addresses capitalization, commas, and ways to combine sentences.
Course Sets
Lesson Manual/Course Guide
- Gifted Language Arts 3 A and B Course Guide
Novel
- If Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island
- Miss Rumphius
- The Mouse and the Motorcycle
Online Text/eBook
- Partial iText Scott Foresman Reading Street 3
Textbook
- Scott Foresman Reading Street 3 (Volume 1)
- Scott Foresman Reading Street 3 (Volume 2)
Workbook
- Scott Foresman Practice Book 3 (Volume 1)
- Scott Foresman Practice Book 3 (Volume 2)
- Scott Foresman The Grammar & Writing Book 3
- SF Phonics and Spelling Practice Book 3
- Zaner-Bloser Handwriting 3
Gifted and Talented Literature Study 3
Description:
The Junior Great Books® program employs the method of interpretive readings and discussion being known as the Shared Inquiry™ method. This distinctive approach to learning enables leaders—the teachers and Learning Coaches—to foster a vibrant environment in which a student acquires the habits and strategies of a self-reliant thinker, reader, and learner. Through their own curiosity and attentive questioning, leaders serve as partners in inquiry with the student, helping him work with other students to discover meaning in a reading selection and to build interpretations. The process reaches its fullest expression in Shared Inquiry discussion, where leaders and students think and talk about an interpretive question that arises from a particular story. Using LiveLesson® sessions, the student will interact with peers twice during each unit for Shared Inquiry and presentation of personal writing. Junior Great Books includes outstanding works of literature by award-winning authors. Praised for their rich language and international range, and chosen carefully for their ability to support multiple interpretations, the stories in Junior Great Books capture students’ attention and imagination and engage the best of their thinking. Progressing in reading level, conceptual complexity, and length throughout the series, the stories are the foundation for a thoughtful process of reading, discussion, and writing.
Units:
The Banza
In this unit, your student will read “The Banza,” a Haitian folktale. Your student will practice active reading by marking passages with notes to indicate places where he is confused or curious. He will practice his critical thinking skills when he marks the story with questions during his second reading. At the end of the first lesson, your student will participate in a Shared Inquiry™ discussion of the story during a LiveLesson® session. In the second lessorn how business owners are confronted with decisions and choices regarding production, services, and resources which impact profits.
Governments
In this unit, your student will learn about past government and the impact that present day government has on the rights and responsibilities of today’s citizens. She will learn how citizens can become good citizens by using these rights and responsibilities on a community, state and country level. She will also learn about the structure of state government and understand how communities benefit from local government services and community leaders.
CD/DVD
- SF Digital Learning CD-ROM: Communities
Course Sets
Lesson Manual/Course Guide
- Social Studies 3 A and B Course Guide
Online Text/eBook
- iText Scott Foresman Social Studies: Communities
Workbook
- Scott Foresman Communities Quick Study
Educational Technology and Online Learning 3
Description:
Word processing and Web use are the main subjects for the third grade course Educational Technology and Online Learning. Students learn how to create, edit, and add images to a word-processing document. They also learn and use Internet safety skills to find safe sources on the Internet to research various curriculum areas. Students follow parent and school rules about email usage to send and receive messages.
Units:
Introduction
Educational Technology and Online Learning course is designed to introduce new computer skills and computer terminology as well as reinforce academic content. Throughout this course, the student and Learning Coach will engage in lessons which incorporate activities that address both academic and technology objectives.In this unit, your student will watch tutorials will familiarize them with the Technology Literacy course.
Internet Safety
In this unit, your student will 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 5, students will:1. Use keyboards and other common input and output devices (including adaptive devices when necessary) efficiently and effectively.
2. Discuss common uses of technology in daily life and the advantages and disadvantages those uses provide.
3. Discuss basic issues related to responsible use of technology and information and describe personal consequences of inappropriate use.
6. Use telecommunications efficiently and effectively to access remote information, communicate with others in support of direct and independent learning, and pursue personal interests.
NETS-S were developed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).
Keyboarding
The student will identify the home row and the rows above and below the home row. The student will review the keyboarding skills learned in Lessons 6–10 of the Touch Typing Program. The student will demonstrate correct posture and finger position while typing and apply proper touch typing skills to type the letters c, w, o, x, q, p, and z, the comma key, period key, and the forward slash key. Finally, the student will complete a typing speed test.
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.
Microsoft® Paint
In this unit, your student will learn the basic tools of Microsoft® Paint. Your student will learn how to use 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 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, create bulleted lists, copy and paste slides, how to resize and paste images into slides, and how to change the font and background within a presentation. She will also learn how to insert WordArt and modify color and size within this feature. 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.
Elective Courses
Elementary Chinese I
Description:
Chinese I is an introductory-level course that will introduce the student to Mandarin Chinese. In this course, the student will learn listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through a variety of activities, including LiveLesson® sessions with a native Mandarin speaker! The units are designed to introduce the student to Chinese language and culture through familiar topics such as my family, my week, and food. Culture is presented throughout the course to help the student make connections between his culture and the culture of people in the Mandarin-speaking world.
Units:
My World
In this unit, you will begin to study Mandarin, the official language of China and many other countries. Millions of people around the world speak Mandarin. This unit will teach you about Mandarin’s importance in the world. You will also learn Mandarin words that describe your family. By the end of the unit, you will know how to introduce yourself and your family to others.
My Time
How is your life different from the life of a student who speaks Mandarin? In this unit, you will learn how students spend their time in countries where Mandarin is spoken. You will look for ways their activities are alike and different from yours. This unit will also introduce you to the Mandarin words that describe your everyday activities and time at school.
My Food
All cultures have different traditional foods, these are foods that are eaten for special occasions or have been eaten since a long time ago. Just like you have your own food traditions, other cultures have their own food traditions, too. In this unit, you will learn about food customs in Mandarin-speaking countries. You will also learn words that describe food in Mandarin.
Elementary Chinese II
Description:
In this course, the student will further develop communication skills as he listens, speaks, reads, and writes Mandarin Chinese at a more advanced level. The student will continue to learn about Chinese culture by exploring historic places in China and other Mandarin-speaking countries, and by learning about holidays and special traditions celebrated there. In addition, the student will practice Mandarin Chinese skills by continuing to converse with a native Mandarin speaker.
Units:
My Travels
In this unit, you will take a trip through historical places in China and other Mandarin-speaking countries. During this experience, you will learn to describe people, yourself, places, and types of transportation.
My Holidays
What holidays do you celebrate? The people in the Mandarin-speaking world may celebrate some of your favorite holidays. They also have their own special holidays, too. In this unit, you will learn about the important holidays celebrated in China and other Mandarin-speaking countries. You will learn about why the holiday is celebrated, its history, and its importance to students your age in the Mandarin-speaking world. You will compare what you learn about the Mandarin-speaking world with your own country.
My Home
What are homes like in the Mandarin-speaking world? How are they different from homes in the United States? In this unit, you will learn about a typical home in some Mandarin-speaking countries, including the uses for different rooms of the home. You will find out how the activities that happen in the rooms are alike and different from yours. In this unit, you will also learn the names of some objects that can be found in a home, like furniture, clothes, flowers, and pets.
Elementary 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.
Elementary Spanish I
Description:
Elementary Spanish I is an introductory-level course that will introduce the student to Spanish. In this course, the student will learn listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through a variety of activities, including LiveLesson® sessions with a native Spanish speaker! The units are designed to introduce the student to Spanish language and culture through familiar topics such as my family, my week, and food. Culture is presented throughout the course to help the student make connections between his culture and the culture of people in the Spanish-speaking world.
Elementary 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.
Music III
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. Music III extends the student’s music reading skills.
Units:
The Basics: Beat, Rhythm, and Melody
In this unit your student will learn basic music concepts of beat, rhythm, melody, and pitch. Traditional children’s songs will be used to teach and reinforce these concepts. Your student will be encouraged to move to music in different ways to keep the steady heartbeat and learn basic rhythmic patterns. Listening activities and voice play will be used to help your student use a singing voice and learn basic melodic patterns.
Beat, Rhythm, and Meter
In this unit your student will further explore rhythmic concepts. She will keep a steady heartbeat though movement and by playing a drum. She will learn and read new rhythmic patterns. Then, investigate the difference between the steady heartbeat and a rhythm pattern. Your student will also discover meter, or how beats are grouped.
Melodic Patterns
In this unit traditional children’s songs will be used to teach melodic patterns. Your student will be introduced to the music staff and other music symbols. Your students will also begin to learn about harmony, singing partner songs, and in canon.
The Orchestra
In this unit, your student will examine the sections of the orchestra. She will listen to a variety of musical examples, including symphonies, concertos, solo pieces, and chamber music. The student will take a closer look at the string and woodwind sections; examining how sounds are produced, how instruments in one group are similar, and look at a small ensemble from each family. Finally, she will investigate the life of one of the most important composers, Ludwig van Beethoven.
More With Rhythm and Meter
In this unit your student will further develop his music reading skills. Using known rhythm values, he will discover new and more complex rhythmic patterns. Meter will be further explored. He will perform ostinatos with songs. Finally, he will compose and perform an ostinato.
More Melodic Patterns
In this unit your student will further explore melodic patterns and pitch relationships. Through singing and listening examples she will investigate music based on both the Do-pentatonic scale and the La-pentatonic scale. She will also sing in parts by singing in canon and a melodic ostinato.
Home Life
Description:
Here, students select from a number of projects that develop skills through fun, experiential learning projects. Activities include cooking, crafts, sewing, home maintenance, family outings, and genealogy. Recently added projects include Lemonade Stand and Backyard Ecosystems.
Units:
In the Kitchen
In the Garage
In the Store
In the Garden
In the Family
WebQuest
Description:
Students help scientists monitor frog and toad populations across the country using FrogWatch USA™. Managed by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, FrogWatch USA uses data collected by students to develop new ways to protect amphibians, which are extremely sensitive to ecological changes. Students visit a local wetland site once a week, make careful observations, and submit their data online. This online project joins Connections Academy students and scientists around the country as they gather and analyze data.
Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific: Policies, Practices and Processes. 4th International Conference on Language and Education. Nov. 6-8, 2013, Imperial Queen's Park Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand. Correspondence related to the conference may be addressed to: Ms. Panyaphat Piam-o-pad, International Conference Secretariat Coordinator (mleconf2013@gmail.com) or Ms. Kyungah Kristy Bang, MLE Secretariat Coordinator (k.bang@unesco.org).
Visit the MTB-MLE Network for international perspectives on mother tongue-based multilingual education.
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