Curriculum

Preschool

Colors
Numbers
Letters
Shapes
Spatial Reasoning
Animals
Social Issues
Weather
People
General Vocabulary
Math Readiness

Kindergarten

Language Arts
Math
Science
Social Studies
Health
Manners
Character Development
Interpersonal Relationships

First Grade

Language Arts
Math
Science
Social Studies
Health
Manners
Character Development
Interpersonal Relationships
Health & Wellness

Second Grade

Language Arts
Math
Science
Social Studies
Health
Manners
Character Development
Interpersonal Relationships
Health & Wellness

Third Grade

Language Arts
Math
Science
Social Studies
Health
Manners
Character Development
Interpersonal Relationships
Health & Wellness

Fourth Grade

Language Arts
Math
Science
Social Studies
Health
Manners
Character Development
Interpersonal Relationships
Health & Wellness
Study Skills

Fifth Grade

Language Arts
Math
Science
Social Studies
Health
Manners
Character Development
Interpersonal Relationships
Health & Wellness
Study Skills

Sixth Grade

Language Arts
Math
Science
Social Studies
Health
Character Development
Interpersonal Relationships
Health & Wellness
Study Skills

Seventh Grade

Language Arts
Math
Science
Social Studies
Health
Character Development
Critical Thinking
Interpersonal Relationships
Cultural Literacy
Health & Wellness
Home Skills
Study Skills

Eighth Grade

Language Arts
Algebra I
Science
Social Studies
Health
Character Development
Critical Thinking
Interpersonal Relationships
Cultural Literacy
Home Skills
Study Skills

Ninth Grade

Language Arts
Geometry
Biology/Life Science
Social Studies
Health
Home Economics
Sociology
Character Development
Critical Thinking
Interpersonal Relationships
Cultural Literacy
Health & Wellness
Home Skills
Personal Finances
Parenting Skills
Study Skills
Survey of Careers
Entrepreneurship

Tenth Grade

Algebra II
Earth Science
Social Studies
Health
Spanish I
French I
German I
Sociology
Character Development
Critical Thinking
Interpersonal Relationships
Cultural Literacy
Health & Wellness
Home Skills
Personal Finances
Parenting Skills
Study Skills
Career Skills
Business Management
Survey of Careers
Entrepreneurship

Eleventh Grade

Language Arts
Precalculus
Chemistry
Social Studies
Health
Spanish I
French I
German I
Sociology
Character Development
Health & Wellness
Home Skills
Personal Finances
Parenting Skills
Study Skills
Career Skills
Business Management
Survey of Careers
Entrepreneurship

Twelfth Grade

Calculus
Probability and Statistics
Physics
Economics
American Democracy
Health

Twelfth Grade (continued)

Sociology
Character Development
Health & Wellness
Personal Finances
Parenting Skills
Study Skills
Career Skills
Business Management
Survey of Careers
Entrepreneurship

A Note About Our Curriculum

The educational standards for the state of California form the basis for most of our curriculum. For more
information about what is included in each subtopic, and for ideas on how to supplement the flashcards you find
here, please visit Californias Department of Education website.
In particular, the content standards and the curriculum frameworks will help teachers, students, and facilitators
gain insight into why we have organized our curriculum as we have, and what our flashcards teach.

Preschool
Free World U

Preschool Colors
Basic Colors

Colors Found in Nature

Colors Found in Toys

Colors Found in Vehicles

Colors Found in Foods

Colors Found in Clothes

Colors Found in Animals

Concept of Blending

Primary Colors

Mixing Primary Colors

Preschool Numbers
Recognition

Numbers 0 to 10

Numbers by Tens

How Many?

Counting Foods

Counting Vehicles

Counting Toys

Counting Animals

More / Less

Which is More / Less Foods

Which is More / Less Vehicles

Which is More / Less Toys

Which is More / Less Animals

Patterns

Food Patterns

Shape Patterns

Color Patterns

Letter Patterns

Toy Patterns

Animal Patterns

Number Patterns

Preschool Letters
Capital / Lowercase

Matching With Capital Letters

Matching With Lower Case Letters

Starts With ----

Foods

Vehicles

Toys

Animals

Colors

Preschool Shapes
Recognition

Colored Shapes

Count the Sides

Food Shapes

Vehicle Shapes

Toy Shapes

Animal Shapes

Colors and Shapes

Shapes in the World

Food Shapes

Vehicle Shapes

Toy Shapes

Animal Shapes

Preschool Spatial Reasoning

Taller / Shorter

Foods

Toys

Vehicles

Animals

Shapes

Thicker / Thinner

Foods

Toys

Vehicles

Animals

Shapes

Inside / Outside

Foods

Toys

Vehicles

Animals

Shapes

Above / Below

Foods

Toys

Vehicles

Animals

Shapes

Preschool Animals
Ocean

Animals

Characteristics

Babies

Food

Animals

Characteristics

Babies

Food

Animals

Characteristics

Babies

Food

Animals

Characteristics

Babies

Food

Animals

Characteristics

Babies

Food

Animals

River

Farm

Forest

House

Sky

Characteristics

Babies

Food

Insect / Spiders

Recognizing

Characteristics

Babies

Food

Preschool Social Issues

Feelings

Feelings

Friendship / Sharing

Friendship

Sharing

Safe / Unsafe

Safe and Unsafe

Being Polite

Being Polite

Following Directions

Following Directions

Preschool Weather
Recognition

Weather Sounds

Weather Seasons

Weather Pictures

Attire

Accessories

Preschool People
Recognition

Emergency Workers

Service People

Matching With Uniform / Accessories

Emergency Workers

Service People

Family

Family

Preschool General Vocabulary

This is A ----

Food

Toys

Vehicles

Animals

Objects

Shapes

Which is the -----?

Food

Toys

Vehicles

Animals

Objects

Shapes

Preschool Math Readiness

Operations

Simple Addition

Simple Subtraction

Day and Night

Time

Statistics

Sorting Objects

Comparing Objects

Which Doesnt Belong?

Object Graphs

Kindergarten
Free World U

Kindergarten Language Arts

Reading

Letter Sounds
Student practices orally making sounds for all consonants and short vowels

First Words
What is a word? Show pictures and ask: fox or box? ball or fall?

Sight Words
Explains that some words dont follow the rules and cant be sounded out; we read simple
sight word, and student chooses it from a list of three

Count the Syllables

What is a syllable?; count the number of syllables in words that we read aloud

Count the Sounds

Words are made up of letter sounds; how many sounds do you hear in cat?

Count the Words

Track the words in a printed sentence that is read aloud; how many words in the
sentence? Which word is skip?

Rhyming
Change one letter to create a rhyming word

Colors
Reading color words: black, brown, red, blue, etc.

Reading Literature

Books
Identifying front cover, back cover, title page

Is it Real or Fantasy?
Distinguishing between real stories and fantasy stories

Retelling
Identifies characters, setting, and important events in short stories read aloud

Nursery Rhymes
Covers simple nursery rhymes and touches on themes and characters in simple way

Sayings
The early bird gets the worm. Dont cry over spilt milk. Keep your fingers crossed.

Identify Types of Writing

Books, poems, newspapers, signs, labels

Phonics and Spelling

Beginning Sounds
Consonants

Ending Sounds
Consonants
Long and Short Vowels
All vowels

Spell CVC Words

Common, regular three-letter words

Word Family Fun

Adding, changing, or deleting one letter to make a new word: sat to fat, bug to rug, red to
bed, etc.

Letters and Their Sounds

Includes all letters

Capital and Lowercase Letters

Includes all letters

Beginning and Ending Sounds

We read a three-letter word and ask student to indicate the first or last letter; Ex. We say
but and ask student to identify the first letter

Print Upper and Lower Case Letters

Print Words

Writing

Vocabulary

Vocabulary
Gives descriptions of common objects and ask what is being described

Sorting
Lists and pictures of common items are presented; student is asked what belongs or does
not belong

Comprehension

Listening Practice
We read short stories and ask child questions. Who? When? Where?

Following Directions
We read simple directions of one or two steps and ask students to respond

Describing
Why do we use describing words? What are describing words? Ask students to describe
the size, color, or shape of various objects

Oral Language

Recite a Rhyme
Recite short poems, rhymes, and songs

Tell About It
Relate an experience or creative story in a logical sequence

Speaking
Students speak in coherent sentences

Kindergarten Math
Number Sense

Comparing Sets
Compare two or more sets of objects (up to ten objects in each group) and identify which
set is equal to, more than, or less than the other

Manipulating Objects
Count, recognize, represent, name, and order a number of objects (up to 30)

Larger and Smaller Numbers

Know that the larger numbers describe sets with more objects in them than the smaller
numbers have

Using Concrete Objects

Use concrete objects to determine the answers to addition and subtraction problems (for
two numbers that are each less than 10)

Estimating
Recognize when an estimate is reasonable

Algebra and Functions

Identify, Sort and Classify

Identify, sort, and classify objects by attribute and identify objects that do not belong to a
particular group (e.g., all these balls are green, those are red)

Measurement and Geometry

Comparing to a Reference
Compare the length, weight, and capacity of objects by making direct comparisons with
reference objects (e.g., note which object is shorter, longer, taller, lighter, heavier, or holds
more)

Time Concepts
Demonstrate an understanding of concepts of time (e.g., morning, afternoon, evening,
today, yesterday, tomorrow, week, year) and tools that measure time (e.g., clock,
calendar)

Days of the Week

Name the days of the week

Common Times
Identify the time (to the nearest hour) of everyday events (e.g., lunch time is 12 o'clock;
bedtime is 8 o'clock at night)

Common Geometric Objects

Identify and describe common geometric objects (e.g., circle, triangle, square, rectangle,
cube, sphere, cone)

Comparing by Common Attributes

Compare familiar plane and solid objects by common attributes (e.g., position, shape,
size, roundness, number of corners)

Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability

Investigation Process
Pose information questions; collect data; and record the results using objects, pictures,
and picture graphs

Patterns
Identify, describe, and extend simple patterns (such as circles or triangles) by referring to
their shapes, sizes, or colors

Mathematical Reasoning

Determining Methods
Determine the approach, materials, and strategies to be used

Using Tools and Strategies

Use tools and strategies, such as manipulatives or sketches, to model problems

Explaining Reasoning
Explain the reasoning used with concrete objects and/ or pictorial representations

Computing and Checking

Make precise calculations and check the validity of the results in the context of the
problem

Kindergarten Science
Physical Sciences

Describing Objects
Students know objects can be described in terms of the materials they are made of (e.g.,
clay, cloth, paper) and their physical properties (e.g., color, size, shape, weight, texture,
flexibility, attraction to magnets, floating, sinking)

Forms of Water
Students know water can be a liquid or a solid and can be made to change back and forth
from one form to the other

Evaporation
Students know water left in an open container evaporates (goes into the air) but water in a
closed container does not

Life Sciences

Comparing Plants and Animals

Students know how to observe and describe similarities and differences in the
appearance and behavior of plants and animals (e.g., seed-bearing plants, birds, fish,
insects)

Life Science in Stories

Students know stories sometimes give plants and animals attributes they do not really
have

Structures of Plants and Animals

Students know how to identify major structures of common plants and animals (e.g.,
stems, leaves, roots, arms, wings, legs)

Earth Sciences

Landforms
Students know characteristics of mountains, rivers, oceans, valleys, deserts, and local
landforms

Weather
Students know changes in weather occur from day to day and across seasons, affecting
Earth and its inhabitants

Natural Resources
Students know how to identify resources from Earth that are used in everyday life and
understand that many resources can be conserved

Investigation and Experimentation

Using the Five Senses

Observe common objects by using the five senses

Describing Properties
Describe the properties of common objects

Describing Position
Describe the relative position of objects by using one reference (e.g., above or below)

Comparing and Sorting Objects

Compare and sort common objects by one physical attribute (e.g., color, shape, texture,
size, weight)

Communicating Observations
Communicate observations orally and through drawings

Kindergarten Social Studies

Being a Good Citizen

Following Rules
Such as sharing and taking turns; know the consequences of breaking them

Being A Good Citizen

Character
Examples of honesty, courage, determination, individual responsibility; patriotism in
American and world history from stories and folklore

Beliefs
Beliefs and related behaviors of characters in stories from times past; understand the
consequences of the characters' actions

National and State Symbols

National Symbols
e.g., flag, the bald eagle, the Statue of Liberty

State Symbols
Flags, etc.

Jobs That People Do

Jobs
At the school, in the local community, and from historical accounts

Locations of Places and Environments

Locations of Objects
Using the terms near/far, left/right, and behind/in front

Land and Water on Maps and Globes

Locate general areas referenced in historical legends and stories

Map and Traffic Symbols

e.g., those for land, water, roads, cities

Maps and Models of Neighborhoods

Incorporating such structures as police and fire stations, airports, banks, hospitals,
supermarkets, harbors, schools, homes, places of worship, and transportation lines

Maps and Models of Schools

Layout, environs, and the jobs people do there

Time Order

Using a Calendar
Placing days, weeks, and months in proper order

Events and People of Other Times

Commemorative Holidays
Purposes, the people and events honored, the human struggles that were the basis for the
events, e.g., Thanksgiving, Independence Day, Washington's and Lincoln's Birthdays,
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day

How People Lived in Earlier Times

And how their lives would be different today, e.g., getting water from a well, growing food,
making clothing, having fun, forming organizations, living by rules and laws

George Washington
Stories and triumphs

Abraham Lincoln
Stories and triumphs

Betsy Ross
Stories and triumphs

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Stories and triumphs

Benjamin Franklin
Stories and triumphs

Harriet Tubman
Stories and triumphs

Pocahontas
Stories and triumphs

George Washington Carver

Stories and triumphs

Booker T. Washington
Stories and triumphs

Daniel Boone
Stories and triumphs

Kindergarten Health
Signs / Symptoms of Illness

Fever

Rash

Cough

Congestion

Encouraging Positive Health Choices

Eating Practices

Cleanliness

Safety Practices

Positive vs. Negative Behaviors

Waiting Your Turn

Pushing

Honesty

Lying

Refusal Skills

Healthy Behavior Skills

Just Say No

Stranger Danger

Kindergarten Manners
Introduction to Manners

What are manners?

Manners are the unofficial behaviors that demonstrate a person is proper, polite and refined.

Why are manners important?

Manners set a standard for human behavior; the definition of good manners changes with time,
geographical location, occasion and other factors. Your manners affect the way others think of you and
influence the way you are treated.

Basic manners include:

-

Table manners

Please and thank you

Waiting your turn

No name calling

Pleasant greetings

Accepting compliments

Cleaning up after yourself

Good sportsmanship

Opening doors for others

Appropriate room entering/exiting

Respecting differences

Introducing yourself

Shaking hands

Technology use

Thank you notes

Personal space

Kindergarten Character Development I

Character Study

Defining Character

Learning the Traits

Monkey See Monkey Do

Recognizing Character in History

Recognizing Character in Others

Recognizing Character in Fairy Tales

Roleplay

Doing the Right Thing

Kindergarten Character Development II

Character Study

What is Character?

Know the definition of character: who we are the personal traits that mark us as individuals.

Who has character?

Understand that character is something everyone has regardless of age, position,

gender and personality.

What is Good Character?

The meaning of the statement He has character usually indicating good character.
Understand that good character means doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do
regardless of who knows you are doing it or the possible outcomes and benefits it will bring.

Learning the Traits

Fairness

Know the definition of fairness: free from self-interest, prejudice or favoritism

Honesty

Know the definition of honesty: a refusal to lie, steal or deceive

Creativity

Know the definition of creativity: approaching a need, task or idea from a new perspective

Character in Action

Recognizing character through behavior

Identifying examples of key character traits:

Fairness: Has anybody ever tricked you? How did it make you feel?
Honesty: What would you do if you saw someone stealing?
Creativity: Have you ever thought of a new way to solve a problem or complete a project?

Kindergarten Interpersonal Relationships

Introduction to Relationships

What is a relationship?
A relationship is a state of emotional connection between two people.

Why are relationships important?

Relationships can do the following:
-

Build family and security

Provide a sense of identity and belonging

Lead to happiness and fulfillment

Contribute to personal growth

Aid in physical and emotional well being

Kindergarten Health & Wellness

Introduction to Health

What is health?
Health is the state of complete physical, mental, and social well being; health is not simply the absence
of disease.

What does it mean to be healthy?

To be healthy, one must be well in total body including physically, emotionally and spiritually; healthy
individuals also share an ongoing desire for better health and wish to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

What are the primary components of good physical health?

-

Exercise

Diet & Nutrition

Sleep

Healthcare

Hygiene

Safety

First Grade
Free World U

Grade One Language Arts

Reading Skills

Listening to Language
We read a three- or four-letter word and student chooses correct word from list

Sight Words
We read sight word and student chooses correct word from list

Inflectional Forms
We read a word such as looking and student selects this word from list that includes
looked, looking, looks.; other target words: jump, see, sleep, play, etc.

Reading Fluently

Reading Literature

Sayings
Getting cold feet. Got off on the wrong foot. Got up on the wrong side of the bed.

Prose
Learning about story elements; identifying characters, plot, setting

Mother Goose
Covers Mother Goose nursery rhymes and introduces students to the idea of a body of
work in literature

Fables
Characteristics of fables; examples of well-known fables

Retelling
What happened in the beginning, in the middle, at the end of a story

Answering Questions
Who, what, when, where, why, how questions

Books
What does an author do? An illustrator?

Phonics and Spelling

Word Family Fun

Adding, changing, or deleting one letter to make a new word. i.e. cat to rat, that to hat, ice
to dice, boy to box

CVC Words
Tag, map, red, pig, pin, mom, wet, hen, bun, etc.

CVCE Words
What happens when we put an e on the end of a word? Does the e make a sound?
kite, cave, rake, note, wide, joke, etc.

Vowel Diagraphs

Beginning and Ending Sounds

Fill in the missing letter based on the sound of the word

Initial Consonant Blends

What is a blend? Simplest examples: drop, flag, skip, glad, grass, sled, trash, etc.

Compound Words
What is a compound word? Simplest examples: snowman, windmill, inside, hilltop, etc.

Contractions
What is a contraction? Simplest examples: isnt, arent, cant, wont, Im, were, etc.

Capital Letters
First word in sentence, names, proper nouns

Plural Nouns
Simple examples, adding s to regular nouns

Sentences
Parts of a sentence: capital letter, punctuation, makes sense

Three Types of Sentences

Telling sentences, exclamations, and questions

Putting Sentences in Order

Sentence is mixed up and student puts into correct order

Using Descriptive Words

Using sensory words to describe how something looks, feels, tastes, smells, sounds to
help reader see

Paragraphs
Choosing a focus

Identify Problems in Sentences

Words not separated by proper space, letters illegible, sentences that dont stay on the
lines, words missing, etc.

Writing Practice
Student demonstrates he can properly write all letters of the alphabet, short words, and
sentences

Write Brief Narratives

Fictional, autobiographical, describing an experience

Writing

Vocabulary

Categorizing
Which word doesnt belong: cat, dog, bear, and shoe, etc.; use color words, shapes,
foods, etc.

Predictions
What will happen next?; using signpost words and context to make predictions

Comprehension

Reading Practice
We read short story and ask student to answer simple questions from what theyve heard

Asking Questions
How to get information or ask clarification; when is it okay to ask questions?

Following Directions
Simple, two-step directions giving them and following them

Sequence
Is this paragraph in the right order?

Oral Language

Introduction to Public Speaking

Speak clearly, speak loudly, stick to the point, dont fidget

Recitation
Student recites short rhymes

Grade One Math

Number Sense

Whole Numbers to 100

Count, read, and write whole numbers to 100

Comparing and Ordering

Compare and order whole numbers to 100 by using the symbols for less than, equal to, or
greater than (<, =, >)

Equivalent Forms
Represent equivalent forms of the same number through the use of physical models,
diagrams, and number expressions (to 20) (e.g., 8 may be represented as 4 + 4, 5 + 3, 2
+ 2 + 2 + 2, 10 -2, 11 -3)

Grouping
Count and group object in ones and tens (e.g., three groups of 10 and 4 equals 34, or 30
+ 4)

Coins
Identify and know the value of coins and show different combinations of coins that equal
the same value

Addition and Subtraction Facts to 20

Know the addition facts (sums to 20) and the corresponding subtraction facts and commit
them to memory

Using Inverse Relationships

Use the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction to solve problems

More Than, Less Than

Identify one more than, one less than, 10 more than, and 10 less than a given number

Skip Counting
Count by 2s, 5s, and 10s to 100

Meaning of Addition and Subtraction

Show the meaning of addition (putting together, increasing) and subtraction (taking away,
comparing, finding the difference)

Practicing Addition and Subtraction

Solve addition and subtraction problems with one-and two-digit numbers (e.g., 5 + 58 =
__)

Adding Three Numbers

Find the sum of three one-digit numbers

Estimating and Comparison

Make reasonable estimates when comparing larger or smaller numbers

Algebra and Functions

Number Sentences from Problem Situations

Write and solve number sentences from problem situations that express relationships
involving addition and subtraction

Math Symbols
Understand the meaning of the symbols +, -, =

Creating Math Problem Situations

Create problem situations that might lead to given number sentences involving addition
and subtraction

Measurement and Geometry

Comparing Measurements
Compare the length, weight, and volume of two or more objects by using direct
comparison or a nonstandard unit

Telling Time
Tell time to the nearest half hour and relate time to events (e.g., before/after,
shorter/longer)

Working With Geometric Shapes

Identify, describe, and compare triangles, rectangles, squares, and circles, including the
faces of three-dimensional objects

Classifying Shapes by Attributes

Classify familiar plane and solid objects by common attributes, such as color, position,
shape, size, roundness, or number of corners, and explain which attributes are being used
for classification

Directions About Location

Give and follow directions about location

Location of Objects
Arrange and describe objects in space by proximity, position, and direction (e.g., near, far,
below, above, up, down, behind, in front of, next to, left or right of)

Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability

Sorting Objects and Data

Sort objects and data by common attributes and describe the categories

Represent and Compare Data

Represent and compare data (e.g., largest, smallest, most often, least often) by using
pictures, bar graphs, tally charts, and picture graphs

Patterns
Describe, extend, and explain ways to get to a next element in simple repeating patterns
(e.g., rhythmic, numeric, color, and shape)

Mathematical Reasoning

Determining Methods
Determine the approach, materials, and strategies to be used

Using Math Tools

Use tools, such as manipulatives or sketches, to model problems

Explaining Why
Explain the reasoning used and justify the procedures selected

Computing and Checking

Make precise calculations and check the validity of the results from the context of the
problem

Grade One Science

Physical Sciences

Material Forms
Materials come in different forms (states), including solids, liquids, and gases and each
has different properties

Properties of Substances
The properties of substances can change when the substances are mixed, cooled, or
heated

Life Sciences

Habitats and Adaptations

Different plants and animals inhabit different kinds of environments and have external
features that help them thrive in different kinds of places

Energy and Water Needs

Both plants and animals need water, animals need food, and plants need light

Animal Food and Shelter

Animals eat plants or other animals for food, may use plants or even other animals for
shelter and nesting; inferring what animals eat from the shapes of their teeth

Roots and Leaves

Roots are associated with the intake of water and soil nutrients and green leaves are
associated with making food from sunlight

Earth Sciences

Measuring and Recording Weather

How to use simple tools (e.g., thermometer, wind vane) to measure weather conditions
and record changes from day to day and across the seasons

Seasons and Weather

The weather changes from day to day but trends in temperature or of rain (or snow) tend
to be predictable during a season

Sunshine and Weather

The sun warms the land, air, and water

Investigation and Experimentation

Demonstrating Understanding
Students should develop their own questions and perform investigations by being able to
draw pictures that portray some features of the thing being described

Recording Observations
Students should develop their own questions and perform investigations by knowing how
to record observations and data with pictures, numbers, written statements and bar
graphs

Understanding Position
Students should develop their own questions and perform investigations by knowing how
to describe the relative position of objects by using two references (e.g., above and next
to, below and left of)

Applying Knowledge
Students should develop their own questions and perform investigations by knowing how
to make new observations when discrepancies exist between two descriptions of the
same object or phenomenon

Grade One Social Studies

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

Direct Democracy and Representative Democracy

Everyone votes on the rules vs. an elected group of people makes the rules; examples of
both systems in the classroom, school, and community

Responsibility
The elements of fair play and good sportsmanship, respect for the rights and opinions of
others, and respect for rules by which we live, including the meaning of the "Golden Rule"

Location of Places and People

Locating on Maps and Globes

Their local community, California, the United States, the seven continents, and the four
oceans

Three-Dimensional Models
Information that can be derived for models, compared to information that can be derived
from a picture of the same location

Simple Maps
Cardinal directions and map symbols

Location, Weather, and Physical Environment

How they affect the way people live, including the effects on their food, clothing, shelter,
transportation, and recreation

Symbols and Traditions of the United States

The Pledge of Allegiance and Songs that Express American Ideals

e.g., "America the Beautiful"

National Holidays
Their significance and the heroism and achievements of the people associated with them

American Symbols, Landmarks, and Essential Documents

Such as the flag, bald eagle, Statue of Liberty, U.S. Constitution, and Declaration of
Independence, and the people and events associated with them

Life in Different Times and Places

Changes and Consistencies Over Time

The structure of schools and communities in the past, transportation methods of earlier
days

Similarities and Differences of Earlier Generations

In such areas as work (inside and outside the home), dress, manners, stories, games, and
festivals, drawing from biographies, oral histories, and folklore

Varied Backgrounds of American Citizens

Recognizing Community Connections

Sharing principles, goals, and traditions despite their varied ancestry; the forms of
diversity in their school and community; and the benefits and challenges of a diverse
population

American Indians and Immigrants

Ways they have helped define Californian and American culture

Varied Cultures
Compare the beliefs, customs, ceremonies, traditions, and social practices, drawing from
folklore

Basic Economic Concepts

Concept of exchange
The use of money to purchase goods and services; the role of individual choice in a freemarket economy

Specialization
The specialized work that people do to manufacture, transport, and market goods and
services and the contributions of those who work in the home

Grade One Health

Health Promotion and Illness Prevention

Immunizations

Hand Washing

Brushing / Flossing Teeth

Eating Practices

Sleep

Cleanliness

Parts of Body Systems and Functions

Heart

Lungs

Eyes

Ears

Nose

Mouth

Actions Influence the Functions of the Body

Cleanliness

Proper Diet

Exercise

Healthy Choices Can Affect Health

Not Brushing Teeth

Smoking

Improper Nutrition

Mind Body Connection

Distrust

Terror

Paranoia

Fear

Bullying

Name Calling

Accepting Differences

Verbal Bullying

Grade One Manners

Table Manners

What are table manners?

Table manners are behaviors used during a meal; these behaviors are used for proper eating as well as
to show courtesy to others you are dining with.
Basic table manners include:
-

Eat with a fork unless the food is obviously intended to be eaten with fingers

Sit up straight in your chair; do not hunch over your plate

Rest your wrist or forearms on the table; never put your elbows on the table

Do not put too much food in your mouth at one time

Chew with your mouth closed; never talk with your mouth full

Do not make rude comments about the food being served

Show appreciation when food is served; say thank you

Wait until everyone at the table is served before starting to eat

Eat slowly; wait approximately five seconds after swallowing a bite to take another

When eating dinner rolls, tear off a piece of the bread before buttering; do not eat it whole

Do not reach over another persons plate to grab something; ask for the item to be passed to
you

Do not pick anything out of your teeth at the table; excuse yourself from the table to take care of
it

Always use a napkin to dap your mouth; keep the napkin in your lap when not in use

Do not use napkins to wipe your face or blow your nose

Always show your appreciation to the person who prepared or paid for the meal

Grade One Character Development I

Character Study

What is Character?

Learning the Traits

Empathy

Fairness

Creativity

Character in Action

Recognizing Character

Role Play

Doing the Right Thing

Grade One Character Development II

Character Study

What is Reputation?
Know the definition of reputation: who others think you are the general perception of a
person by the public.
Understand the difference between character and reputation. Consider Abraham Lincolns
quote: "Perhaps a man's character is like a tree, and his reputation like its shadow; the
shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."

Learning the Traits

Empathy
Know the definition of empathy: the ability to share another persons emotions and
feelings.

Compassion
Know the definition of compassion: investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of
others.

Gentleness
Know the definition of gentleness: having and showing a kind consideration or tender
nature.

Character in Action

Recognizing character through behavior

Identifying examples of key character traits:
Empathy: If you saw someone knock over a glass of milk by accident, how would you
feel? How have you been treated in making similar mistakes?
Compassion: How did the mice help Cinderella when her stepfamily was forcing her to do
all of their chores?
Gentleness: How do you treat a baby? Why is it important to be extra careful?

Grade One Interpersonal Relationships

Types of Relationships

Family a group of people affiliated by biology or place of residence

Sibling people who share at least one parent

Friendship a connection between two people based on mutual trust, respect and admiration

Peer a connection based on similar traits (age, status, interests, location, etc.)

Romantic a connection between a male and female based on intimacy and commitment

Co-Worker a connection between people who share a place of work

Husband/Wife male and female participants in a marriage (civil union)

Parent/Child a biological connection based on reproduction and/or or upbringing

Grade One Health & Wellness

Exercise

What is exercise?
Exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains overall fitness and health; for optimal health,
individuals should get 30 minutes of daily exercise.
Types of exercise include:
-

Walking

Running

Dancing

Swimming

Sports/Games

Benefits of regular exercise include:

-

Healthy weight

Strong muscles

Flexibility

Better sleep

Longer lifespan

Disease prevention

Improved posture

Second Grade
Free World U

Grade Two Language Arts

Reading Skills

Syllables
Basic patterns such as v/cv = su/per, vc/cv = sup/per

Day and Month Abbreviations

Common abbreviations for days, and months

Street Abbreviations
Common abbreviations for street names

Read fluently at grade level

Reading Literature

Sayings
In hot water; learning the ropes; that was the last straw

Tall Tales
Characteristics of tall tales; intro to well-known tales

Story Elements
Practice identifying the plot, main characters, and setting in short stories

Main Ideas
Intro to main ideas

Supporting Details
Intro to supporting ideas; connecting supporting ideas to the main idea

Reading for Information

Does knowing the authors purpose help you get information? How do you find the
information you need? Asking questions to find information

Retelling
Restating facts to clarify and organize ideas

Books
Using titles, tables of contents, and chapter headings to locate information

Making comparisons
Making comparisons between plots, settings, characters, between different endings, and
between two versions of the same story that reflect different cultures

Read A Novel
We assign a short, high-interest novel and present questions to determine the students
level of understanding

Reading Poetry

Introduction to Poetry
Introduces and defines poetry. Why do people write poetry?

Rhyme and Rhythm

Introduction

Alliteration
Identifying and creating alliteration

Phonics and Spelling

Vowel Digraphs

Diphthongs

Consonant Digraphs

CVCE Words: Long A

CVCE Words: Long E

CVCE Words: Long I

CVCE Words: Long O

CVCE Words: Long U

Schwa

R Controlled Vowels: /ar/ sound

R Controlled Vowels: /or/ sound

R Controlled Vowels: /er/ sound

R Controlled Vowels: /eer/ sound

R Controlled Vowels: /air/ sound

Compound Words
What is a compound word? Uses more difficult words than first-grade level and provides
context for figuring out more difficult words

Sight Words
We read these words that cant be sounded out while the student selects correct words
from a list

Writing: Parts of Speech

Nouns
Covers definition and provides practice finding nouns in short sentences

Regular Plural Nouns

Regular plurals include s, -es, -ies

Irregular Plural Nouns

lncludes words such as fly/flies and wife/wives

Proper Nouns
Days, months, names, titles and initials of people

Adjectives

Introduces and defines adjectives. Gives practice in choosing and locating adjectives

Verbs
Introduces verbs as action words

Past Tense Regular Verbs

Shows how to add d or ed to form the past tense

Past Tense Irregular Verbs

Gives examples of irregular verbs

Past and Present Tense Verbs

Determining tense

Helping Verbs
Introduces helping verbs and shows their use in sentences

Adverbs
Introduces adverbs and teaches how to create them from adjectives

Writing: Grammar

Making a Contraction
Expands on knowledge of contractions introduced in first grade

Using Commas in a Series

Introduces concept using simple-to-read series

More Uses for a Comma

Using a comma to separate city and state and in writing dates

Quotation Marks
When do we use quotation marks? What do they tell us?

Writing: Sentences

What is a Sentence?
The components are: 1.) a subject that tells what the sentence is about, 2.) a verb that
tells the action, 3.) it makes sense, 4) it begins with a capital letter, and, finally, 5.) It ends
with punctuation; basic review

Three Types of Sentences

Review declarative, interrogative, and imperative sentences. Practice the correct
punctuation

Fragments
Telling the difference between fragments and sentences

Out of Order!
Putting scrambled sentences in the correct order. Ex: saw we a monkey in a tree

Handwriting
Write legibly and use proper form

Writing Applications

Writing a Narrative Paragraph

What is a paragraph? Touch on prewriting, discuss how to write about something youve
experienced and how to choosing details and maintain focus

Revising
Rereading a paragraph looking for ways to improve sequence and ways to add interesting
details

Friendly Letters
Writing a friendly letter with the date, salutation, body, closing, and signature

Vocabulary

Dictionary Skills: ABC Order

Putting words in ABC order

Dictionary Skills: Dissecting Definitions

What is a dictionary? How to read definitions, sample sentences, pronunciation guides

Dictionary Skills: Guide Words

What are guide words? Where are they found? How do they help you to find the word you
are looking up? Examples

Vocabulary Words A-B

Vocabulary Words C-J

Vocabulary Words K-O

Vocabulary Words P-Z

Using a Thesaurus
Explains use and gives examples

Antonyms and Synonyms

What are they? Practice identifying

Prefixes and Suffixes

Defines the terms; introduces common prefixes and suffixes, i.e. over-, un-, re-, -ing, -ly

Words with Two Meanings

Dont use the word homograph but introduce the concept here that one word can have
different meanings: bat, bark, etc

Using an Atlas
Simple introduction to this reference book

Comprehension

Reading Charts and Graphs

Why do we use charts and graphs? Explains how to read information; tests students
ability to answer simple questions that require them to read and interpret graph data

Following Directions
Giving three- and four-step directions; following three- and four-step directions

Cause and Effect

Simple introduction to cause and effect relationships

Oral Language

Organizing a Speech
Beginning, ending, using a logical sequence, varying your pitch and pace

Formal vs. Informal

What type of language do you use to speak to friends in a small group? What kind for
delivering a report to the entire class? Details

Delivering a Report
With facts and details, drawing from several sources of information

Listening skills
Listening to obtain information, to solve problems, or for enjoyment

Learning to Paraphrase
We give a short oral report and ask student to paraphrase it

Grade Two Math

Number Sense

Working With Numbers to 1000

Count, read, and write whole numbers to 1,000 and identify the place value for each digit

Expressing Numbers in Different Ways

Use words, models, and expanded forms (e.g., 45 = 4 tens + 5) to represent numbers (to
1,000)

Ordering and Comparing

Order and compare whole numbers to 1,000 by using the symbols <, =, >

Inverse Relationship
Understand and use the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction (e.g., an
opposite number sentence for 8 + 6 = 14 is 14 - 6 = 8) to solve problems and check
solutions

Adding and Subtracting

Find the sum or difference of two whole numbers up to three digits long

Mental Math
Use mental arithmetic to find the sum or difference of two two-digit numbers

Methods of Multiplication
Use repeated addition, arrays, and counting by multiples to do multiplication

Methods of Division
Use repeated subtraction, equal sharing, and forming equal groups with remainders to do
division

Memorizing Multiplication Facts

Know the multiplication tables of 2s, 5s, and 10s (to "times 10") and commit them to
memory

Knowing and Comparing Fraction Units

Recognize, name, and compare unit fractions from 1/12 to 1/2

Recognizing Fractions in a Whole

Recognize fractions of a whole and parts of a group (e.g., one-fourth of a pie, two-thirds of
15 balls)

Fractions That Make One

Know that when all fractional parts are included, such as four-fourths, the result is equal to
the whole and to one

Solving Money Problems

Solve problems using combinations of coins and bills

Money Notation
Know and use the decimal notation and the dollar and cent symbols for money

Measurement Estimation
Recognize when an estimate is reasonable in measurements (e.g., closest inch)

Algebra and Functions

Commutative and Associative Mental Calculations

Use the commutative and associative rules to simplify mental calculations and to check
results

Problem Situations and Number Sentences

Relate problem situations to number sentences involving addition and subtraction

Solving Problems Using Data

Solve addition and subtraction problems by using data from simple charts, picture graphs,
and number sentences

Measurement and Geometry

Measurement by Repeated Units

Measure the length of objects by iterating (repeating) a nonstandard or standard unit

Measurement Units and Prediction

Use different units to measure the same object and predict whether the measure will be
greater or smaller when a different unit is used

Rounding Measurement
Measure the length of an object to the nearest inch and/ or centimeter

Time Relationships and Rounding

Tell time to the nearest quarter hour and know relationships of time (e.g., minutes in an
hour, days in a month, weeks in a year)

Time Intervals
Determine the duration of intervals of time in hours (e.g., 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

Describing and Classifying Shapes

Describe and classify plane and solid geometric shapes (circle, triangle, square, rectangle,
sphere, pyramid, cube, rectangular prism) according to the number and shape of faces,
edges, and vertices

Combining Shapes
Put shapes together and take them apart to form other shapes (e.g., two congruent right
triangles can be arranged to form a rectangle)

Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability

Recording Numerical Data

Record numerical data in systematic ways, keeping track of what has been counted

Methods of Representing Data

Represent the same data set in more than one way (e.g., bar graphs and charts with
tallies)

Features of Data Sets

Identify features of data sets (range and mode)

Representation Questions
Ask and answer simple questions related to data representations

Patterns
Recognize, describe, and extend patterns and determine a next term in linear patterns
(e.g., 4, 8, 12 ...; the number of ears on one horse, two horses, three horses, four horses)

Problems Using Patterns

Solve problems involving simple number patterns

Mathematical Reasoning

Determining Methods
Determine the approach, materials, and strategies to be used

Using Math Tools

Use tools, such as manipulatives or sketches, to model problems

Explaining Why
Defend the reasoning used and justify the procedures selected

Computing and Checking

Make precise calculations and check the validity of the results in the context of the
problem

Grade Two Science

Physical Sciences

Object Position
Students know the position of an object can be described by locating it in relation to
another object or to the background

Object Motion
Students know an object's motion can be described by recording the change in position of
the object over time

Push and Pull

Students know the way to change how something is moving is by giving it a push or a pull.
The size of the change is related to the strength, or the amount of force, of the push or
pull

Movement With Tools and Machines

Students know tools and machines are used to apply pushes and pulls (forces) to make
things move

Downward Pull of Gravity

Students know objects fall to the ground unless something holds them up

Magnet Motion
Students know magnets can be used to make some objects move without being touched

Sound
Students know sound is made by vibrating objects and can be described by its pitch and
volume

Life Sciences

Offspring of Their Own Kind

Students know that organisms reproduce offspring of their own kind and that the offspring
resemble their parents and one another

Different Life Cycle Stages

Students know the sequential stages of life cycles are different for different animals, such
as butterflies, frogs, and mice

Reasons for Characteristics

Students know many characteristics of an organism are inherited from the parents. Some
characteristics are caused or influenced by the environment

Variations Within One Kind

Students know there is variation among individuals of one kind within a population

Conditions Affecting Plant Development

Students know light, gravity, touch, or environmental stress can affect the germination,
growth, and development of plants

Flowers, Fruit and Plant Reproduction

Students know flowers and fruits are associated with reproduction in plants

Earth Sciences

Properties of Rocks
Students know how to compare the physical properties of different kinds of rocks and
know that rock is composed of different combinations of minerals

Rocks of Different Sizes

Students know smaller rocks come from the breakage and weathering of larger rocks

Soil
Soil is made partly from weathered rock and partly from organic materials; soils differ in
their color, texture, capacity to retain water, and ability to support the growth of many
kinds of plants

Fossils
Students know that fossils provide evidence about the plants and animals that lived long
ago and that scientists learn about the past history of Earth by studying fossils

Human Use of Natural Resources

Students know rock, water, plants, and soil provide many resources, including food, fuel,
and building materials, that humans use

Investigation and Experimentation

Predictions from Observation

Make predictions based on observed patterns and not random guessing

Using Metric Measurement Tools

Measure length, weight, temperature, and liquid volume with appropriate tools and
express those measurements in standard metric system units

Comparing and Sorting Objects

Compare and sort common objects according to two or more physical attributes (e. g.,
color, shape, texture, size, weight)

Describing Scientific Investigation

Write or draw descriptions of a sequence of steps, events, and observations

Creating Data Bar Graphs

Construct bar graphs to record data, using appropriately labeled axes

Observing Very Small Objects

Use magnifiers or microscopes to observe and draw descriptions of small objects or small
features of objects

Following Oral Instructions

Follow oral instructions for a scientific investigation

Grade Two Social Studies

Long Ago and Yesterday

Tracing the History of a Family

Primary and secondary sources, including artifacts, photographs, interviews, and
documents

Life Today and Yesterday

Compare and contrast their daily lives with those of their parents, grandparents, and/or
guardians

Sequencing Important Life Events

Timelines and storyboards

Map Skills

Locating Places on a Simple Letter-Number Grid System

The specific locations and geographic features in a neighborhood or community, e.g., map
of a classroom, a school

North America
Labeling from memory a simple map the North Americas countries, oceans, Great Lakes,
major rivers, and mountain ranges; identifying essential map elements: title, legend,
directional indicator, scale, and date

Locating Places on a Map

Where their ancestors live (d), telling when the family moved to the local community, and
how and why they made the trip

Basic Land Use

Urban, suburban, and rural environments in California

Governmental Institutions and Practices

Laws
How the United States and other countries make laws, carry out laws, determine whether
laws have been violated, and punish wrongdoers

Solving Conflicts
The ways in which groups and nations interact with one another to try to resolve problems
in such areas as trade, cultural contacts, treaties, diplomacy, and military force

Basic Economic Concepts

Food Production and Consumption Long Ago and Today

The roles of farmers, processors, distributors, weather, and land and water resources

Buyers and Sellers

The role and interdependence of buyers (consumers) and sellers (producers) of goods
and services

Limited Resources
How limits on resources affect production and consumption - what to produce and what to
consume

Individual Action and Character

Abraham Lincoln
How he made a difference in others' lives

Louis Pasteur
How he made a difference in others' lives

Sitting Bull
How he made a difference in others' lives

George Washington Carver

How he made a difference in others' lives

Marie Curie
How she made a difference in others' lives

Albert Einstein
How he made a difference in others' lives

Golda Meir
How she made a difference in others' lives

Jackie Robinson
How he made a difference in others' lives

Sally Ride
How she made a difference in others' lives

Grade Two Health

Dangerous Situations / Safety Methods

Traffic

Improper Use of Medicines and Poisons

Strangers

Source / Causes of Environmental Health Risks

Air

Soil

Sun

Water

Noise

Food

Chemicals

Growth and Development

Individual Differences

Family Changes

Self Image

Communication Skills

Verbal

Nonverbal

Relationships as a Learning Experience

Friendship

Parents and Family

Behavioral

Physiological

Fear

Causes

Bullying

Teasing

Physical Bullying

Grade Two Manners

Basic Manners

Please and thank you

- Say please when you make a request
- Say thank you when someone has done something for you
- If you are thanked, say youre welcome

Waiting your turn

- Do not interrupt other people when they are speaking
- No one can be heard if too many voices are working at once
- Give people your full attention when they are speaking

No name calling
- Name calling hurts peoples feelings
- Instead of using labels, discuss behaviors that bother you

Pleasant greetings
- Always greet someone when they visit your home
- Say hi so that guests feel welcome

Grade Two Character Development I

Character Study

Conscience and Ethics

Learning the Traits

Tolerance

Courage

Responsibility

Character in Action

Recognizing Character

Role Play

Doing the Right Thing

Grade Two Character Development II

Character Study

What are morals?

Know the definition of morals: motivation based on ideas of right and wrong
Identify positive morals: respect, responsibility, courage, honor, honesty, tolerance,
diligence, fairness

How do our morals form? They are taught by parents, teachers, significant role models.
Understand that morals are not instinctively learned.

Why are morals important? Morals help guide a functioning society; likewise, morals are
necessary for the success and happiness of society and individuals.

Learning the Traits

Virtue
Know the definition of virtue: the moral excellence evident in consistently doing what is
right.

Sincerity
Know the definition of sincerity: an eagerness to do what is right with transparent motives.

Character in Action

Recognizing character through behavior

Identifying examples of key character traits:
Virtue: Name a person in your life or history who has displayed virtue what have they
done to demonstrate this trait?

Sincerity: A friend calls you over to tell you that their feelings were hurt by a classmate
you listen to them and show genuine concern. Sincerity is apparent in your level of
attentiveness, expression and consideration.

Grade Two Interpersonal Relationships

Relationship Development
Stages of a relationship (friendship or romantic partner) include:

Acquaintance the stage where you get to know someone; depends on previous
relationships, geographical location; if two people begin to like each other, continued
interactions can lead to the next stage; otherwise, the acquaintance stage can continue
indefinitely

Buildup the stage where you begin to trust and care about another person; common
interests, background and goals may affect the success of this stage and whether the next
stage is reached

Continuation the stage where a mutual commitment to each other is formed (either by a
long-term friendship, romantic relationship, or marriage); this stage can be long and relatively
stable; the stage is marked by growth and development of the relationship

Deterioration not every relationship reaches this stage; deteriorating relationships show
signs of trouble including boredom, resentment and dissatisfaction; stage is often marked by
lack of communication or trust

Termination the final stage of a relationship, reached either by death of one person in the
relationship or by a choice to separate

Grade Two Health & Wellness

Diet & Nutrition

What is diet?
Diet is a persons usual food and drink; there are many rewards to maintaining a healthy diet.
Benefits of healthy eating include:
-

Increased energy levels

Stronger immune system (protection against sickness)

Healthy body weight

Better sleep

Better mood

Healthy eating patterns include:

-

Eating a variety of nutrient-rich, unprocessed foods

Eating plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables

Drinking plenty of water (6-8 glasses) daily

Limiting fattening, sugary snacks

Eating regular meals and healthy snacks; not skipping meals

Eating reasonable portions of food

Sleep

What is sleep? Why is it important?

Sleep is a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended;
sleep is essential to physical and emotional health.

Benefits of healthy sleep patterns include:

-

Improved mood

Stronger performance/alertness

Greater protection against sickness

Healthy sleep patterns include:

-

A consistent bedtime routine

A consistent sleep schedule (go to sleep at the same time each night)

Avoiding exercise within 2-3 hours of going to sleep

Avoiding eating immediately before going to sleep

Establishing a comfortable sleep environment, free of excessive noise and light

Third Grade
Free World U

Grade Three Language Arts

Parts of Speech

Parts of Speech
Review

Nouns
Practice identifying common and proper nouns

Possessive Nouns
How to make nouns possessive

Adjectives
Review

Verbs
Review

Adverbs
Review

Pronouns and Antecedents

Introduction to both parts of speech with practice finding them in sentences

Articles
Introduction to a, an, and the

Helping Verbs
Review

Grammar

Using Commas in a Series

Other Uses for a Comma

Dates, city and state, addresses; review

Titles
Punctuating titles of books and movies

Contractions

Writing Sentences

Subject-Verb Agreement
What makes a subject and verb agree? Practice finding errors

Determining Tense
Review of past, present, and future verb tenses

Capitalization
Review of all capitalization rules

Sentence Types
Recognizing and writing declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences

Writing Paragraphs

Prewriting
Researching, organizing your thoughts

Introduction
How to write an introduction

Body
How to write the body

Closing
How to write a closing

Revising a Paragraph
How to revise your work

Your Turn: Writing Non Fiction

Write a non-fiction paragraph using an example paragraph; students write a non-fiction
paragraph demonstrating understanding of topic sentences, a supporting body, and a
proper closing; students revise their work using provided Editors Checklist, reminding
them to check spelling, add details, etc.

Your Turn: Writing a Narrative

Write a narrative paragraph using an example paragraph; students write a narrative
paragraph demonstrating understanding of topic sentences, a supporting body, and a
proper closing; students revise their work using provided Editors Checklist, reminding
them to check spelling, add details, etc.

Handwriting
Write legibly and use proper form

Writing Letters

Determining your Audience

Who is the letters intended audience

Types of Letters
Friendly letters and business letters

Using Correct Letter Format

What to include and what the layout should be

Invitations
What should be included in an invitation; what is an RSVP?

Writing Stories

Developing a Character
Insight into how to make a character interesting and consistent; using details

Developing a Plot
Causing trouble for your character, getting him out of it, staying on course

Choosing a Setting
Where will the action take place? Providing details so readers can see the story

Wrapping it Up
The story should climax then wrap up details; character should solve problems himself
and perhaps learn something, etc

Your Turn
Students write a story, demonstrating an understanding of character, plot, setting, and
conclusion

Reading Literature

Whats What?
Naming and defining poetry, drama, fiction and nonfiction

Idioms and Sayings

Put on your thinking cap; A diamond in the rough; Saved by the bell

Greek Myths
Introduction to Greek myths

Norse Myths
Introduction to Norse myths

Native American Myths

Introduction to Native American myths

Determining Tone and Mood

Definitions; how tone and mood are created

Theme
What is a theme?

Speeches from Americas History

Introduction to great speeches

Authors Purpose
Determining purpose

Fact vs. Opinion

Separating fact from opinion

Getting to Know Characters

Determining what characters are like by their actions and words or by author portrayal;
identifying the speaker or narrator in a selection of writing; predicting what a character
might do next, based on knowledge gleaned from reading

Reading Aloud
Students read aloud fluently and at grade level

Read A Novel
We assign a short, high-interest novel and present questions to determine the students
level of understanding

Themes in Poetry
Introduction to finding themes

Onomatopoeia

Poetry

Rhyme and Meter

Simile and Metaphor

Practice in finding them and distinguishing them from one another

Fact vs. Opinion

Determining which is which

Spelling

Homophones

Homographs

Word Families
Using complex word families, such as ight, -eave, and ought to decode complicated new
words

Short Vowel Sounds

Double consonants

Its and Its

Alphabetizing
Putting similar words in correct alphabetical order, for instance: combine, compose,
computer

Irregular plurals
Change the y to i and add es; add s to words that end in y preceded by a vowel;
other irregulars

Vocabulary

Context
Using knowledge of synonyms and antonyms and other sentence context to determine the
meaning of unfamiliar words

Prefixes and Suffixes

Using knowledge of prefixes and suffixes to determine the meaning of words

Word Relationships
Understanding grade-level chains of information such as: living thing animal reptile
snake

Vocabulary A-C

Vocabulary D-J

Vocabulary K-R

Vocabulary S-Z

Reading for Information

Finding Information
Using titles, tables of contents, chapter headings, glossaries, and indexes to find
information in a book

Finding Answers
Demonstrate understanding by locating answers to questions within blocks of fiction and
non-fiction text; practice the skill of recalling more than one major point of an article;
demonstrate ability to locate problems and solutions in text and separate main ideas from
supporting ideas

Reading Directions
Reading multiple-step directions, such as those found with a board game

Using Reference Materials

Using an Atlas
Explains structure and organization

Using a Dictionary
Expands on knowledge gained in grade two; gives lengthier dictionary entries for students
to decipher; adds parts of speech to the definitions

Using an Encyclopedia
Organization and use

Using a Thesaurus

Oral Language

Writing a Speech
How to do it; writing an opening, middle, and ending; how to organize your speech, either
chronologically or around major points of information

Delivering a Speech
Using props, varying your tone and rate of delivery, keeping the audiences attention,
handling nerves

Reciting Poetry
Capturing the authors tone; practicing your pitch and delivery

Listening Skills
Students listen to a short oral story -- a legend or unfamiliar fictional story -- and then
answer regular flash-card style questions

Listening Skills II
First students listen to a short oral piece of non-fiction. Then they read a short piece of
non-fiction related to the oral presentation. Step three is to answer regular flash-card style
questions, including comparing and contrasting the presentations

Answering Questions
In everyday life, youre asked many questions. What is small talk? When should you
elaborate? How do you keep a conversation going? Can you connect a similar experience
youve had to one a friend is sharing?

Grade Three Math

Number Sense

Numbers to 10,000
Count, read, and write whole numbers to 10,000; compare and order whole numbers to
10,000

Place Value
Identify the place value for each digit in numbers to 10,000

Rounding
Round off numbers to 10,000 to the nearest ten, hundred, and thousand

Expanded Notation
Use expanded notation to represent numbers (e.g., 3,206 = 3,000 + 200 + 6)

Adding Large Numbers

Find the sum of two whole numbers between 0 and 10,000

Subtracting Large Numbers

Find the difference between two whole numbers between 0 and 10,000

Multiplication Tables
Memorize to automaticity the multiplication table for numbers between 1 and 10

Inverse Relationships
Use the inverse relationship of multiplication and division to compute and check results

Multiplying Large Numbers

Solve simple problems involving multiplication of multidigit numbers by one-digit numbers
(3,671 x 3 = __)

Dividing Large Numbers

Solve simple problems involving division of multidigit numbers by one- digit numbers
(135 5 = __)

Special Properties of 1 and 0

Understand the special properties of 0 and 1 in multiplication and division

Calculating Cost
Determine the unit cost when given the total cost and number of units

Using Multiple Skills

Solve problems that require two or more of the skills previously taught in 3rd grade
(working with large numbers, inverse relationships, multiplication and division skills,
figuring cost etc.)

Comparing Fractions Using Drawings

Compare fractions represented by drawings to show equivalency.
Comparing Fractions
Add and subtract fractions in context (1/2 of a pizza is the same as 2/4 of another same
size pizza; show that 3/8 is larger than 1/4)

Adding Fractions
Add simple fractions (e.g., determine that 1/8 + 3/8 is the same as 1/2)

Subtracting Fractions
Subtract simple fractions (e.g., determine that 1/8 + 3/8 is the same as 1/2)

Adding and Subtracting using Money Notation

Addition and subtraction of money amounts in decimal notation.

Multiplying and Dividing Using Money Notation

Multiplication and division of money amounts in decimal notation; multiply and divide
money amounts in decimal notation by using whole-number multipliers and divisors

Relationship Between Fractions and Decimals

Know and understand that fractions and decimals are two different representations of the
same concept (e.g., 50 cents is 1/2 of a dollar, 75 cents is 3/4 of a dollar)

Algebra and Functions

Creating and Solving Math Problems

Represent relationships of quantities in the form of mathematical expressions, equations,
or inequalities; solve problems involving numeric equations or inequalities

Using Math Symbols

Select appropriate operational and relational symbols to make an expression true
(e.g., if 4 __ 3 = 12, what operational symbol goes in the blank?)

Unit Conversions
Express simple unit conversions in symbolic form (e.g., __ inches = __ feet x 12)

Properties of Multiplication
Recognize and use the commutative and associative properties of multiplication
(e.g., if 5 x 7 = 35, then what is 7 x 5? and if 5 x 7 x 3 = 105, then what is 7 x 3 x 5?)

Relationships Between Quantities

Solve simple problems involving a functional relationship between two quantities (e.g., find
the total cost of multiple items given the cost per unit)

Linear Patterns
Extend and recognize a linear pattern by its rules (e.g., the number of legs on a given
number of horses may be calculated by counting by 4s or by multiplying the number of
horses by 4)

Measurement and Geometry

Metric and U.S. Measurement

Choose the appropriate tools and units (metric and U.S.) and estimate and measure the
length, liquid volume, and weight/mass of given objects

Area and Volume Using Units

Estimate or determine the area and volume of solid figures by covering them with squares
or by counting the number of cubes that would fill them

Polygons
Identify, describe, and classify polygons (including pentagons, hexagons, and octagons);
find the perimeter of a polygon with integer sides

Measurement Conversions
Carry out simple unit conversions within a system of measurement (e.g., centimeters and
meters, hours and minutes)

Attributes of Triangles
Identify attributes of triangles (e.g., two equal sides for the isosceles triangle, three equal
sides for the equilateral triangle, right angle for the right triangle)

Attributes of Quadrilaterals
Identify attributes of quadrilaterals (e.g., parallel sides for the parallelogram, right angles
for the rectangle, equal sides and right angles for the square)

Right Angles
Identify right angles in geometric figures or in appropriate objects and determine whether
other angles are greater or less than a right angle

3-Dimensional Objects
Identify, describe, and classify common three-dimensional geometric objects (e.g., cube,
rectangular solid, sphere, prism, pyramid, cone, cylinder)

Recognizing Object Relationship

Identify common solid objects that are the components needed to make a more complex
solid object

Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability

Probability of Common Events

Identify whether common events are certain, likely, unlikely, or improbable

Recording Possible and Actual Outcomes

Record the possible outcomes for a simple event (e.g., tossing a coin) and systematically
keep track of the outcomes when the event is repeated many times

Summarize and Display Results

Summarize and display the results of probability experiments in a clear and organized
way (e.g., use a bar graph or a line plot)

Predicting Future Events

Use the results of probability experiments to predict future events (e.g., use a line plot to
predict the temperature forecast for the next day)

Mathematical Reasoning

Analyzing Problems
Analyze problems by identifying relationships, distinguishing relevant from irrelevant
information, sequencing and prioritizing information, and observing patterns

Simplifying Problems
Determine when and how to break a problem into simpler parts

Verifying Results by Estimation

Use estimation to verify the reasonableness of calculated results

Applying Strategies and Results

Apply strategies and results from simpler problems to more complex problems

Explain Your Reasoning

Use a variety of methods, such as words, numbers, symbols, charts, graphs, tables,
diagrams, and models, to explain mathematical reasoning

Expressing Solutions

Express the solution clearly and logically by using the appropriate mathematical notation
and terms and clear language; support solutions with evidence in both verbal and
symbolic work

Estimation
Indicate the relative advantages of exact and approximate solutions to problems and give
answers to a specified degree of accuracy

Results That Make Sense

Make precise calculations and check the validity of the results from the context of the
problem; evaluate the reasonableness of the solution in the context of the original
situation

Applying Knowledge
Note the method of deriving the solution and demonstrate a conceptual understanding by
solving similar problems; develop generalizations of the results obtained and apply them
in other circumstances

Grade Three Science

Physical Sciences

Solar Energy
Students know energy comes from the Sun to Earth in the form of light

Stored Energy
Students know sources of stored energy take many forms, such as food, fuel, and
batteries

Energy, Motion and Heat

Students know machines and living things convert stored energy to motion and heat

Waves of Energy
Students know energy can be carried from one place to another by waves, such as water
waves and sound waves, by electric current, and by moving objects

Three Forms of Matter

Students know matter has three forms: solid, liquid, and gas

Evaporation and Melting

Students know evaporation and melting are changes that occur when the objects are
heated

Combining Substances
Students know that when two or more substances are combined, a new substance may
be formed with properties that are different from those of the original materials

Atoms
Students know all matter is made of small particles called atoms, too small to see with the
naked eye

Elements
Students know people once thought that earth, wind, fire, and water were the basic
elements that made up all matter. Science experiments show that there are more than
100 different types of atoms, which are presented on the periodic table of the elements

Shadow and Reflection

Students know sunlight can be blocked to create shadows; Students know light is
reflected from mirrors and other surfaces

Light and Color

Students know the color of light striking an object affects the way the object is seen

Light and Vision

Students know an object is seen when light traveling from the object enters the eye

Life Sciences

Plant and Animal Structures

Students know plants and animals have structures that serve different functions in growth,
survival, and reproduction

Diversity of Life Forms

Students know examples of diverse life forms in different environments, such as oceans,
deserts, tundra, forests, grasslands, and wetlands

Living Things and the Environment

Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of
these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are
beneficial

Effects of Environmental Changes

Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and
reproduce; others die or move to new locations

Extinction
Students know that some kinds of organisms that once lived on Earth have completely
disappeared and that some of those resembled others that are alive today

Earth Sciences

Star Patterns
Students know the patterns of stars stay the same, although they appear to move across
the sky nightly, and different stars can be seen in different seasons

Lunar Cycle
Students know the way in which the Moon's appearance changes during the four-week
lunar cycle

Telescopes
Students know telescopes magnify the appearance of some distant objects in the sky,
including the Moon and the planets. The number of stars that can be seen through
telescopes is dramatically greater than the number that can be seen by the unaided eye

Relationship Between Earth, Moon and Sun

Students know that Earth is one of several planets that orbit the Sun and that the Moon
orbits Earth

Position of the Sun

Students know the position of the Sun in the sky changes during the course of the day
and from season to season

Investigation and Experimentation

Repeating Observations and Investigations

Repeat observations to improve accuracy and know that the results of similar scientific
investigations seldom turn out exactly the same because of differences in the things being
investigated, methods being used, or uncertainty in the observation

Separating Evidence from Opinion

Differentiate evidence from opinion and know that scientists do not rely on claims or
conclusions unless they are backed by observations that can be confirmed

Using Numerical Data

Use numerical data in describing and comparing objects, events, and measurements

Predicting Outcomes
Predict the outcome of a simple investigation and compare the result with the prediction

Collecting and Analyzing Data

Collect data in an investigation and analyze those data to develop a logical conclusion

Grade Three Social Studies

Physical and Human Geography

Geographical Features in Local Regions

e.g., deserts, mountains, valleys, hills, coastal areas, oceans, lakes; use of maps, tables,
graphs, photographs, and charts to organize information about people, places, and
environments

Resources and Environment

The ways in which people have used the resources of the local region and modified the
physical environment - e.g., a dam constructed upstream changed a river or coastline

Local American Indian Nations

Culture
National identities, religious beliefs, customs, and various folklore traditions

Environment
How physical geography, including climate, influenced how the local Indian nations
adapted to their natural environment - how they obtained food, clothing, tools

Economy and Government

Particularly those with tribal constitutions, and their relationship to federal and state
governments

New Settlers
Integration of settlers with the already established Indians of the region

Local Historical Events

Explorers and Newcomers

Explorers who visited here, newcomers who settled here, and the people who continue to
come to the region, including their cultural and religious traditions and contributions

Economy
Economies established by settlers and their influence on the present-day economy; the
importance of private property and entrepreneurship

Community
Why their community was established, how individuals and families contributed to its
founding and development, how the community has changed over time, drawing on maps,
photographs, oral histories, letters, newspapers, other primary sources

Rules, Laws, and the U.S. Government

Purpose
The reasons for rules, laws, and the U.S. Constitution; the role of citizenship in the
promotion of rules and laws; the consequences for people who violate rules and laws

Public Virtue and the Role of Citizens

How to participate in a classroom, in the community, and in civic life

Important Landmarks, Symbols, and Documents

Histories of the U.S. flag, the bald eagle, the Statue of Liberty, the U.S. Constitution, the
Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Capitol

The Three Branches of Government

Emphasis on local government

Contributions of California
How California, the other states, and sovereign American Indian tribes contribute to the
making of our nation and participate in the federal system of government

American Heroes
Describe the lives of Anne Hutchinson, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham
Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, Jr.

Economic Reasoning and the Local Economy

Resources
How local producers have used and are using natural resources, human resources, and
capital resources to produce goods and services in the past and the present

Source of Goods
Some goods are made locally, some elsewhere in the United States, and some abroad

Choice
Individual economic choices involve trade-offs and the evaluation of benefits and costs

Importance of Work
The relationship of students' "work" in school and their personal human capital

Grade Three Health

Getting Along With Others

Following Directions

Different Types of Messages

Conversations With Others

Sharing

Bullying

Working and Playing

Ignoring Distractions in Class

Transitioning from One Activity to Another Appropriately

Using Free Time Correctly

Homework and Schoolwork

Finishing Work on Time

Using Materials Appropriately

Completing Homework

Doing Work Correctly

Using Time Wisely

Responsibility

How to Ask For Help

Paying Attention

Telephone Manners

Getting Permission

Conflict Resolution

Accepting Differences in Others

Accepting Peers Suggestions

Peer Pressure

Compromise

Anger Management

Handling Teasing

Handling Criticism

How to Stay Calm

School Social Skills

How to Make Eye Contact

How to Ask a Question

How to Stay on Task

How to Use Body Basics

Friendship Skills

Greeting Others

Waiting Your Turn

Asking Someone to Join

Offering Help

Appearance

Keeping Self Clean

Combing Your Hair

Brushing Your Teeth

Getting Dressed

Grade Three Manners

Basic Manners

Accepting compliments
- Take compliments graciously by saying thank you
- Do not point out flaws or put yourself down

Cleaning up after yourself

- Whether at home or elsewhere, always pick up after yourself
- Pick up a mess before moving onto another activity

Good sportsmanship
- Always be pleasant during and after a game is played
- If you win, do not gloat be kind
- If you lose, do not sulk congratulate the winning player

Grade Three Character Development I

Character Study

Values

Learning the Traits

Citizenship

Commitment

Discipline

Character in Action

Recognizing Character

Role Play

Doing the Right Thing

Grade Three Character Development II

Character Study

What are ethics?

Know the definition of ethics: the philosophical study of moral values and rules

Social ethics: maintaining a personal code of conduct based on respect for one's self,
others and surroundings

What other arenas have accepted codes of ethics? business/professional ethics; legal
ethics; medical ethics. Why are ethics in these areas important? Ethics establish
expectations and standards and encourage responsible behavior

Learning the Traits

Responsibility
Know the definition of responsibility: a form of trustworthiness; the trait of being
answerable to someone for something or being responsible for one's conduct

Citizenship
Know the definition of citizenship: the status and/or conduct of a citizen with rights and
duties; caring for more than oneself (the community, the world, etc.)

Character in Action

Recognizing character through behavior

Examples of key character traits:

Responsibility: What are some of the responsibilities kids your age have? What are some
of the rewards for being a responsible person?
Citizenship: Discussion Topic What makes a community or neighborhood a nice place to
live? What can you do in your own community to make it a better place?

Grade Three Interpersonal Relationships

Family Relationships

Family Rules
Each family has its own set of relationship rules (spoken and unspoken beliefs and standards of
behavior) that impact individual perspective on relationships. These rules can continue to shape your
outlook on relationships and influence your interactions with others; it is important to identify any
unspoken relationship rules in your family and consider how they may influence you.
Common family relationship rules may include:

Never reveal your true feelings

Never hide your emotions

Never raise your voice

Always make your point

Never call attention to yourself

Make others aware of your accomplishments

Put on a happy face

Always be genuine

Family Roles
Most families have an established set of roles that are assigned (officially or unofficially) to family
members; these roles can develop into lifelong patterns of behavior in individuals and may affect other
relationships these individuals have with people outside of the family.
Significant factors shaping family roles include birth order, gender and sibling dynamics; there are
several common roles that are often played out in a family unit including:
-

Problem-solver family member who is always prepared to offer a solution

Victim family member who pulls compassion and sympathy from others

Rescuer family member who involves themselves in situations to ensure safety of others

Comedian family member who is ready with a joke for comic relief

Mediator family member who serves as a bridge between other family members

Confronter family member who observes harsh realities and calls attention to these details

Healer family member who helps others heal emotional wounds

Secret-keeper family member who can always be trusted to hold a confidence tight

Example Setting/Modeling
Family lessons on relationships are most powerfully taught by example individuals learn how to feel,
think and act by observing the people they live with. These examples shape the types of relationships
that are shared with individuals outside of the family unit.
Patterns of behavior that often set a lasting example on relationship development include:
-

Expression of anger

Expression of affection

Methods of communication (talking and listening)

Methods of dealing with (or avoiding) conflict

Grade Three Health & Wellness

Healthcare

What is healthcare?
Healthcare is the preservation of mental and physical health by preventing or treating illness through
services offered by the health profession (doctors, nurses, dentists, etc.)

Healthcare should be a proactive process individuals should maintain annual visits with a doctor even
when there are no signs of sickness or disease; these examinations can help in the prevention and/or
early detection of illness.
What to expect at a check up:
-

Weigh in

Temperature reading

Pulse reading

Blood pressure reading

Screenings

Vaccinations

Fourth Grade
Free World U

Grade Four Language Arts

Parts of Speech

Adverbs
Practice finding adverbs; practice with comparatives and superlatives

Irregular Verbs

Prepositions
Practice with prepositions, prepositional phrases, and direct and indirect objects

Conjunctions

Pronouns and Pronoun Case

Personal, subjective, and objective case pronoun usage

Writing Sentences

Using Commas in a Series

Reviews commas in a series

Using Commas to Combine Sentences

Combining sentences using commas with and without conjunctions

Using Quotations
Defines quotations and teaches students standard capitalization and punctuation
quotations within a longer sentence.

Compound and Complex Sentences

Defines and teaches correct usage

Finding and Correcting Run-On Sentences

Defines and teaches ways to repair run-on sentences

Combining Short Sentences

Combining thoughts by use of participial phrases, prepositional phrases, and use of
adverbs or adjectives

Polishing your Punctuation

Review of quotations, commas in quotations, and apostrophes in possessive nouns and
contractions; introduction of, and practice using, parentheses

Document Titles
Identify titles of books, movies, newspapers, etc.

Capitalization
Reviews capitalization rules for periodical titles; introduces capitalization rules for works of
art, musical compositions, organizations and businesses, and the first word in quotations
when needed

Writing Paragraphs

Purpose and Audience

Review: Why do we write? To inform? Entertain? To whom are we writing?

Main Idea and Supporting Details

Practice identifying main ideas and proper supporting details

Writing a Paragraph
A how-to lesson; includes prewriting techniques

Problems in Paragraphs: Consistency and Coherency

Maintaining a focus; making sense

Problems in Paragraphs: Proper Vocabulary

Slang, jargon, formal vs. informal writing, etc.

Writing About a Character

Tips and examples; students write about a favorite literary character and edit their work;
student should provide insight as to why he likes this character and what similarities or
differences this character has to himself

Writing About Literature

Students read a short piece of literature and write a paragraph summing up the main point
and supporting details, with guidance from flashcards

Writing About Non-Fiction

Tips and examples; students write a how-to paragraph and edit their work

Penmanship
Write legibly in cursive

Writing an Essay

The Informational Essay

Structure of an informational essay, which includes an introductory paragraph, paragraphs
of supporting details that begin with topic sentences, and a concluding paragraph that
sums it up; paragraphs should be indented, and the essay should have a title

Choosing a Topic
A topic should be of interest to your readers and shouldnt be too broad or too narrow for
the length of your essay

Writing an Informational Essay

Walks students through the process of writing an entire informational essay with special
attention given to the thesis statement

Editing an Essay
Includes all the things to look for: spelling, punctuation, etc, with focus on asking
questions such as: Does this make sense? Is this the best order to use? Could I use a
more interesting verb or add description anywhere? Should I combine any sentences?
Suggests reading work aloud

Your Turn: Writing an Informational Essay

Write an informational essay on a topic of their choice, using what the students have
learned in this section; remind students to use an introductory paragraph with a clearlystated topic sentence, supporting paragraphs, a concluding paragraph, and correct
indentation; students should use several sources and correctly cite the sources in this
essay; students should edit their work

The Narrative Essay

The purpose of a narrative essay which is an essay that tells a personal experience with
details and personal feelings included; paragraphs should be indented, and the essay
should have a title

Your Turn: Writing a Narrative Essay

Shows example of narrative essay and asks student to write his own (see style
instructions for Informational essay)

Reading Literature

Sayings
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It knocked my socks off. Back to square
one.

Regional and Global Sayings

Expressions people use in one part of the country or world and how they reflect local
culture

Characteristics of Non-Fiction
Challenges students to identify biographies, autobiographies and memoirs

Figurative Language
Defines simile, metaphor, hyperbole, and personification; students practice identifying
figurative language

Reading Aloud
Students read fluently and accurately with expression and at grade level

Fables
Students read a fable and learn about structural elements of fables

Myths
Students read a myth and learn about structural elements of myths

Legends
Students read a legend and learn about structural elements of legends while answering
questions about characters and setting

Fairy Tales
Students read a fairy tale and learn about structural elements of fairy tales while
answering questions about character motivation, and the main events of the plot, their
causes and influence on the rest of the story

Comparing Structural Features

Students compare and contrast structural features of fables, myths, legends, and fairy
tales

Around the World

Compare and contrast a character type that appears in fiction around the world and
discuss why such a character appeals to people in such diverse cultures

Read A Novel
We assign a short, high-interest novel and present questions to determine the students
level of understanding

Research and Technology

Almanacs

What information is found in an almanac?

Using Indexes and Tables of Contents

Finding information in an index or table of contents

Types of Periodicals
Newspapers, journals, magazines

Judging Internal Consistency

Does an article maintain focus? Practice determining logical arguments

Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions

Predicting outcomes based on life experiences

Using a Thesaurus
Using a thesaurus to find new words; judging the appropriateness of these words

Using an Encyclopedia
What types of information is found in these? Finding information in an article by skimming;
paraphrasing

Using Internet Sources

Judging sources; internet safety

Citing your sources

Quoting and paraphrasing information sources and citing them correctly; defining and
discussing plagiarism

Evaluating the Media

How do the media focus attention on events? How do the media shape peoples opinions?

Computer terminology
Identify and explain uses for cursor, software, memory, disk drive, hard drive, computer,
monitor, etc.

Introduction to Keyboarding
Demonstrates basic keyboarding techniques

Vocabulary

Common Root Words in American English

Introduction to common Latin and Greek roots; practice figuring word meanings based on
root meanings

Common Word Parts

Explains meanings of common prefixes, suffixes, and root words and gives students
practice defining words based on this knowledge

Homonyms
Distinguish between advanced homophones and homographs in context

Vocabulary A-C

Vocabulary D-J

Vocabulary K-R

Vocabulary S-Z

Reading Nonfiction

Cause and Effect

Practice identifying cause and effect

Compare and Contrast

Practice reading passages, finding, and understanding this technique

Chronological Order
Practice reading passages, finding, and understanding this technique

Proposition and Support

Practice reading passages, finding, and understanding this technique

Fact vs. Opinion

Practice reading passages, finding, and understanding this technique

Comprehension

Following Directions
Follow multiple-step instructions

Three Ways to Read

Reading carefully for deep understanding, skimming to find specific information, and
reading for enjoyment

Make a Prediction
Predicting action and outcomes in text using titles, topic sentences, foreshadowing,
illustrations, etc

Context
Determining the meaning of unfamiliar words using context

Your Opinion Counts

Test new information against what you already know; compare and contrast information
on the same topic after reading several passages

Listening Skills

Listening to Literature
Answering questions after listening to an oral story

Listening to Non Fiction

Answering questions after listening to an oral presentation

Speaking Skills

Introduction to Writing a Speech

How to write an effective speech, including using anecdotes and traditional structure

Effective Public Speaking Techniques

How to capture and hold your listeners attention by varying pitch, gesturing, asking
questions, using props, etc

Your Turn: Delivering an Informational Speech

Students deliver an informational speech with a clear focus; they emphasize important
points and use proper pitch and modulation; they use tools theyve learned in this section
such as using anecdotes, posing and answering a question, using strong details, adding
gestures or props as appropriate, etc.; they use more than one source for their information

Your Turn: Talking about a Book

Flashcards teach students about the important elements of an oral book report; students
present an oral report demonstrating an understanding of flashcard content

Your Turn: Telling about an Event

Students use knowledge of speech writing and delivery to make an effective oral
presentation of a memorable event in their own, or someone elses, life; speech should
include strong sensory details and an explanation of why this event is memorable

Recite a poem
Students recite a memorized poem of two or three stanzas; students speak clearly and
use proper phrasing

Asking and Telling

Students orally demonstrate an ability to ask thoughtful questions, respond with
appropriate elaboration to oral questions posed to them, and demonstrate an ability to
give precise instructions

Grade Four Math

Number Sense

Working With Numbers in Millions

Read and write whole numbers in the millions

Numbers to Two Decimal Places

Order and compare whole numbers and decimals to two decimal places

Rounding Numbers
Round whole numbers through the millions to the nearest ten, hundred, thousand, ten
thousand, or hundred thousand

When to Use Rounding

Decide when a rounded solution is called for and explain why such a solution may be
appropriate

Different Interpretations of Fractions

Explain different interpretations of fractions, for example, parts of a whole, parts of a set,
and division of whole numbers by whole numbers; explain equivalents of fractions

Fraction and Decimal Notation

Write tenths and hundredths in decimal and fraction notations and know the fraction and
decimal equivalents for halves and fourths (e.g., 1/2 = 0.5 or .50; 7/4 = 1 3/4 = 1.75)

Fractions Represented by a Figure

Write the fraction represented by a drawing of parts of a figure; represent a given fraction
by using drawings; and relate a fraction to a simple decimal on a number line

Negative Numbers
Use concepts of negative numbers (e.g., on a number line, in counting, in temperature, in
"owing")

Position on a Number Line

Identify on a number line the relative position of positive fractions, positive mixed
numbers, and positive decimals to two decimal places

Problems Using Decimals

Estimate and compute the sum or difference of whole numbers and positive decimals to
two places

Rounding Decimals
Round two-place decimals to one decimal or the nearest whole number and judge the
reasonableness of the rounded answer

Adding Using Standard Algorithms

Demonstrate an understanding of, and the ability to use, the standard algorithm for the
addition of multi digit numbers.

Subtracting Using Standard Algorithms

Demonstrate an understanding of, and the ability to use, standard algorithms for the
subtraction of multi digit numbers

Multiplying Using Standard Algorithms

Demonstrate an understanding of, and the ability to use standard algorithms for
multiplying a multi digit number by a two-digit number

Dividing Using Algorithms

Demonstrate an understanding of, and the ability to use standard algorithms for dividing a
multi digit number by a one-digit number

Relating Multiplication and Division

Use relationships between multiplication and division to simplify computations and check
results.

Multiplying Multi Digit Numbers

Solve problems involving multiplication of multi digit numbers by two-digit numbers

Dividing Multi Digit Numbers

Solve problems involving division of multi digit numbers by one-digit numbers

Breaking Down Whole Numbers

Understand that many whole numbers break down in different ways (e.g., 12 = 4 x 3 = 2 x
6 = 2 x 2 x 3)

Prime Numbers
Know that numbers such as 2, 3, 5, 7, and 11 do not have any factors except 1 and
themselves and that such numbers are called prime numbers

Algebra and Functions

Understanding and Using a Variable

Use letters, boxes, or other symbols to stand for any number in simple expressions or
equations (e.g., demonstrate an understanding and the use of the concept of a variable)

Parentheses in Mathematical Expressions

Interpret and evaluate mathematical expressions that now use parentheses

Parentheses and Order of Operations

Use parentheses to indicate which operation to perform first when writing expressions
containing more than two terms and different operations

Using Formulas
Use and interpret formulas (e.g., area = length x width or A = lw) to answer questions
about quantities and their relationships

Equations with Two Variables

Understand that an equation such as y = 3 x + 5 is a prescription for determining a second
number when a first number is given

Equals
Know and understand that equals added to equals are equal; know and understand that
equals multiplied by equals are equal

Measurement and Geometry

Measuring Rectangular Shapes

Measure the area of rectangular shapes by using appropriate units, such as square
centimeter (cm2), square meter (m2), square kilometer (km2), square inch (in2), square
yard (yd2), square mile (mi2)

Areas and Perimeters of Rectangles

Recognize that rectangles that have the same area can have different perimeters;
understand that rectangles that have the same perimeter can have different areas

Using Formulas with Complex Figures

Understand and use formulas to solve problems involving perimeters and areas of
rectangles and squares. Use those formulas to find areas of more complex figures by
dividing the figures into basic shapes

Graphing Linear Relationships

Draw the points corresponding to linear relationships on graph paper (e.g., draw 10 points
on the graph of the equation y = 3 x and connect them by using a straight line)

Length of Line Segments

Understand that the length of a horizontal line segment equals the difference of the xcoordinates; understand that the length of a vertical line segment equals the difference of
the y- coordinates

Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

Identify lines that are parallel and perpendicular

Radius and Diameter of a Circle

Identify the radius and diameter of a circle

Congruent Figures
Identify congruent figures

Bilateral and Rotational Symmetry

Identify figures that have bilateral and rotational symmetry

Angles
Know the definitions of a right angle, an acute angle, and an obtuse angle. Understand
that 90, 180, 270, and 360 are associated, respectively, with 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and full
turns

Understanding Geometric Solids

Visualize, and describe geometric solids, (e.g., prisms, pyramids) in terms of the number
and shape of faces, edges, and vertices

Creating Geometric Solids

Make models of geometric solids; interpret two-dimensional representations of threedimensional objects; draw patterns (of faces) for a solid that, when cut and folded, will
make a model of the solid

Triangle Definitions and Attributes

Know the definitions of different triangles (e.g., equilateral, isosceles, scalene) and identify
their attributes

Quadrilateral Definitions
Know the definition of different quadrilaterals (e.g., rhombus, square, rectangle,
parallelogram, trapezoid)

Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability

Creating and Representing Surveys

Formulate survey questions; systematically collect and represent data on a number line;
and coordinate graphs, tables, and charts

Categorical and Numerical Data Sets

Identify the mode(s) for sets of categorical data and the mode(s), median, and any
apparent outliers for numerical data sets

Answering Questions Using Data Graphs

Interpret one-and two-variable data graphs to answer questions about a situation

Representing All Possible Outcomes

Represent all possible outcomes for a simple probability situation in an organized way
(e.g., tables, grids, tree diagrams)

Expressing Outcomes
Express outcomes of experimental probability situations verbally and numerically (e.g., 3
out of 4; 3 /4)

Mathematical Reasoning

Analyzing Problems
Analyze problems by identifying relationships, distinguishing relevant from irrelevant
information, sequencing and prioritizing information, and observing patterns

Simplifying Problems
Determine when and how to break a problem into simpler parts

Verifying Results by Estimation

Use estimation to verify the reasonableness of calculated results

Applying Strategies and Results

Apply strategies and results from simpler problems to more complex problems

Explain Your Reasoning

Use a variety of methods, such as words, numbers, symbols, charts, graphs, tables,
diagrams, and models, to explain mathematical reasoning

Expressing Solutions

Express the solution clearly and logically by using the appropriate mathematical notation
and terms and clear language; support solutions with evidence in both verbal and
symbolic work

Estimation
Indicate the relative advantages of exact and approximate solutions to problems and give
answers to a specified degree of accuracy

Results That Make Sense

Make precise calculations and check the validity of the results from the context of the
problem; evaluate the reasonableness of the solution in the context of the original
situation

Applying Knowledge
Note the method of deriving the solution and demonstrate a conceptual understanding by
solving similar problems; develop generalizations of the results obtained and apply them
in other circumstances

Grade Four Science

Physical Sciences

Building Electrical Circuits

Students know how to design and build simple series and parallel circuits by using
components such as wires, batteries, and bulbs

Making and Using A Compass

Students know how to build a simple compass and use it to detect magnetic effects,
including Earth's magnetic field

Electromagnetism
Students know electric currents produce magnetic fields and know how to build a simple
electromagnet

The Use of Electromagnets

Students know the role of electromagnets in the construction of electric motors, electric
generators, and simple devices, such as doorbells and earphones

Electrical Polarity
Students know electrically charged objects attract or repel each other

Magnetic Polarity
Students know that magnets have two poles (north and south) and that like poles repel
each other while unlike poles attract each other

Converting Electrical Energy

Students know electrical energy can be converted to heat, light, and motion

Life Sciences

Plants in the Food Chain

Students know plants are the primary source of matter and energy entering most food
chains

Producers and Consumers

Students know producers and consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and

decomposers) are related in food chains and food webs and may compete with each other
for resources in an ecosystem

Decomposers
Students know decomposers, including many fungi, insects, and microorganisms, recycle
matter from dead plants and animals

Characterizing Ecosystems
Students know ecosystems can be characterized by their living and nonliving components

Survival in an Ecosystem
Students know that in any particular environment, some kinds of plants and animals
survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all

Interdependency of Plants and Animals

Students know many plants depend on animals for pollination and seed dispersal, and
animals depend on plants for food and shelter

Microorganisms
Students know that most microorganisms do not cause disease and that many are
beneficial

Earth Sciences

Rocks and the Rock Cycle

Students know how to differentiate among igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks
by referring to their properties and methods of formation (the rock cycle)

Rock-Forming Minerals
Students know how to identify common rock-forming minerals (including quartz, calcite,
feldspar, mica, and hornblende) and ore minerals by using a table of diagnostic properties

Slow and Rapid Earth Changes

Students know some changes in the earth are due to slow processes, such as erosion,
and some changes are due to rapid processes, such as landslides, volcanic eruptions,
and earthquakes

Rock and Natural Processes

Students know natural processes, including freezing and thawing and the growth of roots,
cause rocks to break down into smaller pieces

Earth and Moving Water

Students know moving water erodes landforms, reshaping the land by taking it away from
some places and depositing it as pebbles, sand, silt, and mud in other places (weathering,
transport, and deposition)

Investigation and Experimentation

Observation and Inference

Differentiate observation from inference (interpretation) and know scientists explanations
come partly from what they observe and partly from how they interpret their observations

Scientific Measurement
Measure and estimate the weight, length, or volume of objects

Predictions Based on Cause-and-Effect

Formulate and justify predictions based on cause-and-effect relationships

Using Multiple Trials

Conduct multiple trials to test a prediction and draw conclusions about the relationships
between predictions and results

Graphs From Measurements

Construct and interpret graphs from measurements

Following Written Instructions

Follow a set of written instructions for a scientific investigation

Grade Four Social Studies

Places and Regions in California

Locations of Places in California and on Earth

Using the coordinate grid system of latitude and longitude

Map Skills
North and South Poles; the equator and the prime meridian; the tropics; and the
hemispheres, using coordinates to plot locations

Regions of California
Location of state capital and the various regions of California, how characteristics and
physical environments of regions - e.g., water, landforms, vegetation, and climate - affect
human activity

California Geography
Locations of the Pacific Ocean, rivers, valleys, and mountain passes and their effects on
the growth of towns

California Communities
Using maps, charts, and pictures - how communities in California vary in land use,
vegetation, wildlife, climate, population density, architecture, services, and transportation

Early California History

California Indians
The major nations, including their geographic distribution, economic activities, legends,
and religious beliefs; how they depended on, adapted to, and modified the physical
environment by cultivation of land and use of sea resources

Early Settlements
Early land and sea routes to, and European settlements in, California; exploration of the
North Pacific - e.g., by Captain James Cook, Vitus Bering, Juan Cabrillo; the importance
of mountains, deserts, ocean currents, and wind patterns

Spanish Exploration and Colonization of California

Relationships among soldiers, missionaries, and Indians - e.g., Juan Crespi, Junipero
Serra, Gaspar de Portola

Spanish Missions
Mapping of, geographic basis of, and economic factors in the placement and function of
the Spanish missions; how the mission system expanded the influence of Spain and
Catholicism throughout New Spain and Latin America

Daily Life

Native and nonnative people who occupied the presidios, missions, ranchos, and pueblos

Franciscans
Their role in changing the economy of California from a hunter-gatherer economy to an
agricultural economy

Mexican War for Independence

Its effects on Alta California and on the territorial boundaries of North America

Mexican rule in California

Its attributes, including land grants, secularization of the missions, and the rise of the
rancho economy

From the Bear Flag Republic to Statehood

Locations of Settlements
Mexican settlements in California and other settlements, including Fort Ross and Sutter's
Fort

Travel to California
How and why people traveled to California and the routes they traveled - e.g., James
Beckwourth, John Bidwell, John C. Fremont, Pio Pico

The Gold Rush

Its effects on settlements, daily life, politics, and the physical environment; biographies of
John Sutter, Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, Louise Clapp

Women
The women who helped build early California - e.g., Biddy Mason

Statehood
How California became a state and how its new government differed from those during
the Spanish and Mexican periods

Transformation of California Since the 1850s

Transportation and Communication

The story and lasting influence of the Pony Express, Overland Mail Service, Western
Union, and the building of the transcontinental railroad, including the contributions of
Chinese workers to its construction

Gold Rush
How it transformed the economy of California, including the types of products produced
and consumed; changes in towns - e.g., Sacramento, San Francisco; economic conflicts
between diverse groups of people

Immigration and Migration to California Between 1850 and 1900

The diverse composition of those who came; the countries of origin and their relative
locations; conflicts and accords among the diverse groups - e.g., the 1882 Chinese
Exclusion Act

Growth in the 20th Century

Rapid American immigration, internal migration, settlement, and the growth of towns and
cities - e.g., Los Angeles

Change During the 1930s and 1940s

Effects of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and World War II on California

New Industries
Development and locations of new industries since the nineteenth century, such as the
aerospace industry, electronics industry, large-scale commercial agriculture and irrigation
projects, the oil and automobile industries, communications and defense industries;
important trade links with the Pacific Basin

California's Water System

Evolution of the network of dams, aqueducts, and reservoirs

Education
History and development of California's public education system, including universities
and community colleges

Arts and Culture

Impact of twentieth-century Californians on the nation's artistic and cultural development,
including the rise of the entertainment industry; Louis B. Meyer, Walt Disney, John
Steinbeck, Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange, John Wayne

Structures and Powers of Government

U.S. Constitution
What is and why it is important; written document that defines the structure and purpose
of the U.S. government and describes the shared powers of federal, state, and local
governments

California Constitution
Purpose, key principles, relationship to the U.S. Constitution

Federal, state, and local governments

Similarities - e.g., written documents, rule of law, consent of the governed, three separate
branches - and differences - e.g., scope of jurisdiction, limits on government powers, use
of the military

State governments
Structures, functions, roles and responsibilities of their elected officials

California's governance structure

Components - e.g., cities and towns, Indian rancherias and reservations, counties, school
districts

Grade Four Health

Health / Safety Methods

Car Safety

Biking Safety

Preventing Water Accidents

Fire Safety

Universal Precautions

Influence on Health from Others

Peer Pressure

Media

Advertising

Basic Body Systems and Their Functions

Circulatory System

Respiratory System

Nervous System

Causes and Consequences of Conflict

Bullying

Family Problems

Possessiveness

Jealousy

Positive Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Skills

Family Communication

Polite Conversation

Attentive Listening

Body Language

Decision Making

Relationships as a Learning Experience

Friendship

Romance

Respecting the Opposite Sex

Practical Psychology

Attraction

Compliance

Persuasion

As an Emotion

Guilt

Causes

Collective Guilt

Dealing with Guilt

Bullying

Social Exclusion

Internalizing Negative Feelings

Equality in Relationships

Personal Qualities

Developing Relationships and Sharing Equally

Grade Four Manners

Basic Manners

Opening doors for others

- When entering buildings, open the door for other people and allow them to enter first
- When preceding others into a building, do not let the door slam shut so they must reopen it;
hold the door open until the person behind can grab it
- Show appreciation when a door is opened for you

Appropriate room entering/exiting

- If people are exiting a room or building while you are entering, allow them to exit first
- In elevators, also allow those in the elevator to exit before entering

Respecting differences
- Recognize and appreciate differences in behaviors due to culture, race or religion
- Accept that all families have their own traditions or rituals and do not put down those who are
different from you

Grade Four Character Development

Character Study

What is a conscience?
Know the definition of conscience: the moral sense of right and wrong, chiefly as it affects
one's own behavior

What is consciousness?
Understand the concept of consciousness: awareness; the executive control system of the
mind and thought

Learning the Traits

Faith
Know the definition of faith: confidence that actions rooted in good character will yield the
best outcome, even when outcomes cannot be predicted.

Freedom
Know the definition of freedom: the capacity to exercise choice; free will.
Understand that personal freedom brings benefits and drawbacks; requires sacrifice and
commitment.

Character in Action

Recognizing character through behavior

Examples of key character traits:
Freedom: Discussion Topic What do you consider your personal freedoms? What
choices do you make completely on your own?
Faith: A man helps a stranger who has dropped her bag of groceries why did he help
this woman he did not know and would likely never see again?

Grade Four Interpersonal Relationships

Sibling Relationships

Sibling relationships play a significant role in shaping lifelong behaviors and roles. Sibling relationships
often introduce first experiences with:
-

Fighting

Reconciling

Cooperating

Manipulating

Comparing

Competing

Sibling rivalry (competition between siblings) is very common in families for the following reasons:
-

Evolving needs changing needs, insecurities and identities can impact sibling
relationships

Individual personalities differences in mood, disposition and adaptability affect how well
siblings get along

Special needs one sibling may require additional attention due to illness or disability and
other siblings may react negatively out of fear or jealousy

Role models how parents resolve problems sets an example for how siblings work
through their own conflicts

Sibling communication strategies include:

-

Ask your sibling questions about themselves (hobbies, interests, etc.); listen

Be kind and accepting of your siblings differences

Only offer advice to your sibling if they ask for it

Share memories together and respect your siblings recollection of these events, even if
they do not mirror your own

Apologize to your sibling for wrongdoings; accept your siblings apologies as well

Remember birthdays and other important events

Allow your sibling to share their own news with other family members

Offer and accept help in hard times

Grade Four Health & Wellness

Hygiene

What is hygiene?
Hygiene is a condition promoting sanitary practices; personal hygiene refers to ones level of
cleanliness.

Bathing
Frequent bathing washes off bacteria and viruses on the skin that can cause illness or odor; individuals
should take a bath or shower daily as well as directly after physical activity.

Hand washing

Frequent hand washing is one of the most critical aspects of personal hygiene as it is one of the most
effective preventions against diseases.
Hand washing should be done at all of the following times:

After using the bathroom

After changing a diaper

After handling pet waste

After shaking someones hand

Before you eat

Before preparing food

After handling dirty laundry

After using or discarding a tissue

Dental care
Teeth and gums play an important part in overall health and must be cleaned on a daily basis; dental
care prevents tooth decay, loss of teeth, gum disease and bad breath; individuals should brush teeth
twice a day and floss once a day.

Safety

What is safety? Why is it important?

Safety is the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined
conditions; safety is important because it aids in injury prevention and promotes overall well being.
Basic safety tips:
-

Obey local laws and warnings

Do not play with fire

Prevent tripping hazards (remove clutter from walking paths to prevent falls)

Have your vision checked

Make sure an adult supervises play

Use age-appropriate equipment

Bicycle safety tips:

-

Wear a property fitting helmet

Ensure bike wheels are fully inflated and bike is in working condition

Wear brightly colored clothing

Use reflective stickers or patches if riding at night

Stay alert and aware of surroundings

Ride on the right side of the road with the flow of traffic

Grade Four Study Skills

The Importance of Study Skills

What are study skills?

Learned abilities that enable students to successfully manage the demands of school
Benefits of study skills:
-

An understanding of personal learning style

Ability to make positive choices about schooling

Retention of effective study strategies

Greater control over school performance and progress

Increased enjoyment for school and learning

Organizational Skills

Why is organization important in school?

Being organized saves time; disorganized students often waste a lot of time searching for assignments
and materials

Advance preparation
Begin the organization process on the first day of school; make a list of required materials that will be
needed for your classes
Tips for getting organized:
-

Keep a homework log (even if your teachers do not require it) record assignments completely
in the log

Keep a log of friends phone numbers ensure you have at least two classmates phone
numbers so you can ask questions about assignments in case you are unsure or absent

Keep a travel folder (a two-pocket folder) label one side To Do for homework, permission
slips, or other items that need to go home with you; label the other side Done to hold
completed assignments, signed papers or other messages that need to return to school

Keep your backpack in the same place at your home this will eliminate time spent searching
for materials

Keep an organized notebook take time to label and section off your work materials so you can
easily find information

Study Patterns

It is important to have consistent study patterns at home including a study schedule and study
environment.

Tips for an effective study schedule:

-

Study frequently, for shorter periods of time (four half-hour sessions are better than one twohour session)

Study most difficult subject early in study session

Review class notes each night record questions to ask, observations, etc.

Organize materials for the following day file papers, check calendar, etc.

Tips for an effective study environment:

Sufficient, uncluttered workspace

Adequate lighting

Comfortable temperature

Seat that supports back and eliminates muscle strain

Limited distractions (visual or audible)

Students should engage in active study strategies to increase their retention of material; these
strategies might include speaking, writing, simulating, drawing and manipulating content so that it
makes the most sense.

Examples of study strategies:

-

Describe or explain aloud a topic in your own words

Teach the information to someone else (or record it)

Role-play a part

Write out review cards on a topic (special vocabulary, main ideas, etc.)

Categorize information in lists

Draw a diagram, map or chart to demonstrate the information in a graphic form

Develop your own questions based on what you anticipate would be on a test

Visualize a scene, character or event related to topic

Create a mnemonic to remember information

Example: for order of operation in an equation Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally
Parenthesis-Exponent-Multiply-Divide-Add-Subtract

Fifth Grade
Free World U

Grade Five Language Arts

Grammar

Adjectives and Adverbs

A review to help students identify and use these modifiers

Nouns as Adjectives
How to recognize them and use them properly

Prepositions
More practice in locating and using prepositions

Dependent Clauses
Explains the clause, and conjunctions; students practice usage

Writing Numbers
When to spell them out, when to use hyphens and when to use numerals

Gerunds
Introduction to gerunds

Verbals
Verbals, participial phrases, infinitives

Appositives
Introduction to appositives

Irregular Verbs
Lay/lie, sit/set, rise/raise, see/saw/seen, go/went/gone

Punctuation

Commas
With independent clauses and introductory elements

Semi-colons
To separate independent clauses, items in a series, and separating complex clauses

Quotation Marks
Around the words of a speaker, lines of poetry, and titles of poems, songs, and short
stories

Colons
Using colons to introduce a list, provide clarification, and to separate hours from minute

Writing Sentences

Compound-Complex Sentences
What are compound-complex sentences? Identify and use them correctly

Comma Splices and Fused Sentences

Students identify and correct these common errors

Writing Concise Sentences

Reviewing subjects, verbs, pronouns, descriptive words; eliminating unnecessary words
and overused phrases

Capitalization Review
Students find and correct errors in capitalization while reviewing rules

Editing Your Sentences

Basic editing tips

Writing Paragraphs

Expository, Persuasive, and Descriptive Writing

Thesis statement and examples of three types of writing: expository, persuasive, and
descriptive; putting sentences in the right order and identifying cause and effect

Transitional Words
Using transitions to show proper order or comparisons/contrasts between ideas

Using Varied Sentences

Creating interesting sentences by moving modifiers, using transitions, and combining
sentences

Revising for Consistency

Editing writing for consistency

Penmanship
Student demonstrates legible cursive or italic handwriting

Writing Essays

Parts of an Essay
The essay-writing process; showing how to develop ideas and create transitions between
paragraphs

Choosing a Topic
Researching and choosing a topic of appropriate weight for a 500-word chronological
essay

Outlining an Essay
How to organize your thoughts into an outline

Writing from Your Outline

How to follow the outline step-by-step to write an essay; how to use the essay to see
where to end and begin new paragraphs

Revising Your Essay

How to edit their work, including looking for consistency and coherency problems and
adding strong verbs and descriptive words; read the essay aloud and look at each
sentence individually for problems

Your Turn: Write an Essay

Student demonstrates ability to choose a topic for an essay, write a thesis statement and
opening paragraph, develop his 500-700 word essay, and write a closing paragraph.
Students revise the work before submitting it. The essay is to be organized in
chronological order

Your Turn: Write a Comparison

Students write an essay comparing or contrasting two people, places, or things. Essay
should have a thesis statement, supporting paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.
Students will be reminded to use details and varied sentences. Students will revise their
work

Storytelling

The Plot
How to develop a story with an interesting plot

The Main Character

How to create an interesting character

The Setting
Simple explanation of setting. Students will build on their storytelling knowledge and
abilities throughout middle school

Your Turn: Write a Story

Students may choose either a true, personal tale, or a made-up story which they create

Writing Letters

Types of Letters
Proper form and tone for business and personal letters

Determining Purpose for Writing

Sticking to the point

Addressing Your Audience

To whom are you writing? What is the proper tone?

Using Correct Letter Formats

Discussion includes block and indented formats, as well as explanation of margins,
paragraphs, greeting, and closing

Addressing the Envelope

Shows students what goes where

Your Turn: Write a Persuasive Letter

Assignment to student is to write a persuasive formal letter to the principal of a fictitious
school to make a respectful request for a change or improvement. Student should state a
clear position, give evidence to support his idea, and address any obvious objections that
a reader is likely to have

Reading Literature

Sequence
The sequence of events in fairy tales and science fiction writing

Plot Summaries and Plot Outlines

Again looking at fairy tales and science fiction, we examine how writers plot out the action
of a story

Identifying Themes in Fiction

Grade-level discussion of finding the theme by careful reading and consideration of the
plot, characters, and setting

Read a Novel
Students read the novel and answer questions about theme, character development and
motivation, plot, sequence, conflict and resolution etc

Comparing Two Stories

Students read two short stories and compare and contrast the characters, their motives,
the culture, and the various techniques used by the author, including symbolism, use of
figurative language, etc

Sayings
Put the cart before the horse. Catch 22. The whole nine yards.

Reading Aloud
Student demonstrates ability to read aloud grade-level text with proper pacing, intonation,
and expression

Introduction to Poetry in American Literature

Introduces students to such poets as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow, Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou, among others

Themes in American Poetry

Tracks poetic responses to historical events such as westward expansion, rise of
industrialization, and the civil rights movement

Hyperbole
Introduction and examples

Assonance and Alliteration

Introduction to assonance and review of alliteration

Symbolism and Metaphor

Practice identifying and understanding these devices

Your Turn
Students create and submit their own poem

Reading Poetry
Student reads aloud, demonstrating proper intonation and rhythm

Poetry

Reading for Information

Reading the Newspaper

Students read an informational article and determine the main idea, supporting ideas, and
other pertinent information using the text and accompanying graphics

Reading Charts and Graphs

Students practice finding information in charts and graphs

Fact vs. Opinion

Students are challenged to determine which is which in grade-level sentences and
paragraphs

Reading Articles: Reading an Article

Students read several informational magazine-style articles. They locate the main idea
and identify and assess the evidence that supports the main idea in each article. Students
should be able to use their own knowledge and the information in the text to determine
whether the articles make sense and are well documented

Vocabulary

Latin Roots and Affixes

Extensive lesson trains students to identify and decipher roots and affixes

Using Context Clues

Extensive practice in using context clues to decipher meaning

Vocabulary A-C

Vocabulary D-J

Vocabulary K-R

Vocabulary S-Z

Spelling

Reviewing the Rules

Student demonstrates ability to properly spell words with prefixes, suffixes, and
contractions

Write it Right
Review of commonly misspelled words such as there/their/theyre, its/its, etc. Includes
commonly mixed-up homophones such as real/reel, right/write, principal/principle,
banned/band, etc

Research and Technology

Finding More Information

Using citations, end notes, and bibliographic references to find more information on a
topic

Using a Thesaurus
Using a thesaurus to find antonyms and synonyms to liven up writing; choosing the right
word from the thesaurus list

Using Spell Check

How to use spell check, how to add words to the spell check dictionary, why you cant
always rely on spell check

Searching Online
Using a search engine, choosing a source, determining if a source is reliable, navigating a
web site using pull down menus, internet safety

Whats the best source?

Select trustworthy sources and learn to identify unreliable ones

Listening

Listening to a Report
Listen to an oral report and answer questions, demonstrating understanding of the
speakers purpose and the information presented; draw conclusions about the information
presented

Advertising Claims
Listen to radio-style advertisements and read newspaper-style ads and learn to identify
the persuasive techniques, such as promises, glittering generalities, flattery, and
bandwagon approach, therein

Speaking

Writing a Speech
Students are reminded to select a focus, organizational structure, and point of view. They
learn to support their ideas with evidence and examples

Using Note Cards

Using cards as a prompt in speech-giving

Your Turn: Telling a story

Students prepare and deliver a narrative speech that describes an event. Speech can be
about something personal or tell a story that happened to someone else, such as
Lindbergs flight across the Atlantic. Emphasis is on description, showing the listener what
happened, not telling, and on a solid beginning and ending

Your Turn: Informing the Class

Students deliver a speech about an important idea, issue, or news event. They establish a
clear focus and develop the topic with facts, details, examples, and/or explanations

Your Turn: Talking about Literature

Students read and summarize the main events in a literary work. They discuss theme and
character development and use examples from the work to support their conclusions
about the themes and character development

Grade Five Math

Number Sense

Large and Small Numbers

Estimate, round, and manipulate very large (e.g., millions) and very small (e.g.,
thousandths) numbers

Finding Percents
Interpret percents as a part of a hundred; find decimal and percent equivalents for
common fractions and explain why they represent the same value; compute a given
percent of a whole number

Exponents
Understand and compute positive integer powers of nonnegative integers; compute
examples as repeated multiplication

Prime Factors
Be able to determine the prime factors for numbers up to 50 and express the numbers as
the product of their prime factors by using exponents to show multiples of a factor

Using Number Lines

Identify and represent decimals, fractions, mixed numbers, positive integers and negative
integers on a number line

Decimals and Fractions

Manipulating Decimals
Add, subtract, multiply, and divide with decimals; add with negative integers; subtract
positive integers from negative integers; and verify the reasonableness of the results

Proficiency With Division

Demonstrate proficiency with division, including division with positive decimals and long
division with multidigit divisors

Fractions and Mixed Numbers

Solve simple problems, including ones arising in concrete situations, involving the addition
and subtraction of fractions and mixed numbers (like and unlike denominators of 20 or
less), and express answers in the simplest form

Multiplication and Division of Fractions

Understand the concept of multiplication and division of fractions; compute and perform
simple multiplication and division of fractions and apply these procedures to solving
problems

Algebra and Functions

Solutions Using Graphs

Use information taken from a graph or equation to answer questions about a problem
situation

Using Variables
Use a letter to represent an unknown number; write and evaluate simple algebraic
expressions in one variable by substitution

Distributive Property With Variables

Know and use the distributive property in equations and expressions with variables

Ordered Pairs
Identify and graph ordered pairs in the four quadrants of the coordinate plane; Know how
to write ordered pairs correctly; for example, ( x, y )

Solving and Graphing Equations

Solve problems involving linear functions with integer values; write the equation; and
graph the resulting ordered pairs of integers on a grid

Measurement and Geometry

Basic Formulas for Area

Use formulas to see that two of the same triangles make a parallelogram with twice the
area; a parallelogram is compared with a rectangle by cutting and pasting a right triangle
on the parallelogram

Surface Area of 3-D Objects

Construct a cube and rectangular box from two-dimensional patterns and use these
patterns to compute the surface area for these objects

Volume
Understand the concept of volume and use the appropriate units in common measuring
systems (i.e., cubic centimeter, cubic meter, cubic inch, cubic yard) to compute the
volume of rectangular solids

Measuring 2-D and 3-D Objects

Differentiate between, and use appropriate units of measures for, two-and threedimensional objects (i.e., find the perimeter, area, volume)

Using Mathematical Tools

Measure, identify, and draw angles, perpendicular and parallel lines, rectangles, and
triangles by using appropriate tools (e.g., straightedge, ruler, compass, protractor, drawing
software).

Common Angles
Know that the sum of the angles of any triangle is 180 degrees and the sum of the angles
of any quadrilateral is 360 degrees and use this information to solve problems

Visualizing Shapes
Visualize and draw two-dimensional views of three-dimensional objects made from
rectangular solids

Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability

Mean, Median and Mode

Know the concepts of mean, median, and mode; compute and compare simple examples
to show that they may differ

Displaying Data on Graphs

Organize and display single-variable data in appropriate graphs and representations (e.g.,
histogram, circle graphs) and explain which types of graphs are appropriate for various
data sets

Comparing Data Sets

Use fractions and percentages to compare data sets of different sizes

Interpreting Data Sets

Identify ordered pairs of data from a graph and interpret the meaning of the data in terms
of the situation depicted by the graph

Mathematical Reasoning

Analyzing Problems
Analyze problems by identifying relationships, distinguishing relevant from irrelevant
information, sequencing and prioritizing information, and observing patterns

Simplifying Problems
Determine when and how to break a problem into simpler parts

Verifying Results by Estimation

Use estimation to verify the reasonableness of calculated results

Applying Strategies and Results

Apply strategies and results from simpler problems to more complex problems

Explain Your Reasoning

Use a variety of methods, such as words, numbers, symbols, charts, graphs, tables,
diagrams, and models, to explain mathematical reasoning

Expressing Solutions
Express the solution clearly and logically by using the appropriate mathematical notation
and terms and clear language; support solutions with evidence in both verbal and
symbolic work

Estimation
Indicate the relative advantages of exact and approximate solutions to problems and give
answers to a specified degree of accuracy

Results That Make Sense

Make precise calculations and check the validity of the results from the context of the
problem; evaluate the reasonableness of the solution in the context of the original situation

Applying Knowledge
Note the method of deriving the solution and demonstrate a conceptual understanding by
solving similar problems; develop generalizations of the results obtained and apply them
in other circumstances

Grade Five Science

Physical Sciences

Atoms
Students know all matter is made of atoms, which may combine to form molecules

Atoms in Chemical Reactions

Students know that during chemical reactions the atoms in the reactants rearrange to form
products with different properties

Metals
Students know metals have properties in common, such as high electrical and thermal
conductivity. Some metals, such as aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu),
silver (Ag), and gold (Au), are pure elements; others, such as steel and brass, are
composed of a combination of elemental metals

Elements
Students know that each element is made of one kind of atom and that the elements are
organized in the periodic table by their chemical properties

Images of Atoms and Molecules

Students know scientists have developed instruments that can create discrete images of
atoms and molecules that show that the atoms and molecules often occur in well-ordered
arrays

Mixtures and Compounds

Students know differences in chemical and physical properties of substances are used to
separate mixtures and identify compounds

Properties of Substances
Students know properties of solid, liquid, and gaseous substances, such as sugar
(C6H12O6), water (H2O), helium (He), oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2), and carbon dioxide (CO2)

Elemental Compositions
Students know living organisms and most materials are composed of just a few elements

Salts
Students know the common properties of salts, such as sodium chloride (NaCl)

Life Sciences

Structures for Transporting Materials

Students know many multicellular organisms have specialized structures to support the
transport of materials

Blood Circulation
Students know how blood circulates through the heart chambers, lungs, and body and
how carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) are exchanged in the lungs and tissues

Digestion
Students know the sequential steps of digestion and the roles of teeth and the mouth,
esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and colon in the function of the
digestive system

Removing Cellular Waste

Students know the role of the kidney in removing cellular waste from blood and converting
it into urine, which is stored in the bladder

Plant Circulation
Students know how sugar, water, and minerals are transported in a vascular plant

Plant Processes
Students know plants use carbon dioxide (CO2) and energy from sunlight to build
molecules of sugar and release oxygen

Sugar Energy
Students know plant and animal cells break down sugar to obtain energy, a process
resulting in carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (respiration)

Earth Sciences

Salt Water
Students know most of Earth's water is present as salt water in the oceans, which cover
most of Earth's surface

Water Properties
Students know when liquid water evaporates, it turns into water vapor in the air and can
reappear as a liquid when cooled or as a solid if cooled below the freezing point of water

Water Vapor
Students know water vapor in the air moves from one place to another and can form fog
or clouds, which are tiny droplets of water or ice, and can fall to Earth as rain, hail, sleet,
or snow

Water Quantities
Students know that the amount of fresh water located in rivers, lakes, under-ground
sources, and glaciers is limited and that its availability can be extended by recycling and
decreasing the use of water

Water Origins
Students know the origin of the water used by their local communities

Convection Currents
Students know uneven heating of Earth causes air movements (convection currents)

Weather and the Water Cycle

Students know the influence that the ocean has on the weather and the role that the water
cycle plays in weather patterns

Severe Weather
Students know the causes and effects of different types of severe weather

Weather Maps and Forecasts

Students know how to use weather maps and data to predict local weather and know that
weather forecasts depend on many variables

Atmospheric Pressure
Students know that the Earth's atmosphere exerts a pressure that decreases with
distance above Earth's surface and that at any point it exerts this pressure equally in all
directions

The Sun
Students know the Sun, an average star, is the central and largest body in the solar
system and is composed primarily of hydrogen and helium

Our Solar System

Students know the solar system includes the planet Earth, the Moon, the Sun, eight other
planets and their satellites, and smaller objects, such as asteroids and comets

Planetary Orbits
Students know the path of a planet around the Sun is due to the gravitational attraction
between the Sun and the planet

Investigation and Experimentation

Classifying Objects
Classify objects (e.g., rocks, plants, leaves) in accordance with appropriate criteria

Choosing a Testable Question

Develop a testable question

Simple Investigations
Plan and conduct a simple investigation based on a student-developed question and write
instructions others can follow to carry out the procedure

Identifying Variables
Identify the dependent and controlled variables in an investigation

Collecting Information from Variables

Identify a single independent variable in a scientific investigation and explain how this
variable can be used to collect information to answer a question about the results of the
experiment

Using Scientific Tools

Select appropriate tools (e.g., thermometers, meter sticks, balances, and graduated
cylinders) and make quantitative observations

Recording and Inference

Record data by using appropriate graphic representations (including charts, graphs, and
labeled diagrams) and make inferences based on those data

Drawing Conclusions
Draw conclusions from scientific evidence and indicate whether further information is
needed to support a specific conclusion

Reporting Findings
Write a report of an investigation that includes conducting tests, collecting data or
examining evidence, and drawing conclusions

Grade Five Social Studies

Major Pre-Columbian Settlements

Influence of Geography and Climate

Cliff dwellers and Pueblo people of the desert Southwest, the American Indians of the
Pacific Northwest, the nomadic nations of the Great Plains, and the woodland peoples
east of the Mississippi River; how various nations lived and adjusted to the natural
environment; locations of villages; distinct structures that they built; how they obtained
food, clothing, tools, and utensils

Traditions
Varied customs and folklore traditions of cliff dwellers and Pueblo people of the desert
Southwest, the American Indians of the Pacific Northwest, the nomadic nations of the
Great Plains, and the woodland peoples east of the Mississippi River

Varied Economies and Systems of Government

Economies and systems of government of major pre-Columbian American Indian groups,
including cliff dwellers and Pueblo people of the desert Southwest, the American Indians
of the Pacific Northwest, the nomadic nations of the Great Plains, and the woodland
peoples east of the Mississippi River

Early Explorations of the Americas

Entrepreneurial Characteristics of Early Explorers

Christopher Columbus, Francisco Vsquez de Coronado

Technological Developments in Sea Exploration

e.g., compass, sextant, astrolabe, seaworthy ships, chronometers, gunpowder

Aims, Obstacles, and Accomplishments of the Explorers

Their sponsors; leaders of key European expeditions; reasons Europeans chose to
explore and colonize the world - the Spanish Reconquista, the Protestant Reformation,
the Counter Reformation

Routes of the Major Land Explorers of the United States

Distances traveled by explorers; Atlantic trade routes that linked Africa, the West Indies,
the British colonies, and Europe

Land Claims
Locate on maps of North and South America land claimed by Spain, France, England,
Portugal, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Russia

American Indians Cooperation and Conflict

Competition
English, French, Spanish, Dutch, and Indian nations compete for control of North America

Cooperation
Between the colonists and Indians during the 1600s and 1700s - e.g., in agriculture, the
fur trade, military alliances, treaties, cultural interchanges

Conflicts
Before the Revolutionary War - the Pequot and King Philip's Wars in New England, the
Powhatan Wars in Virginia, the French and Indian War

Defeat of the Indians

Role of broken treaties and massacres; factors that led to the Indians defeat, including the
resistance of Indian nations to encroachments and assimilation; the Trail of Tears

Internecine Indian Conflicts

Competing claims for control of lands - e.g., actions of the Iroquois, Huron, Lakota Sioux

Significant Leaders of the Time

Influence and achievements - e.g., John Marshall, Andrew Jackson, Chief Tecumseh,
Chief Logan, Chief John Ross, Sequoyah

Institutions in the Colonial Era

Location and Physical Setting

Influence on the founding of the original 13 colonies; identify on map the locations of the
colonies and of the American Indian nations already inhabiting these areas

Major Individuals and Groups

Those responsible for the founding of the various colonies; the reasons for their founding;
John Smith, Virginia; Roger Williams, Rhode Island; William Penn, Pennsylvania; Lord
Baltimore, Maryland; William Bradford, Plymouth; John Winthrop, Massachusetts

Religious Aspects of the Earliest Colonies

Puritanism in Massachusetts, Anglicanism in Virginia, Catholicism in Maryland, Quakerism
in Pennsylvania

First Great Awakening

Its significance; leaders; how it marked a shift in religious ideas, practices, and allegiances
in the colonial period; the growth of religious toleration and free exercise of religion

British, Spanish, and French Colonial Systems

Differences between the systems; how the British colonial period created the basis for
development of political self-government and a free-market economic system

Slavery
Its introduction into America; responses of slave families to their condition; the ongoing
struggle between proponents and opponents of slavery; the gradual institutionalization of
slavery in the South

Early Democratic Ideas and Practices

How and where they emerged during the colonial period; significance of representative
assemblies and town meetings

Causes of the American Revolution

Political, Religious, and Economic Ideas and Interests

How they brought about the Revolution - e.g., resistance to imperial policy, the Stamp Act,
the Townshend Acts, taxes on tea, Coercive Acts

Leading Up to the Revolution

Significance of the first and second Continental Congresses and of the Committees of
Correspondence

Declaration of Independence
People and events associated with its drafting and signing; the document's significance,
including the key political concepts it embodies, the origins of those concepts, and its role
in severing ties with Great Britain

Key Individuals
Views, lives, and impact of King George III, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, George
Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams

Course and Consequences of the Revolution

Key People and Events

Identify and map the major military battles, campaigns, and turning points of the
Revolutionary War; roles of the American and British leaders; Indian leaders' alliances on
both sides

Important Contributions
Contributions of France and other nations and of individuals to the outcome of the
Revolution; Benjamin Franklin's negotiations with the French; the French navy; the Treaty
of Paris; The Netherlands; Russia; the Marquis Marie Joseph de Lafayette; Tadeusz
Kosciuszko; Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

Roles of Women During the Revolution

Abigail Adams, Martha Washington, Molly Pitcher, Phillis Wheatley, Mercy Otis Warren

Hardships
Personal impact and economic hardship of the war on families; problems of financing the
war; wartime inflation; laws against hoarding goods and materials and profiteering

State Constitutions
How those established after 1776 embodied the ideals of the American Revolution and
helped serve as models for the U.S. Constitution

Land Policies
Significance of land policies developed under the Continental Congress - e.g., sale of
western lands, the Northwest Ordinance of 1787; policies' impact on American Indians'
land

Slavery
How the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence changed the way people
viewed slavery

The U.S. Constitution and its Significance

Articles of Confederation
its shortcomings of the as set forth by their critics

Constitution of 1787
its significance, including the struggles over its ratification and the reasons for the addition
of the Bill of Rights

Fundamental Principles
American constitutional democracy; how the government derives its power from the
people and the primacy of individual liberty

Separation of Powers
how the Constitution is designed to secure our liberty by both empowering and limiting
central government; compare the powers granted to citizens, Congress, the president, and
the Supreme Court with those reserved to the states

Safeguarding Liberty
American creed that calls on citizens to safeguard the liberty of individual Americans
within a unified nation, to respect the rule of law, and to preserve the Constitution

Songs that Express American Ideals

"America the Beautiful," "The Star Spangled Banner"

America from 1789 to the Mid-1800s

Immigration
Waves of immigrants from Europe between 1789 and 1850; their modes of transportation
into the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys and through the Cumberland Gap - e.g., overland
wagons, canals, flatboats, steamboats

States and Territories

Names of those that existed in 1850; their locations; major geographical features mountain ranges, principal rivers, dominant plant regions

Exploration
Explorations of the trans-Mississippi West following the Louisiana Purchase - e.g.,
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, Zebulon Pike, John Fremont

Overland Trails to the West

Experiences of settlers; location of the routes; purpose of the journeys; the influence of
the terrain, rivers, vegetation, and climate; life in the territories at the end of these trails

Mexican Settlers
Continued migration into Mexican territories of the West and Southwest

Expansion
How and when California, Texas, Oregon, and other western lands became part of the
United States; significance of the Texas War for Independence and the Mexican-American
War

States and Their Capitals

Location
Current 50 states

Capitals
Current 50 states

Grade Five Health

Early Detection and Treatment of Illness

Prevention and Reduction of Infectious Illness

Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases

Immunizations

Relationship Between Environment and Individual Health

Pollution and Respiration

Sun and Skin Cancer

Water

Positive and Negative Effects of Health Related Actions on Body Systems

Drug Use

Exercise

Diet

Factors Affecting Growth and Development

Physical Factors

Mental Factors

Social and Cultural Factors

Using Refusal Skills in Necessary Situations

Pressure to Use Drugs

Pressure to Join Gangs

Physical Abuse and Exploitation

Getting Hurt in Dating Situations

Meeting Online

Age Difference in Relationship

Seeing People for Who They Are, Not What You Want Them to Be

Normal Growth and Development of Relationships

Families

Friendship

Loving, Liking, and Caring

Shame vs. Embarrassment

Shame vs. Guilt

Shame

Toxic Shame

Gang Resistance

Bullying, Victim & Bystander

Talking to Adults

Bullying

Using Cyberspace to Bully

Hurting Self-Confidence

No Tolerance

Sexual Identity

Gender Identity

Gender Role

Sexual Orientation

Grade Five Manners

Basic Manners

Introducing yourself
-

Introduce yourself with your full name

Extend your right hand for a hand shake

Make good eye contact and smile naturally

Shaking hands
-

Grip the other persons hand, palm to palm, and hold the contact for two or three handshakes

Do not grip too tightly or too loosely; find a balance

Technology manners
-

Cell phone calls (or texts) should never be taken in front of a person you are having a
conversation with

Silence your phone and continue your conversation

In case of an emergency, excuse yourself to take the call and find a hallway or corner to speak
on your phone

Thank you notes

-

Write hand-written thank you notes when you receive a gift or other assistance

Personal space
-

When speaking with someone, do not stand or sit too closely to the person

Keep an arms length of distance between you and the person you are speaking with

Grade Five Character Development

Character Awareness

What is the unconscious?

Understand the meaning of the unconscious: that part of the mind wherein psychic activity
takes place of which the person is unaware.

Recognize that all humans possess an unconscious mind.

How are our unconscious minds formed?
Experiences, memories, impressions from our past many of these instances are not
consciously remembered.
Example of unconscious behavior:
Breathing you normally do not think about your breathing it becomes controlled by
your unconscious. When you focus on your breathing, however, (probably like you are
doing now) it becomes part of your conscious mind.

Where do you stand in your own personal development?

Map of Consciousness was developed by Dr. David Hawkins to measure levels of
consciousness Hawkins book Transcending the Levels of Consciousness examines this
subject. The map provides a framework for conscious living, enabling individuals to
identify their own level of consciousness and recognize higher levels to promote greater
personal growth.

Levels of Awareness

Shame/Guilt
Shame and guilt are the lowest levels of personal awareness. At these levels, individuals feel
self-hatred and cannot forgive themselves for their past mistakes and failures.

Apathy
Apathy is a level characterized by feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. At this
level, individuals feel like victims.

Character in Action

Shame/Guilt: These levels are very destructive to emotional and physical health. Effects
include feelings of remorse, depression, even suicide. This level can sometimes bring on
accident proneness, rage and the potential to harm the self or others.

Apathy: This level is often seen in people experiencing poverty or despair. Effects include
a complete neediness and an inability to secure resources for ones own survival; often
can result in passive suicide, if others are not available to support the individual.

Extend the discussion of these lowest levels of awareness, identifying life situations where
people may likely exist at these levels. What are the effects?

Grade Five Interpersonal Relationships

Friendships

Importance of friendship
Friends bring joy, ease pain and grief, provide strength and foster emotional growth.
True friendships can take two forms:
-

Temporary bonds that reach a natural end based on life experiences or personal
changes

Permanent bonds that endure major life changes and bring continuous comfort and
support
*Both types of friendships are valuable, providing an important foundation for relationship
development and personal growth

How to find true friends

Develop good listening skills including:

-

Genuineness (being sincere and real)

Acceptance (being agreeable to a situation without attempting to change it)

Empathy (being able to emotionally share the sadness or happiness of another)

Practice appropriate self-disclosure (revealing information about yourself):

Identify with others; reveal vulnerabilities

Open up about yourself; but do not overwhelm another person with boring details

Do not gossip about others; share your own stories

How to maintain friendships

Friendships should not be taken for granted; they need to be renewed and nurtured. The
following qualities can help keep true friendship alive:
-

Loyalty keep promises, do not tell secrets, do not abandon one another

Forgiveness maintain reasonable expectations of one another, overlook minor offenses

Honesty be authentic (show your true self to one another); be accepting of the truth

Dedication be willing to sacrifice personal time for one another; show commitment

Grade Five Health & Wellness

Obesity

What is obesity?
Obesity is generally defined as having a body mass index (BMI)* of 30 or higher; this exceeds the BMI
levels for overweight individuals at 25-29.9. One in four Americans is obese.
*BMI is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight BMI calculator is available at:
http://www.weightwatchers.com/health/asm/calc_bmi.aspx

What factors are contributing to the rise in obesity?

-

Poor nutrition

Lack of exercise

Emotional stress

Lack of sleep
*A change in these factors can help individuals overcome obesity.

Dangers of obesity:
Obesity contributes to many health problems including:
-

Heart disease

High blood pressure

Diabetes

Cancer

Emotional distress (poor self-image)

Eating Disorders

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are a group of conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits that may involve
insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individuals physical and emotional health.

The most common eating disorders are:

-

Binge eating disorder characterized by consuming large quantities of food and feeling a sense
of helplessness about eating habits

Anorexia nervosa characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an

obsessive fear of gaining weight

Bulimia nervosa characterized by recurrent binge eating followed by purging (self-induced

vomiting or excessive use of laxatives)

Causes of eating disorders

-

Psychological factors low self-esteem, lack of control, depression, anxiety, anger, loneliness

Interpersonal factors troubled family and personal relationships, difficulty expressing

emotions, history of being teased, history of physical or sexual abuse

Social factors cultural pressures that value thinness and the perfect body, narrow
definitions of beauty, excessive value on physical appearance

Biological factors chemical imbalances in the brain that control hunger, appetite and digestion,
family history of eating disorders

Treatment for eating disorders

Eating disorders should be diagnosed and treated under the guidance of a doctor it is important that
individuals receive screening for any other medical problems resulting from the disorder.
Treatment options vary based on the individual and the type of eating disorder but often include some
combination of the following:
-

Psychotherapy individual and group therapy aimed at exploring the issues underlying the
eating disorder and identifying healthier ways to respond to stress and emotions

Nutritional counseling dieticians or nutritionists guide individuals in healthy eating patterns

including meal plans and dietary goals

Support groups groups run be peers with similar disorders offer a safe environment to share
experiences and find support

Residential treatment residential or hospital-based care may be necessary when the disorder
is severe and accompanied by physical or behavioral problems or ongoing medical issues
*To find an eating disorder specialist visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
or call 1-800-931-2237

Sleep Disorders

What are sleep disorders?

A sleep disorder is a disturbance of normal sleep patterns; sleep disorders can be serious enough to
interfere with normal physical, mental and emotional functioning.

Types of sleep disorders

Sleep disorders are typically classified into three major categories including lack of sleep, disturbed
sleep and excessive sleep.
-

Lack of sleep (insomnia)

Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep; it is a common sleep problem that can disrupt daily life,
affecting judgment, reaction-time, coordination, memory and general wellness.

Causes: insomnia can be caused by poor diet (including excessive caffeine intake),
emotional problems, stress, disease and many other factors

Treatment: short-term insomnia can be treated with sleeping pills; long-term insomnia
often requires further medical intervention

Disturbed sleep (sleep apnea)

Sleep apnea occurs when breathing is interrupted during sleep; it typically occurs because of an
underlying problem in the windpipe; it results in loud snoring, gasping or snorting; sufferers of
sleep apnea are more susceptible to other medical conditions including heart disease and
stroke.

Causes: sleep apnea can be caused by narrow nasal passages, enlarged tonsils and
obesity.

Treatment: a change in sleeping position, nasal strips or saline drops, singing therapy,
lifestyle changes, dental devices, acupuncture and other medical treatments.

Excessive sleep (narcolepsy)

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by disabling sleepiness; most sufferers experience
insomnia at bedtime with sudden sleep attacks, muscular weakness and hallucinations during the day.

Causes: narcolepsy is disorder of the nervous system; it is not related to mental illness;
narcolepsy tends to run in families

Treatment: there is no known cure for narcolepsy; the goal of treatment is to control and minimize
symptoms; this is often accomplished through a combination of lifestyle changes and prescription
medications

Grade Five Study Skills

Self-Evaluation & Goals

It is important for students to evaluate their own studying so they can monitor their behavior, identify
results and establish goals for learning.

Keep a learning log/journal to record observations about your learning and schoolwork.
Every week, answer the following questions in your learning log to track progress:
-

What have I done to help myself remember information from my reading?

What are some strategies I can use to study for upcoming tests?

How can I make my notebook more organized and useful?

What routines can I incorporate to make my schoolwork easier and more effective?

What is my goal for next week?

Taking Notes

Why is it important to take notes?

Note taking improves retention of information by increasing concentration, enabling better organization
and by providing material that can be studied at a later time.

Note taking techniques

-

Leave a wide margin (3 inches) on the left side of the paper for a Recall Column

In the remaining space, create a Notes Column

Label notes by date, topic and page

Write titles or headings correctly

Skip lines between topics

Copy all notes off board accurately

Circle and underline key phrases

Review notes after you have finished recording them

Insert main ideas, questions, drawings or problems in the Recall Column

Sixth Grade
Free World U

Grade Six Language Arts

Nouns and Verbs

Nouns
Review of common and proper nouns. Introduction of noun phrases and collective nouns

Active and Passive Voice Verbs

An introduction to voice; discussion on why a writer might choose one over the other

Perfect Tense Verbs

An introduction to perfect tense

Progressive Tense Verbs

An introduction to progressive tense

Irregular Verbs
Practice using irregular verbs

Punctuation

Misused Semicolons
Using a semicolon to join independent clauses

Colons
Review of proper usage

Hyphens and Dashes

Using hyphens with numbers, fractions, and compound words; using dashes to separate
an independent clause that interrupts a sentence

Parentheses and Brackets

When to use parentheses and brackets

Abbreviations
Common abbreviations; when to use periods

Using Commas for Clarification

Annotation

Using Commas with Nonessential Elements

Interrupters, parenthetical phrases, and direct address

Writing Sentences

Compound and Complex Sentences

Reviews what they are, why to use them, and how to punctuate them

Misplaced Modifiers
Students learn to put words in the proper order to create the best sentences

Awkward Sentences
Students learn to put words in the proper order to create the best sentences

Subject/Verb Agreement
Covers compound subjects, subjects named by a group noun, indefinite pronouns, and
tricky words such as either and neither

Faulty Parallelism
Students learn to put words in the proper order to create the best sentences possible

Incorrect Use of Semicolons, Hyphens, and Colons

Review of proper usage

Incorrect Use of Commas

Review of proper usage

Capitalization
Review of the rules

Using Proofreaders Marks

Show students how to use common symbols

Writing Phrases

Appositive Phrases
Identification and practice in usage

Verbal Phrases
Identification and practice in usage

Writing Paragraphs

Verb Problems in Paragraphs

Replacing weak verbs; sticking to one tense

Drawing False Conclusions

Introduction to common fallacies

Reading Nonfiction

Finding Information
Students locate information in newspapers and magazines and online, using the indexes
and tables of contents

Comparing and Contrasting

Students read comparison-and-contrast articles and answer questions, demonstrating an
understanding of the material

Evaluating an Article
Deciding whether information is believable based on the arguments used by the author
and/or the sources

Outlining an Article
Students read an article and demonstrate their understanding by working through a series
of flashcards to create an outline of the material

Writing Essays

Types of Essays
Introduces essay writing by covering argumentative, descriptive, narrative, analysis, and
informational essays. Briefly covers characteristics of each

Parts of an Essay
Reviews the concept of introduction, body, and closing

Writing a Thesis Statement

How to get your essay off to a solid start

Using a Hook
Shows students how to use a hook in the introduction to an essay

Organizational Techniques
Covers different ways of organizing essays, including comparison/contrast, spatial,
chronological, and cause/effect

Deciding When to Paragraph

Shows students how to decide when to end a paragraph and begin a new one

Formatting your Essay

Margins, indenting, cut-and-paste functions, tabs, and line spacing

Making an Outline
Introduce concept of creating an outline before writing an essay

Writing a First Draft

How to write a first draft; incorporates use of an outline

Revising Your Draft

Covers strategies for revising essays, including looking for grammatical errors, revising for
consistency, vocabulary, sentence length, etc

Writing a Final Draft

Shows students how to create a final draft from a revised draft

Your Turn: Write a Comparison Essay

Students are reminded of how to compare and contrast two people, places, or things.
Their assignment is to write an essay of five paragraphs, demonstrating an understanding
of the organization of an essay and the ability to write clear sentences, use transitions,
and provide a clear opening and closing. Target is 500-700 words

Your Turn: Write a Persuasive Essay

Students are reminded that a persuasive essay requires a thesis, an explanation of the
situation, and persuasive evidence to validate a position. They are reminded, as well, to
anticipate and address a readers likely counterarguments. Target is 500-700 words

Research Reports

What is a Research Report

Explains that research reports include both expert opinions and your own personal
conclusions

Choosing a Topic
Choosing a topic of appropriate scope

Finding Sources
Students are taught to find and use multiple sources, such as books, magazines,
documentaries, online searches, etc

Taking Notes
What to write down and how to do it

Writing it Down
Students are reminded of the process of outlining, writing, and editing their work

The Bibliography
What is a bibliography? What is the proper format?

Your Turn: Writing a Research Report

Students formulate and write a clear, focused report that includes an introduction,
supporting evidence, and a conclusion. Report should include a title and a bibliography
and be in the 500-700 word range. Students will edit and revise their work as necessary

Reading Literature

Characteristics of Westerns and Mysteries

Foreshadowing
What is foreshadowing? How is it used in mysteries and in westerns?

Tone and Mood

Introduction to these terms, using westerns and mysteries as examples

Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions

Uses examples from westerns and mysteries to guide students through drawing
conclusions and making inferences as they read

Irony
An introduction to irony

Read a Novel
Students read the novel and answer questions about theme, character development and
motivation, plot, sequence, conflict and resolution etc

Sayings
Davy Jones locker. A chip on your shoulders. Burning the Midnight Oil.

Reading Aloud
Students read fluently and accurately with appropriate expression and intonation

Creative Writing

Writing about Yourself

How and why you might choose to write about yourself

Using First Person

What is first person? Making sure to keep verbs in the proper tense when writing in first
person

Descriptive Writing
Using sensory details

Using Dialogue
What is dialogue? Why and how to use it, and a reminder about how to punctuate it
correctly

Creating a Character
How to create an interesting character

Creating a Plot
How to come up with an interesting plot; how to get your character into trouble and back
out again

Choosing a Setting
Why is the setting important? How much description is needed? Is setting more important
in some stories than in others

Your Turn: Write a Story

Students write a story with a clear plot, a setting, and a well-developed character.
Students include vivid details and use dialogue, suspense, and/or foreshadowing
appropriately

Reading Early American Documents

Bias and Propaganda

Allows students to determine bias by looking at excerpts from early American speeches

Reading Historical Documents

Introduction to primary and secondary sources

Rhythm and Meter

A review of rhythm and meter; students learn how the rhythm and meter affect the tone of
a poem

Figurative Language
What is it? Practice identifying what it means. How does figurative language affect a
reader?

Ballads
Introduction to and explanation of the ballad

Epic Poems
Introduction to and explanation of the epic poem

Poetry

Applications

Filling out Applications

Practice in this essential skill

Spelling and Pronunciation

Write it Right
Includes more advanced homophones, homographs, and heteronyms such as
counter/counter, minute/minute, and bass/bass

Vocabulary

Greek Roots and Affixes

Annotation

Shades of Meaning
Choosing the appropriate word for the context

Context
Understanding unfamiliar terms or words used in a novel way by using context clues

Vocabulary A-C

Vocabulary D-J

Vocabulary K-R

Vocabulary S-Z

Listening

Listening to Speeches
Students watch and react to speeches, noting the speakers verbal and nonverbal
messages and identifying the tone or mood conveyed in the speech

Listening to Commercials
Students listen to commercials and answer questions about their effectiveness,
persuasiveness, and any false or misleading information contained therein

Speaking

Writing a Speech
How to organize and write a speech; how is a speech different from an essay?

Practicing the Speech

Transferring the speech to note cards and practicing delivery; emphasizing the main
points; varying your volume and speed of delivery

Visual Aids
Using props, posters, or technology to support your point

Your Turn: Delivering a Narrative Speech

Flashcards emphasize the characteristics of a narrative speech. Assignment to students is
to prepare and deliver said speech

Your Turn: Delivering an Informative Speech

Flashcards emphasize the characteristics of an informative speech. Assignment to
students is to prepare and deliver said speech

Your Turn: Telling about a Novel

Flashcards emphasize the characteristics of the speech. Assignment to students is to
prepare and deliver said speech

Your Turn: Delivering a Persuasive Speech

Flashcards emphasize the characteristics of a persuasive speech, such as articulating a
clear statement of a position and using solid evidence. Assignment to students is to
prepare and deliver said speech

Your Turn: Delivering a Problem/Solution Speech

Flashcards teach students to define a problem, discuss its effects and establish a solution.
Assignment to students is to prepare and deliver said speech

Grade Six Math

Number Sense

Ordering
Compare and order positive and negative fractions, decimals, and mixed numbers and
place them on a number line

Ratios
Interpret and use ratios in different contexts (e.g., batting averages, miles per hour) to
show the relative sizes of two quantities, using appropriate notations ( a/b, a to b, a:b )

Proportions
Use proportions to solve problems; use cross-multiplication as a method for solving such
problems, understanding it as the multiplication of both sides of an equation by a
multiplicative inverse

Percentages
Calculate given percentages of quantities and solve problems involving discounts at sales,
interest earned, and tips

Manipulating Positive Fractions

Solve problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of positive
fractions and explain why a particular operation was used for a given situation

Understanding Positive Fractions

Explain the meaning of multiplication and division of positive fractions and perform the
calculations (e.g., 5/8 15/16 = 5/8 x 16/15 = 2/3)

Practice
Solve addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems, including those arising in
concrete situations, which use positive and negative integers and combinations of these
operations

LCM and GCD

Determine the least common multiple and the greatest common divisor of whole numbers;
use them to solve problems with fractions

Algebra and Functions

Linear Equations with One Variable

Write and solve one-step linear equations in one variable;

Algebraic Expressions
Write and evaluate an algebraic expression for a given situation, using up to three
variables

Order of Operations
Apply algebraic order of operations and the commutative, associative, and distributive
properties to evaluate expressions; and justify each step in the process

Practice With Order of Operations

Solve problems manually by using the correct order of operations or by using a scientific
calculator
Measurement Conversions
Convert one unit of measurement to another (e.g., from feet to miles, from centimeters to
inches)

Rate, Speed, Distance and Time

Demonstrate an understanding that rate is a measure of one quantity per unit value of
another quantity; solve problems involving rates, average speed, distance, and time

Geometric Variables
Use variables in expressions describing geometric quantities (e.g., P = 2w + 2l, A = 1/2bh,
C = pi(d)

Geometric Algebra
Express in symbolic form simple relationships arising from geometry

Measurement and Geometry

Circles
Understand the concept of a constant such as
and area of a circle

; know the formulas for the circumference

Estimations and Calculations of Circumference

Know common estimates of pi (3.14; 22/7) and use these values to estimate and calculate
the circumference and the area of circles; compare with actual measurements

Prisms and Cylinders

Know and use the formulas for the volume of triangular prisms and cylinders (area of base
x height); compare and explain the similarity between them and the formula for volume of
a rectangular solid

Types of Angles
Identify angles as vertical, adjacent, complementary, or supplementary and provide
descriptions of these terms

Using Angles
Use the properties of complementary and supplementary angles and the sum of the
angles of a triangle to solve problems involving an unknown angle

Understanding Angle Information

Draw quadrilaterals and triangles from given information about them (e.g., a quadrilateral
having equal sides but no right angles, a right isosceles triangle)

Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability

Range, Mean, Median and Mode

Compute the range, mean, median, and mode of data sets

Additional Data and Outliers

Understand how additional data added to data sets may affect these computations of
measures of central tendency; how the inclusion or exclusion of outliers affects measures
of central tendency

Application of Mean and Median

Know why a specific measure of central tendency (mean, median) provides the most
useful information in a given context

Sample Comparisons
Compare different samples of a population with the data from the entire population and
identify a situation in which it makes sense to use a sample

Selecting Samples
Identify different ways of selecting a sample (e.g., convenience sampling, responses to a
survey, random sampling) and which method makes a sample more representative for a
population

Analyze Data Displays

Analyze data displays; explain why the way in which the question was asked might have
influenced results obtained and why the way in which the results were displayed might
have influenced conclusions

Sampling Errors and Validity

Identify data that represent sampling errors and explain why the sample (and the display)
might be biased; identify claims based on statistical data and, in simple cases, evaluate
their validity

Probability and Compound Events

Represent all possible outcomes for compound events in an organized way (e.g., tables,
grids, tree diagrams) and express the theoretical probability of each outcome

Probability of Future Events

Use data to estimate the probability of future events (e.g., batting averages or number of
accidents per mile driven)

Representing Probabilities
Represent probabilities as ratios, proportions, decimals, and percentages; verify results
are reasonable; if P is the probability of an event, 1- P is the probability of an event not
occurring

Separate Events
Probability of either of two disjoint events occurring is the sum of the two probabilities;
probability of one event following another is product; difference between independent and
dependent events

Mathematical Reasoning

Analyzing Problems
Analyze problems by identifying relationships, distinguishing relevant from irrelevant
information, sequencing and prioritizing information, and observing patterns

Mathematical Conjectures
Formulate and justify mathematical conjectures based on a general description of the
mathematical question or problem posed

Simplifying Problems
Determine when and how to break a problem into simpler parts

Verifying Results by Estimation

Use estimation to verify the reasonableness of calculated results

Applying Strategies and Results

Apply strategies and results from simpler problems to more complex problems

Unknown Quantities
Estimate unknown quantities graphically and solve for them by using logical reasoning
and arithmetic and algebraic techniques

Explain Your Reasoning

Use a variety of methods, such as words, numbers, symbols, charts, graphs, tables,
diagrams, and models, to explain mathematical reasoning

Expressing Solutions
Express the solution clearly and logically by using the appropriate mathematical notation
and terms and clear language; support solutions with evidence in both verbal and
symbolic work

Estimation
Indicate the relative advantages of exact and approximate solutions to problems and give
answers to a specified degree of accuracy

Results That Make Sense

Make precise calculations and check the validity of the results from the context of the
problem; evaluate the reasonableness of the solution in the context of the original situation

Applying Knowledge
Note the method of deriving the solution and demonstrate a conceptual understanding of
the derivation by solving similar problems; develop generalizations of the results obtained
and the strategies used and apply them to new problem situations

Grade Six Science

Plate Tectonics and Earths Structure

Evidence of Plate Tectonics

Evidence of plate tectonics is derived from the fit of the continents; the location of
earthquakes, volcanoes, and midocean ridges; the distribution of fossils, rock types, and
ancient climatic zones

The Layers of Earth

Students know Earth is composed of several layers: a cold, brittle lithosphere; a hot,
convecting mantle; and a dense, metallic core

Lithospheric Plates
Students know lithospheric plates the size of continents and oceans move at rates of
centimeters per year in response to movements in the mantle

Faultlines, Volcanoes and Fissures

Students know that earthquakes are sudden motions along breaks in the crust called
faults and that volcanoes and fissures are locations where magma reaches the surface

Plate Motions
Students know major geologic events, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and
mountain building, result from plate motions

California and Plate Tectonics

Students know how to explain major features of California geology (including mountains,
faults, volcanoes) in terms of plate tectonics

Earthquake Epicenters
Students know how to determine the epicenter of an earthquake and know that the effects
of an earthquake on any region vary, depending on the size of the earthquake, the
distance of the region from the epicenter, the local geology, and the type of construction in
the region

Shaping Earths Surface

Water and the Landscape

Students know water running downhill is the dominant process in shaping the landscape,
including California's landscape

River and Stream Systems

Students know rivers and streams are dynamic systems that erode, transport sediment,
change course, and flood their banks in natural and recurring patterns

Beach Systems
Students know beaches are dynamic systems in which the sand is supplied by rivers and
moved along the coast by the action of waves

Earth Movement and Habitats

Students know earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and floods change human and
wildlife habitats

Heat and Thermal Energy

Heat Energy
Energy can be carried from one place to another by heat flow or by waves (water, light
and sound waves, or by moving objects); when fuel is consumed, most of the energy
released becomes heat energy

Conduction and Convection

Heat flows in solids by conduction (which involves no flow of matter) and in fluids by
conduction and by convection (which involves flow of matter)

Heat Energy and Radiation

Students know heat energy is also transferred between objects by radiation (radiation can
travel through space)

Energy in the Earth System

Energy From the Sun

The sun is the major source of energy for phenomena on Earth's surface; it powers winds,
ocean currents, and the water cycle; solar energy reaches Earth by radiation, mostly as
visible light

Heat by Convection
Students know heat from Earth's interior reaches the surface primarily through convection;
convection currents distribute heat in the atmosphere and oceans

Changes in Weather
Students know differences in pressure, heat, air movement, and humidity result in
changes of weather

Ecology

Transfer of Energy in Ecosystems

Students know energy entering ecosystems as sunlight is transferred by producers into
chemical energy through photosynthesis and then from organism to organism through
food webs

Transfer of Matter in Ecosystems

Students know matter is transferred over time from one organism to others in the food
web and between organisms and the physical environment

Categorizing Populations
Students know populations of organisms can be categorized by the functions they serve in
an ecosystem

Relation of Ecological Roles

Students know different kinds of organisms may play similar ecological roles in similar
biomes

Ability of Ecosystems to Support Organisms

The number and types of organisms an ecosystem can support depends on the resources
available and on abiotic factors (quantities of light and water, a range of temperatures, and
soil composition)

Resources

Utility of Energy Sources

Students know the utility of energy sources is determined by factors that are involved in
converting these sources to useful forms and the consequences of the conversion process

Energy and Material Resources

Know different natural energy and material resources, including air, soil, rocks, minerals,
petroleum, fresh water, wildlife, and forests, and know how to classify them as renewable
or nonrenewable

Natural Origins
Students know the natural origin of the materials used to make common objects

Investigation and Experimentation

Hypothesis
Develop a hypothesis

Using Scientific Tools

Select and use appropriate tools and technology (including calculators, computers,
balances, spring scales, microscopes, and binoculars) to perform tests, collect data, and
display data

Creating and Interpreting Data Graphs

Construct appropriate graphs from data and develop qualitative statements about the
relationships between variables

Report Findings
Communicate the steps and results from an investigation in written reports and oral
presentations

Evaluating Evidence
Recognize whether evidence is consistent with a proposed explanation

Using Map Evidence

Read a topographic map and a geologic map for evidence provided on the maps and
construct and interpret a simple scale map

Interpreting Natural Phenomena Events

Interpret events by sequence and time from natural phenomena (e.g., the relative ages of
rocks and intrusions)

Identifying Changes
Identify changes in natural phenomena over time without manipulating the phenomena
(e.g., a tree limb, a grove of trees, a stream, a hill slope)

Grade Six Social Studies

Early Development of Humankind

Hunter-Gatherer Societies
Way of life; development of tools and the use of fire

Human Communities
Locations of human communities that populated the major regions of the world; how
humans adapted to a variety of environments from the Paleolithic Era to the agricultural
revolution

Climate Change
Climatic changes and human modifications of the physical environment that gave rise to
the domestication of plants and animals and new sources of clothing and shelter

Early Civilizations

Geography
Major river systems; physical settings that supported permanent settlement and early
civilizations

Agriculture
Development of agricultural techniques that permitted the production of economic surplus
and the emergence of cities as centers of culture and power

Religion
Relationship between religion and the social and political order in Mesopotamia and Egypt

Hammurabi's Code
Its significance

Culture
Main features of Egyptian art and architecture

Commerce
Role of Egyptian trade in the eastern Mediterranean and Nile valley

Rulers
Significance of Queen Hatshepsut and Ramses the Great

Kush Civilization
Location; political, commercial, and cultural relations with Egypt

Language
Evolution of language and its written forms

The Ancient Hebrews

Basic Concepts
Origins; significance of Judaism as the first monotheistic religion; concept of one God who
sets down moral laws for humanity

Ethics Teaching and Central Beliefs

Hebrew Bible, the Commentaries; belief in God, observance of law, practice of the
concepts of righteousness and justice, importance of study; how the ideas of the Hebrew
traditions are reflected in the moral and ethical traditions of Western civilization

Important People
Significance of Abraham, Moses, Naomi, Ruth, David, and Yohanan ben Zaccai in the
development of the Jewish religion

Geography
Locations of the settlements and movements of Hebrew peoples; the Exodus and their
movement to and from Egypt; significance of the Exodus to the Jewish and other people

Diaspora
How Judaism survived and developed despite the continuing dispersion of much of the
Jewish population from Jerusalem and the rest of Israel after the destruction of the second
Temple in A.D. 70

Ancient Greece

Geography
Connections between geography and the development of city-states in the region of the
Aegean Sea; patterns of trade and commerce among Greek city-states and within the
wider Mediterranean region

Government
Transition from tyranny and oligarchy to early democratic forms of government and back
to dictatorship in ancient Greece; significance of the invention of the idea of citizenship e.g., from Pericles' Funeral Oration

Direct Democracy
Key differences between Athenian, or direct, democracy and representative democracy

Mythology
Significance of Greek mythology to the everyday life of people in the region; how Greek
literature continues to permeate our literature and language today, drawing from Greek
mythology and epics, such as Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, and from Aesop's Fables

Persian Empire
Its founding, expansion, and political organization

Athens and Sparta

Compare and contrast life in Athens and Sparta; their roles in the Persian and
Peloponnesian Wars

Alexander the Great

Rise of Alexander the Great; spread of Greek culture eastward and into Egypt

Important People
Enduring contributions important Greek figures in the arts and sciences - e.g., Hypatia,
Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Euclid, Thucydides

Early Civilizations of India

Geography
The major river system and its location; physical setting that supported the rise of this
civilization

Aryan Invasions
Their significance

Hinduism
Major beliefs and practices of Brahmanism in India; how they evolved into early Hinduism

Social Structure
Caste system

Buddhism
Life and moral teachings of Buddha; how Buddhism spread in India, Ceylon, and Central
Asia

Maurya Empire
Its growth; political and moral achievements of the emperor Asoka

Culture
Important aesthetic and intellectual traditions - Sanskrit literature, including the Bhagavad
Gita; medicine; metallurgy; mathematics, including Hindu-Arabic numerals and the zero

Early Civilizations of China

Origins
Location and origins of Chinese civilization in the Huang-He Valley during the Shang
Dynasty

Geography
Geographic features of China that made governance and the spread of ideas and goods
difficult and served to isolate the country from the rest of the world

Confucius
His life; fundamental teachings of Confucianism and Taoism

Politics and Culture

Political and cultural problems prevalent in the time of Confucius and how he sought to
solve them

Emperor Shi Huangdi

His policies and achievements in unifying northern China under the Qin Dynasty

Han Dynasty
Political contributions of the Han Dynasty to the development of the imperial bureaucratic
state and the expansion of the empire

Silk Road
Significance of the trans-Eurasian "silk roads" in the period of the Han Dynasty and
Roman Empire; their locations

Spread of Buddhism
Its diffusion northward to China during the Han Dynasty

The Roman Empire

Origins
Location and rise of the Roman Republic; importance of such mythical and historical
figures as Aeneas, Romulus and Remus, Cincinnatus, Julius Caesar, and Cicero

Government
Government of the Roman Republic and its significance; written constitution and tripartite
government, checks and balances, civic duty

Growth and Expansion

Location of and political and geographic reasons for the growth of Roman territories and
expansion of the empire; how the empire fostered economic growth through the use of
currency and trade routes

Julius Caesar and Augustus

Their influence in Rome's transition from republic to empire

The Jews
Their migration around the Mediterranean region; effects of their conflict with the Romans;
Romans' restrictions on their right to live in Jerusalem

Early Christianity
Origins of Christianity in the Jewish Messianic prophecies; life and teachings of Jesus of
Nazareth as described in the New Testament; contribution of St. Paul the Apostle to the
definition and spread of Christian beliefs - e.g., belief in the Trinity, resurrection, salvation

Spread of Christianity
The circumstances that led to the spread of Christianity in Europe and other Roman
territories

Culture
Legacies of Roman art and architecture, technology and science, literature, language, and
law

Grade Six Health

Reducing Health Risks Common to Adolescents

Exercise

Diet

Refusal of Harmful Substances

Environmental Conditions and Potential Solutions

Global Conditions

Local Conditions

What Has Been Done to Prevent the Global Conditions?

Potential Solutions for Local Conditions

Safety Precautions in Practical Situations

Motor Vehicles

Bicycles

In/Near Water

As a Pedestrian

Causes/Consequences of Conflict/Violence in Schools & Communities

Causes of Conflict

Avoiding Conflicts

Avoiding Gangs & Bullies

Problems in Relationships

Refusal and Negotiation Skills

Self Management Skills

No to Steroids

Preventing Child Abuse

Saying the Right Thing

Understanding the Opposite Sex

Different Needs

Physical Attraction

Emotional Attraction

Gender Role

Development of Relationships

Attraction/Desire

Flirting

Dating/Courtship

Intimacy

Marriage and Lifetime Commitments

Raising Children

Sexual Violence

Sexual Abuse

Rape

Sexual Manipulation

Gang Resistance

Clear Messages

Identifying When We Feel Anger

Grade Six Character Development

Character Awareness

Finding Purpose
What is purpose? A feeling of personal contribution to society.
Why is it important for individuals to find their purpose? Without identifying a personal
purpose, individuals will not find personal fulfillment and will, likewise, be unable to
achieve a connection with others it will be difficult to engage in loving relationships or
establish a positive connection to society.

Heroes v. Pseudo (False) Heroes

How are the two types of heroes different?
In their sense of purpose and how they achieve it:
Heroes pursue their purpose for the love of that purpose. True heroes do not need any outside
motivation they are inspired by their purpose and pursue their purpose genuinely, without ego
or insecurity as a driving force.
Example of a hero:
Isaac Stern, the famous violinist, pursued playing the violin as a young boy because he loved to
play the instrument. He reached a point where he no longer needed the encouragement or
approval of his parents or teachers to keep playing the violin the violin became his purpose.
Pseudo heroes (false heroes) pursue their purpose to achieve celebrity status, win competitions
and override their personal insecurities typically a reaction to low self-esteem. Pseudo heroes
often base their purpose in proving something to others.
Example of a pseudo hero:
Paris Hilton, heiress to the Hilton Hotel empire, became famous for her socialite status not for
any larger personal contributions she had made to society.

Extend discussion of heroes to examine why we admire certain people what makes them
great? Consider whether someone is famous because they are great; or whether they seem
great because they are famous. Who are your role models and why?

Levels of Awareness

Grief
Grief is a level characterized by feelings of constant sadness and loss. Many people drop
to this level upon losing a loved one. This level is still higher than the state of apathy, as
individuals are not numb they are experiencing emotional feeling.

Fear
Fear is a level characterized by an overwhelming belief that the world is unsafe. It is often
marked by paranoia and many people in this level require the help of others to rise above
it.
* Recognize that fear is not always a negative emotion. Example: Fear serves an
important purpose in situations where individuals need protection from danger or should
proceed with caution.

Character in Action

Grief: People who live at this level on an ongoing basis (rather than temporarily, after the
loss of a loved one) lead a life of constant regret and sadness. Effects include feelings of
remorse about the past; individuals in this level see sadness everywhere around them.

Fear: In this level, fear becomes the individuals main focus. Effects include continuous
worry about worldly events, impeding personality growth and fostering inhibition. It often
requires the energy of others at higher levels of awareness to bring individuals out of the
level of fear. Often, abusive relationships include one person stuck in this level who is too
fearful to get out of the harmful relationship.

Extend the discussion of fear, identifying potential outcomes from living in fear and why it
is important for individuals to raise above this level of awareness.

Grade Six Interpersonal Relationships

Peer Relationships

What are peers?

Peers are a group of individuals who interact on a regular basis (classmates, schoolmates, co-workers,
etc.); these groups typically share friendship, talk with one another and do activities together.
What creates peer groups?
Peer groups are often a result of individuals sharing similarities based on the following:
-

Beliefs

Behaviors

Activities

Academics

What is peer pressure?

Peer pressure is the influence exerted by a peer group in encouraging a person to change his or her
attitudes, values, or behavior in order to conform to group norms.

Why do kids give in to peer pressure?

-

Desire to be liked

Desire to fit in

Fear of being made fun of

Curiosity

How to deal with peer pressure

Some peer pressure can be positive (if it influences you to make healthy and wise decisions); but
negative peer pressure can be harmful.
The following are methods for recognizing and dealing with negative peer pressure:
-

Pay attention to your own beliefs about what is right and wrong

Find inner strength and self-confidence in your decisions

Seek out others who may feel the same as you do; bond with others who share your values

Choose your friends wisely; associate with people who have similar interests

Talk to someone you trust (parent, teacher, counselor) about the pressure you are facing; do
not feel guilty for past mistakes

Bullying

What is bullying?
Bullying is the act of hurting or scaring another person on purpose; the person being bullied typically
has a difficult time defending themselves. Bullying tends to happen on an ongoing basis until something
is done to break the cycle.

Acts of bullying include:

-

Punching, shoving or other physical harm to others

Spreading negative rumors about others

Keeping certain people out of a group

Encouraging people to gang up on others

Teasing people in a mean way

What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is when children or teens bully each other using the Internet, mobile phones or other
technology.
Acts of cyberbullying can include:

Sending mean text messages, emails or instant messages

Posting negative pictures or messages about others in blog pages or websites

Using someone elses login information to spread rumors or lies about another person

Why kids bully

The following are some of the common reasons why kids bully others:

They see others doing it

They believe it will make them fit in

It makes them feel stronger, smarter or better than other people

They believe it will keep others from bullying them

Effects of bullying
Kids who are bullied can experience lifelong negative effects including:

Dropping out of school

Drug, alcohol or tobacco use

Aggression and tendency to get into fights

How to deal with bullying

Incidents of bullying should be identified and reported to an adult; additional methods for dealing with
bullies can be found at http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/kids/

Grade Six Health & Wellness

Tobacco Use

What is tobacco? What is nicotine?

Tobacco is a plant that can be smoked in cigarettes, pipes or cigars; it is also used in smokeless
tobacco forms (such as chewing tobacco)

Nicotine is a substance contained in tobacco; it is an addictive chemical that can cause a short-term
tingly feeling

Why is tobacco dangerous?

Tobacco is responsible for approximately 1,200 deaths per day due to it harmful effects to the heart and
lungs.
Tobacco use poses significant physical harm including:
-

Cancer-causing agents due to damage of cell growth and reproduction

Chronic lung injury

Decreased antioxidants

Chronic inflammation

Lower immunity and increased risk for respiratory infection

Inability for blood cells to carry enough oxygen

General crankiness and exhaustion

Poor personal appearance and hygiene

Poor physical performance (in sports or other active pursuits)

Alcoholism

What is alcohol? What characterizes alcoholism?

Alcohol (in reference to drinking) is a liquor or brew containing alcohol as the active agent
Alcoholism refers to prolonged and excessive intake of alcoholic drinks; alcoholism is considered a
disease and can lead to a breakdown in health and relationships; sufferers experience an intense
addiction to alcohol that, when deprived, an individual can experience severe symptoms of withdrawal
including anxiety, seizures and nausea

Dangers of alcohol:
Alcohol affects the central nervous system in the following ways:
-

Decreased activity and inhibitions (cautionary behavior)

Change in behavior

Slowed motor skills

Decreased ability to think clearly

Impaired concentration

Intoxication (drunkenness)

Signs of alcoholism:
-

Abdominal pain; nausea and vomiting

Drinking alone; secretive behavior to hide alcohol use

Episodes of violence/hostility with drinking

Confusion

Lack of control over drinking/alcohol intake

Alcohol treatment:
Treatment methods for alcoholism include intervention, detoxification and rehabilitation.
Additional information is available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administrations National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or
www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov.

Grade Six Study Skills

Reading Assignments

To be effective, reading assignments require work before, during and after the process:

Before the assignment students should consider what they already know about the topic they are
about to read about and do the following:
-

write down predictions about the content

determine what is already known about the content

- determine what you want to know about the topic

During the assignment students should guide their reading by making observations about the content
as they read and do the following:
-

write down questions

rephrase information in different words

make lists/create categories of information

After the assignment students should follow their reading with review processes including:
-

reciting

self-testing

review question development

peer teaching

Writing Assignments

To be effective, written reports require many steps including:

Time management long-term projects should be divided into separate stages of completion (due dates
for topic ideas, rough draft, bibliography, etc.)
Topic selection narrow down your search for a topic by conducting research and making an outline of
information
Note taking generate main ideas and create a chart or list of these ideas; revise this chart as research
is conducted to support specific concepts
Research identify references and form a bibliography locate reference materials to help you learn
about the topic and cite your sources
Rough draft develop an introduction (that explains what your report will be about), a report body
(where you present your findings), and a conclusion (that evaluates what you have reported)
Final draft check the rough draft for any errors in spelling, grammar or expression of ideas; ensure all
areas of report are included

Seventh Grade
Free World U

Grade Seven Language Arts

Vocabulary

Anglo-Saxon Roots and Affixes

Extensive lesson of the meaning of Anglo-Saxon roots and affixes

Using Vocabulary Resources

Thorough examination of dictionary and thesaurus entries; explains all aspects of entries,
including the language of origin

Figuring out Difficult Words

Using definitions, examples, restatement, definition by using a synonym or antonym, or
contrast to figure out unknown words

Words from Peoples Names

Common American words derived from the names of inventors and the like

Reading Literature

Fiction Genres
Discussion and definition of epic, novel, drama, poetry, science fiction, etc

Plot
Discussion of plot, conflict, and protagonists. Also covers man vs. man, man vs. nature,
and other similar conflict patterns

Setting
Discussion of the time, place, and political circumstances surrounding a story

Direct and Indirect Characterization

Discussion of how readers learn about characters through the characters thoughts,
speech patterns, and actions; the words and actions of other characters; and the
narrators description.

Character Development
Discussion of major and minor characters types

Read a Novel
Students read a novel and answer questions about the events that advance the plot,
foreshadowing, characterization, the narrator, themes, and the writers choice of first or
third person, etc

Reading Short Stories and Novellas

Characteristics of Short Fiction

Short stories are less complex than novels and usually feature just one event, a single
setting, and fewer characters than a novel. Short stories stick to the point and often make
a point as well

Genres
Short stories are written in different genres: science fiction, western, etc. This lesson
introduces some options to students

Points of View

Defines narrator, and teaches characteristics of first person, third person limited, and third
person omniscient

Reading a Short Story

Students read a short story. Flashcards ask students to identify the various characteristics
of short fiction in the selection

What is a Novella?
Answers the question and supplies examples

Reading Nonfiction

Types of Nonfiction
Extensive discussion of the many types of expository writing

Structure and Organization

Chronological order, comparison/contrast, order of importance, etc

Determining Main Ideas

Reading to find the main idea; implicit and explicit ideas

Making Inferences
Inferences and implications, deductive and inductive reasoning

Reading Actively
Asking yourself questions, the preview-read-recite method, survey-question-read-recitereview method, and taking notes

Evaluating Evidence
Looking at sources, evidence, publication dates, authors background, etc

Reading Instructions
Students read and demonstrate an understanding of technical instructions

Reading Critically: Nonfiction Article One

Reading Critically: Nonfiction Article Two

Lyric Poetry
Lyric poetry is poetry that expresses emotion. Students read and study examples

Imagery in Poetry
Students define and locate imagery in a variety of poems; similes, metaphors,
personification, and assonance are included in the lesson

Your Turn: Write a Lyric Poem

This is a poem that expresses emotion and appeals to the senses; use of literary devices
such as similes, metaphors, hyperbole, alliteration, etc, including at least two in their poem

Poetry

Newspapers

What is a Newspaper Article?

Characteristics of a news article; where do reporters get their information; answering the
5w and 1h questions, who, what, when, where, why, and how

Reading a Newspaper Article

Students read a newspaper article and identify its lead, sources, background information,
etc.

Your Turn: Write a Newspaper Article

Assignment to students is to write a newspaper article based on the information in a given
fairy tale

What is an Editorial?
Explains that this is the opinion of the newspaper on an issue; it is based on evidence and
written in a persuasive style; it calls for some sort of action: either for readers to think or
act a certain way or for someone to take up a cause, change a law, etc. An editorial often
anticipates reader objections and addresses them

Reading an Editorial
Students read an editorial and identify its main idea, evidence, possible objections that it
anticipated, etc.

Your Turn: Write an Editorial

Student is to write a persuasive paper in the style of a newspaper editorial. They should
cite sources and state a clear position and call for action. They should anticipate and
address obvious reader concerns

Grammar

Parts of Speech
Practice identifying all eight parts of speech in more complicated sentences than in
previous grades

Adjectives and Adverbs

Identifying and using them

Irregular Verbs
Review of the most troublesome irregulars

Misplaced Modifiers
Examples of and practicing fixing

Problems with Pronouns

Avoiding tricky situations

Infinitives and Participles

Defines the terms and gives students practice correcting errors

Gerunds
Review

Pronouns and Antecedents

Reviews the terms and gives students practice correcting errors

Sentence Types
Reviews simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences and asks
students to identify type

Punctuation
Reviews hyphens, dashes, brackets, semicolons, colons

Youre the Editor

Students practice correcting a range of problems including shifts in tense and voice,
subject-verb agreement, capitalization errors, run-on and fragmented sentences, etc

Writing Nonfiction Essays

Reviewing the Essay

Reviews the structure of an essay

Your Turn: Write a Descriptive Essay

Reviews the elements of a descriptive essay; assignment to students is to write a
descriptive essay

Your Turn: Write an Informational Essay

Reviews the elements of an informational essay; assignment to students is to write an
informational essay

Writing Research Papers

What is a Research Paper?

How is it different from an essay?

Thesis Statement
Defines thesis statement and shows students examples

Choosing Reference Materials and Taking Notes

Shows students how to select references based on their topic and audience

Referring to Your References Properly

Following MLA format, we show students when to use italics and when to use quotation
marks to identify their sources

Making an Outline
Students know what an outline is. Teach them to write an outline for a research paper

Writing a Rough Draft

Cover strategies for writing a rough draft of a research paper using their notes and outline

Revising for Clarity

Shows students how to revise their writing to clarify vague or unclear writing

Using Footnotes
What is a footnote? How do you use it?

To Quote or Paraphrase?
Defines the terms and discusses the difference. Reminds about proper punctuation.
Includes information about plagiarism, what it is and how to avoid it

Writing a Final Copy

Polishing the rough draft: reading aloud, examining sentences for errors, tightening up
sentences, adding description, checking to be sure there is proper attribution given; also
covers how the paper should look, covering margins, titles, page numbers, and where to
put your name

Writing a Bibliography
Using MLA format to create a bibliography

Writing Fiction

Writing Fiction
Covers basic elements of fiction and briefly cover genres in fiction

Who is Telling Your Story?

An all-knowing narrator? The main character? Someone else?

Planning Your Storys Plot

Guides students through making an outline, creating and resolving conflict, avoiding toosimple solutions; story plot should include a beginning, conflict, rising action, climax, and
denouement

Developing Characters
Creating a character profile to help make your main character come alive for you and
your readers; paying attention to minor characters

Creating Effective Similes and Metaphors

Teaches students to create their own similes and metaphors and avoid clichs

Revising Your Fiction

Adding descriptive words, dialog, or actions; adding in gestures or facial expressions for
your characters, looking for ways to increase suspense or add foreshadowing to an early
part of the story. Also covers the basics: reminders about grammar, spelling, and
sentence structure

Your Turn: Writing Fiction

Assignment to students is to write a story, demonstrating an understanding of all aspects
of plot, characters, and setting. Students are challenged to include literary devices such as
figurative language and foreshadowing and descriptive words to help readers see the
action

Spelling

Practice
Correct spelling of lengthy words, those with both prefixes and suffixes attached

Listening

Listening for Propaganda

What is propaganda? Defines some of the common forms for students to watch for in
listening activities. Testimonials, bandwagon, glittering generalities, plain folks, assertion,
and the lesser of two evils are the approaches covered

Listening to a Campaign Speech

Students listen to a short speech and identify persuasive techniques and the impact on
the listener

Listening to an Informational Speech

Students listen to an informational speech and answer questions to determine their
understanding of the information, the validity of the claims, and the speakers attitude
toward the subject and the impact it will have on the listener

Watching a Speech

Students analyze the effect on the viewer of images and sounds used in a recorded
speech

Speaking

Writing a Speech
Organizing your thoughts and appealing to the interests of the audience

Practicing a Speech
Vocal techniques such as inflection, tempo, and enunciation; maintaining eye contact,
working in gestures, adding visuals in

Conquering Nerves
Tips to avoid stage fright

Your Turn: Delivering a Campaign Speech

This year students have gained more experience identifying and understanding
propaganda, so well let them have some fun writing their own. Flashcards teach how its
done. Students will deliver a persuasive speech, in first-person if they choose, with the
goal of convincing listeners to vote for themselves or their candidate

Your Turn: Delivering a Summary Speech

Students read one of several provided articles and choose one to summarize and explain
the main and idea and significant details

Grade Seven Math

Number Sense

Scientific Notation
Read, write, and compare rational numbers in scientific notation (positive and negative
powers of 10) with approximate numbers using scientific notation

Manipulating Rational Numbers

Add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational numbers (integers, fractions, and terminating
decimals) and take positive rational numbers to whole-number powers

Fractions to Decimals and Percents

Convert fractions to decimals and percents and use these representations in estimations,
computations, and applications

Rational and Irrational Numbers

Differentiate between rational and irrational numbers

Terminating and Repeating Decimals

Know that every rational number is either a terminating or repeating decimal and be able
to convert terminating decimals into reduced fractions

Percentages of Increase and Decrease

Calculate the percentage of increases and decreases of a quantity

Money and Percentages

Solve problems that involve discounts, markups, commissions, and profit and compute
simple and compound interest

Negative Exponents

Understand negative whole-number exponents. Multiply and divide expressions involving

exponents with a common base

Adding and Subtracting Fractions

Add and subtract fractions by using factoring to find common denominators

Rational Numbers and Exponent Rules

Multiply, divide, and simplify rational numbers by using exponent rules

Powers, Roots and Square Integers

Use the inverse relationship between raising to a power and extracting the root of a
perfect square integer;

Powers, Roots and Non-Square Integers

For an integer that is not square, determine without a calculator the two integers between
which its square root lies and explain why

Absolute Value
Understand the meaning of the absolute value of a number; interpret the absolute value
as the distance of the number from zero on a number line; and determine the absolute
value of real numbers

Algebra and Functions

Equations Representing Descriptions

Use variables and appropriate operations to write an expression, an equation, an
inequality, or a system of equations or inequalities that represents a verbal description
(e.g., three less than a number, half as large as area A)

Using Order of Operations

Use the correct order of operations to evaluate algebraic expressions such as 3(2x + 5)2

Applying Properties
Simplify numerical expressions by applying properties of rational numbers (e.g., identity,
inverse, distributive, associative, commutative) and justify the process used

Using Algebraic Terminology

Use algebraic terminology (e.g., variable, equation, term, coefficient, inequality,
expression, constant) correctly

Representing Relationships Graphically

Represent quantitative relationships graphically and interpret the meaning of a specific
part of a graph in the situation represented by the graph

Understanding Exponents
Interpret positive whole-number powers as repeated multiplication and negative wholenumber powers as repeated division or multiplication by the multiplicative inverse. Simplify
and evaluate expressions that include exponents

Monomials and Exponents

Multiply and divide monomials; extend the process of taking powers and extracting roots
to monomials when the latter results in a monomial with an integer exponent

Graphing Functions
Graph functions of the form y = nx2 and y = nx3 and use in solving problems

Plotting Varied Shape Values

Plot the values from the volumes of three-dimensional shapes for various values of the
edge lengths (e.g., cubes with varying edge lengths or a triangle prism with a fixed height
and an equilateral triangle base of varying lengths)

Slope of a Graph
Graph linear functions, noting that the vertical change (change in y- value) per unit of
horizontal change (change in x- value) is always the same and know that the ratio ("rise
over run") is called the slope of a graph

Plotting Quantities
Plot the values of quantities whose ratios are always the same (e.g., cost to the number of
an item, feet to inches, circumference to diameter of a circle). Fit a line to the plot and
understand that the slope of the line equals the quantities

Solving Two-Step Problems

Solve two-step linear equations and inequalities in one variable over the rational numbers,
interpret the solution or solutions in the context from which they arose, and verify the
reasonableness of the results

Solving Multi Step Problems

Solve multi step problems involving rate, average speed, distance, and time or a direct
variation

Measurement and Geometry

Comparing Between Measuring Systems

Compare weights, capacities, geometric measures, times, and temperatures within and
between measurement systems (e.g., miles per hour and feet per second, cubic inches to
cubic centimeters)

Scale Drawings and Models

Construct and read drawings and models made to scale

Measure and Problem Solving

Use measures expressed as rates (e.g., speed, density) and measures expressed as
products (e.g., person-days) to solve problems; check the units of the solutions; and use
dimensional analysis to check the reasonableness of the answer

Using Formulas with Geometric Figures

Use formulas routinely for finding the perimeter and area of basic two-dimensional figures
and the surface area and volume of basic three-dimensional figures, including rectangles,
parallelograms, trapezoids, squares, triangles, circles, prisms, and cylinders

Estimate and Compute Area

Estimate and compute the area of more complex or irregular two-and three-dimensional
figures by breaking the figures down into more basic geometric objects

Preparing to Use Scale Factors

Compute the length of the perimeter, the surface area of the faces, and the volume of a
three-dimensional object built from rectangular solids

Applying Scale Factors

When the lengths of all dimensions are multiplied by a scale factor, the surface area is
multiplied by the square of the scale factor and the volume is multiplied by the cube of the
scale factor

Changes of Scale

Relate the changes in measurement with a change of scale to the units used (e.g., square
inches, cubic feet) and to conversions between units (1 square foot = 144 square inches
or [1 ft2] = [144 in2], 1 cubic inch is approximately 16.38 cubic centimeters or [1 in3] =
[16.38 cm3])

Using Math Tools

Identify and construct basic elements of geometric figures (e.g., altitudes, mid-points,
diagonals, angle bisectors, and perpendicular bisectors; central angles, radii, diameters,
and chords of circles) by using a compass and straightedge

Coordinate Graphs and Simple Figures

Understand and use coordinate graphs to plot simple figures, determine lengths and
areas related to them, and determine their image under translations and reflections

Pythagorean Theorem
Know and understand the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse and use it to find the
length of the missing side of a right triangle and the lengths of other line segments and, in
some situations, empirically verify the Pythagorean Theorem by direct measurement

Congruent Geometrical Figures

Demonstrate an understanding of conditions that indicate two geometrical figures are
congruent and what congruence means about the relationships between the sides and
angles of the two figures

2-D Patterns of 3-D Models

Construct two-dimensional patterns for three-dimensional models, such as cylinders,
prisms, and cones

Elements and Relationships of 3-D Objects

Identify elements of three-dimensional geometric objects (e.g., diagonals of rectangular
solids) and describe how two or more objects are related in space (e.g., skew lines, the
possible ways three planes might intersect)

Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability

Displays For Data Sets

Know various forms of display for data sets, including a stem-and-leaf plot or box-andwhisker plot; use the forms to display a single set of data or to compare two sets of data

Scatter Plots
Represent two numerical variables on a scatter plot and informally describe how the data
points are distributed and any apparent relationship that exists between the two variables
(e.g., between time spent on homework and grade level)

Parts of a Data Set

Understand the meaning of, and be able to compute, the minimum, the lower quartile, the
median, the upper quartile, and the maximum of a data set

Mathematical Reasoning

Analyzing Problems
Analyze problems by identifying relationships, distinguishing relevant from irrelevant
information, identifying missing information, sequencing and prioritizing information, and
observing patterns

Mathematical Conjectures
Formulate and justify mathematical conjectures based on a general description of the
mathematical question or problem posed

Simplifying Problems
Determine when and how to break a problem into simpler parts

Verifying Results by Estimation

Use estimation to verify the reasonableness of calculated results

Applying Strategies and Results

Apply strategies and results from simpler problems to more complex problems

Unknown Quantities
Estimate unknown quantities graphically and solve for them by using logical reasoning
and arithmetic and algebraic techniques

Testing Conjectures Using Reasoning

Make and test conjectures by using both inductive and deductive reasoning

Explain Your Reasoning

Use a variety of methods, such as words, numbers, symbols, charts, graphs, tables,
diagrams, and models, to explain mathematical reasoning

Expressing Solutions
Express the solution clearly and logically by using the appropriate mathematical notation
and terms and clear language; support solutions with evidence in both verbal and
symbolic work

Estimation
Indicate the relative advantages of exact and approximate solutions to problems and give
answers to a specified degree of accuracy

Results That Make Sense

Make precise calculations and check the validity of the results from the context of the
problem; evaluate the reasonableness of the solution in the context of the original situation

Applying Knowledge
Note the method of deriving the solution and demonstrate a conceptual understanding of
the derivation by solving similar problems; develop generalizations of the results obtained
and the strategies used and apply them to new problem situations

Grade Seven Science

Cell Biology

Cell Function
Cells function similarly in all living organisms

Cell Characteristics
The characteristics that distinguish plant cells from animal cells, including chloroplasts and
cell walls

Cell Nucleus
The nucleus is the repository for genetic information in plant and animal cells; DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic material of living organisms and is located in the
chromosomes of each cell

Cell Energy

Mitochondria liberate energy for the work that cells do and that chloroplasts capture
sunlight energy for photosynthesis

Cell Mitosis
Cells divide to increase their numbers through a process of mitosis, which results in two
daughter cells with identical sets of chromosomes

Cell Differentiation
As multicellular organisms develop, their cells differentiate

Genetics

Sexual and Asexual Organisms

The differences between the life cycles and reproduction methods of sexual and asexual
organisms

Genes
Cells contain many thousands of different genes, typically have two copies of every gene
(or alleles) which may or may not be identical, and one may be dominant while the other is
recessive

Inherited Traits
Sexual reproduction produces offspring that inherit half their genes from each parent; an
inherited trait can be determined by one or more genes

Evolution

Theory of Evolution
The reasoning used by Charles Darwin in reaching his conclusion that natural selection is
the mechanism of evolution; how independent lines of evidence provide the bases for the
theory of evolution

Causes of Evolution and Diversity

Both genetic variation and environmental factors are causes of evolution and diversity of
organisms

Constructing Classification Diagrams

How to construct a simple branching diagram to classify living groups of organisms by
shared derived characteristics and how to expand the diagram to include fossil organisms

Extinction
Extinction of a species occurs when the environment changes and the adaptive
characteristics of a species are insufficient for its survival

Earth Sciences

Geologic Processes
Earth processes today are similar to those that occurred in the past; slow geologic
processes have large cumulative effects over long periods of time

Catastrophic Events
The history of life on Earth has been disrupted by major catastrophic events, such as
major volcanic eruptions or the impacts of asteroids

The Rock Cycle

The rock cycle includes the formation of new sediment and rocks; rocks are often found in
layers, with the oldest generally on the bottom

Age Evidence
Evidence from geologic layers and radioactive dating indicates Earth is approximately 4.6
billion years old and that life on this planet has existed for more than 3 billion years

Fossil Evidence
Fossils provide evidence of how life and environmental conditions have changed

Plate Movement
How movements of Earth's continental and oceanic plates through time, with associated
changes in climate and geographic connections, have affected the past and present
distribution of organisms

Geologic Time Scale

How to explain significant developments and extinctions of plant and animal life on the
geologic time scale

Structure and Function in Living Systems

Levels of System Organization

Plants and animals have levels of organization for structure and function, including cells,
tissues, organs, organ systems, and the whole organism

Organ Systems
Organ systems function because of the contributions of individual organs, tissues, and
cells; the failure of any part can affect the entire system

Bones and Muscles

How bones and muscles work together to provide a structural framework for movement

Reproductive Organs
The reproductive organs of the human female and male generate eggs and sperm; how
sexual activity may lead to fertilization and pregnancy; the function of the umbilicus and
placenta during pregnancy

Flowering Plants
The structures and processes by which flowering plants generate pollen, ovules, seeds,
and fruit

The Eye and Ear

How to relate the structures of the eye and ear to their functions

Physical Sciences

Visible Light
Visible light is a small band within a very broad electromagnetic spectrum; for an object to
be seen, light emitted by or scattered from it must be detected by the eye

Properties of Light
Light travels in straight lines if the medium it travels through does not change; is reflected,
refracted, transmitted, and absorbed by matter; angle of reflection is equal to the angle of
incidence

Simple Lenses
How simple lenses are used in a magnifying glass, the eye, a camera, a telescope, and a
microscope

White Light
White light is a mixture of many wavelengths (colors) and that retinal cells react differently
to different wavelengths

Joints and Machines

Compare joints in the body (wrist, shoulder, and thigh) with structures used in machines
and simple devices (hinge, ball-and-socket, and sliding joints)

Bones and Levers

How levers confer mechanical advantage and how the application of this principle applies
to the musculoskeletal system

Heart Mechanics
Contractions of the heart generate blood pressure and that heart valves prevent back flow
of blood in the circulatory system

Investigation and Experimentation

Using Scientific Tools

Select and use appropriate tools and technology (including calculators, computers,
balances, spring scales, microscopes, and binoculars) to perform tests, collect data, and
display data

Using Information Resources

Use a variety of print and electronic resources (including the World Wide Web) to collect
information and evidence as part of a research project

Communicating Connections
Communicate the logical connection among hypotheses, science concepts, tests
conducted, data collected, and conclusions drawn from the scientific evidence

Constructing Visuals
Construct scale models, maps, and appropriately labeled diagrams to communicate
scientific knowledge (e.g., motion of Earth's plates and cell structure)

Reporting Findings
Communicate the steps and results from an investigation in written reports and oral
presentations

Grade Seven Social Studies

Disintegration of the Roman Empire

Strengths and Weaknesses

Early strengths; lasting contributions; significance of Roman citizenship; rights under
Roman law; Roman art, architecture, engineering, and philosophy; preservation and
transmission of Christianity; rise of autonomous military powers within the empire;
undermining of citizenship by the growth of corruption and slavery; lack of education;
distribution of news

Geography
Geographic borders of the empire at its height; factors that threatened its territorial
cohesion

Byzantine Empire
Establishment by Constantine of the new capital in Constantinople; development of the
Byzantine Empire; consequences of the development of two distinct European
civilizations, Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic, and their two distinct views on
church-state relations

Islam in the Middle Ages

Geography
Physical features and climate of the Arabian peninsula; its relationship to surrounding
bodies of land and water; and nomadic and sedentary ways of life

Origins
Origins of Islam; life and teachings of Muhammad; Islamic teachings on the connection
with Judaism and Christianity

Religious Texts
Significance of the Qur'an and the Sunnah as the primary sources of Islamic beliefs,
practice, and law; their influence in Muslims' daily life

Expansion
Expansion of Muslim rule through military conquests and treaties; cultural blending within
Muslim civilization and the spread and acceptance of Islam and the Arabic language

Economics and Commerce

Growth of cities; establishment of trade routes among Asia, Africa, and Europe; the
products and inventions that traveled along these routes - e.g., spices, textiles, paper,
steel, new crops; role of merchants in Arab society

Cultural Contributions
Intellectual exchanges among Muslim scholars of Eurasia and Africa; contributions Muslim
scholars made to later civilizations in the areas of science, geography, mathematics,
philosophy, medicine, art, and literature

China in the Middle Ages

Reunification
Reunification of China under the Tang Dynasty; reasons for the spread of Buddhism in
Tang China, Korea, and Japan

Economics
Agricultural, technological, and commercial developments during the Tang and Sung
periods

Confucianism
Influences of Confucianism; changes in Confucian thought during the Sung and Mongol
periods

Trade and Commerce

Importance of both overland trade and maritime expeditions between China and other
civilizations in the Mongol Ascendancy and Ming Dynasty

Discoveries and Inventions

Historic influence of such discoveries as tea, the manufacture of paper, wood-block
printing, the compass, and gunpowder

Imperial State
Development of the imperial state and the scholar-official class

Ghana and Mali in Medieval Africa

Niger River
Location and importance; relationship of vegetation zones of forest, savannah, and desert
to trade in gold, salt, food, and slaves; growth of the Ghana and Mali empires

Development of States and Cities

Importance of family, labor specialization, and regional commerce in the development of
states and cities in West Africa

Trans-Saharan Caravan Trade

Its role of the in the changing religious and cultural characteristics of West Africa;
influence of Islamic beliefs, ethics, and law

Language
Growth of the Arabic language in government, trade, and Islamic scholarship in West
Africa

Written and Oral Traditions

Their importance in the transmission of African history and culture

Medieval Japan

Influences
Significance of Japan's proximity to China and Korea; intellectual, linguistic, religious, and
philosophical influence of those countries on Japan

Prince Shotoku
Reign of Prince Shotoku of Japan; characteristics of Japanese society and family life
during his reign

Lord-Vassal System
Values, social customs, and traditions prescribed by the lord-vassal system consisting of
shogun, daimyo, and samurai; lasting influence of the warrior code in the twentieth
century

Buddhism
Development of distinctive forms of Japanese Buddhism

Golden Age
Ninth and tenth centuries' golden age of literature, art, and drama; its lasting effects on
culture today, including Murasaki Shikibu's Tale of Genji

Military Society
Rise of a military society in the late twelfth century; role of the samurai in that society

Medieval Europe

Geography
Geography of Europe and the Eurasian land mass; its location, topography, waterways,
vegetation, and climate and their relationship to ways of life in Medieval Europe

Christianity
Spread of Christianity north of the Alps; roles played by the early church and by
monasteries in its diffusion after the fall of the western half of the Roman Empire

Feudalism
Development of feudalism; its role in the medieval European economy; the way in which it
was influenced by physical geography - the role of the manor and the growth of towns;
how feudal relationships provided the foundation of political order

Popes and Kings

Conflict and cooperation between the Papacy and European monarchs - e.g.,
Charlemagne, Gregory VII, Emperor Henry IV

English Law
Significance of developments in medieval English legal and constitutional practices; their
importance in the rise of modern democratic thought and representative institutions Magna Carta, parliament, development of habeas corpus, an independent judiciary in
England

Crusades
Causes and course of the religious Crusades; their effects on the Christian, Muslim, and
Jewish populations in Europe; the increasing contact by Europeans with cultures of the
Eastern Mediterranean world

Bubonic Plague
Spread of the bubonic plague from Central Asia to China, the Middle East, and Europe; its
impact on global population

The Catholic Church

Importance of the Catholic church as a political, intellectual, and aesthetic institution founding of universities, political and spiritual roles of the clergy, creation of monastic and
mendicant religious orders, preservation of the Latin language and religious texts, St.
Thomas Aquinas's synthesis of classical philosophy with Christian theology, concept of
"natural law"

The Reconquista
History of the decline of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula that culminated in the
Reconquista and the rise of Spanish and Portuguese kingdoms

Meso-American and Andean Civilizations

Geography
Locations, landforms, and climates of Mexico, Central America, and South America; their
effects on Mayan, Aztec, and Incan economies, trade, and development of urban societies

Social Structures
Roles of people in each society; class structures, family life, war-fare, religious beliefs and
practices, slavery

Rise and Fall of Empires

How and where each empire arose; how the Aztec and Incan empires were defeated by
the Spanish

Culture
Artistic and oral traditions; architecture in the three civilizations

Achievements
Meso-American achievements in astronomy and mathematics; development of the
calendar; Meso-American knowledge of seasonal changes to the civilizations' agricultural
systems

The Renaissance

Humanism
How the revival of classical learning and the arts fostered a new interest in humanism i.e., a balance between intellect and religious faith

Growth of Cities
Importance of Florence in the early stages of the Renaissance; growth of independent
trading cities - e.g., Venice; cities' importance in the spread of Renaissance ideas

Silk Road
Effects of the reopening of the ancient "Silk Road" between Europe and China; Marco
Polo's travels and the location of his routes

Spread of Information
Growth and effects of new ways of disseminating information - e.g., the ability to
manufacture paper, translation of the Bible into the vernacular, printing

Arts and Sciences

Advances made in literature, the arts, science, mathematics, cartography, engineering,
and the understanding of human anatomy and astronomy; Dante Alighieri, Leonardo da
Vinci, Michelangelo di Buonarroti Simoni, Johann Gutenberg, William Shakespeare

The Reformation

Causes
Causes for the internal turmoil in and weakening of the Catholic church; tax policies,
selling of indulgences

Important People
Theological, political, and economic ideas of the major figures during the Reformation Desiderius Erasmus, Martin Luther, John Calvin, William Tyndale

Democratic Ideas
Protestants' new practices of church self-government; influence of those practices on the
development of democratic practices and ideas of federalism

Divided Europe
Location of European regions that remained Catholic and those that became Protestant;
how the division affected the distribution of religions in the New World

Counter-Reformation
How the Counter-Reformation revitalized the Catholic church; the forces that fostered the
movement - St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Jesuits, the Council of Trent

Spread of Christianity
Institution and impact of missionaries on Christianity; diffusion of Christianity from Europe
to other parts of the world in the medieval and early modern periods; location of missions
on a world map

Golden Age in Spain

Golden Age of cooperation between Jews and Muslims in medieval Spain that promoted
creativity in art, literature, and science; how that cooperation was terminated by the
religious persecution of individuals and groups - the Spanish Inquisition and the expulsion
of Jews and Muslims from Spain in 1492

The Scientific Revolution

Origins
Roots of the Scientific Revolution - Greek rationalism; Jewish, Christian, and Muslim
science; Renaissance humanism; new knowledge from global exploration

New Theories and Inventions

Significance of the new scientific theories - those of Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton;
significance of new inventions - telescope, microscope, thermometer, barometer

Science in Society
Scientific method advanced by Bacon and Descartes; influence of new scientific
rationalism on the growth of democratic ideas; coexistence of science with traditional
religious beliefs

The 16th, 17th and 18th Centuries

World Exploration
Great voyages of discovery; the locations of the routes; influence of cartography in the
development of a new European worldview

Exchange of Goods and Ideas

Exchanges of plants, animals, technology, culture, and ideas among Europe, Africa, Asia,
and the Americas in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries; major economic and social
effects of this exchange on each continent

Early Capitalism
Origins of modern capitalism; the influence of mercantilism and cottage industry; the
elements and importance of a market economy in seventeenth-century Europe; the
changing international trading and marketing patterns, including their locations on a world
map; influence of explorers and map makers

Sources of the Enlightenment

How the main ideas of the Enlightenment can be traced back to such movements as the
Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution and to the Greeks, Romans,
and Christianity

Democratic Philosophers
How democratic thought and institutions were influenced by Enlightenment thinkers - e.g.,
John Locke, Charles-Louis Montesquieu, American founders

Importance of Magna Carta

How the principles in the Magna Carta were embodied in such documents as the English
Bill of Rights and the American Declaration of Independence

Grade Seven Health

Positive Health Practices and Relevant Health Care

Dietary Guidelines

Reducing Risk of Cancer

Reducing Risk of Heart Disease

Individual Influence on Health and Wellbeing

Individual Influence at School

Individual Influence on the Workplace

Individual Influence on the Community

Actions on Body Systems

Fad Diets

Orthodontics

Smoking, Drugs, & Alcohol

Addressing Interpersonal Differences Without Harm

Avoidance

Compromise

Cooperation

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexual Intimacy

Sex

Sexual Violence

Sexual Harassment

Partner or Domestic Violence

Gender Discrimination

Harmful Practices

Gang Resistance

Similarities & Differences

Respecting Others

Myths and Facts About Human Sexuality

Regarding Pregnancy

Regarding Sexual Orientation

Other

Grade Seven Character Development

Character Awareness

Transformative Experiences a significant turning point in ones personal development; a

defining moment in time that shapes the direction of an individuals life from that point
forward.
Identify factors that influence transformative experiences:
o
o
o
o

Personal struggles/triumphs
Religious/near-death encounters
Spontaneous revelations
Disciplined efforts and intention

Recognize that many people do not experience this defining moment in their lifetime a
valid explanation for many of the breakdowns in our society.

Identify people in your life who have undergone a transformative experience or defining
moment:
o How did they speak of this turning point?
o How did it make you feel to learn of this experience?

Character Arc a significant shift in personal growth, sometimes unwilling, often brought
about by a series of challenges and choices that ultimately shape a persons character.
What character arc reveals:
o
o
o

Distinguishes between ones past and future outlooks

Establishes level of reasoning and personal responsibility
Invokes a learning process whereby individuals grow from experience

Discuss books or movies that involve a character arc. Examine character flaws (lack of courage,
inability to love, lack of ethics) that were overcome throughout the course of the story.

Levels of Awareness

Desire
Desire as a level of personal awareness refers to addiction, craving and lust for
money, approval, fame or similar outcomes.
* Recognize that desire is not always a negative emotion. Example: Desire can serve an
important purpose in setting and achieving goals.

Anger
Anger is a level characterized by frustration, often a result of not having desires met at the
lower level. This level can either inspire individuals to take action and attain higher levels
of awareness or trap people in a constant state of hatred.
* Recognize that anger is not always a negative emotion. Example: Anger can motivate
individuals to be assertive and express their feelings about an unacceptable situation.

Character in Action

Desire: In this level, individuals are experiencing forms of addiction where cravings
become more important than life itself. Examples can include drug use, smoking, alcohol
as well as materialism. Similar feelings of want, however, can inspire individuals in this
level to pursue achievements which may lead them to higher levels of awareness.

Anger: In this level, wants that go unmet can lead to frustration that materializes as anger.
Effects include feelings of resentment, revenge and hatred. These feelings can affect
many other aspects of a persons life.

Extend the discussion of desire and anger, identifying examples of people stuck in these
levels and examining possible outcomes. Evaluate how the two levels are connected and
consider how an individual can move past these stages of awareness.

Grade Seven Critical Thinking

What is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking can be defined in many ways including the following:

-

an improvement in ones thinking that includes standards for evaluating thought

a higher level of thinking and problem solving based on reason, evidence and the nature of
individual circumstances

self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored and self-corrective thinking

Critical thinking enables meaningful learning and life experience by strengthening ones ability to:
-

analyze, criticize and support ideas

pay attention to detail

evaluate personal perspective

consider different perspectives

develop a clear understanding of a topic

identify trends and predict outcomes

logically reason and evaluate information

form strong conclusions

*These critical thinking abilities help guide people in decisions and judgments in personal
relationships, school, work and society.

Why do we need critical thinking?

Without critical thinking, individuals would never question messages conveyed in:
-

Television commercials

Corporate agendas

Political statements

Written materials (textbooks, magazines, newspapers, etc.)

*Discussion topic: What are some messages you have encountered that you believe are false
or misleading? What led you to question their validity?

Critical Reading and Writing

Critical reading and writing allow text to be evaluated for what it says, how it says it and what it means.
Critical readers examine different points of view with an open mind, evaluate their own position on the
subject and make conclusions about the reading itself.
Critical readers ask themselves the following questions while they read:
-

What am I asked to think or believe? Is it reasonable?

What evidence is used to persuade me? Is it relevant and reliable?

Is the available evidence convincing? Is there information that appears to be missing?

Critical writers present conclusions in a logical, clear manner to persuade others about a topic.
-

Writers must adequately address the above questions essentially, to be a critical writer, one
must first be a critical reader

Writers must focus on presenting ideas and concepts to convey meaning

Writers must also concentrate on how ideas are presented sentence structure, punctuation
and grammar all influence how a reader interprets text

Grade Seven Interpersonal Relationships

Romantic Relationships

Relationship Events
Romantic relationships typically include the following sequence of events:
- Meeting/Bonding the stage where individuals meet and form a mutual attraction

Courtship/Dating the stage where individuals spend time together and learn about
each other

Commitment the stage where individuals dedicate themselves to the other person

Break Up or Marriage the stage where the relationship is dissolved (in a break up)
or permanently solidified (in a marriage)

Gender Differences
Men and women have significant social and biological differences that can affect a romantic connection.
Gender differences can impact the following major areas of a relationship:

Feelings:
Men often do not identify or share their own emotions as easily as women do; they tend to want
to share what they know (ideas, concepts and theories over fears, feelings and experiences)

Independence:
Men tend to desire a greater amount of independence than women do; women tend to desire a
stronger connectedness and may not understand mens need for space

Competition:
Men tend to be more competitive than women, largely due to social influences of boyhood
games where there is an emphasis on winning; women are more likely to sacrifice winning in
order to keep the peace

Future:
Men tend to focus on plans for the future and problem solving; women tend to want to focus on
current feelings and experiences to build emotional bonds

Grade Seven Cultural Literacy Art, Architecture & Music

Introduction to Cultural Literacy

What is cultural literacy?

Cultural literacy is prior knowledge of background information that allows us to be competent readers,
listeners and learners (prior knowledge of significant people, places, events, etc.)

Why is cultural literacy important?

Cultural literacy enables:

Effective communication it provides context to express and interpret meaning

Political and social change it allows people to understand values and make decisions

Greater equality among learners it provides critical background knowledge required for strong
reading, writing and communication

Areas of cultural literacy:

Cultural literacy requires a common knowledge of many academic topics including history, politics,
geography, myth and religion, quotes and phrases, literature, science and technology and current
events.
Additional areas of cultural literacy include:
-

Art

Architecture

Music

Grade Seven Health & Wellness

Drug Abuse

What are drugs? What characterizes drug abuse?

Drugs are substances that alter normal bodily function; these include legal medicines, alcohol, tobacco
and illegal drugs. Drug abuse typically refers to the use of illegal drugs such as marijuana, ecstasy,
cocaine, LSD, crystal meth and heroin. Misuse of prescription drugs also indicates drug abuse.

Dangers of illegal drugs

-

Physical damage to the brain, heart and other bodily organs (this damage can be especially
severe for kids and teens that have not yet reached their full physical development)

Poor decision making (unclear thinking can lead to dangerous, reckless behavior)

Addiction (individuals can become dependent on the drug and unable to function well without it)

Why people use drugs:

-

To fit in (with a group of friends, peers, etc.)

Curiosity or boredom

Escape from reality

Signs of drug use:

-

Loss of interest in school

Changing group of friends

Mood swings, negative attitude, excessive worrying

Desire to be alone a lot

Difficulty concentrating

Excessive sleep

Tendency to get in fights

Red or puffy eyes

Change in body weight

Persistent cough and runny nose

Treatment
There are many options available to assist people suffering with drug problems including individual and
group therapy and rehabilitation programs.
Additional information is available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administrations National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or
www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov.

Addiction

What is addiction?
Addiction is being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or
physically habit-forming.

What is a twelve-step program?

A twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from
addiction or other behavioral problems.
The twelve-step process involves the following goals:
-

admitting lack of control over one's addiction or compulsion

recognizing a greater power that can give strength

examining past errors with the help of a sponsor (experienced mentor)

making amends for these errors

learning to live a new life with a new code of behavior

helping others that suffer from the same addictions or compulsions

Grade Seven Home Skills

Home & Property Management

Cleaning House
Daily Cleaning Tasks:
o
o
o
o

Make beds
Wipe kitchen counters
Disinfect kitchen sink
Empty trash

Weekly Cleaning Tasks:

o

Clean bathroom (from top to bottom mirrors, sinks, toilets, shower/tub, floors)

o
o
o

Vacuum carpets and hard flooring

Dust furniture and electronic equipment throughout home
Clean kitchen (counters, sink, stovetop, appliances, floors)

Periodic Cleaning Tasks (Every 6 to 8 weeks):

o
o
o
o
o

Clean cupboards inside and out

Clean the oven
Polish delicate items and fixtures
Clean windows
Deep clean shower/tub grout

Occasional Cleaning Tasks:

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Vacuum underneath furniture

Wipe down baseboards, doors and frames
Clean light fixtures, ceiling fans
Shampoo carpets and polish hard floors
Clean window coverings
Clean appliances including filters
Clean out bathroom cupboards and clothes closets
Flip bed mattresses

Essential Cleaning Products:

o
o
o
o
o
o

Liquid bleach: kills germs and eliminates grease; should be diluted with water (1 part
bleach to 4 parts water); surfaces must be rinsed after use
Powder bleach: abrasive cleanser for hard, scratch-resistant materials; surfaces must be
rinsed after use
Liquid disinfectant: kills germs on surfaces
Multi-surface cleaners: a cleaning agent that combines detergent and water softener;
usually does not require rinsing after use
Anti-bacterial cleaners: products that clean and disinfect while destroying bacteria that
can cause food poisoning
Natural/homemade cleaning options: lemon, baking soda, vinegar

Laundry:

Prepping laundry for washing machine:

Read instructions for washing machine and care labels on clothing

Empty pockets and remove any loose buttons or threads
Sort clothes by color (dark or bright colors can bleed onto lighter items if
combined in the washing machine)
Put smaller, delicate items in mesh, zippered lingerie bags
Use an appropriate detergent consider your skin type and sensitivities and
whether your machine requires specialty detergent
Pre-treat stains with warm or cold water (hot water can set stains) or use a
commercial stain remover product

Running loads of laundry:

Run separate loads for different fabric types (one load for towels, one load for
sheets)
Set machine to the lowest temperature that can effectively clean clothes
Only wash full loads of laundry but do not overfill the machine, as it may damage
the machine or the items being washed

Food Management

Kitchen Essentials: set up an organized kitchen that is functional for storage, food preparation,
cooking, eating and cleaning.
A well-stocked kitchen typically contains the following items:
o

Small appliances: toaster, blender, coffeemaker, mixer

Large appliances: microwave, oven, refrigerator and freezer, dishwasher

Tools and utensils: can opener, cutting board, colander, measuring cups and spoons,
knives, pots and pans, peeler, whisks, mixing bowls

Tableware: dishes, flatware, serving utensils, glasses

Emergencies

Emergency Preparedness: it is important to deal with emergencies in the home calmly and
effectively. This can be accomplished by gearing yourself with knowledge of your surroundings
and preparing for various circumstances.

Safety essentials

Have the following items in your home in case of fire, water, gas or electrical problems:

Smoke alarms
Fire extinguisher
Carbon monoxide detectors
Flashlights
Emergency numbers near telephone
Clearly visible outdoor house/address number

Fires

Kitchen (grease) fires: do not move a smoking pan or throw water on it as the fire
will spread; turn off the stove or burner if possible; smother pan with a damp

cloth or large lid; if fire becomes uncontrollable, follow the following steps for a
house fire

House fires: ensure every room has an escape route and identify an evacuation
plan: get everyone out of the house immediately; do not stop for possessions or
to look for pets; close doors behind you; if you are trapped in a room, place a
blanket or towel (ideally wet) at the bottom of door; go to the window and call for
help; do not jump from an upstairs room unless your life is threatened; if you
must escape from an upstairs room, throw a mattress out of the window to break
your fall

Electrical fires: turn off every appliance and unplug them; use a dry powder fire
extinguisher to put out the fire (never use water); smother fire with a heavy
blanket or rug

Floods

Tornadoes

In the case of a tornado warning, the safest area of the house is in a basement;
otherwise, a center hallway or bathroom on the lowest floor (a room far away
from windows)

Earthquakes

Turn off all gas, electricity and water supplies at the main switches, using only
dry hands to do so
If possible, block exterior doors with sandbags or plastic bags filled with soil
Lift up carpets; move valuables

Move away from windows; take cover under a desk or table to protect against
head injuries in case of collapse; internal doorways can also provide some
protection in an earthquake

Additional information on specific disaster preparedness including emergency plans and

kits is available at: http://www.redcrosslv.org/disaster/materials.html

Grade Seven Study Skills

Active Listening

What is active listening?

The ability to listen for detail, follow directions and evaluate what is heard good listening is one of the
most important skills a learner can develop in school and for the rest of their life

To become a better listener, it is important to engage in discussions in active ways including:

-

Look directly at the speaker

Do not talk or do other things while listening to the speaker

Write a list of main ideas about the discussion

Generate a list of questions the discussion addresses

List details to support a point of view

Time Management

To avoid last minute frustrations about assignments, students should practice effective time
management techniques including:
-

Establish a study schedule for upcoming tests

Study at designated times

Study earlier in the day (before dinner) whenever possible

Use a calendar for recording due dates and setting weekly goals

Break large assignments into smaller parts and set deadlines for each section

Eighth Grade
Free World U

Grade Eight Language Arts

Writing Sentences

Using Parallel Structure

Review

Eliminating Extraneous Information

Review

Correcting Subject-Verb Agreement Problems

Review

Problems with Pronoun Case and Agreement

Review

Creating Emphasis

Creating Emphasis in Sentences

Annotation

Creating Emphasis in Paragraphs and Essays

Shows students how to emphasize important information in paragraphs and essays by
using organizational features, vocabulary choices, and sentence structure

Your Turn: Writing a Persuasive Essay

Flashcards remind students to present a clear thesis backed up with detailed evidence
and examples to support their positions. Students will anticipate and answer
counterarguments

Writing About Literature

Using Literary Terms

Introduces students to the vocabulary they need to write responses to literature
Vocabulary includes: characterization, conflict, dialogue, imagery, point of view,
symbolism, and tone

Reading Critically
Shows students how to read critically in order to write a response to literature rather than
for research or enjoyment

Writing about Fiction

Covers strategies for writing about fiction; includes writing prompts and how to respond

Using Examples for a Text

Shows students how to use examples from a text to support their ideas in a response to
literature

Literal Meaning vs. Figurative Meaning

Practice with these important terms

Thinking About Literature

Comparing Literature
Students will compare and contrast two pieces, looking at the similarities and differences
between characters from different historical periods facing similar situations

Critiquing Literature
Examining the coherence, logic, and internal consistency of text

Evaluating the Critics

Students read a short piece and evaluate different summaries of the text to determine
whether the writers have accurately relayed the main ideas and underlying meaning of the
original text

Sayings
Never the twain shall meet. Off the record. Rule of thumb

The Novel of Choice

Background Information
A discussion of the novels author and time period in which the book was written

Before You Read

Students answer a series of questions designed to help them to purposefully and critically
read the chosen novel

Your Turn: Writing About The Novel of Choice

Using the novel just read, students will write a meaningful essay. Flashcards remind
students of how to write the essay. Assignment is to write about the structural elements of
the plot, the characters and their motivations, the setting, particularly the time period and
customs therein, themes, and recurring literary devices. Students will carefully edit their
work

Reading

Types of Fiction
Extensive lesson about the characteristics and genres of fiction

Types of Nonfiction
Extensive lesson about nonfiction

Reading Drama

Characterization
Shows students how to look for information about characters in dialogue, narration, etc

Dialogue
Shows students how to use dialogue to learn more about characters, plot, setting, etc

Drama Subgenres
Introduces students to tragedy and comedy; includes characteristics and examples of
each

Understanding Historical Perspective

Using plays shows students how cultural and current events affect literature. Explains to
students how to use historical perspective to draw conclusions about literature

Reading a Drama
Students read a short play and answer questions about the action, characterization, etc

Poetry

Characteristics of Free Verse

Free verse has no set line length, rhyme scheme or rhythm pattern but does have a
certain flow. Free verse is a way of sharing ideas and feelings

Reading Free Verse

Shows students examples of free verse poetry, and how to identify poetic devices in free
verse

Your Turn: Writing in Free Verse

Flashcards remind students to use vivid words and alliteration, assonance, internal rhyme,
and/or onomatopoeia. Assignment to students is to write a free verse poem

Forms of Poetry
Reviews the purposes and characteristics of ballads, lyrics, couplets, epics, elegies, odes,
and sonnets

Your Turn: Reciting Poetry

Student selects a poem of four to six stanzas and gives a formal recitation. Student varies
his vocal presentation and uses gestures appropriately

Problems in Writing

False Analogies
Shows students how to identify, avoid, and revise false analogies in their writing

Drawing False Conclusions

Shows students how to identify and revise false conclusions in their writing

Presenting Information in an Illogical Manner

Shows students how to present the information in their essays in a logical manner. Gives
examples of mistakes and how to correct them

Youre the Editor

Includes sentences that need to be revised for any of the problems that have already
been introduced, including grammar and capitalization problems. Also includes examples
where sentences need to be revised because they are too repetitive

Strategies for Active Reading

Determine Purpose for Reading

Shows students how determining a purpose for reading can help them get the most out of
what they read. Shows students how to determine a purpose for reading using clues from
the text

Scanning for Details

Shows students how to scan a text for details to determine if a text is relevant to their
research or interests

Highlighting Important Details

Explains to students how to determine what information in a text is worth noting

Taking Notes
Explains to students how to take effective notes while reading a text

Asking Questions as you Read

Shows students how to ask relevant questions as they read to get the most out of a text,
including questions about proposition and support

Summarizing and Reviewing

Shows students how to summarize what they read

Studying Images
Students will study a variety of visual images, including graphics, illustrations, and
photographs to determine the ways images communicate information and influence
opinions

Writing Research Papers

MLA Format
Teaches the basics of MLA format

Paraphrasing and Using Direct Quotes

How to decide between them, and how to punctuate and use both properly

Citing References
How to and when to

Footnotes and Bibliographies

Shows students how to use them properly

Creating a Chart or Graph

Finding relevant information in your research that can be made into a chart or graph to aid
the readers understanding of your report

Your Turn: Write a Research Paper

Flashcards review the elements of a research paper. Assignment to students is to write
the paper

Biographies and Autobiographies

Biographies and Autobiographies

Covers the characteristics of each

Interviewing for Biographical Information

Teaches interviewing and note- taking skills in preparation for an assignment to write a
biography

Converting Notes into an Essay

Teaches how to go from notes to a real story

Your Turn: Write a Biography

Students will write a biographical sketch of the person theyve interviewed. They
emphasize relevant information, use physical descriptions, and maintain strong
organization

Reading Documents and Instructions

Warranties and Contracts

Provides experience in reading and understanding simple product warranties and
contracts

Reading Documents
Students use how-to materials and public documents to solve problems

Reading Technical Directions

Student gains practice in understanding and explaining how to do something by following
technical directions

Your Turn: Giving Technical Directions

Flashcards show students to identify a sequence of steps needed to operate a tool or
some sort of technical device. A second option is to explain the bylaws of a club or
organization, such as Boy Scouts, that they belong to

Business Writing

Introduction to Business Writing

Introduces students to job applications and letters of inquiry

Your Turn: Write a Letter of Inquiry

Students will write a clear, polite letter asking for an interview for a position. Students will
properly format the letter

Spelling

Spelling
A brush-up for students on spelling demons, the most-commonly misspelled words in the
language

Vocabulary

English Language History

Explains the most important points in the history of English language and uses common
word origins to show the historical influences on English words

Analogies
Defines analogies and invites students to practice the technique

Oxymoron
Defines an oxymoron and presents some well-known ones: bittersweet, steel wool,
original copy, larger half, etc

Context
Figuring out the meaning of words using context clues

Literacy Vocabulary
Extensive list of vocabulary including figurative language, personification, hyperbole, and
many others

Listening

Analyzing Responses to Literature

Students will listen to short oral reports about literature and evaluate the speakers
purpose, choice of language, delivery, and the effect the reports are likely to have on
listeners

Analyzing Responses to Speeches

Students will listen to short oral reports on a variety of topics and evaluate the speakers
credibility. They will listen for hidden agendas, bias, and slant

Speaking

Adapting to your Audience

Making a formal business-type presentation vs. talking to friends informally

Your Turn: Presenting a Biography

Students will convert their biography report into a speech. They will give a clear
presentation, sharing events from the subjects life and relating the importance of said
events. Students will use descriptive words and strong verbs to hold the attention of the
audience

Your Turn: Telling About a Book

Students will summarize a favorite book and share their reactions to the book, backing up
their impressions with material from the book

Your Turn: Presenting your Research Report

Students will convert their research report into a series of note cards which they will
deliver in an effective way. They will cite sources in an appropriate manner, use direct
quotations when useful, and effectively use a visual aid. The audience here is defined as a
formal gathering of adults

Your Turn: Delivering a Persuasive Speech

Students will write and deliver a speech about a favorite hobby or pastime with the goal of
persuading others to try it. They will write a strong thesis, give detailed evidence and
examples and differentiate between fact and opinion

Algebra I
Algebra Basics

Using Arithmetic Properties

Identify and use the arithmetic properties of subsets of integers and rational, irrational,
and real numbers, including closure properties for the four basic arithmetic operations
where applicable

True and False Assertions

Use properties of numbers to demonstrate whether assertions are true or false

Understanding and Using Operations

Understand and use such operations as taking the opposite, finding the reciprocal, taking
a root, and raising to a fractional power; understand and use the rules of exponents

Linear Equations and Inequalities

Simplifying Expressions
Simplify expressions before solving linear equations and inequalities in one variable, such
as 3(2x-5) + 4(x-2) = 12

Solving Multistep Linear Equations

Solve multistep problems involving linear and provide justification for each step

Solving Multistep Linear Inequalities

Solve multistep problems involving linear inequalities in one variable and provide
justification for each step

Solving Multistep Word Problems (Equations)

Solve multistep problems word problems involving linear equations in one variable and
provide justification for each step

Solving Multistep Word Problems (Inequalities)

Solve multistep problems word problems involving linear inequalities in one variable and
provide justification for each step

Solving Equations With Absolute Value

Solve equations involving absolute values

Solving Inequalities With Absolute Value

Solve inequalities involving absolute values

Linear Equation Graphs

Graph a linear equation and compute the x- and y- intercepts (e.g., graph 2x + 6y = 4).

Linear Equality Graphs

Sketch the region defined by linear inequality (e.g., they sketch the region defined by 2x +
6y < 4)

Point-Slope Formula
Derive linear equations by using the point-slope formula; verify that a point lies on a line,
given an equation of the line

Related Slopes
Understand the concepts of parallel lines and perpendicular lines and how those slopes
are related; find the equation of a line perpendicular to a given line that passes through a
given point

Solving for Two Linear Equations

Solve a system of two linear equations in two variables algebraically and interpret the
answer graphically; solve a system of two linear inequalities in two variables and to sketch
the solution sets

Polynomials

Working With Polynomials

Add, subtract, multiply, and divide monomials and polynomials; solve multistep problems,
including word problems, by using these techniques

Factoring Polynomials
Apply factoring techniques to second-and simple third-degree polynomials, including find a
common factor for all terms, recognize the difference of two squares, recognize perfect
squares of binomials

Simplifying Fractions With Polynomials

Simplify fractions with polynomials in the numerator and denominator by factoring both
and reducing them to the lowest terms

Relations and Functions

Relations and Functions

Understand the concepts of a relation and a function, determine whether a given relation
defines a function, and give pertinent information about given relations and functions

Analyzing and Justifying

Determine whether a relation defined by a graph, a set of ordered pairs, or a symbolic

expression is a function and justify the conclusion

Rational Expressions and Functions

Rational Expressions and Functions

Add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational expressions and functions; solve both
computationally and conceptually challenging problems by using these techniques

Quadratic Equations and Functions

Quadratic Formula
Know the quadratic formula and be familiar with its proof by completing the square

Solving Quadratic Equations

Solve a quadratic equation by factoring or completing the square

Quadratic Formula and Roots

Use the quadratic formula to find the roots of a second-degree polynomial and to solve
quadratic equations

Graphing Quadratic Functions

Graph quadratic functions and know that their roots are the x- intercepts

Quadratic Functions and Graphs

Use the quadratic formula or factoring techniques or both to determine whether the graph
of a quadratic function will intersect the x-axis in zero, one, or two points

Application of Quadratic Equations

Apply quadratic equations to physical problems, such as the motion of an object under the
force of gravity

Domain and Range

Finding Domain and Range

Determine the domain of independent variables and the range of dependent variables
defined by a graph, a set of ordered pairs, or a symbolic expression

Algebraic Logic and Reasoning

Aspects of a Logical Argument

Use and know simple aspects of a logical argument

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Explain the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning and identify and
provide examples of each

Hypothesis and Conclusion

Identify the hypothesis and conclusion in logical deduction.

Counterexamples
Use counterexamples to show that an assertion is false and recognize that a single
counterexample is sufficient to refute an assertion

Properties of the Number System

Use properties of the number system to judge the validity of results, to justify each step of
a procedure, and to prove or disprove statements

Properties of Numbers
Use properties of numbers to construct simple, valid arguments (direct and indirect) for, or
formulate counterexamples to, claimed assertions

Validity of an Argument
Judge the validity of an argument according to whether the properties of the real number
system and the order of operations have been applied correctly at each step

Analyzing an Algebraic Statement

Given a specific algebraic statement involving linear, quadratic, or absolute value
expressions or equations or inequalities, determine whether the statement is true
sometimes, always, or never

Applying Algebra Concepts

Algebra in Life
Apply algebraic techniques to solve rate problems, work problems, and percent mixture
problems

Grade Eight Science

Motion

Position
Students know position is defined in relation to some choice of a standard reference point
and a set of reference directions

Average Speed
Students know that average speed is the total distance traveled divided by the total time
elapsed and that the speed of an object along the path traveled can vary

Solving Motion Problems

Students know how to solve problems involving distance, time, and average speed

Velocity
Students know the velocity of an object must be described by specifying both the direction
and the speed of the object; changes in velocity may be due to changes in speed,
direction, or both

Interpreting Motion Graphs

Students know how to interpret graphs of position versus time and graphs of speed versus
time for motion in a single direction

Introduction to Forces
Students know a force has both direction and magnitude; when an object is subject to two
or more forces at once, the result is the cumulative effect of all forces

Identifying Forces
Students know how to identify separately the two or more forces that are acting on a
single static object, including gravity, elastic forces due to tension or compression in
matter, and friction

Balance of Forces

Forces

When the forces on an object are balanced, the motion of the object does not change;
when the forces on an object are unbalanced, the object will change its velocity and/or
direction

Forces and Mass

Students know the greater the mass of an object, the more force is needed to achieve the
same rate of change in motion

Force of Gravity
Students know the role of gravity in forming and maintaining the shapes of planets, stars,
and the solar system

Structure of Matter

Structure of the Atom

Students know the structure of the atom and know it is composed of protons, neutrons,
and electrons

Chemical Compounds
Compounds are formed by combining two or more different elements; compounds have
properties that are different from their constituent elements; use the periodic table to
identify elements in compounds

Forming Solids
Students know atoms and molecules form solids by building up repeating patterns, such
as the crystal structure of NaCl or long-chain polymers

Motion of Molecules
States of matter depend on molecular motion; (solids: atoms closely locked, only vibrate;
liquids: atoms/molecules loosely connected, collide and move; gases: atoms/molecules
free to move, colliding)

Earth in the Solar System

Galaxies
Students know galaxies are clusters of billions of stars and may have different shapes

Stars
The Sun is a star; stars differ in size, temperature, and color; stars are the source of light
for all bright objects in space; the Moon and planets shine by reflected sunlight not by their
own light

Measures of Astronomical Distances

Students know how to use astronomical units and light years as measures of distances
between the Sun, stars, and Earth

Knowing Our Solar System

Student know the appearance, general composition, relative position and size, and motion
of planets in the Solar System.
Planetary Satellites, Asteroids, and Comets
Students know the appearance, general composition, relative position and size, and
motion of planetary satellites, comets, and asteroids

Chemical Reactions

Reactant Atoms and Molecules

Students know reactant atoms and molecules interact to form products with different
chemical properties

Atoms and Conservation of Matter

Students know the idea of atoms explains the conservation of matter: In chemical
reactions the number of atoms stays the same no matter how they are arranged, so their
total mass stays the same
Chemical and Physical Reactions
Students know chemical reactions usually liberate heat or absorb heat; physical
processes include freezing and boiling, in which a material changes form with no chemical
reaction
Types of Solutions
Students know how to determine whether a solution is acidic, basic, or neutral

Chemistry of Living Systems

Carbon
Students know that carbon, because of its ability to combine in many ways with itself and
other elements, has a central role in the chemistry of living organisms

Molecules of Living Organisms

Students know that living organisms are made of molecules consisting largely of carbon,
hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur

Variety of Molecules
Students know that living organisms have many different kinds of molecules, including
small ones, such as water and salt, and very large ones, such as carbohydrates, fats,
proteins, and DNA

Periodic Table

Regions of the Periodic Table

Students know how to identify regions corresponding to metals, nonmetals, and inert
gases

Atomic Numbers and Isotopes

Students know each element has a specific number of protons in the nucleus (the atomic
number) and each isotope of the element has a different but specific number of neutrons
in the nucleus

Classification of Substances
Students know substances can be classified by their properties, including their melting
temperature, density, hardness, and thermal and electrical conductivity

Density and Buoyancy

Density
Students know density is mass per unit volume; know how to calculate the density of
substances (regular and irregular solids and liquids) from measurements of mass and
volume

Buoyancy
Students know the buoyant force on an object in a fluid is an upward force equal to the
weight of the fluid the object has displaced; know how to predict whether an object will
float or sink

Investigation and Experimentation

Planning and Conducting Investigation

Plan and conduct a scientific investigation to test a hypothesis; evaluate the accuracy and
reproducibility of data; distinguish between variable and controlled parameters in a test

Creating Scientific Graphs

Construct appropriate graphs from data and develop quantitative statements about the
relationships between variables; distinguish between linear and nonlinear relationships on
a graph of data n

Interpreting Scientific Graphs

Recognize the slope of the linear graph as the constant in the relationship y=kx and apply
this principle in interpreting graphs constructed from data

Applying Mathematics in Science

Apply simple mathematic relationships to determine a missing quantity, given the two
remaining terms (speed = distance/time, density = mass/volume, force = pressure area,
volume = area height)

Grade Eight Social Studies

Influences on American Democracy

Influence of the Great Awakening

Relationship between the moral and political ideas of the Great Awakening and the
development of revolutionary fervor

Declaration of Independence
The philosophy of government expressed in the Declaration of Independence;
government as a means of securing individual rights - e.g., key phrases such as "all men
are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights"

International Effect
How the American Revolution affected other nations, especially France

Americas Ideals
Nations blend of civic republicanism, classical liberal principles, and English
parliamentary traditions

Principles of the U.S. Constitution

Influences on the Constitution

Significance of the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, and the Mayflower Compact

Articles of Confederation and the Constitution

Contents of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution; success of each in
implementing the ideals of the Declaration of Independence

Major Debates
Major debates that occurred during the development of the Constitution; their ultimate
resolutions in such areas as shared power among institutions, divided state-federal power,
slavery, rights of individuals and states (later addressed by the addition of the Bill of
Rights), status of American Indian nations under the commerce clause

Political Philosophy

Political philosophy underpinning the Constitution as specified in the Federalist Papers

authored by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay; role of such leaders as
Madison, George Washington, Roger Sherman, Gouverneur Morris, and James Wilson in
the writing and ratification of the Constitution

Separation of Church and State

Significance of Jefferson's Statute for Religious Freedom as a forerunner of the First
Amendment; origins, purpose, and differing views of the founding fathers on the issue of
the separation of church and state

Powers and Liberty

The powers of government set forth in the Constitution; the fundamental liberties ensured
by the Bill of Rights

Key Principles
Principles of federalism, dual sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, the
nature and purpose of majority rule, the ways in which the American idea of
constitutionalism preserves individual rights

Foundation of the American Political System

Role of Early State Constitutions

Principles and concepts codified in state constitutions between 1777 and 1781 that
created the context out of which American political institutions and ideas developed

Ordinances of 1785 and 1787

How the ordinances of 1785 and 1787 privatized national resources and transferred
federally owned lands into private holdings, townships, and states

Common Market
Advantages of a common market among the states as foreseen in and protected by the
Constitution's clauses on interstate commerce, common coinage, and full-faith and credit

Origins of the Two-Party System

How the conflicts between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton resulted in the
emergence of two political parties - view of foreign policy, Alien and Sedition Acts,
economic policy, National Bank, funding and assumption of the revolutionary debt

Domestic Resistance Movements

Their significance; ways in which the central government responded to such movements Shays' Rebellion, the Whiskey Rebellion

Participation of Citizens
Basic law-making process; how the Constitution provides numerous opportunities for
citizens to participate in the political process and to monitor and influence government function of elections, political parties, interest groups

Free Press
Functions and responsibilities of a free press

Aspirations and Ideals of Early America

Early American Landscape

Countrys physical landscapes, political divisions, and territorial expansion during the
terms of the first four presidents

Famous Speeches

Policy significance of Washington's Farewell Address, Jefferson's 1801 Inaugural

Address, John Q. Adams's Fourth of July 1821 Address

Rise of Capitalism
Rise of capitalism and the economic problems and conflicts that accompanied it Jackson's opposition to the National Bank; early decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court that
reinforced the sanctity of contracts and a capitalist economic system of law

Early American Life

Daily life; traditions in art, music, and literature, of early national America; writings by
Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper

Foreign Policy in the Early Republic

War of 1812
Political and economic causes and consequences of the War of 1812; major battles,
leaders, and events that led to a final peace

International Relations
Changing boundaries of the United States; relationships with its neighbors - current
Mexico and Canada - and Europe; influence of the Monroe Doctrine; how those
relationships influenced westward expansion and the Mexican-American War

Treaties with Indian Nations

Major treaties with American Indian nations during the administrations of the first four
presidents; varying outcomes of those treaties

America from 1800 to the Mid-1800s

Industrialization
Influence of industrialization and technological developments on the region; human
modification of the landscape; how physical geography shaped human actions - growth of
cities, deforestation, farming, mineral extraction

Roads, Canals, and Railroads

Economic and political factors involved in building a network of roads, canals, and
railroads - Henry Clay's American System; physical obstacles to building this network

Immigration
Reasons for the wave of immigration from Northern Europe to the United States; growth in
the number, size, and spatial arrangements of cities; Irish immigrants and the Great Irish
Famine

Freed Slaves in the North

Lives of black Americans who gained freedom in the North and founded schools and
churches to advance their rights and communities

Education
Development of the American education system from its earliest roots; roles of religious
and private schools; Horace Mann's campaign for free public education and its
assimilating role in American culture

Women's Suffrage
Womens suffrage movement; biographies, writings, and speeches of Elizabeth Cady
Stanton, Margaret Fuller, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony

Culture and Philosophy

Common themes in American art; transcendentalism and individualism; writings about and
by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Herman Melville, Louisa May Alcott,
Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The South from 1800 to the Mid-1800s

Agrarian Economy
Development of the agrarian economy in the South; locations of the cotton-producing
states; significance of cotton and the cotton gin

Slavery
Origins and development of slavery; its effects on black Americans and on the region's
political, social, religious, economic, and cultural development; strategies that were tried to
both overturn and preserve it; writings and historical documents on Nat Turner, Denmark
Vesey

White Southern Society

Characteristics of white Southern society; how the physical environment influenced events
and conditions prior to the Civil War

Free Blacks in the North and South

Lives of and opportunities for free blacks in the North compared to those of free blacks in
the South

The West from 1800 to the Mid-1800s

Andrew Jackson
Election of Andrew Jackson as president in 1828; importance of Jacksonian democracy;
his actions as president - the spoils system, veto of the National Bank, policy of Indian
removal, opposition to the Supreme Court

Westward Expansion
Purpose, challenges, and economic incentives associated with westward expansion;
concept of Manifest Destiny; Lewis and Clark expedition; accounts of the removal of
Indians; Cherokees' "Trail of Tears"; settlement of the Great Plains; territorial acquisitions
that spanned numerous decades

Pioneer Women
Role of pioneer women; the new status that western women achieved - Laura Ingalls
Wilder, Annie Bidwell; slave women gaining freedom in the West; Wyoming granting
suffrage to women in 1869

Rivers and Water Rights

Importance of the great rivers; struggle over water rights

Mexican Settlements
Their locations, cultural traditions, attitudes toward slavery, land-grant system, and
economies

Mexican-American War
Texas War for Independence; Mexican-American War; territorial settlements; the
aftermath of the wars; and the effects the wars had on the lives of Americans; including
Mexican Americans today

Early Attempts to Abolish Slavery

Leaders of the Movement

John Quincy Adams and his proposed constitutional amendment; John Brown and the
armed resistance; Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad; Benjamin Franklin;
Theodore Weld; William Lloyd Garrison; Frederick Douglass

State Constitutions
Abolition of slavery in early state constitutions

First Limits on Slavery

Significance of the Northwest Ordinance in education; significance of the banning of
slavery in new states north of the Ohio River

Texas and California

Importance of the slavery issue as raised by the annexation of Texas and California's
admission to the union as a free state under the Compromise of 1850

Milestones in the Fight over Slavery

Significance of the States' Rights Doctrine; the Missouri Compromise (1820); the Wilmot
Proviso (1846); the Compromise of 1850; Henry Clay's role in the Missouri Compromise
and the Compromise of 1850; the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854); the Dred Scott v.
Sandford decision (1857); Lincoln-Douglas debates (1858)

Lives of Free Blacks

Daily life; laws that limited their freedom and economic opportunities

The Civil War

State and Federal Authority

Conflicting interpretations of state and federal authority; speeches and writings of
statesmen such as Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun

North and South

Boundaries constituting the North and the South; geographical differences between the
two regions; differences between agrarians and industrialists

Doctrine of Nullification and Secession

Constitutional issues posed by the doctrine of nullification and secession; the earliest
origins of that doctrine

Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln's presidency; his significant writings and speeches and their relationship
to the Declaration of Independence, such as his "House Divided" speech (1858),
Gettysburg Address (1863), Emancipation Proclamation (1863), and inaugural addresses
(1861 and 1865)

Leaders and Soldiers

Views and lives of leaders - Ulysses S. Grant, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee; views and
lives of soldiers on both sides of the war, including those of black soldiers and regiments

Fighting the War

Critical developments and events in the war; major battles; geographical advantages and
obstacles; technological advances; General Lee's surrender at Appomattox

Effect of the Civil War

How the war affected combatants, civilians, the physical environment, and future warfare

Reconstruction

Aims and Effects of Reconstruction

Original aims of Reconstruction; its effects on the political and social structures of different
regions

Movement of Former Slaves

The push-pull factors in the movement of former slaves to the cities in the North and to the
West; their differing experiences in those regions; the experiences of Buffalo Soldiers

Restrictions on Freed Slaves

Effects of the Freedmen's Bureau; restrictions placed on the rights and opportunities of
freedmen; racial segregation and "Jim Crow" laws

Ku Klux Klan
Rise of the Ku Klux Klan; the Klan's effects

Constitutional Amendments
Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution; their connection to
Reconstruction

The Industrial Revolution in America

Agricultural and Industrial Development

Patterns of agricultural and industrial development as they relate to climate, use of natural
resources, markets, and trade; locations of such developments

Indian Policy
Reasons for the development of federal Indian policy; reasons for the wars with American
Indians; their relationship to agricultural development and industrialization

Government Economic Policies

How states and the federal government encouraged business expansion through tariffs,
banking, land grants, and subsidies

Important People
Entrepreneurs, industrialists, and bankers in politics, commerce, and industry; Andrew
Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Leland Stanford

Urbanization and Industrialization

Location and effects of urbanization, renewed immigration, and industrialization; effects on
social fabric of cities; wealth and economic opportunity; the conservation movement

The Labor Movement

Child labor, working conditions, and laissez-faire policies toward big business; the labor
movement; its leaders - Samuel Gompers; demand for collective bargaining; strikes and
protests over labor conditions

Immigration
New sources of large-scale immigration; contributions of immigrants to the building of
cities and the economy; ways in which new social and economic patterns encouraged
assimilation of newcomers into the mainstream amidst growing cultural diversity; new
wave of nativism

Grangerism and Populism

Characteristics and impact of Grangerism and Populism

Inventors and Inventions

Significant inventors and their inventions; how they improved the quality of life; Thomas
Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Orville and Wilbur Wright

Grade Eight Health

Health Related Careers

Careers Involved in Health Promotion

Careers in Health Care

Careers in Injury Prevention

Body Systems Interact With Each Other

Blood Transporting Nutrients

Digestive System

Oxygen Moves from the Respiratory System

Circulatory System

Relationship Among Factors Affecting Adolescence

Physical (effects of nutrition on growth)

Mental (effects of stress on physical and mental performance)

Social

Positive Communication Builds / Maintains Relationships

At School

At Home

In the Workplace

Talking Skills

Listening Skills

Decisions About Individual Health Concerns

Decisions about Marijuana & THC

Decisions about Motor Safety

Decisions about Tobacco

Date Rape

Date Rape Drugs

High Risk Situations

Prevention

After an Assault

Warning Signs

Anger Management

When to Get Professional Help

Anger

Depression

Basics

Causes

Depression-Related Mood Disorders

Addiction

Addictive Behavior

Alcohol Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

Drug Addiction

Gang Resistance

Fact/Fiction about Gangs and Violence

Roles and Responsibilities

Decision-Making Practices

Verbal & Nonverbal Communication

Consequences of Sexual Activity

Negative Feelings about Self

Feelings Others May Hold

Pregnancy

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Long-Term Loving Relationship

Positive Consequences

Impact of Teenage Parenting

Social Impact

Economic Impact

Emotional Impact

Grade Eight Character Development

Character Awareness

Denial
Denial is often associated with the fear of opinions of others.
Outcomes commonly associated with denial:
o
o
o
o

Anxiety uncomfortable thoughts and/or confusion about social situations; fear of

disenfranchisement
Changes in social interactions a lack of respect toward others (primarily due to
an inner belief that others do not have respect for you)
Addiction people experiencing denial often seek a suitable addiction to ease any
remaining tensions that the unconscious activities cannot
Split personality by denying tensions in oneself, they are hidden away and will
eventually materialize in unusual, often unconscious, activities or expressions

Split Personality the goal of therapy is to integrate the various personalities present in
oneself. The personalities need to meet each other, get along with eacho other and not
fear each other.
Example: The Three Faces of Eve a 1957 book and movie that prompted widespread
examination of multiple personalities.
The story was based on a case involving a woman who felt as if she were three different little
girls: good, bad and indifferent. When she was under stress, she began having psychiatric
episodes instances she could rarely recall after-the-fact and sought professional therapy
when she learned that she had threatened her daughter in one of these outbursts. The doctors
referred to her personalities as Eve White, a wife and mother; Eve Black, a party girl; and Jane, a
mature intellectual. After a year of therapy, doctors declared that her three personalities had
integrated, and considered her cured.

Levels of Awareness

Pride
Pride marks the first level of awareness characterized by positive feelings; however, the
feelings in this stage are false as they are dependent on external circumstances (money,
prestige, etc) that can be fleeting. This level is also associated with rigid personal and/or
religious beliefs and people at this stage often feel defensive if they believe their values
are under attack.
* Recognize that pride is not always a negative emotion. Example: Pride can be
appropriately demonstrated when an individual shows pride and honor in their work and
accomplishments.

Courage

Courage is the first level of awareness to indicate strength of character and personal
growth. In this level, individuals begin to view life as challenging and exciting rather than
overwhelming. The future is viewed as a potential for improvement rather than a
continuation of the past and present.

Character in Action

Pride: At this level, individuals experience a positive energy but it can lead to irrational
denial and defensiveness about personal beliefs and actions. Effects can include feelings
of nationalism, racism and religious fundamentalism.

Courage: At this level, individuals begin to experience feelings of personal power and are
inspired by feelings of accomplishment, determination and exploration. Effects can
include an ability to pursue life opportunities and a growing energy to contribute to society.
People at this level often become involved in skill-building activities, education and/or
career advancement.

Extend discussion on pride and courage, identifying examples that demonstrate the
differences between these two levels.

Grade Eight Critical Thinking

Questions and Answers

Critical thinking is driven by questions and answers. It is important to determine distinct differences in
sentences to reach higher understanding and convey significance in reading, speaking, listening and
writing.
The forms of sentences necessary for critical thinking:
-

Declarative sentences intended to convey information (It is snowing outside.)

*Declarative sentences (answers) are statements that can be deemed either true or false.

Interrogative sentences intended to ask a question (Is it snowing outside?)

*Interrogative sentences (questions) begin the thinking process every declarative sentence is
the answer to a question.

The forms of sentences unnecessary for critical thinking:

Imperative sentences intended to give commands (Go outside.)

Exclamatory sentences intended to express feeling (Ouch!)

*Imperative and exclamatory sentences are simple statements that require no interpretation.

Questions and answers form the basis for critical thinking in the following ways:
-

Questions express problems and identify tasks

Answers demonstrate an end to thought unless they generate additional questions

*The goal of questions is to produce answers that provoke thought and more questions.

Questions should be formed in a way that develops further thinking and understanding.
Effective questions should be formulated so that they address the following:
-

The reason for the question

The meaning of the question

The relevance of the question

Argument and Reasoning

What is an argument?
An argument is a set of one or more declarative sentences that claim something to be true.

Effective arguments follow a formal pattern of reasoning.

Types of reasoning include:
-

Inductive reasoning a conclusion is drawn about something that is not already known based
on knowledge about something that is already known. (Inductive arguments are typically based
on experience or observation.)
"If I do well on my test, I might get an A in English. I think I did pretty well on the test, so there is
a possibility I will get an A.

Deductive reasoning a conclusion drawn from what is known. (Deductive arguments are
typically based on laws or rules.)
"Trees and flowers are different from one another. The rose is a flower; therefore, it is not a
tree.

Steps to identifying an effective argument:

1. Identify the beliefs and conclusion; note any unstated beliefs that seem apparent
2. Ensure you know what all statements mean; look for any vagueness or unfair bias
3. Consider credibility of sources; learn where the facts originated
4. Evaluate logic; ensure the beliefs presented support the conclusion
5. Check facts; look for false beliefs or missing information
6. Determine, based on the previous steps, if argument is reasonably acceptable

Grade Eight Interpersonal Relationships

Abusive and Damaging Relationships

Relationships are unhealthy if they involve abuse of any kind. Abuse can be physical,
sexual, emotional or verbal or a combination of any of these.
Signs of abuse include:

Physical hitting, shaking, burning, biting, choking, throwing (or any action that
causes physical harm or pain)

Sexual any type of sexual contact between an adult and an individual younger
than 18 years old; sexual abuse by another family member is called incest

Emotional constant criticism, threats or dismissal of feelings

Neglect physical neglect occurs when a child does not receive adequate food,
housing, clothes, medical care or supervision; emotional neglect occurs when a
parent does not provide emotional support or adequate attention to a child

Effects of abusive relationships include:

-

Low self-esteem

Stress, anxiety and depression

Troubles sleeping, eating and concentrating

Poor academic performance

Distrust of others

Self-destructive behavior (drug abuse, suicide)

Confusion and embarrassment

Fear and detachment

How to deal with abuse:

-

Seek help so abuse does not continue

Talk to someone you can trust (teacher, doctor, counselor, family member)

Review local telephone directors for child abuse and family violence hotline
numbers

Contact Childhelp USA at (800) 4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453)

Anger Management

What is anger?
Anger is a feeling related to one's perception of having been offended or wronged; anger often
involves a tendency to want to undo that wrongdoing by retaliation.

When anger becomes a problem

Anger can be a healthy and normal emotion when it is expressed appropriately; signs that you
are not expressing your anger appropriately include the following:

Feeling like you have to hold in your anger

Having frequent arguments with your partner, children or co-workers that escalate
frustrations

Experiencing trouble with the law

Incidents of physical violence, such as hitting others or starting fights

Threats of violence against people or property

Out-of-control behavior, such as breaking things or performing reckless stunts

What is anger management?

Anger management is a system of psychological techniques and methods that can be used by
individuals with excessive anger to control or reduce the triggers, degrees and effects of an
angered emotional state.
The goal of anger management counseling is to teach individuals how to do the following:

Identify situations that are likely to make you mad before you get mad

Use special skills to deal with situations that may trigger anger

Identify instances when you are not thinking logically and attempt to correct your thinking

Calm yourself down before you begin to get angry

Express your feelings and needs directly

Focus on problem-solving skills use your energy to solve the problems; do not waste
energy being angry at the problems

Anger Management Resources

Look to the following resources for help in dealing with anger issues:
- Primary care doctor
-

Family and friends

Employee assistance programs

Church programs

Local and state agencies

District court resources

Library and Internet resources (support groups, blogs, books)

Grade Eight Cultural Literacy Art, Architecture & Music

Artistic Literacy

What is art?
Art is the process or product of purposely arranging elements in order to influence senses or emotions.
Artistic activities include photography, film, sculpture, painting and many other creative processes.

Famous artists:
-

Leonardo da Vinci an artist of the Renaissance period, most famous for his creation the Mona
Lisa

Michelangelo a sculptor, painter and designer of the Renaissance period; created the famous
statue of David

Degas a well-known Impressionist painter (who did not consider himself to be an

Impressionist); became recognized for his paintings of people, especially dancers

Rembrandt van Rijn a Dutch artist of the seventeenth century known for his use of light and
shadow in painting; his masterpieces include The Man with the Golden Helmet and The Night
Watch

Andy Warhol an American artist who created paintings based on U.S. mass media (an artistic
movement called pop art); he was one of the first artists to distribute his works in print and was
known for his entrepreneurial promotion of his art

Jackson Pollock an abstract artist who created action painting a rapid motion where paint
is dripped or thrown onto canvases to product a swirling pattern of color; one of his most
famous masterpieces is One

Auguste Rodin a French sculptor famous for his bronze and marble sculptures; one of his
most notable works is The Thinker

Vincent van Gogh a painter of the 1800s who was recognized for his linear brush strokes and
heavy paint application; the majority of van Goghs work was created in his final two years of
life, while he was becoming insane

Pablo Picasso an artist associated with the evolution of modern art; one of the first painters to
experience fame for their work while still alive

Alfred Eisenstaedt a photographer famous for his photos for Life magazine in the 1930s and
1940s

Margaret Bourke-White another photographer for Life magazine; recognized for her photos of
concentration camps and the only American photographer to capture the Nazi bombing of
Moscow

Ansel Adams a landscape photographer famous for his large-scale photographs of regions in
the Far West

Famous artistic works, styles and places:

-

The Mona Lisa one of the most notorious paintings worldwide; created by Leonardo da Vinci
in the Renaissance period

The Louvre a palace that became a museum after the French Revolution; the Louvre is home
to thousands of significant works of art including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo

Sistene Chapel the ceiling of this chapel was painted by Michelangelo in the early 1500s and
portrays scenes from the Creation in the Old Testament

The Great Sphinx a 65-feet high, lion-shaped statue featuring a human head; positioned
adjacent to the Pyramids at Giza

Venus de Milo a Greek statue sculpted in the first century B.C.; one of a group of statues that
also included a cupid

Mosaics the use of inlaid colored glass, tile or marble to decorate floors and art

Fresco a painting created on wet plaster, which absorbs the color pigment; a famous fresco is
the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci
*Discussion Question: What artistic works have made a lasting impact on you? What thoughts
and emotions did these works evoke?

Grade Eight Home Skills

Home & Property Management

Clothing Care & Storage: it is important to invest your time and effort into your clothing so that
you can get the best value and longest life of your wardrobe.

Organizing clothing:

Ironing: always use a sturdy ironing board and take care in operating a hot iron

Group clothes together by type and color (pants together, tops together)
Keep frequently worn clothes easily accessible
Store clothing in a dark, well-ventilated closet
Hang up: shirts, jackets, dresses, skirts, slacks
Fold and lay flat: underwear, t-shirts, sweaters, cardigans, sports knits
Keep shoes in original boxes if space permits; otherwise use a shoe rack
If closet space is an issue, carefully clean and pack away seasonal clothes

Sewing Repairs

Follow instructions for each type of fabric you iron

Use only distilled (or boiled) water to create iron steam
Steamers and wrinkle-release sprays are other time-saving options to ironing;
running a wet towel with a wrinkled item in the dryer can also help ease creases

Identify potential sewing repairs commonly required in the home: replacing buttons,
hemming drapes or pants, replacing zippers, patching up holes, mending a split seam,
repairing upholstery

Keep a basic sewing kit in your home containing the following items: needles, scissors,
pin cushions, safety pins, tape measure, threads, spare buttons, elastic
Video Tutorials:

How to perform a basic stitch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06T0C3RWfxY&feature=player_embedded

How to sew on a button:

http://www.wikihow.com/Sew-a-Button

Food Management

Grocery Shopping:

Before you shop: check refrigerator, freezer and pantry to see what items you need,
throw out spoiled food to make room for new items, check grocery ads for discounts,
look at what ingredients you need for recipes you want to make, make a list of grocery
items (organize your list by types of food and their location in store i.e. dairy, produce,
canned, frozen items)

At the grocery store: keep your list handy, put heavy items (cans, potatoes) in the front of
your cart and put perishables and freezer items at the back this will ensure the freshest
items are placed at the top of your bags making it easier to find and unload these items
first

Food labels: all packaged food is regulated and must list its ingredients, nutrition facts
and sell-by dates

Ingredients: ingredients are listed in the order of what they contain most of
(example: if the ingredients on a strawberry jam list sugar before strawberries,
there is more sugar in the jam than strawberries). Always consider the additives
and preservatives in a product and choose those with the most natural
ingredients.

Nutrition facts: these facts indicate serving sizes and calories as well as
percentages to which these foods meet your daily nutritional needs. It is
important to consider sugar, fiber, fat, carbohydrates, protein and sodium content
in each item.

Sell-by dates: these dates are when the store must remove these items from
their shelves they do not always indicate the final day the food is safe to eat.
Eat by and use by dates indicate the last day you can safely consume the
items. Best before dates are often found on non-perishable items and refer to

the date when the manufacturer can no longer guarantee the foods quality -although the foods safety is typically not a concern.

Organic: national standards regulate all food items that can be considered
organic. The definition of organic is: free from synthetic pesticides, fertilizers,
genetic engineering, growth hormones or antibiotics. Additionally, livestock used
for organic foods are also fed organic foods.

Emergencies

Plumbing Emergencies
Understand the potential damage that water flow can have to your property; use preventive
measures to avoid plumbing problems and act quickly in responding to them.
o

Prevention points for plumbing:

Insulate and/or cover pipes, especially those exposed to cold conditions

Turn off and/or drain water system before leaving for vacations
Check the seal around tubs and showers and repair if necessary
Do not block overflow holes in bathtubs or sinks
Do not throw bulky items (diapers, sanitary napkins, paper towels) in the toilet
this will create blockages

In case of plumbing emergencies (burst or frozen pipes, ceiling full of water, overflowing
tubs, blocked toilet):

Turn off water source and any electrical sources that are safely accessible
Place buckets under affected areas, check surrounding areas for moisture
Only use appropriate tools (toilet plungers, putty, etc) to resolve minor problems
Call a plumber for major problems

Grade Eight Study Skills

Learning Styles

What is a learning style?

The way your brain prefers to take in information by learning your individual style, you can improve
your ability to understand and remember content. Evaluating your learning style may help you identify
the most effective strategies for your studying.

There are different categories of learning styles:

Examples:
-

Visual/Auditory a preference for information delivered by sight or hearing

Big Picture/Little Parts viewing new information as one large picture/event vs. viewing
information as individual pieces/series of events/details

To take a learning style quiz, visit:

http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-learning-styles-quiz

Parental Support

Parents can play an active role in their childs development of study skills. Methods for parental
involvement may include:
-

Student interview interview your parents to determine what their best study practices were
when they were in school

Parent education workshops many groups are available to help parents learn how to support
their childs learning

Homework helpers parents can help their children with homework assignments and studying;
parents often have effective organization strategies and can help their children achieve greater
success in school

Study Groups

Studying with classmates can be helpful; however, some students study better alone. Factors to
consider include:
Advantages to study groups:
-

Can build confidence in some students

Can provide an opportunity to review material you have missed

Can help build focus

Disadvantages to study groups:

-

Can waste time if study group members are not adequately prepared

Can cause insecurity or panic in some students

Can be very distracting

*Study groups tend to function most effectively when they are small (between 3-5 members)

Ninth Grade
Free World U

Grade Nine Language Arts

Vocabulary

Literal and Figurative Meaning

Understanding the difference between literal and figurative meanings of words, word
derivation

Denotation and Connotation

Distinguish between the denotative and connotative meanings of words and interpret the
connotative power of words

Foreign Words in English

Word derivations from foreign root words

Reading Comprehension

Functional Document
Features of functional documents, such as graphics and headers, and how they are used
by the author to achieve their purposes

Following Directions
Demonstrate use of sophisticated learning tools by following technical directions

Bibliography
Prepare a bibliography of reference materials for a report using a variety of consumer,
workplace, and public documents

Compare and Contrast Across Texts

Synthesize content from several sources or works by a single author dealing with a single
issue; paraphrase the ideas and connect them to other sources and related topics to
demonstrate comprehension

Examine Functional Documents

Critique the logic of functional documents by examining the sequence of information and
procedures in anticipation of possible reader misunderstandings; evaluate the credibility of
an author's argument or defense of a claim by critiquing the relationship between
generalizations and evidence, the comprehensiveness of evidence, and the way in which
the author's intent affects the structure and tone of the text (e.g., in professional journals,
editorials, political speeches, primary source material)

Learning More
Generate relevant questions about readings on issues that can be researched, connecting
research to original text; extend ideas presented in primary or secondary sources and
connect them to other sources and related topic to demonstrate comprehension

Literature Structural Features

Mythology
Identify Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology and understand the origin and meaning of
new words

Genres in Dramatic Literature

Articulate the relationship between the expressed purposes and the characteristics of
different forms of dramatic literature (e.g., comedy, tragedy, drama, dramatic monologue)

Themes in Dramatic Literature

Compare and contrast the presentation of a similar theme or topic across genres to
explain how the selection of genre shapes the theme or topic; compare works that express
a universal theme and provide evidence to support the ideas expressed in each work

Functional Features in Literature

Identify and describe the function of dialogue, scene designs, soliloquies, asides, and
character foils in dramatic literature

Character and Plot

Analyze interactions between main and subordinate characters in a literary text (e.g.,
internal and external conflicts, motivations, relationships, influences) and explain the way
those interactions affect the plot

Time and Sequence

Analyze and trace an author's development of time and sequence, including the use of
complex literary devices--e.g., foreshadowing, flashbacks

Character and Dialogue

Determine characters' traits by what the characters say about themselves in narration,
dialogue, dramatic monologue, and soliloquy.
Character and Narration
Explain how voice, persona, and the choice of a narrator affect characterization and the
tone, plot, and credibility of a text

Literary Devices
Recognize and understand the significance of various literary devices, including figurative
language, imagery, allegory, and symbolism, and explain their appeal

Interpret the Text

Interpret and evaluate the impact of ambiguities, subtleties, contradictions, ironies, and
incongruities in a text

Reading Literary Criticism

Introduction of literary criticism, vocabulary and examples

Aesthetic Approach to Criticism

Evaluate the aesthetic qualities of style, including the impact of diction and figurative
language on tone, mood, and theme, using the terminology of literary criticism

Historical Approach to Criticism

Analyze the way in which a work of literature is related to the themes and issues of its
historical period

Writing Research Papers

Thesis Statement
Establish a controlling impression or coherent thesis that conveys a clear and distinctive
perspective on the subject and maintain a consistent tone and focus throughout the piece
of writing

Active and Passive Voice

Use precise language, action verbs, sensory details, appropriate modifiers, and the active
rather than the passive voice

Research Methods
Use clear research questions and suitable research methods (e.g., library, electronic
media, personal interview) to elicit and present evidence from primary and secondary
sources

Developing Main Ideas Through Supporting Details

Develop the main ideas within the body of the composition through supporting evidence-e.g., scenarios, commonly held beliefs, hypotheses, definitions

Synthesizing Information
Synthesize information from multiple sources and identify complexities and discrepancies
in the information and the different perspectives found in each medium--e.g., almanacs,
microfiche, news sources, in-depth field studies, speeches, journals, technical documents

Using Quotations
Integrate quotations and citations into a written text while maintaining the flow of ideas

Documentation
Use appropriate conventions for documentation in the text, notes, and bibliographies by
adhering to those in style manuals--e.g., Modern Language Association Handbook, The
Chicago Manual of Style

Using Charts, Diagrams, and Visual Aids

Deciding when to use a visual aid, how to organize data in a way meaningful to the
information in the paper

Recognizing and Avoiding Bias

How to identify bias in sources, recognizing bias in ones own writing, anticipating bias in
the reader

Revising Your Paper

Revise writing to improve the logic and coherence of the organization and controlling
perspective, the precision of word choice, and the tone by taking into consideration the
audience, purpose, and formality of the context

Publishing Your Paper

Design and publish documents by using advanced publishing software and graphic
programs

Writing a Short Story

Narration
Determining point of view of narrator, determining what information the narrator can relate,
using narration to set a scene and determine tone

Writing Effective Descriptions

Describe with concrete sensory details the sights, sounds, and smells of a scene and the
specific actions, movements, gestures, and feelings of the characters; use interior
monologue to depict the characters' feelings; make effective use of descriptions of
appearance, images, shifting perspectives, and sensory details

Sequence
Relate a sequence of events and communicate the significance of the events to the
audience; locate scenes and incidents in specific places

Editing
How to edit a short story; pace the presentation of actions to accommodate changes in
time and mood

Writing Essays

Responses to Literature
Demonstrate a comprehensive grasp of the significant ideas of literary works; support
important ideas and viewpoints through accurate and detailed references to the text or to
other works; demonstrate awareness of the author's use of stylistic devices and an
appreciation of the effects created; identify and assess the impact of perceived
ambiguities, nuances, and complexities within the text

Expository Essays
Marshal evidence in support of a thesis and related claims, including information on all
relevant perspectives; convey information and ideas from primary and secondary sources
accurately and coherently; make distinctions between the relative value and significance
of specific data, facts, and ideas; include visual aids by employing appropriate technology
to organize and record information on charts, maps, and graphs; anticipate and address
readers' potential misunderstandings, biases, and expectations; use technical terms and
notations accurately

Persuasive Essays
Structure ideas and arguments in a sustained and logical fashion; use specific rhetorical
devices to support assertions--e.g., appeal to logic through reasoning; appeal to emotion
or ethical belief; relate a personal anecdote, case study, or analogy; clarify and defend
positions with precise and relevant evidence, including facts, expert opinions, quotations,
and expressions of commonly accepted beliefs and logical reasoning; address readers'
concerns, counterclaims, biases, and expectations

Writing Technical Documents

e.g., a manual on rules of behavior for conflict resolution, procedures for conducting a
meeting, minutes of a meeting; report information and convey ideas logically and correctly;
offer detailed and accurate specifications; include scenarios, definitions, and examples to
aid comprehension--e.g., troubleshooting guide; anticipate readers' problems, mistakes,
and misunderstandings

Writing Business Letters

Provide clear and purposeful information and address the intended audience
appropriately; use appropriate vocabulary, tone, and style to take into account the nature
of the relationship with, and the knowledge and interests of, the recipients; highlight
central ideas or images; follow a conventional style with page formats, fonts, and spacing
that contribute to the documents' readability and impact

Grammar and Mechanics

Clauses
Identify and correctly use clauses--e.g., main and subordinate; phrases--e.g., gerund,
infinitive, and participial; and mechanics of punctuation--e.g., semicolons, colons, ellipses,
hyphens

Sentence Construction and Editing

Understand sentence construction--e.g., parallel structure, subordination, proper
placement of modifiers; and proper English usage--e.g., consistency of verb tenses

Usage in Paragraphs
Demonstrate an understanding of proper English usage and control of grammar,
paragraph and sentence structure, diction, and syntax

Correct Manuscript Form

Produce legible work that shows accurate spelling and correct use of the conventions of
punctuation and capitalization; reflect appropriate manuscript requirements, including title
page presentation, pagination, spacing and margins, and integration of source and
support material--e.g., in-text citation, use of direct quotations, paraphrasing) with
appropriate citations

Listening to an Oral Presentation

Listening Comprehension
Formulate judgments about the ideas under discussion and support those judgments with
convincing evidence. 1.2 Compare and contrast the ways in which media genres (e.g.,
televised news, news magazines, documentaries, online information) cover the same
event

Listening to Speeches
Analyze historically significant speeches (e.g., Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address,"
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream") to find the rhetorical devices and features that
make them memorable; assess how language and delivery affect the mood and tone of
the oral communication and make an impact on the audience; evaluate the clarity, quality,
effectiveness, and general coherence of a speaker's important points, arguments,
evidence, organization of ideas, delivery, diction, and syntax

Analyzing Media Presentations

Analyze the types of arguments used by the speaker, including argument by causation,
analogy, authority, emotion, and logic; identify the aesthetic effects of a media
presentation and evaluate the techniques used to create them--e.g., compare
Shakespeare's Henry V with Kenneth Branagh's 1990 film version

Public Speaking

Types of Presentations
Choose logical patterns of organization (e.g., chronological, topical, cause and effect) to
inform and to persuade, by soliciting agreement or action, or to unite audiences behind a
common belief or cause

Preparing a Presentation
Choose appropriate techniques for developing the introduction and conclusion--e.g., by
using literary quotations, anecdotes, references to authoritative sources; recognize and
use elements of classical speech forms--e.g., introduction, first and second transitions,
body, conclusion--in formulating rational arguments and applying the art of persuasion and
debate; present and advance a clear thesis statement and choose appropriate types of
proof--e.g., statistics, testimony, specific instances--that meet standard tests for evidence,
including credibility, validity, and relevance

Interview Techniques
Prepare and ask relevant questions; make notes of responses; use language that conveys
maturity, sensitivity, and respect; respond correctly and effectively to questions;
demonstrate knowledge of the subject or organization; compile and report responses;
evaluate the effectiveness of the interview

Preparing Notes and Visual Aids

Use props, visual aids, graphs, and electronic media to enhance the appeal and accuracy
of presentations; produce concise notes for extemporaneous delivery

While You Speak

Analyze the occasion and the interests of the audience and choose effective verbal and
nonverbal techniques--e.g., voice, gestures, eye contact--for presentations

Problems in Public Speaking

Identifying and correcting common problems in public speaking strategies

Narrative Presentations
Narrate a sequence of events and communicate their significance to the audience; locate
scenes and incidents in specific places; describe with concrete sensory details the sights,
sounds, and smells of a scene and the specific actions, movements, gestures, and
feelings of characters; pace the presentation of actions to accommodate time or mood
changes

Expository Presentations
Marshal evidence in support of a thesis and related claims, including information on all
relevant perspectives; convey information and ideas from primary and secondary sources
accurately and coherently; make distinctions between the relative value and significance
of specific data, facts, and ideas; include visual aids by employing appropriate technology
to organize and display information on charts, maps, and graphs; anticipate and address
the listener's potential misunderstandings, biases, and expectations; use technical terms
and notations accurately

Persuasive Arguments Presentations

Structure ideas and arguments in a coherent, logical fashion; use rhetorical devices to
support assertions--e.g., by appeal to logic through reasoning; by appeal to emotion or
ethical belief; by use of personal anecdote, case study, or analogy; clarify and defend
positions with precise and relevant evidence, including facts, expert opinions, quotations,
expressions of commonly accepted beliefs, and logical reasoning; anticipate and address
the listener's concerns and counterarguments

Descriptive Presentations
Establish clearly the speaker's point of view on the subject of the presentation; establish
clearly the speaker's relationship with that subject--e.g., dispassionate observation,
personal involvement; use effective, factual descriptions of appearance, concrete images,
shifting perspectives and vantage points, and sensory details

Oral Response to Literature

Advance a judgment demonstrating a comprehensive grasp of the significant ideas of
works or passages--i.e., make and support warranted assertions about the text; support
important ideas and viewpoints through accurate and detailed references to the text or to
other works; demonstrate awareness of the author's use of stylistic devices and an
appreciation of the effects created; identify and assess the impact of perceived
ambiguities, nuances, and complexities within the text

Geometry
Geometry Basics

Using Geometric Tools

Students perform basic constructions with a straightedge and compass, such as angle
bisectors, perpendicular bisectors, and the line parallel to a given line through a point off
the line

Writing Geometric Proofs

Students write geometric proofs, including proofs by contradiction

Logical Arguments
Students construct and judge the validity of a logical argument and give counterexamples
to disprove a statement

The Affects of Changes in Dimensions

Students determine how changes in dimensions affect the perimeter, area, and volume of
common geometric figures and solids

Classifying and Problem Solving

Students find and use measures of sides and of interior and exterior angles of triangles
and polygons to classify figures and solve problems

Geometric Figures
Students know, derive, and solve problems involving the perimeter, circumference, area,
volume, lateral area, and surface area of common geometric figures

Demonstrating Understanding
Students demonstrate understanding by identifying and giving examples of undefined
terms, axioms, theorems, and inductive and deductive reasoning

Theorems Involving Properties

Students prove and use theorems involving the properties of parallel lines cut by a
transversal, the properties of quadrilaterals, and the properties of circles

Coordinate Geometry
Students prove theorems by using coordinate geometry, including the midpoint of a line
segment, the distance formula, and various forms of equations of lines and circles

Rigid Motions
Students know the effect of rigid motions on figures in the coordinate plane and space,
including rotations, translations, and reflections

Polygons, Circles and 3-Dimensional Figures:

Areas of Polygons
Students compute areas of polygons, including rectangles, scalene triangles, equilateral
triangles, rhombi, parallelograms, and trapezoids

Relationships Between Angles

Students prove relationships between angles in polygons by using properties of
complementary, supplementary, vertical, and exterior angles

Circle Relationships
Students prove and solve problems regarding relationships among chords, secants,
tangents, inscribed angles, and inscribed and circumscribed polygons of circles

3-Dimensional Figures
Students compute the volumes and surface areas of prisms, pyramids, cylinders, cones,
and spheres; and students commit to memory the formulas for prisms, pyramids, and
cylinders

Triangles:

Basic Trigonometric Functions

Students know the definitions of the basic trigonometric functions defined by the angles of
a right triangle. They also know and are able to use elementary relationships between
them

Theorems of Congruence and Similarity

Students prove basic theorems involving congruence and similarity

Congruent and Similar Triangles

Students prove that triangles are congruent or similar, and they are able to use the
concept of corresponding parts of congruent triangles

Angle and Side Relationships

Students know and are able to use angle and side relationships in problems with special
right triangles, such as 30, 60, and 90 triangles and 45, 45, and 90 triangles

Triangle Inequality Theorem

Students know and are able to use the triangle inequality theorem

Pythagorean Theorem
Students prove the Pythagorean theorem; students use the Pythagorean theorem to
determine distance and find missing lengths of sides of right triangles

Trigonometric Functions and Right Triangles

Students use trigonometric functions to solve for an unknown length of a side of a right
triangle, given an angle and a length of a side

Biology / Life Science

Cell Biology

Cell Membranes
Cells are enclosed within semi permeable membranes that regulate their interaction with
their surroundings

Enzymes
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions without altering the reaction
equilibrium; the activities of enzymes depend on temperature, ionic conditions, and the pH
of the surroundings

Differences in Cell Types

How prokaryotic cells, eukaryotic cells (including those from plants and animals), and
viruses differ in complexity and general structure

RNA Messengers
The central dogma of molecular biology outlines the flow of information from transcription
of ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the nucleus to translation of proteins on ribosomes in the
cytoplasm

Proteins
The role of the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus in the secretion of proteins

Plant Cell Energy

Usable energy is captured from sunlight by chloroplasts and is stored through the
synthesis of sugar from carbon dioxide

Animal Cell Energy

The role of the mitochondria in making stored chemical-bond energy available to cells by
completing the breakdown of glucose to carbon dioxide

Macromolecules
Most macromolecules (polysaccharides, nucleic acids, proteins, lipids) in cells and
organisms are synthesized from a small collection of simple precursors

Genetics

Meiosis
Meiosis produces gametes containing one chromosome of each type; only certain cells
undergo meiosis; why approximately half of an individual's DNA sequence comes from
each parent

Combining Chromosomes
The role of chromosomes in determining an individual's sex; how random chromosome
segregation explains the probability that a particular allele will be in a gamete

Combining Alleles
New combinations of alleles may be generated in a zygote; how to predict possible
combinations of alleles in a zygote from the genetic makeup of the parents

Probable Outcome of Phenotypes

How to predict the probable outcome of phenotypes in a genetic cross from the genotypes
of the parents and mode of inheritance (autosomal or X-linked, dominant or recessive)

Mendels Laws
The genetic basis for Mendel's laws of segregation and independent assortment

Ecology

Bio Diversity
Bio diversity is the sum total of different kinds of organisms and is affected by alterations
of habitats

Effects of Change
How to analyze changes in an ecosystem resulting from changes in climate, human
activity, introduction of nonnative species, or changes in population size

Population
How fluctuations in population size in an ecosystem are determined by the relative rates
of birth, immigration, emigration, and death

Ecosystem Cycles
How water, carbon, and nitrogen cycle between abiotic resources and organic matter in
the ecosystem and how oxygen cycles through photosynthesis and respiration

Ecosystem Stability
A vital part of an ecosystem is the stability of its producers and decomposers

Energy Dissipation
At each link in a food web some energy is stored in newly made structures but much
energy is dissipated into the environment as heat; dissipation may be represented in an
energy pyramid

Evolution

Phenotype and Genotype

Why natural selection acts on the phenotype rather than the genotype of an organism

Lethal Alleles
Why alleles that are lethal in a homozygous individual may be carried in a heterozygote
and thus maintained in a gene pool

Mutations
New mutations are constantly being generated in a gene pool; variation within a species
increases the likelihood that some members of a species will survive under changed
environmental conditions

Natural Selection and Diversity

How natural selection determines the differential survival of groups of organisms; a great
diversity of species increases the chance that some organisms survive major changes in
the environment

Genetic Drift
The effects of genetic drift on the diversity of organisms in a population

The Effects of Isolation

Reproductive or geographic isolation affects speciation

Fossil Evidence
How to analyze fossil evidence with regard to biological diversity, episodic speciation, and
mass extinction

Physiology

Body System Coordination

How the complementary activity of major body systems provides cells with oxygen and
nutrients and removes toxic waste products such as carbon dioxide

Nervous System Communication

How the nervous system mediates communication between different parts of the body and
the body's interactions with the environment

Feedback Loops
How feedback loops in the nervous and endocrine systems regulate conditions in the
body

Functions of the Nervous System

The functions of the nervous system and the role of neurons in transmitting
electrochemical impulses

Neuron Roles
The roles of sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons in sensation, thought, and
response

Grade Nine Social Studies

Geography of the World

Studying the Earth

Human Society

Water, Climate, and Life

The United States and Canada

The United States

Canada

Latin America

Mexico

Central America and the West Indies

Brazil and its Neighbors

The Andean Countries

Western Europe

The British Isles

France and Germany

Switzerland, Austria and the Benelux

The Iberian Peninsula

Italy and Greece

The Scandinavian Peninsula

Denmark and Iceland

Eastern Europe

The Baltic States

The Balkan Countries

Central Eastern Europe

Russia

North Africa

Egypt

The Maghreb

Africa South of the Sahara

Nigeria and the Sahel

The West African Coast

The Congo

Central Africa

East Africa

The Horn of Africa

South Africa and the Southern Atlantic Coast

The Indian Ocean and Central Southern Africa

West and Central Asia

The Asian Mediterranean

The Arabian Peninsula

Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan

The Caucusus

Central Asia and Mongolia

South and East Asia

India

South Asia

China

Japan

The Koreas

Mainland Southeast Asia

Island Southeast Asia

Indonesia

Australia, Oceania and Antarctica

Australia

New Zealand

Oceania

Antarctica

Grade Nine Health

Illnesses

Communicable

Chronic

Degenerative

Outcomes of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention

Stress

Fitness

Likelihood of Injury

Likelihood of Illness

Social and Economic Effects of Health Problems

Effects on Individuals

Effects on Families

Effects on Society

Environmental Conditions Affect Health

Acid Rain

Oil Spills

Solid Waste Contamination

Nuclear Leaks

Ozone Depletion

Changes in Health & Body Functions at Various Stages of Life

Changes in Physical Health

Changes in Diet/Nutrition

Emotional/Intellectual Changes

Individual Health Goals

Planning to Achieve Goals

Decision Making Affects Goals

Health Literacy

Sex Addiction

Behavior

Interference with Normal Living

Consequences

Treatment

Gang Resistance

Identification of Emotions

Empathy for Others

Body Language/Tone of Voice

Refusal Skills

Recognizing Anger in Others

Calming Others

Consequences for Fighting

Conflict Resolution

Beliefs Can Affect Relationships and Marriage

Possible Effects of Cultural Factors

Possible Affects of Religious Beliefs

Other Factors That May Affect Relationships

Problems Created by Contrasting Values/Beliefs

Ways to Manage Problems Created by Contrasting Values

Home Economics
Basic Cooking Terms

Terms for Preparing Ingredients

Terms for Combining Ingredients

Terms for Cooking

Other Terms

Equipment

Cooking and Baking

Food Preparation

Other

Buying

Storing

Eggs

Cooking

Meat and Pork

Buying

Storing

Cooking

Cleaning Poultry

Storing Poultry

Cooking Chicken

Cooking Turkey

Poultry

Seafood

Buying

Storing

Cooking

Side Items

Vegetables

Starches

Salads

Fruits

Food Miscellaneous

Menus

Table Settings

Outdoor Cooking

Preparing a Menu

Preparing Food Ahead of Time

Grocery Ads

Drugstore Ads

Restaurant Menus

Household Chores

Doing the Laundry

Caring for Indoor Plants

Doing the Dishes

Cleaning the Floors

Dusting

Cleaning Bathrooms

Spring Cleaning

Making Your Own Cleaning Products

Household Finances

Checking Account

Savings Account

Household Budget

Bank Loans

Credit Cards

Car Financing

Travelers Checks

Insurance

Car Insurance

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Getting a Job

The Employee

The Employer

The Interview

The Application

Employment Ads

Grade Nine Sociology

Society and Culture

What is sociology?

Sociology is the study of human society and social interactions; sociologists study these factors
to examine human behavior and to determine how these behaviors are shaped.

What is a society?
-

A society is a large social group that shares the same geographical area and encounters the
same political authority and cultural expectations.

Why is sociology important?

-

Sociology enables us to develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us;
it can provide perspective on our behaviors and why we behave the way we do.

Many professional fields/career paths require the ability to analyze sociology including:
o

Health and Human Services:

Counseling, Education, Medicine, Social Work

Academics:
Anthropology, History, Psychology, Geography

Law:
Criminal Justice, Political Science

Business:
Advertising, Management, Marketing, Labor Relations

Communications:
Broadcasting, Journalism, Public Relations

*Discussion Question: How do you think you have used sociology in your life to this point? Has
it affected your perspective on areas such as school, family and the future?

Culture
What is culture?
-

Culture is the language, values, knowledge, customs and material objects that are passed on
through generations within a society.

Why is culture important?

-

Culture is critical to our individual survival and our communication with others; through our
culture, we learn how to take care of ourselves, behave toward others, earn and use resources,
etc.

Culture is also essential for larger societies; it imposes systems of rules, laws and expectations
for people to abide by.

There are two types of culture:

-

Material culture physical creations of a society (objects, possessions, etc.)

Nonmaterial culture ideas, values and beliefs of a society

Components of nonmaterial culture common to all societies include:
1. Symbols signs of shared meaning that communicate ideas and concepts
2. Language a set of symbols groups use to communicate
3. Values ideas about what is (or is not) acceptable
4. Norms expectations for behavior within a group

What is cultural diversity?

-

Cultural diversity is achieved when there is a mix of race, ethnicity, age, religion,
occupation, etc. within a group

Cultural diversity enables discovery and invention of new ideas and brings about cultural
change

Ethnocentrism (an assumption that ones own culture is superior to others) can hinder
cultural change
*Discussion Question: What are some different cultures you have encountered? What
was this experience like? What did you learn?

Socialization
What is socialization?
-

Socialization is the ongoing process by which people attain their self-identity and learn the
skills needed to survive within a society.

Why is socialization important?

-

Socialization impacts the kind of person we become by affecting what we learn from our
surrounding social groups and environment.

The socialization process is enabled by several forces, most commonly including:

-

Family

School

Peer groups

Media

Workplace

*Discussion Question: What factors do you believe have most strongly shaped your own
socialization? Why do you think these forces have been most powerful in influencing your
interactions?

Grade Nine Character Development

Character Awareness

World View
What is a world view? Our personal perspective on life and society
How does our world view form? Our primary world view is shaped by significant adults in
our lives, geographic location, customs and culture
How does our world view evolve? Our early world view changes as we encounter different
people, experience new customs and explore new locations
Effects of expanding our world view:
o
o
o

Identify ourselves as part of the human race

Develop interests outside basic needs and survival
Identify significance in our actions and behaviors

Extend discussion of world view, identifying how your world view has changed throughout
your life. What are some of the larger responsibilities to outside forces (the environment,
the community, animals, etc.) have you assumed or would you like to assume in the
future?

Levels of Awareness

Neutrality
Neutrality is a level of awareness that is characterized by flexibility, freedom and
relaxation. In this level, individuals take things in stride and roll with the punches. There is
no need for people in this level to prove anything. They feel safe and get along with other
people.

Willingness
Willingness is a level of awareness that is characterized by willpower and discipline.
People at this level begin using their energy more effectively and focus their efforts on
doing their best.

Character in Action

Neutrality: At this level, individuals are taking care of their basic needs but do not feel it
necessary to push themselves too hard or strive for more. These individuals are
comfortable with themselves and enjoy working at their own pace. An example of
someone at this level may be a self-employed person who wishes to set their own
schedule, goals, etc.

Willingness: At this level, individuals find importance in time management, organization

and productivity. These are often the people who get things done well and are
dependable. Examples of this level can be seen in good students who take their studies
seriously and commit the time to do everything well.

Grade Nine Critical Thinking

Interpretation and World View

Critical interpretation involves analysis and evaluation.

Effective interpretation skills require thinkers to have the ability to:

Understand and express meaning or significance

Identify relationships between statements, questions or concepts

Evaluate the truth of statements

What is a world view?

A world view is ones personal perspective (the way one sees the world).
World views are typically shaped by:
-

Upbringing

Culture

Location

Modern influences (media, technology, etc.)

A broader world view enables a higher level of critical thinking by providing thinkers with:

A desire for the best knowledge regardless of whether the answers support personal beliefs

An ability to analyze information based on reason and evidence rather than emotion or bias

Open-mindedness and tolerance for diverse viewpoints

A belief that multiple solutions can be acceptable

How to achieve a broader world view:

1. Identify your personal perspective including any factors shaping your primary world view
(role models, customs, modern influences)

2. Compare your personal perspective to other world views; research other ways of thinking
and identify attitudes and behaviors necessary to thrive in different situations

3. Recognize your role as part of the human race and consider outside interests apart from
your own basic needs and survival (example: social responsibility to forces such as the
environment, animals, property, etc.)

4. Develop social links with people of different backgrounds, cultures, etc.

5. Evaluate changes to your perspective and consider long range consequences and
benefits of a broader world view

Decision Making

Decision-making skills help people develop their thinking processes and enhance problem-solving
abilities.
In making important choices, people should ask themselves the following questions:

What matters to me?

What are my available options?

How will my choice impact myself and others?

Key components in decision making:

-

Determine the decision that needs to be made

Identify personal values affecting decision

Understand and accept uncertainty as part of the process

Identify potential consequences

Seek information and expand learning

Establish alternatives or tradeoffs

Grade Nine Interpersonal Relationships

Co-Worker Relationships

It is important to have strong relationships with people you work with these relationships can
ultimately affect your job satisfaction and performance.
Methods for building positive co-worker relationships include:
-

Respect peoples differences recognize that not every person shares the same
thoughts and values

Think positively do not speak negatively about work issues or co-workers

Acknowledge others talk to your co-workers on a regular basis; smile and greet people
when you see them

Listen to others give co-workers your full attention; do not interrupt

Appreciate others show consideration and respect for the contributions your coworkers make

Pitch in help out as much as possible, even if these duties are not part of your specific
job responsibilities

Do your best be a problem-solver, seek improvement in all that you do

Respect others time and priorities do not interrupt a co-worker while they are working
on something; keep requests and questions brief

Admit your mistakes and apologize recognize when you are wrong and apologize with
grace and sincerity

Enrich all areas of your life do not focus all of yourself on work; indulge in hobbies,
relationships and yourself

Do not settle if your work environment is unpleasant, seek different employment

options; you will be more productive when you work somewhere that makes you happy

Grade Nine Cultural Literacy Art, Architecture & Music

Architectural Literacy

What is architecture?
Architecture is the art and science of designing and constructing buildings and other physical structures.

Architectural styles:
-

Greek orders of architecture reflected in columns used to build temples

o
o
o

Doric column grooved column with a simple flaring capital

Ionic column fluted column including a capital with a large scroll
Corinthian column smooth column adorned with shoots and leaves

Gothic architecture a style typical of the European Middle Ages characterized by lighter,
higher buildings than the Greek styles; Gothic cathedrals feature pointed arches, vaults, high
ceilings and decorative carvings (Notre Dame de Paris is an example of Gothic architecture)

Modern architecture there are five modern styles:

o

International: the first style based on the rational and functional; homes were built to be
a machine for living

Brutalism: shows the original, underlying framework and rough edges

Expressionism: artistic, whimsical style lacking function

Postmodernism: a style that incorporates historic elements (columns, ornamentation,

etc.)

Chicago School: a style driven by financial profit; formulated and systematic designs
with simplicity, regularity and structural function

Architectural landmarks:
-

The Colosseum one of the largest single buildings worldwide; once held approximately 50,000
Greek spectators for gladiator games

St. Peters a Roman holy building constructed on the burial site of apostle Peter; the Pope
offers Mass at St. Peters when he is in Rome

Parthenon on the Acropolis a building in Athens that housed several sculptures of Greek
mythology; these sculptures were moved to the British Museum in England in the 1800s

Taj Mahal a building in India that was designed to house the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife
of Shah Jahan; its construction spanned 18 years and features an Islamic style reflected in its
dome, minarets and decoration

Egyptian pyramids structures built around 2500 B.C. to preserve the mummified bodies of
rulers; the pyramids feature intricate decoration with steep, triangular sides

The Great Wall of China a 1,500-mile long, 25-foot high wall built in the third century by
Chinese dynasty to secure the country from Central Asian nomads

Pagodas brick or wooden structures found in China, Korea and Japan and used for Buddhist
shrines, tombs and memorials

Stonehenge an ancient monument in England; its stones have unknown connections to

religion, the sun and the stars; it remains a mystery how the stones were moved to this location

Golden Gate Bridge a suspension bridge built in San Francisco in the 1930s; at more than
9,000 feet in length, it remains one of the longest suspension bridges worldwide

The Chrysler Building a classic skyscraper designed by William Val Alen and featuring Art
Deco styling (a modern style that began in the 1920s)

The Capitol located on a hill in Washington, D.C. (Capitol Hill); site selected by George
Washington and building designed by architect Pierre LEnfant; much of the original
architectural work was destroyed by fire in the War of 1812; the Capitol now features a dome
and wings and seats the U.S. legislature

Famous architects:
-

Frank Lloyd Wright an American architect who developed architectural theory based on
functionality; his simple, clean-looking buildings featured fully functional areas (allowing for
interaction within buildings and with outdoor landscaping)

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe the architect who designed the first glass buildings across New
York, including the famous Seagram Building; his designs were replicated by many and admired
for their precision and simplicity

Walter Gropius an architect chiefly associated with designing the Bauhaus School building
(the leading example of modern architecture in the 1900s)

Alvar Aalto an architect from Finland (a country producing the largest number of modern
architects); he created buildings that functioned responsively to their environments (by
introducing and modulating natural light and temperature)

*Discussion Question: Where and when do you notice architecture? What are some of the
architectural styles you notice most? What architectural movements do you think these styles
were influenced by?

Grade Nine Health & Wellness

Sexual Health

What is sexual health?

Sexual health is the state of physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing in relation to sexuality; it is
not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or other problems.
Sexual health is achieved by:
-

a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships

the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion,
discrimination and violence

Sexual health issues include:

Contraception

Abstinence

Sexually transmitted diseases

Contraception
What is contraception?
Contraception is the use of a device or procedure to prevent pregnancy (conception) as a result of
sexual activity.
Methods of contraception include:
-

Abstinence the act of refraining from sexual activity

Birth control bills (oral contraception) medication females take daily to prevent pregnancy

Condoms a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the
probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases

Diaphragm a shallow latex cup inserted into the vagina to prevent pregnancy

Intrauterine device (IUD) a small, T-shaped device inserted into the uterus to prevent
pregnancy

Surgery (vasectomy males; tubal ligation females) permanent sterilization procedures

Abstinence
Why is abstinence important?
Abstinence is the act of refraining from sexual activity; abstinence is the only certain way to prevent
unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Reasons people choose abstinence:

Pregnancy and STD prevention

Avoid medical or hormonal side effects of other contraception

Free of cost

Not ready for a sexual relationship

Have not found the right partner

Focus on school, career or other activities

Support personal, moral or religious beliefs

Recover from a break up or other difficult loss

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

What is a sexually transmitted disease?
A sexually transmitted disease is an infectious disease that spreads from person to person through
intimate contact. These diseases, if left untreated, can lead to infertility (the inability to have a baby) or
even death. STDs can affect anyone who is having sex and are common among teens. It is critical to
know how to protect yourself against STDs.
Common STDs include:

Chlamydia

Genital Herpes (HSV-2)

Genital Warts

Gonorrhea

Hepatitis B (HBV)

HIV and AIDS

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Pubic Lice (Crabs)

Syphilis

How STDs are spread:

Unprotected sex or any skin-to-skin contact with an infected area or sore

People do not always realize they are infected and unknowingly pass it on to others

How STDs are prevented:

-

Abstain from all sexual contact

Use condoms

Maintain regular doctors visits; females should see have exams with a gynecologist; males
should have genital exams

Seek treatment as soon as an STD is suspected

How STDs are treated:

-

Medical intervention is necessary for treatment of STDs

*Additional information is available through the National STD Hotline at 1-800-227-8922

Mental Health

What is mental health?

Mental health is defined as the psychological state of someone who is functioning at a satisfactory level
of emotional and behavioral adjustment; people in good mental health are able to effectively control
their thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

Benefits of good mental health include:

-

Positive self-image

Strong relationships with others

Effective problem solving abilities

Stress-coping abilities

Grade Nine Home Skills

Home & Property Management

Understand the importance of home and property maintenance always address problems as
they occur to avoid bigger, more costly problems in the long run.

Indoor Maintenance & Repairs

Perform the following tasks regularly to keep household repairs at a minimum:

Outdoor Maintenance & Repairs

Perform the following tasks regularly to keep property repairs at a minimum:

Oil hinges, latches and door handles

Check for loose screws on furniture or other fixtures
Keep replacement light bulbs, fuses and flashlights in a convenient place
Move drawers around to ensure even wear
Maintain proper ventilation, particularly in rooms with moisture (kitchen,
bathroom)
Keep instructional manuals and/or notes in one place for easy reference
Follow manufacturers recommendations for care and service

Check external walls and surfaces for cracks

Maintain paintwork (on frames, stucco, etc.)
Check drains for blockages, debris and use appropriate draining products
Check external doors and hinges for warping, moisture, loose screws
Mow lawn and keep landscaping and flowerbeds tidy
Assess any pest problems in the outdoor areas

Tools

Keep a comprehensive toolbox accessible for simple repairs. Essential tools include:
screwdrivers (standard and Phillips), hammer, pliers, retractable knife, measuring tape,
adjustable wrench, screws, nails, glue, sand paper, saw, ladder and oil

Use protective gear (safety goggles, gloves, non-slip shoes) and ensure tools
are properly stored and maintained

Food Management

Food Storage & Safety

To ensure food quality and safety, keep the following items in the following places:

Pantry canned foods, bottled foods, dried foods

Refrigerator perishable foods (dairy, meat, salads, eggs, some vegetables)

Never use refrigerator doors to store items that can easily spoil (milk,
eggs, etc)
Do not overstock refrigerator air needs to circulate freely around food
Use crisper drawers for lettuce and vegetables to retain crispness
Store raw meats on the bottom shelf to avoid spreading bacteria to other
food

For a complete chart of food storage guidelines, visit:

http://www.storeitfoods.com/shelf-life

Emergencies

Electrical Emergencies:

No power or lights:
o

If other homes in the neighborhood are affected, it is a local power outage:

Turn off appliances and light switches except one bulb to alert you when power
has returned

Use flashlights and candles to illuminate spaces

Wear appropriate clothing and eat and drink frequently to fuel your body

If only your home is affected:

Check the main fuse box and check the Residual Current Device (RCD) if
the switch has tripped to the off position, turn the switch back on

No lights or power in a single circuit or socket:

o

Check bulbs or appliances in a different socket to rule out appliance failure or a blown
bulb.

If problem persists, turn off power at source/fuse box

If power surge does not work, contact a licensed electrician for assistance

Gas Emergencies: in homes with gas appliances, it is important to know how to address
problems with gas.
-

Identify signs of a gas leak or problem:

A strong or slight smell of gas in a room with gas appliances

If you develop headaches, nausea, exhaustion or muscle weakness in a room

with gas appliances

How to respond to gas problems:

If there is a strong smell of gas: turn off the gas next to the meter; call the gas
company, evacuate house; open windows, turn of all gas appliances, alert
neighbors, do not touch electrical switches

If there is a slight smell of gas: check pilot lights on stoves to ensure they have
not blown out or been left on without being ignited, open doors and windows to
clear out odor, relight the pilot lights

Grade Nine Personal Finances

Budgeting

What is a budget?
A budget is a financial document used to project future income and expenses.

Why do people budget?

To reach financial goals including the following:

The ability to pay all your bills from your paycheck and have money left over

The ability to make large purchases (a house, car, etc.)

The ability to save for the future (college, retirement)

The ability to pay for activities (vacations, shopping, entertainment)

The ability to pay off debt and/or rebuild credit

The ability to change employment status

The ability to invest in insurance or other securities

What are the benefits of budgeting?

A budget allows you to decide what level of spending you are comfortable with and
determine how your income supports your spending

A budget can keep you from living in heavy debt and eliminate guilt about excessive
expenses or spending money you do not have

A budget can help you identify the need for additional income

A Sample Budget:

Bobbie wants to determine a way to reach new financial goals including establishing a large
savings account, paying for continuing education courses and eliminating her credit card debt.
She wants to achieve these goals based on her current monthly income of $4,100 (after taxes
and deductions).

Her current monthly expenses are as follows:

Mortgage/Rent
Car payment
Utilities
Food (including dining out)
Toiletries/haircuts
Spending money
Car maintenance/insurance/expenses
Vacations ($2,800/year)
Clothing
Gifts and contributions
Credit card debt
TOTAL

$1,492
$342
$375
$675
$85
$200
$133
$233
$267
$200
$50
$4,052

To meet her financial goals without increasing her income, Bobbie will have to decrease her
expenses. Her viable options for reducing expenses include:
-

Cutting down on utilities (eliminating her land line telephone and using only her cell
phone) and programming thermostat to save on electric bill
= $83 monthly savings

Cutting down on grocery bills (spending a maximum of $125 per week on groceries) and
limiting dining out to once a week
= $175 monthly savings

Cutting down on car insurance costs (investigating lower-priced options)

= $33 monthly savings

Cutting down on vacation costs (spending a maximum of $500 per year on vacations)
= $60 monthly savings
TOTAL Monthly Savings: $351

By following through with these adjustments, Bobbie will have approximately $400 of her
monthly paycheck to devote to reaching her financial goals.

Reducing Expenses

There are several additional ways to cut regular expenses including:

-

Shopping around comparing prices of everyday items and buying them at the lowest
cost available

Purchasing high-quality, reliable products (avoiding trendy items)

Be creative take less expensive vacations, get books and other entertainment from
library, borrow (instead of buy) items from friends and family

Additional Income

When is additional income required?

When you have reduced your expenses as much as possible and still have difficulty reaching
your financial goals, you may need to consider temporary or permanent methods to increase
your income

How to generate additional income

There are several options you can explore to increase your income including:
-

Changing jobs (to a higher paying position)

Getting a second job

Freelancing for your employers company (offering to do work/projects outside your

regular working hours)

Starting a small business

There are pros and cons to consider before taking steps to increase income:
Pros:
o
o
o

Reaching your financial goals

Building new career skills
Personal satisfaction

Cons:
o
o
o

Less available time (for yourself and for your friends and family)
Added stress
Higher taxes (the more you make, the more you pay in taxes)

Grade Nine Parenting Skills

Are you ready to be a parent?

What does it mean to be a parent?

Know the definition of parent: a father or mother; one who gives birth to or nurtures and
raises a child

Emotional readiness: responsibility; maturity, sacrifice, lifestyle change

Financial readiness: costs of childrearing; impact on parental education: impact on

employment decisions

Unit Practice Parenting

o
o
o
o

Make a pretend baby, using a five-pound bag of flour

Parent must take baby everywhere for a period of five days and must care for baby in
the ways a real infant requires: feeding, diapering, comforting
Childcare arrangements must be made for any period of time when baby cannot be with
parent
Period of practice parenting to be tracked in daily journal entries: record observations
about the process

Preventing unplanned pregnancy: Abstinence

- Know the definition of abstinence: a voluntary restraint from indulging a desire or

appetite for certain bodily activities (including sexual intercourse) that are widely
experienced as giving pleasure.
-

The benefits of abstinence: guaranteed protection against pregnancy or sexually

transmitted diseases; avoiding emotional consequences of sex; maintaining high
moral standards; maintaining better, lasting relationships in the short- and longterm

If the Unexpected Happens

Pregnancy
-

Conception and pregnancy: detecting pregnancy; prenatal care; valuable

resources

Childcare Options
-

Working v. Staying Home: career decisions; guilt and acceptance; balancing

responsibilities
Childcare options/costs:
Daycare Center child is taken to a daycare facility where other children are also
cared for by a staff of childcare professionals
Cost: Average $700 per month
In-Home Daycare child is taken to a daycare operated in that childcare
providers home
Cost: Average $500 per month

Nanny child is taken care of in their own home by a caretaker who exclusively
cares for that child (or that familys children)
Cost: Average $2400 per month
Relative Care child is taken care of in a relatives home or relative takes care of
child in the childs home
Cost: Often free or in exchange for other favors or responsibilities
Stay-at-Home Parent child is taken care of in their own home by their own
parent
Cost: Free (less the cost of income lost from leaving job)

Child Stages and Development

-

Your Baby: Newborn Care crying, diapers, feedings, sleep issues,

developmental milestones, healthcare, safety, baby gear/necessities

Your Toddler: Toddler Development walking, talking, finger foods, tantrums,

potty training, boundaries, separation anxiety

Your Preschooler New Independence playing and sharing with others,

command of language, following directions, imaginative play, social and emotional
skills, physical mastery
* These stages of a childs care and development require further, in-depth
instruction. Refer to a local pediatrician or hospital to find additional resources.
The following website also provides additional information on the first three years
of a childs development: http://www.zerotothree.org/

The Family Unit

-

Parental relationship: the impact of children on a relationship new pressures

and responsibilities, less time spent alone and together as a couple, renews
commitment, enhances cooperation as a couple

Family: functions to produce and socialize children; plays a role in productive

citizenship; role of family shifts throughout childs life

Grade Nine Study Skills

The Learning Process

Learning takes place in stages. These stages are most widely recognized as those identified and
examined by neuropsychologist Benjamin Bloom.
Blooms learning levels include (from the lowest level of thinking to the highest):
-

Knowledge repeats memorized information verbatim

Comprehension restates information, showing evidence of understanding

Application applies learning to new situations or to problem solving

Analysis breaks data into parts, detecting relationships and organization

Synthesis uses creativity and originality to develop new ideas or products

Evaluation makes value judgments and decisions; supports views

Learning Attitudes

What is an attitude?

The approach you take to a task; attitude is a reflection of the amount of interest you have in a task
A positive attitude affects studying in the following ways:
-

Provides a clear pictures of your role in the learning process

Allows you to establish clear learning goals

Enables you to study more efficiently

Results in better grades and academic performance

How to develop a positive attitude toward studying:

-

Accept responsibility for learning information

Become an active participant in the learning process (actively listening, asking questions)

Determine what results are desired from a class, project, test, etc.

Ask for help; seek support from others

Take care of yourself (adequate sleep, nutrition, hygiene, etc.)

Concentration and Memory

Concentration and memory are important components of academic performance

The following are tips to enhance concentration and ensure your learning is stored in your memory:
-

Attach a strong emotional connection (such as a personal memory) to the material

Rewrite the material; summarize your notes

Create a song about the material or change the words to an existing song

Draw a picture using bold colors

Repeat and review the material in regular intervals (after 10 minutes, 48 hours, etc.)

Apply what you have learned in your daily life and normal activities

Use acronyms and other strategies for memorization

Write about the material in a journal

The following are tips to help you search for lost memories:
-

Say or write down everything you can remember relating to the memory you have lost

Recall events or information in a different order

Recreate the learning environment or replay the event (include sounds, smells, people, feelings,
etc.)

Grade Nine Survey of Careers

Introduction to Careers

What is a career?
The general course or progression of one's working life or professional achievements

How do you choose the right career for you?

Learn about yourself: By identifying information about yourself, you will be able to determine what types
of careers you are most suited for and eliminate career paths that might result in wasted time, money
and other resources. It is important to consider the following:

Values what are the things that are most important to you? (status, achievement, freedom,
security, financial gain, social contribution)

Interests what are the things you most enjoy doing or learning about?

Personality what are some of your individual traits, needs and attitudes?

Skills what activities do you excel at?

What are your work motivations?

There are seven primary areas of motivation that correspond to different career fields. These areas
often overlap or work in combination with one another; the following are examples of careers based on
each single area of motivation:
1. Words
People with a preference for words may want to make a living out of working with words
either creatively or for information or communication.
Examples of Word Careers:
- Writer
- Editor
- Historian
- Interpreter
- Journalist
- Language Teacher

Librarian
Literary Critic

2. Art
People with a preference for art often want a career in which they can express
themselves and use their imagination. These individuals may also choose a career path
that allows them freedom to create and explore.
Examples of Art Careers:
- Artist
- Architect
- Interior Designer
- Make-up Artist
- Musician
- Sculptor
- Florist
- Dancer
- Fashion Designer
3. Physical
People with a preference for physical activity may seek work that allows them to engage
in sports or other active outlets these people often find ways to interact with their
environments in a hands on manner.
Examples of Physical Careers:
- Farmer
- Builder
- Fisherman
- Butcher
- Mechanic
- Park Ranger
- Upholsterer
- Baker
- Cook
- Driver
4. Experimenting
People with a preference for experimentation (acquiring knowledge, observing results,
analyzing information) may seek work that requires precise study and work these
people often enjoy exploring opportunities in a changing environment (such as
technology and science).
Examples of Experimenting Careers:
- Astronomer
- Chemist
- Dietician
- Experimental Psychologist
- Mathematician
- Surgeon
- Laboratory Technician
5. Organization

People with a preference for organization may seek work that involves administration
(the effective use of people and resources) these people often thrive in positions where
they coordinate the efforts of others.
Examples of Organization Careers:
- Accountant
- Auditor
- Legal Executive
- Secretary/Administrative Assistant
- Securities Analyst
- Tax Inspector
- Administrator
6. Business
People with a preference for business are motivated by an opportunity to earn a living in
their own way these people are often entrepreneurs (who start their own businesses)
or strive for high productivity and profit for the companies they work for.
Examples of Business Careers:
- Broker
- Business Consultant
- Managing Director
- Marketing Manager
- Politician
- Retail Manager
- Negotiator
7. Social
People with a preference for social activity often seek work that makes people the main
objective careers in this area are geared toward helping and interacting with other
people.
Examples of Social Careers:
- Ambulance Crew
- Career Counselor
- Nurse/Midwife
- Probation Officer
- Remedial Teacher
*** There are many instances when these areas of motivation overlap or combine for
example, an individual may have a strong preference for words AND art and would be happiest
in a career that combines the two (example: acting, communications, etc.)

Career Assessment Resources:

Libraries and school career centers often offer computer-assisted career guidance programs that enable
users to identify their career choices and learn more about different careers. Useful programs include:

SIGI 3 (System of Interactive Guidance and Information) an educational and career planning
software for the Internet integrates self-assessment with in-depth and up-to-date career information
Discover a comprehensive career guidance and information software system

Professional career counselors can administer highly-specialized tests to help people in the selfassessment process; these counselors typically administer and interpret some of the following tests:
-

Minnesota Importance Questionnaire

Survey of Interpersonal Values

Temperament and Values Inventory
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

Additional Career Considerations:

Once you have identified potential careers, you must then explore your personal options in pursuing
these paths. Factors to consider include:
-

Time: How much time are you willing to spend on advancing or acquiring new skills required of this
career path?

Family: What are your family responsibilities and how will they affect your pursuit of this career
path?

Money: Do you have the financial ability to pay for education and training required of this career
path?

Career Outlook: What is the state of employment in this career path? Will there be a need for
people in this field? Research the career to learn about its history and future forecasts.

Confidence: Are you prepared to stand behind your career decision and explain your choice to
others? Your career choice may affect important people in your life and it is critical to prepare
yourself with information that supports your decision to pursue this path.

Alternatives: Have you determined some alternatives to your chosen career path? It is important to
have more than one plan in place for your career. In fact, it is a good idea to continue exploring
career alternatives throughout your working life.

Education: Formal education is required for many career fields, making some career paths more
difficult or unappealing due to financial limitations, time constraints or a personal dislike for
academics.

Financial support is available to assist individuals with their education/training:

Federal Financial Aid:
U.S. Department of Education
http://www.studentaid.ed.gov or call 1-800-4-Fed-Aid (1-800-433-3243)
State Financial Aid:
Contact your state's higher education agency at:
http://bcol102.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/org_listcfm?category_ID=SHE
Volunteer/Service Programs:
Americorps: http://www.americorps.org or 1-800-942-2677
Peace Corps: http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm or 1-800-424-8580
Free Scholarship and Grant Resources:

College is Possible http://www.collegeispossible.org

College Boards Pay for College http://www.collegeboard.com
FastAid http://www.fastaid.com/
FastWeb http://www.fastweb.com/

Many worthwhile career paths require little or no formal education including:

Auto Mechanic

Carpenter
Electrician
Food Service Manager
Telecommunications Installer
Postal Service Worker
Truck Driver
Police Officer
Administrative Assistant
Real Estate Agent
Transportation Worker
Entrepreneur

Grade Nine Entrepreneurship

What is Entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is the act of being an entrepreneur. What is an entrepreneur?
-

An individual who organizes a business venture and assumes the risks and responsibilities
for it

What is the difference between an entrepreneur and an inventor?

-

Every entrepreneur is an inventor; few inventors are entrepreneurs

An inventor asks What is missing in this picture? then creates a solution to fill a need

An entrepreneur asks the same question, creates a solution to fill a need and develops a
business to offer the solution to others

An inventors invention is their product; an entrepreneurs business is their product

Famous entrepreneurs:
-

Levi Strauss founder of Levis Jeans

o

Walt Disney founder of Disney enterprise

o

Identified demand for waist overalls (jeans). Supervised manufacturing from smallscale (seamstresses working out of their homes) to large-scale (multiple production
factories)

Creator of Mickey Mouse, Disney theme parks and various other related ventures.
Widely recognized for his invention of the multiplane camera that brought richer
animation to film (first seen in his production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Expanded Disney enterprise to include multimedia ventures, television programming,
corporate partnerships, commercial products, etc.

Bill Gates founder, chairman and CEO of Microsoft Corp.

o

Developed an operating system for the personal computer (PC). Retained rights to the
program and launched his own software company for the software, resulting in
Microsoft operating more than 90 percent of all desktop computers worldwide.

Enterprise has expanded to include a variety of other ventures ranging from online
entertainment to automobiles.
*These and other effective entrepreneurs have all demonstrated key traits including
passion, intellect, vision, joy and leadership (further examined in following section)

Tenth Grade
Free World U

Algebra II
Algebra II Basics

Absolute Value
Students solve equations and inequalities involving absolute value

Linear Equations and Inequalities

Students solve systems of linear equations and inequalities (in two or three variables) by
substitution, with graphs, or with matrices

Operations on Polynomials
Students are adept at operations on polynomials, including long division

Factoring Polynomials
Students factor polynomials representing the difference of squares, perfect square
trinomials, and the sum and difference of two cubes

Real and Complex Numbers

Students demonstrate knowledge of how real and complex numbers are related both
arithmetically and graphically. In particular, they can plot complex numbers as points in
the plane

Manipulating Complex Numbers

Students add, subtract, multiply, and divide complex numbers

Rational Expressions

Manipulating Rational Expressions

Add, subtract, multiply, divide, reduce, and evaluate rational expressions with monomial
and polynomial denominators

Simplifying Rational Expressions

Simplify complicated rational expressions including those with negative exponents in the
denominator

Quadratic Equations and Functions

Solving Quadratic Equations

Solve and graph quadratic equations by factoring, completing the square, or using the
quadratic formula; apply techniques to solve word problems; solve quadratic equations in
the complex number system

Changing a Coefficient
Demonstrate and explain the effect that changing a coefficient has on the graph of
quadratic functions; e.g., how the graph of a parabola changes as a, b, and c vary in the
equation y = a(x-b)2 + c

Graphing Quadratic Functions

Students graph quadratic functions and determine the maxima, minima, and zeros of the
function

Effects of Coefficients
Students demonstrate and explain how the geometry of the graph of a conic section (e.g.,
asymptotes, foci, eccentricity) depends on the coefficients of the quadratic equation
representing it

Applying the Quadratic Equation

Given a quadratic equation of the form ax2 + by2 + cx + dy + e = 0, students can use the
method for completing the square to put the equation into standard form and can

Graphing Quadratic Equations

Students can recognize whether the graph of a quadratic equation in standard form is a
circle, ellipse, parabola, or hyperbola, then graph the equation

Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Laws of Logarithms
Students prove simple laws of logarithms

Inverse Relationships
Students understand the inverse relationship between exponents and logarithms and use
this relationship to solve problems involving logarithms and exponents

Validity of an Argument
Students judge the validity of an argument according to whether the properties of real
numbers, exponents, and logarithms have been applied correctly at each step

Exponents
Students know the laws of fractional exponents, understand exponential functions, and
use these functions in problems involving exponential growth and decay

Translate Between Logarithms

Students use the definition of logarithms to translate between logarithms in any base

Logarithmic Expressions
Students understand and use the properties of logarithms to simplify logarithmic numeric
expressions and to identify their approximate values

Probability and Statistics

Computing Combinations and Permutations

Students use fundamental counting principles to compute combinations and permutations

Computing Probabilities
Students use combinations and permutations to compute probabilities

Binomial Theorem
Students know the binomial theorem and use it to expand binomial expressions that are
raised to positive integer powers

Mathematical Induction
Students apply the method of mathematical induction to prove general statements about
the positive integers

Arithmetic and Geometric Series

Finding the General Term and Sums

Students find the general term and the sums of arithmetic series and of both finite and
infinite geometric series

Deriving Summation Formulas

Students derive the summation formulas for arithmetic series and for both finite and
infinite geometric series

Trigonometric Functions

Problems Involving Functional Concepts

Students solve problems involving functional concepts, such as composition, defining the
inverse function and performing arithmetic operations on functions

Justifying Steps
Students use properties from number systems to justify steps in combining and simplifying
functions

Analyzing Algebraic Statements

Analyzing Algebraic Statements

Students determine whether a specific algebraic statement involving rational expressions,
radical expressions, or logarithmic or exponential functions is sometimes true, always true,
or never true

Earth Sciences
Earths Place in the Universe

Differences and Similarities in Our System

Students know how the differences and similarities among the sun, the terrestrial planets,
and the gas planets may have been established during the formation of the solar system

Evidence of Our Systems Age

Students know the evidence from Earth and moon rocks indicates that the solar system
was formed from a nebular cloud of dust and gas approximately 4.6 billion years ago

Early Earth
Students know the evidence from geological studies of Earth and other planets suggest
that the early Earth was very different from Earth today

Distances From Earth

Students know the evidence indicating that the planets are much closer to Earth than the
stars are

Our Sun
The Sun is a typical star and is powered by nuclear reactions, primarily the fusion of
hydrogen to form helium;

Evidence of Asteroid Impacts

Students know the evidence for the dramatic effects that asteroid impacts have had in
shaping the surface of planets and their moons and in mass extinctions of life on Earth

Milky Way Galaxy

Students know the solar system is located in an outer edge of the disc-shaped Milky Way
galaxy, which spans 100,000 light years

Other Galaxies
Students know galaxies are made of billions of stars and comprise most of the visible
mass of the universe

Nuclear Fusion in Stars

Students know the evidence indicating that all elements with an atomic number greater
than that of lithium have been formed by nuclear fusion in stars

Differences in Stars
Students know that stars differ in their life cycles and that visual, radio, and X-ray
telescopes may be used to collect data that reveal those differences

Dynamic Earth Processes

Plate Tectonics
Features of the ocean floor (magnetic patterns, age, and sea-floor topography) provide
evidence of plate tectonics; the principal structures that form at the three different kinds of
plate boundaries

Properties of Rocks
Students know how to explain the properties of rocks based on the physical and chemical
conditions in which they formed, including plate tectonic processes

Earthquakes
Students know why and how earthquakes occur and the scales used to measure their
intensity and magnitude

Volcanoes
Students know there are two kinds of volcanoes: one kind with violent eruptions producing
steep slopes and the other kind with voluminous lava flows producing gentle slopes

Energy in the Earth System

Amounts of Energy
Students know the relative amount of incoming solar energy compared with Earth's
internal energy and the energy used by society

Solar Radiation
Students know the fate of incoming solar radiation in terms of reflection, absorption, and
photosynthesis

Greenhouse Effect
Students know the different atmospheric gases that absorb the Earth's thermal radiation
and the mechanism and significance of the greenhouse effect

Differential Heating of Earth

Students know how differential heating of Earth results in circulation patterns in the
atmosphere and oceans that globally distribute the heat

Weather and Rotation of Earth

Students know the relationship between the rotation of Earth and the circular motions of
ocean currents and air in pressure centers

Temperature Inversions
Students know the origin and effects of temperature inversions

Properties of Ocean Water

Properties of ocean water can be used to explain the layered structure of the oceans, the
generation of horizontal and vertical ocean currents, and the geographic distribution of
marine organisms

Rain Forests and Deserts

Students know rain forests and deserts on Earth are distributed in bands at specific
latitudes

Weather and the Atmosphere

Students know weather (in the short run) and climate (in the long run) involve the transfer
of energy into and out of the atmosphere

Various Effects on Climate

Students know the effects on climate of latitude, elevation, topography, and proximity to
large bodies of water and cold or warm ocean currents

Climate Changes Over Time

Students know how Earth's climate has changed over time, corresponding to changes in
Earth's geography, atmospheric composition, and other factors, such as solar radiation
and plate movement

Biogeochemical Cycles

Cycles
Students know the carbon cycle of photosynthesis and respiration and the nitrogen cycle

Global Carbon Cycle

Students know the global carbon cycle: the different physical and chemical forms of
carbon in the atmosphere, oceans, biomass, fossil fuels, and the movement of carbon
among these reservoirs

Movement of Matter
Students know the movement of matter among reservoirs is driven by Earth's internal and
external sources of energy

Earths Atmosphere

Atmosphere Structure and Composition

Students know the thermal structure and chemical composition of the atmosphere

Changes in the Atmosphere

Students know how the composition of Earth's atmosphere has evolved over geologic
time, the effect of outgassing, the variations of carbon dioxide concentration, and the
origin of atmospheric oxygen

The Ozone Layer

Know the location of the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere, its role in absorbing
ultraviolet radiation, and the way in which this layer varies both naturally and in response
to human activities

California Geology

Economic Resources and Geology

Students know the resources of major economic importance in California and their relation
to California's geology

Natural Hazards and Geology

Students know the principal natural hazards in different California regions and the
geologic basis of those hazards

Californias Water
Students know the importance of water to society, the origins of California 's fresh water,
and the relationship between supply and need

Grade Ten Social Studies

Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman Ideas

Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman Ideas

Similarities and differences in Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman views of law, reason
and faith, and duties of the individual; influence of their moral and ethical principles to the
development of Western political thought

Rule of Law
Development of the Western political ideas of the rule of law and illegitimacy of tyranny;
Plato's Republic and Aristotle's Politics

Influence of the U.S. Constitution

Its influence on political systems in the contemporary world

Modern Revolutions and Their Effects

Philosophers
Major ideas of philosophers; their effects on the democratic revolutions in England, the
United States, France, and Latin America; John Locke, Charles-Louis Montesquieu, JeanJacques Rousseau, Simn Bolvar, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison

Important Documents
Principles of the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights (1689), the American Declaration
of Independence (1776), the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
(1789), and the U.S. Bill of Rights (1791)

The American Revolution

Unique character of the American Revolution; its spread to other parts of the world; its
continuing significance to other nations

French Revolution
How the ideology of the French Revolution led France to develop from constitutional
monarchy to democratic despotism to the Napoleonic Empire

Nationalism
How nationalism spread across Europe with Napoleon; how it was repressed for a
generation under the Congress of Vienna and Concert of Europe until the Revolutions of
1848

Effects of the Industrial Revolution

England
Why England was the first country to industrialize

Scientific and Technological Changes

How scientific and technological changes and new forms of energy brought about massive
social, economic, and cultural change; inventions and discoveries of James Watt, Eli
Whitney, Henry Bessemer, Louis Pasteur, Thomas Edison

Urbanization
Growth of population, rural to urban migration, growth of cities associated with the
Industrial Revolution

Work and Labor

Evolution of work and labor; demise of the slave trade; effects of immigration, mining and
manufacturing, division of labor, and the union movement

The Industrial Economy

Connections among natural resources, entrepreneurship, labor, and capital in an industrial
economy

Rise of Capitalism
Emergence of capitalism as a dominant economic pattern; responses to it, including
Utopianism, Social Democracy, Socialism, and Communism

Trends in Art and Literature

Emergence of Romanticism in art and literature - the poetry of William Blake and William
Wordsworth; social criticism - the novels of Charles Dickens; the move away from
Classicism in Europe

The Era of New Imperialism

Industrial Economies
Rise of industrial economies; their link to imperialism and colonialism; role played by
national security and strategic advantage; moral issues raised by the search for national
hegemony; Social Darwinism; the missionary impulse; material issues such as land,
resources, and technology

Colonial Rule
Locations of the colonial rule of such nations as England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Portugal, and the United States

Imperialism
Imperialism from the perspective of the colonizers and the colonized; the varied
immediate and long-term responses by the people under colonial rule, including in Africa,
Southeast Asia, China, India, Latin America, and the Philippines

Struggles for Independence

Independence struggles of the colonized regions of the world, including in Africa,
Southeast Asia, China, India, Latin America, and the Philippines; roles of leaders, such as
Sun Yat-sen in China; roles of ideology and religion

Causes and Course of the First World War

Outbreak of War
Arguments for entering into war presented by leaders from all sides of the Great War; role
of political and economic rivalries, ethnic and ideological conflicts, domestic discontent
and disorder, and propaganda and nationalism in mobilizing the civilian population in
support of "total war"

Conduct of the War

Principal theaters of battle; major turning points; importance of geographic factors in
military decisions and outcomes - topography, waterways, distance, climate

Course and Outcome

How the Russian Revolution affected the course and outcome of the war; how the entry of
the United States affected the course and outcome of the war

Human Costs
Nature of the war; its human costs, military and civilian, on all sides of the conflict; how
colonial peoples contributed to the war effort

Human Rights and Genocide

Human rights violations and genocide; the Ottoman government's actions against
Armenian citizens

Effects of the First World War

Post-War Negotiations
Aims and negotiating roles of world leaders; terms and influence of the Treaty of
Versailles and Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points; causes and effects of the United
States rejection of the League of Nations on world politics

Political and Economic Effects of the War

Effects of the war and resulting peace treaties on population movement, the international
economy, and shifts in the geographic and political borders of Europe and the Middle East

Social Effects of the War

Widespread disillusionment with prewar institutions, authorities, and values that resulted
in a void that was later filled by totalitarians

Effects on Culture
Influence of World War I on literature, art, and intellectual life in the West; Pablo Picasso;
the "lost generation" of Gertrude Stein; Ernest Hemingway

Rise of Totalitarian Governments

The Russian Revolution

Causes and consequences of the Russian Revolution; Lenin's use of totalitarian means to
seize and maintain control - the Gulag

Stalin
Stalin's rise to power in the Soviet Union; connection between economic policies, political
policies, the absence of a free press, and systematic violations of human rights; the Terror
Famine in Ukraine

Totalitarian Regimes
The rise, aggression, and human costs of totalitarian regimes, Fascist and Communist, in
Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union; their common and dissimilar traits

Causes and Consequences of World War II

Drives for Empire

German, Italian, and Japanese drives for empire in the 1930s; 1937 Rape of Nanking;
other atrocities in China; Stalin-Hitler Pact of 1939

Appeasement
Role of appeasement and nonintervention (isolationism); domestic distractions in Europe
and the United States prior to the outbreak of World War II

Conduct of the War

Major turning points of the war; principal theaters of conflict; key strategic decisions

World War II Influences and Outcomes

Location of Allied and Axis nations on a map, Importance of geographic factors, Resulting
War conferences and political resolutions

Important Leaders
Political, diplomatic, and military leaders during the war;., Winston Churchill, Franklin
Delano Roosevelt, Emperor Hirohito, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin,
Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower

The Holocaust
Nazi policy of pursuing racial purity, especially against the European Jews; its
transformation into the Final Solution; the Holocaust that resulted in the murder of six
million Jewish civilians

Human Costs
Human costs of the war; civilian and military losses in Russia, Germany, Britain, the
United States, China, and Japan

The Post-World War II World

Post-War Changes
Economic and military power shifts caused by the war; the Yalta Pact; development of
nuclear weapons; Soviet control over Eastern European nations; economic recoveries of
Germany and Japan

The Cold War

Causes of the Cold War, with the free world on one side and Soviet client states on the
other; competition for influence in such places as Egypt, the Congo, Vietnam, and Chile

American Postwar Policy

Importance of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, which established the pattern
for America's postwar policy of supplying economic and military aid to prevent the spread
of Communism; economic and political competition in arenas such as Southeast Asia
(Korean War, Vietnam War) Cuba, and Africa

China
Chinese Civil War; rise of Mao Tse-tung; subsequent political and economic upheavals in
China - Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, and the Tiananmen Square uprising

Resistance to Soviet Domination

Uprisings in Poland (1952), Hungary (1956), and Czechoslovakia (1968)

Renewed Resistance to Soviet Domination

Resurgence of resistance to Soviet Domination in the 1970s and 1980s taking place in Poland,
Hungary, and Czechoslovakia as people in Soviet satellites sought freedom from Soviet control.

Middle East
How the forces of nationalism developed in the Middle East; how the Holocaust affected
world opinion regarding the need for a Jewish state; significance and effects of the
location and establishment of Israel on world affairs

Collapse of the Soviet Union

Reasons for the collapse of the Soviet Union; weakness of the command economy;
burdens of military commitments; growing resistance to Soviet rule by dissidents in
satellite states and the non-Russian Soviet republics

International Organizations and Alliances

Establishment and work of the United Nations; purposes and functions of the Warsaw
Pact, SEATO, NATO, and the Organization of American States

Nation-Building in the Contemporary World

Challenges
Challenges in the regions, including the Middle East, Africa, Mexico and other parts of
Latin America, and China; their geopolitical, cultural, military, and economic significance;
international relationships in which they are involved

Politics and Society

Recent history of the regions, including the Middle East, Africa, Mexico and other parts of
Latin America, and China; political divisions and systems; key leaders; religious issues;
natural features; resources; population patterns

Important Trends
Important trends in the regions today, including the Middle East, Africa, Mexico and other
parts of Latin America, and China; whether they appear to serve the cause of individual
freedom and democracy

The World Economy

Globalization
Characteristics; economic, social, and political effects

Technology
Television, satellites, computers

Grade Ten Health

Injury Prevention and Emergency Care Procedures

At Home

At a Workplace

In the Community

Health Careers

Health Promotion

Health Care

Injury Treatment

Maintaining and Improving Body System Functions

Exercise

Nutrition

Safety

Effects of Health Habits on the Body

Immediate Effects

Long-Term Effects

Effects of Conflict and Violence on Health

Effects on Individuals

Effects on Families

Effects on Communities

Strategies to Prevent Conflict and Resolve Differences

Prevent Negative Emotion

Cooperation

Listening Skills

Mediation

Understanding Cultural Diversity

Effects of Stress and Divorce on Family and Society

Divorce and/or Separation

Effect of Family Stress and Separation/Divorce on the Family

Effect of Family Stress and Separation/Divorce on Society

Grade Ten Spanish I

Vocabulary (existing content from Tenth Grade Exploring Foreign Languages Spanish)
Grammar (existing content from Tenth Grade Exploring Foreign Languages Spanish)
Phrases (existing content from Tenth Grade Exploring Foreign Languages Spanish)
Pronunciation (overlaps with and expands on existing content in Eleventh Grade - Spanish I)

Sounding native regions, dialects

Pronunciation goals how fluency is achieved
Learning the alphabet
Learning the vowels
Learning the consonants
Accent marks

Subjects (new topic area)

Introduction to subjects Who are you?

Plurals
Articles
Nouns and pronouns
Forms of You
Conjunctions

Verbs (overlaps with and expands on existing content in Eleventh Grade Spanish I)

Introduction to verbs What do you do?

Conjugation
Moods
Infinitives
Present tense
Introduction to Ser Who are you?
Introduction to Estar How are you?
Additional verb tenses
Significant verbs (to have, to be, to go, to know)
Irregular verbs

Grade Ten French I

Vocabulary (existing content from Tenth Grade Exploring Foreign Languages French)
Grammar (overlaps with and expands on existing content from Tenth Grade Exploring Foreign
Languages French)

Introduction to French articles

Definite articles
Indefinite articles
Partitive article
Introduction to nouns
Gender of nouns (existing content area)
Formation of plurals
Family names
Irregular plurals

Phrases (existing content from Tenth Grade Exploring Foreign Languages French AND Eleventh Grade
French I)

Pronunciation (overlaps with and expands on existing content from Eleventh Grade - French I)

The alphabet
Pronunciation rules
Punctuation marks

Subject Pronouns and Present-Tense Verbs (new topic area)

Introduction to subject pronouns

Verb forms: the infinitive
Verb forms: the present tense
Irregular verbs and irregular verbs ending in oir and ir
Idiomatic expressions
Present participle

Questions and Commands (new topic area)

Introduction to Est-ce que

Intonation
Inversion
Questions about people
General questions
Giving orders (imperative verb form)

Negating Words and Phrases (new topic area)

Negative expressions
Negative construction
Negative pronouns (Rien and Personne)
Negative adverbs
Articles and negative expressions
Responding to negative questions

Grade Ten German I

Vocabulary (existing content from Tenth Grade Exploring Foreign Languages German)
Pronunciation (new topic area)

The alphabet
Pronouncing vowels
Pronouncing consonants
Letter combinations

Phrases (existing content from Tenth Grade Exploring Foreign Languages German)
Grammar (overlaps with and expands on existing content from Tenth Grade Exploring Foreign
Languages German)

Capitalization
Gender of nouns (existing content area)
Exceptions to gender patterns
Indefinite articles

Plurals and Pronouns (new topic area)

Easy plurals
Plural of masculine nouns
Plural of feminine nouns
Plural of neuter nouns
He, She, and It
You and I
Plural pronouns
Du, ihr, and Sie
Describing nouns

Verbs (new topic area)

Conjugation

The verb sein

Verbs of motion: coming and going
Verbs ending in -ieren
The verb bitten
Special uses of Du and Sie
Negation with Not and Not any

Irregular Verbs (new topic area)

The verb haben

The word morgen
Stem changes in present tense
Uses of warden
Prefixes and verbs of motion

Direct Objects and Accusative Case (new topic area)

Introduction to direct objects

The English direct object
The German direct object
Nominative and accusative
Adjectives with direct objects
Prepositions with the accusative
Es gibt
Useful idioms

Indirect Objects and Dative Case (new topic area)

Introduction to indirect objects

The German indirect object
Changing dative nouns to pronouns
Sentences and pronouns
Prepositions with the dative case
Additional uses of the dative case

Forming Questions (new topic area)

The three types of questions

Placing a verb first
Interrogative words
Asking Where?
Asking How? and When?
Asking Who?
Asking What kind and Why?
Other cases of wer

Grade Ten Sociology

Social Equality

Demographics
What are demographics?

Demographics are the characteristics of a human population (typically used for purposes of government,
marketing and research); commonly used demographics include income, race, sex and gender.

Class
What is the class system?

The class system is a way of classifying groups of people based on ownership of resources and
occupation (i.e. income).

The class system in the United States is characterized by unequal distribution of resources
(example: people in the upper class have a lot; people in the lower class have little)

Consequences of the class system:

Upper class individuals have greater access to resources and, as a result, are able to
explore more opportunities

Lower class individuals have limited access to resources and, as a result, must spend
their limited resources on basic necessities rather than on exploring new opportunities

Race and Ethnicity

What is race?
-

A race is a category of people who have been singled out as inferior or superior, usually on the
basis of physical characteristics such as skin color, hair texture or eye shape.

What is ethnicity?
-

An ethnic group is a collection of people distinguished primarily by cultural or national

characteristics including cultural traits, customs, community, membership, etc.

Groups are often further classified by majority and minority groups.

- The majority (dominant) group is the group with more resources and rights in society

The minority (subordinate) group is the group subjected to unequal treatment by the minority
group

Sex and Gender

What is the difference between sex and gender?
- Sex refers to the biological components of what is female or male (what we are born with)
-

Gender refers to the socially constructed differences between females and males (what is
attained through socialization)

Gender socialization reinforces what behaviors are considered appropriate for each gender. The
agents of gender socialization include:
-

Parents

Peers

Teachers

Schools

Sports

Media

*Discussion Question: What are some of the inequalities you have witnessed based on class, race,
ethnicity or gender?

Grade Ten Character Development

Character Awareness

Appropriate Rebellion
Appropriate rebellion is the act of questioning authority when you believe that authority is
wrong. Recognize that, in many cases, the authority can be wrong.
Historical examples:
o
o

WW2 Germanys allegiance to loyalty and obedience above truth and love
General Robert E. Lees internal conflict in the Civil War (torn between his
opposition to slavery and secession and his geographic loyalty to the South)

Discuss modern-day, practical instances where appropriate rebellion should be exercised.

Levels of Awareness

Acceptance
Acceptance is the level of personal awareness characterized by the setting and achieving of
goals. It marks a powerful shift where individuals believe in their competency and want to put it to
a greater use. People in this stage accept responsibility for their role in the world and take
proactive steps to living a better life.

Reason
Reason is the level of personal awareness where people move away from the emotional
aspects of the lower levels and adopt a purely rational perspective. People who reach this
level become capable of using their reasoning abilities to explore their highest natural
abilities to make meaningful contributions to the world. Most people never reach this level
in a lifetime.

Character in Action

Acceptance: At this level, individuals begin evaluating their lives and identify where they
want their lives to lead them. People at this level often make changes in areas they are
not happy with, particularly areas they believe will affect their future. Examples include a
career change, new relationships or a modified diet.

Reason: At this level, individuals reach a high level of reasoning, which they are able to
put to use in the world around them. People at this level often make great contributions in
fields like medicine and science, given their significant abilities to reason.

Extend discussion of acceptance and reason, identifying factors that could cause
individuals to shift from one level to the next.

Grade Ten Critical Thinking

Consumer Choice

Sales and advertising techniques can be very influential. Commercials, magazine advertisements and
Web banners are unavoidable in current popular culture most people encounter thousands of
commercial messages each day including:
-

Signs

Billboards

Brochures

Direct mail

Email advertisements

Radio advertisements

Television advertisements

Telemarketing

To effectively evaluate commercial messages, it is important to:

-

Find similarities and differences between advertisements for different products

Categorize advertisements based on similar messages, imagery or theme

Identify the point of view presented in the advertisement

Evaluate individual choice and social responsibility

Be a smart consumer
Smart consumers make purchasing decisions based on their income, demographics, needs and desires
not on commercial messages.
Smart consumers do the following:
-

Compare prices advertised price savings may be misleading

Read carefully review company policies, return policies, warranties, etc.

Get it in writing have documents for all transactions

Research reliability find out if companies are recommended; do product comparisons

Take your time ask questions, consider potential problems, do not allow yourself to be
pressured to make a purchase

Democratic Choice

Politics can influence consumer thinking and decision making.

Political messages appear in:
-

Speeches

Advertisements

News interviews

- Debates
*Interviews and debates are typically more balanced than speeches and advertisements because
politicians do not completely control the context, criticism or environment.
In evaluating political arguments and campaigns, it is important to consider the following:
-

What is the significance of this argument?

What difference does this argument make to your understanding of politics?

How does this argument affect the allocation of critical resources?

How does this argument affect who wins in the political process?

Grade Ten Interpersonal Relationships

Husband/Wife Relationships

Reasons couples get married:

-

Mutual love and admiration

Desire for companionship

Desire for commitment

Desire to raise children together

Challenges in a marriage can include:

-

Gradual changes in the people who are married (as well as in the marriage itself)

Different communication styles (or lack of communication altogether)

Different interests, motivations, etc.

Lack of support for one another

Important topics in marital communication can be covered by completing the following

statements about one another:
-

In our marriage, I feel loved when you .

In our marriage, I feel appreciated when you .

In our marriage, I am happiest when .

In our marriage, I am saddest when .

In our marriage, I am most angry when ..

In our marriage, I would like more .

In our marriage, I would like less.

In our marriage, I feel uneasy when .

In our marriage, I feel distant from you when .

My greatest concern about our marriage is .

The feelings that I have the most difficulty sharing with you are about .

The feelings that I can share most easily with you are .

Our marriage could be significantly improved if we make an effort to .

The thing in our marriage that needs the most attention is .

The best thing about our marriage is

Parent/Child Relationships

A positive parent/child relationship is critical to both members of that relationship; a strong,

successful relationship requires work by both parent and child.

Tips for building a stronger bond between parent and child include the following:
-

Tell one another that you love them as much as possible

Share your beliefs and values and explain why you feel the way you do; ask questions of
each other and answer questions honestly

Establish a name to call one another that has special meaning between the two of you

Develop and maintain a special bedtime ritual (reading, talking, etc.) where you spend
time together

Help each other with various tasks and chores; ask for one anothers opinions and
demonstrate how much you value each others insights

Eat meals together; allow mealtimes to become an opportunity for sharing and
conversation

Seek one-on-one opportunities as much as possible; devote special time to each other
without the company of other family members, friends, etc.

Respect each others choices; you do not have to agree with each others decisions, but
be supportive and understanding as much as possible

Make each other a priority; pay attention to each other and take advantage of time spent
together

Grade Ten Cultural Literacy Art, Architecture & Music

Musical Literacy

What is music?
Music is an artistic form of auditory communication combining instrumental or vocal tones in a
structured, ongoing manner.

Musical periods (approximate dates, styles and influences):

-

Medieval (before 1450) music developed during this period was created and refined over
many centuries; the music was of a sacred influence and primarily characterized by slow rhythm
and monophonic style (including the Gregorian chants and organum); most composers of this
period remain unknown due to lack of written records from this time

Renaissance (1450 1600) with this period of cultural revival, music evolved to include
broader harmony and more complex structure; instrumental works became more common in
this period as did dramatic works and some of the earliest operas; Renaissance composers
ranged from Johannes Ockeghem to Claudio Monteverdi; the musical styles of this period
spread rapidly throughout Europe

Baroque (1600 1750) this period marked a shift away from the severity of Medieval and
early Renaissance music to more highly ornamented melodies; the Baroque style of music is
dramatic and highly precise with great emphasis on vocal and instrument; the most famous
composers of this style include Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frederick Handel and Antonio
Vivaldi

Classical (1750 1820) this period marked another revolution in music with the emergence of
the Galant style (an emphasis on musical form and clarity); Mozart was an early leader in this
musical period and it concluded with the early works of Beethoven

Romantic (1810 1910) this period led to a less restricted, less formal style of music;
whereas classical music was characterized by intellectuality and precision, romantic music
focused on sentiment, imagination and effect; string quartets, symphonies and piano sonatas
were prevalent in this period; Beethoven continued his influence in the period of Romantic
music and many others followed his lead

Modern (1945 present) this period represents a broad variety of styles including Serialism,
Minimalism and Electronic music; the works within this period are considered more accessible
and approachable than previous styles; the Modern period incorporates any significant changes
to music since the Romantic period

Notable composers and masterpieces:

Italian:

Claudio Monteverdi the earliest opera genius; known for his Baroque style of opera
demonstrated in his masterpieces Orfeo and LIncoronazione di Poppaea

Gioacchino Antonio Rossini a composer of opera buffa (opera featuring comic depiction of
everyday life and people); known for his masterpiece The Barber of Seville

Giuseppe Verdi called Mr. Opera for his major influence on Italian opera; considered the
greatest composer of the opera tradition; recognized for his compelling stories and universal
themes; his most popular operas are Rigoletto, Il Trovatore and La Traviata

Giacomo Puccini a composer known for his widely popular and profitable operas including
Tosca, La Boheme and Madame Butterfly

Enrico Caruso the first opera singer to be recorded; as a result, his fame was ongoing long
after his death

German:
-

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart an Austrian composer who began composing at the age of 5; he
is largely associated with classical music

Ludwig van Beethoven a classical pianist famous for his nine symphonies; helped shape the
foundation of classical music; composed only one opera, Fidelio, which did not adhere to
operatic structure but had many followers

Christoph Willibald von Gluck a reformer of opera who attempted to strike a balance of power
with drama and music; his operas including Orfeo ed Euridice were well respected but received
little following as they did not hold the appeal of opera tradition

Richard Wagner another reformer of opera who had great influence with his vision and style;
he composed his pieces with a combination of poetry, drama, music and stagecraft; known for
his very lengthy masterpieces Tannhuser and Tristan and Isolde

Alban Berg the most influential modern opera composer; worked with post-Freudian themes in
his works such as Wozzeck and Lulu

French:
-

Giacomo Meyerbeer originally from Germany, he was a composer who found success in
France and became the master of the grand opera for his masterpiece Les Huguenots

Louis-Hector Berlioz a controversial figure in opera; his compositions were either loved or
hated for their unconventional style; his biggest masterpiece was Les Troyens (The Trojans)

English:
-

Henry Purcell known as Englands Great White Hope as he died young before he could
reach his potential or revolutionize English opera the way many suspected he would; he
composed the only English opera to ever receive worldwide acclaim, Dido and Aeneas

George Frideric Handel although he lived in London, this German-born composer wrote Italian
operas including Orlando, Geulio Cesare and Rinaldo; he was envied by many English
composers for the success of his works

Russian:
-

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky the creator of three of the most famous classical ballets (The
Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake); he was a Russian composer recognized for his
romantic compositions including operas, symphonies, songs and ballets

Modest Petrovich Moussorgsky known as Russias number-one operatic son; his one
complete opera Boris Godunov was recognized for its drama and intensity

American:
-

Douglas Moore explored American regionalism through his music; best known for his operas
The Devil and Daniel Webster and the Ballad of Baby Doe

Virgil Thomson a music critic and composer recognized for his masterpieces Four Saints in
Three Acts and The Mother of Us All

Gian Carlo Menotti an Italian-American who helped bring opera to mass audiences and
introduce it to television; famous for many of his operas including The Medium, The Consul and
Amahl and the Night Visitors

Philip Glass a postmodernist associated with the use of repetition, electronic and media
technology; famous for his masterpieces Einstein on the Beach and Satyagraha
*Discussion Question: What current day musical styles and musicians do you see making a
lasting impression in musical history? Why do you think their influence will be significant?

Music Theory

What is music theory?

Music theory defines and describes various pieces of music in terms of their similarities and differences
in basic musical elements including rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre and texture; music is generally
grouped into genres based on similarities in these elements.

The basic elements of music:

-

Rhythm the basic, repetitive pulse of the music or a repeated pattern in music
The rhythm element includes:

Beat refers to music with a steady beat or the pulse itself

Measure/bar how beats are grouped; the pattern or pulse of music

Timbre (also called color or tone quality); describes all aspects of a musical sound not
relating to the pitch, loudness or length
The timbre element includes:

Identification of sound by instrument

Words commonly used to describe timbre include brassy, clear, focused,

rounded, piercing, mellow, harsh, flat, heavy, light, dark, bright

Melody the result of stringing a series of notes (sounds with a particular pitch) together; a
melody is the line that typically sounds most important in a piece of music
The melody element includes:

Musical phrase -- a unit of musical meter that has a complete musical sense of
its own; developed to combine melodies, periods and larger sections of music

Motif a short musical idea that occurs frequently in a piece of music; small
pieces of melody that reappear throughout a piece in a similar or different
manner

Counterpoint more than one melody occurring simultaneously

Theme a longer section of melody that keeps reappearing in music; a theme

typically contains several phrases

Texture how much activity is occurring in a piece of music at any given point; depends on
the amount of rhythm, melody and combination of other elements present in the music
The texture element involves the following types of music:

Monophonic has only one melody and no harmony or counterpoint (one person
whistling, people singing together without harmonies or instruments)

Homophonic has one clear melody; its other parts provide accompaniment but
are not of specific emphasis (choral music, a singer with a guitar)

Polyphonic music more than one independent melody occurs simultaneously

(orchestra, bands)

Harmony having more than one pitch sound occur simultaneously in a piece of music;
harmonies are based largely on chords (groups of notes)
The harmony element includes:

Chord progression - a series of chords played one after another

Harmonic rhythm - how often the chords change in a piece of music

Additional musical terms:

-

Scales a selection of certain notes within an octave

Intervals a measure of the distance between two notes

Tempo the speed of music (depends on texture and complexity of a piece); tempo markings
include grave (slow and solemn); largo (slow and broad); moderato (medium); allegro (fast);
presto (very fast)

Dynamics the loudness (amplitude) of a sound of music; dynamics in music depend on other
dynamics in the piece; the typical range for an instrument or ensemble; abilities of performer(s);
acoustics of location; style of musical genre

Musical instruments:
-

Woodwind instruments once made of wood, these instruments are tubular with holes
spanning their length (oboes, clarinets, flutes, piccolos, saxophones, bagpipes, recorders)

Percussion instruments instruments in which sound is produced from a tap or blow from the
player (drums, bells, triangles, cymbals, pianos, xylophones, rattles)

String instruments instruments that include a gut or metal wire that is bowed, plucked, struck
or rubbed to create a sound (violin, viola, cello, double bass)

Brass instruments wind instruments that produce tone through the vibration of the players lips
(trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba, cornet, saxhorn)

Range:

Range is the set of pitches that a voice or instrument can sing or play; ranges are classified as
follows:
-

Vocal ranges:

Females: (highest to lowest) soprano; mezzo-soprano; contralto

Adult Males: (highest to lowest) countertenor; tenor, baritone; bass

Boys: (highest to lowest) treble; alto

Instrumental ranges:

Lower to higher: Contra (low); Piccolo (high)

Power range: the part of the range where the instrument or voice is particularly strong

Grade Ten Health & Wellness

Mental Health Terminology

There are many mental health terms that are commonly used, sometimes with little, or no connection to
actual mental health problems these buzz words have evolved as a part of everyday language to
describe certain habits, behaviors or other situations.
Common mental health terms include:
-

Acting out - the process of expressing unconscious emotional conflicts or feelings through
actions rather than words

Actualization the realization of ones full potential (intellectual, psychological, physical)

Alienation the uncomfortable feeling one gets in a setting that they view as foreign,
unpredictable or unacceptable

Amnesia loss of memory

Anal retentive commonly abbreviated to anal, this term is used to describe a person with
such attention to detail that the obsession poses annoyance to others or can be carried out to
the detriment of the person

Apathy lack of feeling, emotion, interest or concern

Aura a brief sensation that warns of an impending attack or other upcoming event

Catatonic behavior marked by lack of movement or speech

Cognitive relating to thoughts or thinking

Compulsion repetitive, ritualistic behavior (such as hand washing, repeating words, etc.) that
aims to prevent or reduce distress or prevent a dreaded event or situation

Coping mechanisms methods of adjusting to stress without altering ones goals or purposes

Defense mechanism an automatic psychological process that protects the individual against
anxiety and from awareness of internal or external stress

Dj vu a sensation or illusion that one is seeing what one has seen before

Delusion a false belief that is maintained despite obvious proof or evidence to the contrary

Denial a defense mechanism where certain information is not accessed by the conscious
mind; involves some impairment of reality

Disorientation confusion about the time of day, date or season, where one is or who one is
(identity)

Fantasy an imagined sequence of events or mental images (e.g., daydreams) that serves to
express unconscious conflicts, to gratify unconscious wishes, or to prepare for anticipated future
events

Flashback a recurrence of a memory, feeling or experience from the past

Hallucination a false perception that has the compelling sense of reality

Idealization the process in which the person attributes exaggeratedly positive qualities to the
self or others

Instinct an inborn drive; the primary human instincts include self-preservation and sexuality

Introspection self-observation; examination of one's feelings, often as a result of

psychotherapy

Introversion a preoccupation with oneself and accompanying reduction of interest in the

outside world

Mental retardation a major group of disorders of infancy, childhood, or adolescence

characterized by intellectual functioning that is significantly below average (IQ of 70 or below),
manifested before the age of 18 by impaired adaptive functioning (below expected performance
for age in such areas as social or daily living skills, communication, and self-sufficiency)

Obsession recurrent and persistent thought, impulse, or image experienced as intrusive and
distressing; recognized as an excessive and unreasonable reaction but cannot be overcome by
logic or reasoning

OCD the acronym for obsessive compulsive disorder; sometimes used as a casual reference
to certain behaviors or habits

Overcompensation a conscious or unconscious process in which a real or imagined physical

or psychological deficit generates exaggerated correction

Panic attack a sudden onset of intense apprehension, fearfulness or terror, often associated
with feelings of impending doom; these attacks are characterized by shortness of breath,
palpitations, chest pain, choking and other uncomfortable sensations

Phobia a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation; often leads to a
compelling avoidance of the feared situation

Rationalization a defense mechanism, operating unconsciously, in which an individual

attempts to justify or make consciously tolerable by plausible means, feelings or behavior that
otherwise would be intolerable

Repression a defense mechanism, operating unconsciously, that banishes unacceptable

ideas, fantasies, affects, or impulses from consciousness

The most common mental health problems are:

-

Stress the emotional and physical strain caused by response to pressure from the outside
world

Anxiety a feeling of nervousness, apprehension, fear or worry

Depression a mental state characterized by a negative sense of inadequacy and a lack of

activity

Grade Ten Home Skills

Home & Property Management

Waste Disposal & Recycling

Keep a sturdy garbage can in the kitchen and empty it daily, lining it with a new trash bag
each time; clean the trashcan itself on a weekly basis with a disinfecting cleaner

Keep trash cans in bathrooms or bedrooms to collect dry trash that can be emptied
weekly

Use kitchen garbage disposals to dispose of food waste

Do not dispose of hazardous waste (paint, anti-freeze, gasoline) with your everyday
garbage review community policies for disposing of these materials

Participate in community recycling programs to recycle certain materials (plastic, cans,

bottles, newspaper) or follow your own recycling process

For additional information about recycling in your area, visit:

http://www.therecyclingcenter.info/

Pest Control

It is important to take quick action if your home has a problem with pests (ants,
cockroaches, dust mites, fleas, flies, mice, moths, wasps, termites) inside or outside.
Failing to address pest problems can lead to infestations that can create long-term and
potentially hazardous problems.

Keep areas clean and dry, and use household insecticides (or natural
alternatives) to repel insects.

Monthly pest control services are also useful for pest prevention.

Food Management

Menu Planning for Healthy Eating

Plan out weekly menus of balanced meals that contain a variety of foods from the essential food
groups.
-

Tips for healthy eating:

Drink eight glasses of water per day

Eat less than one teaspoonful of salt per day
Include whole wheat and grains in your diet
Reduce sugar intake
Balance calorie intake based on how many calories you use each day
Limit intake of fatty proteins (red meats); eating more lean protein including fish
and poultry
Eat fiber rich foods to aid digestion
Add vitamins and minerals to your diet; if necessary, incorporate vitamin
supplements

The Food Pyramid:

The following food pyramid outlines how many servings of food you need to eat from each food
group on a daily basis. The pyramid helps form the basis for a balanced diet full of the nutrients
you need for good health.
o
o
o
o
o
o

Fats, oils and sugar eat sparingly

Milk, yogurt, cheeses 2-3 servings
Meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nuts 2-3 servings
Vegetables 3-5 servings
Fruit 2-4 servings
Bread, cereal, rice and pasta 6-11 servings

Emergencies

Emergency First Aid:

Familiarize yourself with emergency first aid techniques dealing with:

Breathing Troubles
Choking
Bleeding
Burns
Heat stroke
Shock
Fractures
Seizures
Poisoning
Specific emergency first aid information is available at:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/firstaidindex/firstaidindex

Grade Ten Personal Finances

Paying Bills

What are bills? Why are they important?

The term bills typically refers to expenses that are paid in regular intervals (monthly, quarterly,
annually) for specific items or services
It is important to pay your bills on time failing to do so can result in the termination of goods or
services (housing, electricity, phone, etc.) or poor personal credit

Methods for paying bills

There are many available options to pay your bills in a timely, effective manner:

Pay in cash (this method may require making your payments in person)

Pay with credit card/debit card (this method may require making your payments by
phone)

Pay with check (mailing a check to company providing service)

Automatic withdrawals (setting up deductions that are automatically taken from your
checking/savings account on a designated day)

Online payments (online bill payer services enable you to pay your bills online the bank
either transfers the funds directly to the payee or cuts a check out of your account and
issues it to payee)
o

See following section for banking information that can help you manage your
bills and make payments

Banking Basics

Types of Banks
The majority of people use a bank to help them manage their money. In looking for a bank that
meets your needs, you need to consider factors such as services, convenience and fees.
Types of banks include:

Small banks community banks typically excel in personal service and tend to charge
lower fees and pay higher interest rates on savings accounts

Big banks large banking chains offer the greatest level of convenience (with a wider
network of ATMs and more financial products and services)

Online banks these banks are run entirely on the Internet and do not operate bank
buildings (they typically offer good savings options)

Credit unions nonprofit banks where you become a member (typically through your
employer or some other affiliation); credit unions often offer better interest rates and
lower fees

Opening a Bank Account

Consider which type of bank you would like to open an account with (review their financial
products and fees) and make an appointment with an account service representative
Prepare for the appointment by developing a list of questions to ask about:
-

Fees for services (checking accounts, savings accounts, credit cards)

How long checks are held upon deposit before funds are available for use

Loans you may be interested in (home, auto, personal) and related interest rates

* Compare these options with competing banks before selecting a bank

Checking Accounts most checking accounts can be used by writing paper checks or using a
debit card associated with the account
Consider which type of checking account you would like to open. Options include:
-

No-interest checking you earn no interest on money in the account (fees are small, if
any); a good option for people who keep small amounts in their account

Interest-paying checking you earn a small interest rate on your balances (fees are
small, if any, as long as you maintain a large balance); a good option for people who
maintain a sizable balance in their account

Express checking all banking is done by a personal computer, phone and ATM (if you
need to see a teller, you pay a fee)

To manage your checking account effectively, consider the following:

Enter every deposit and withdrawal on your check register as you go along

Review your online/paper statement against your check register to check for errors

Keep track of each check that has been cashed

Pay bills online most online bill payer services offered by banks deduct amounts
directly from your checking account, eliminating the need to write checks or wait for
checks to clear

Protect yourself from overdrawing your account (spending more money than is in your
account and incurring fees) by linking your checking account to a savings, line of credit
or credit card that can cover the overdraw

Savings Accounts there are many types of savings accounts available. Depending on your
needs, choose from the following:
-

Regular Savings Account for smaller account balances; account holders accrue small
amount of interest

Money Market Account for slightly higher account balances; pay higher rates to
account holders

Certificates of Deposit (CD) for larger balances; commits money to the account for a
period between six months and 10 years; account holders earn higher interest rates
than other types of savings accounts

Online Savings Accounts pay highest interest rates to account holders with lowest
fees; no physical bank structure

Bank Loans
-

Bank customers can apply for loans offered by the bank (personal loans, business loans,
automobile loans, home loans, etc.)

Bank loans are typically approved based on income, debt and credit history/score

Grade Ten Parenting Skills

Acceptance

Unconditional love vs. unconditional acceptance

Know the definition of unconditional love: to love someone regardless of one's actions or
beliefs

Unconditional love is possible unconditional acceptance is not. Everyone has their own
beliefs and values and will be more accepting of some areas than others.

Parents can love their children unconditionally but parents cannot unconditionally
accept everything their child does. Parents must make themselves aware of their own
levels of acceptance and identify where they are more accepting and where they can
become more accepting.

Consistency

Know the definition of consistent: of a regularly occurring, dependable nature

By definition, parents cannot be expected to be consistent all of the time with children.
The parent-child relationship involves too many emotional and evolving factors to expect
a regular, dependable nature.

Non-intervention
o

Understand the meaning of non-intervention: staying out of childrens problems letting

children find their own solutions

Non-intervention shows parents acceptance of child; demonstrates trust in child to solve

problem independently

Parental needs

Recognize and attend to your own needs as a parent; parents needs are as critical as
childrens needs; parents must maintain their own identity and sense of well-being this
is crucial for healthy interactions between parent and child

Separateness

Parents must recognize that their children are separate individuals from themselves;
parents do not own their children; separate identities must be respected to foster selfresponsibility

Grade Ten Study Skills

Stress Management

What is stress?
The nonspecific response of the body to any demands made upon it; stress can be positive or negative,
depending on how you react to it and manage it.
Signs of academic stress:
-

Feeling panic over not knowing an answer

Feeling as though time is running out (for projects, tests, etc.)

Worrying about how personal performance compares to peer performance

Feeling easily distracted

Plotting ways to escape from school, tests, etc.

Tips for effectively managing stress:

-

Set priorities simplify your life, spread out your schedule, evaluate the true urgency of
situations, allow for imperfections, break tasks into smaller components

Care for the body exercise, rest, eat right, relax, use creative outlets

Care for the mind control negative thoughts, practice positive thinking

Use social support build a strong social network including family, friends, peers, etc.

Reading Strategies

Effective reading comprehension skills are important for successful studying

Tips for improving reading comprehension:
-

Identify your purpose for reading; keep it in your mind as you read

Identify the main idea by noting repetitions of key words or phrases

Retrieve background information if necessary for understanding; look up unknown words or

refer to less advanced resources

Take notes on your reading

Restate the main idea in your own words

Read out loud if you are an auditory learner

Formulate questions you would like the reading to answer

Grade Ten Career Skills

Personal Development

Setting Personal Goals and Priorities:

Why is it important to establish goals and priorities?

o

Goals and priorities guide personal development and help individuals find purpose and
attain success.

Creating a personal development plan:

Engage in self-assessment to consider your individual personality traits.

Record critical goals, identify challenges and/or opportunities, and set realistic
timeframes for reaching your objectives. (Personal goals commonly relate to ones
attitude, career, education, family, financial and physical objectives.)

Review plan on a regular basis, considering where your time was spent and reevaluating the importance of each goal.

Devote your energy to the goals that are most important to you and celebrate your
achievements as they are reached.

Organization and Time Management Skills:

Why is it important to be organized?

-

Disorganization leads to wasted time time spent looking for important items, lists,
messages, etc.

Disorganization can add stress, block creativity and prevent productivity.

Organizational/Time Management Tips:

-

Use a notebook/planner: write down everything. Digital planners and computers are
useful for providing electronic reminders.

Devote a block of time early in the day (or the night before) to identify items that need to
be addressed and prioritize their order of importance.

De-clutter your surroundings keep papers, projects, items in a proper place and
establish a clear area for items that require prompt attention.

Consider supplies or files you use the most arrange items according to how much you
use them and allow yourself the easiest access to items you use most frequently.

Reward yourself for completing items on your to-do lists; this will help motivate you to
stay organized.

Teamwork
Why is teamwork important to our personal growth? There are many benefits to working with
others to achieve goals increased levels of creativity, increased satisfaction, increased
accountability, a larger set of skills to draw from, quicker results, opportunity for feedback and
support.
How to be an effective team member:

Be responsible

Listen without judging

Be supportive

Communicate effectively

Be flexible

Contribute

Leadership

What is a leader?
A leader is not simply someone who has followers. Age or status do not automatically signify a
leader.
A true leader is:
-

Someone others trust and consistently look to for guidance.

Someone who inspires loyalty in others.

Someone who assumes the large responsibilities of leadership courage, vision and
commitment.

What is a common characteristic of leaders? Leaders continuously seek self-improvement and

make adjustments in all areas of their lives in order to reach their goals.
Leadership requires focus and commitment in the following areas:
-

Physical healthy habits (diet, exercise, rest) and lifestyle choices

Mental intellectual growth, creativity, ongoing learning

Social strong, healthy relationships with others and with yourself

Spiritual finding meaning, significance and inspiration

Grade Ten Business Management

Management Basics

What is management? What is a manager?

Management refers to the acts of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and
objectives.
A manager is a person responsible for planning and directing the work of a group of individuals.

What are the functions of management?

-

Planning: determining what needs to happen in the future (in the next day, week,
month, year, etc.) and creating plan for action.

Organizing/Implementation: making maximum use of the required resources in order to

carry out action plans.

Staffing: identifying and analyzing job requirements and wages; recruiting and hiring
individuals for specific jobs; disciplining and firing.

Leading/Directing: identifying what needs to be done in a project/situation and assigning

people to complete specific tasks.

Controlling/Monitoring: checking progress against plans.

Traits of successful managers:

Knowledge of key business/organizational practices

Leadership skills

Decision-making skills

Problem-solving skills

Multi-tasking skills

Time-management skills

Ability to manage people

Pros & Cons of being a manager:

Pros: higher pay, higher authority/status, more desirable working conditions, satisfaction
and pride in project ownership, ability to mentor/train others

Cons: difficult decisions, increased liabilities and/or restrictions, distant relationships with
co-workers, less immediate feedback on performance, responsibility for end results

Benefits to becoming a manager:

Money:
-

Managers typically make more money than the workers they manage, without having to
possess the specific, technical skills required to perform the job.
Example: An air conditioning contract manager receives a customer project with a
payment of $10,000. The contract manager buys $500 worth of materials and hires a
crew of five people, paying each $100 to complete the work. The contract manager
keeps the rest of the payment (90 percent of the cost.)

Time:
-

Managers can delegate assignments and responsibilities including training, travel,

monitoring, reporting, etc.
Example: A construction manager who is managing a job site may not even need a
license; he/she can hire an individual who has a license to supervise the site. The
construction manager could also hire a consultant to visit the job site to oversee
operations and monitor progress.

Cooperative management: a management style wherein all individuals in an organization/team

share knowledge, power and responsibility.
How to achieve cooperative management:
-

Keep the best interests of organization and employees in mind

Build trust and develop mutual support within a team

Engage appropriate skills and resources to reaching end goals

Encourage free communication and open information throughout team

Invite feedback from all team members and explore new ideas

Grade Ten Survey of Careers

Careers by Field
The following sections identify and explore major career areas and list individual occupations within each field.
The occupations within each field can vary a great deal in terms of training requirements, salary, job satisfaction,
etc.
It is important to research individual occupations to learn specific information on salary, job locations, career
forecasts and educational requirements. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides accurate, updated
information on occupations: http://www.bls.gov/

Medical & Healthcare

The medical/healthcare industry is one of the largest providers of jobs in America. Jobs in the
industry are with hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities and the offices of physicians,
dentists and other health practitioners. The industry is expected to grow at a significant rate in
the next decade.
Occupations in the field:
-

Doctor
Nurse
Nurse practitioner
Physicians assistant
Medical assistant
Lab technician
Medical transcriptionist
Medical office assistant
Medical billing specialist
Dentist
Dental hygienist
Veterinarian
Veterinary assistant
Pharmacist
Pharmacy assistant
Nutritionist
Physical therapist
Occupational therapist
Sports medicine

Legal & Social

The legal/social industry involves occupations dealing with the law or social functions. People in the field
are employed in several different arenas including private practice, government and corporate entities.
The industry has experienced some downturn due to a weakened economy; however, portions of the
legal and social field are in growing demand including those dealing with banking, finance, public
interests and corporate liabilities.
Occupations in the field:
-

Attorney
Paralegal
Legal assistant
Social worker

Psychologist
Court reporter
Police officer
Private investigator
Criminal justice
Forensics
F.B.I.

Communications & The Arts

The communications industry employs people in functions involving the media; jobs are often within a
companys communications department or with media outlets including newspapers, magazines,
broadcast stations and networks. The industry is highly competitive and workers who have expertise in
highly technical areas often have the advantage.
The arts industry is comprised of many self-employed workers. However, there is an ongoing need for
talented people with creative ability at many companies; individuals can find jobs in design firms,
corporations and publishing companies.
Occupations in the field:
-

Authors, writers, editors

Broadcast and sound engineering technicians
Interpreters and translators
News announcers, analysts, reporters and correspondents
Photographers
Public relations specialists
Technical writers
Television, video and motion picture operators and editors
Artists
Commercial and industrial designers
Fashion designers
Graphic designers
Interior designers

Education
The education field varies depending on location, grade levels, subjects taught and other factors.
Educators are often employed by schools, museums, libraries or other types of enrichment institutions.
Public education is largely dependent on state and federal legislation that affects the quality and scope
of educational offerings.
Occupations in the field:
-

Teacher, teachers assistant

Instructional coordinator
Librarians, library technician, library assistant
School administration, guidance counselor
School secretary
Special education
Archivist, curator, museum technician

Computer Science/Technology

The computer science industry is comprised of workers who design, create and work with technology.
People in this field are in increasing demand as individuals and organizations continue to increase their
use of complex technologies. These workers are employed in many areas including systems design and
software publishing. They also work within companies supporting technical systems and product
development.
Occupations in the field:

Computer scientist
Computer network, systems and database administrator
Computer software engineers and computer programmer
Computer support specialist
Computer systems analyst
Operations research analyst
Graphic designer

Mathematics & Science

The mathematics industry is made up of workers who practice forms of theoretical or applied
mathematics. These individuals use math to solve problems and determine effective ways to allocate
resources. Workers are often employed by schools and universities, engineering firms, or large
corporate or federal agencies.
The sciences industry is made up of people who use science to observe, measure, interpret and
develop theories about various aspects of the world. These people are often employed by companies
or agencies with research and development needs workers help invent and improve products and
processes.
Occupations in the field:
-

Biologist
Chemist
Physicist
Astronomer
Geologist
Botanist
Zoologist
Biochemist
Mathematician
Actuary
Statistician

Business & Financial

The business/financial industry is comprised of individuals who strive to meet specific revenue and
productivity goals. Workers are employed by (or run their own) businesses including public-sector
organizations, nonprofit institutions and private corporations. Business is highly competitive and is
affected by activity within each particular sector (including mergers, growth, etc.)
Occupations in the field:
-

Manager
Human resources professional
Project manager
Marketing specialist

Advertising executive
Accountant, auditor, appraiser, tax examiners
Bookkeeper
Financial consultant, personal financial planners
Investment banker
Sales professional
Insurance agent, underwriter
Loan officers, budget analysts
Meeting and convention planners

Grade Ten Entrepreneurship

Can I Be an Entrepreneur?
Everyone has the ability to become an entrepreneur to brainstorm ideas and create a business.
However, there are major dimensions of ones personality that must be developed in order to be an
effective entrepreneur.
The Entrepreneurial Personality the following are critical aspects of an entrepreneurs
personality:
1. Dreaming this is the part of the personality that enables an entrepreneur to develop
an idea (a dream) and generate passion for it

2. Thinking this is the part of the personality that enables an entrepreneur to turn their
dream into a vision by assigning a strategy and developing a business model

3. Storytelling/Performing this is the part of the personality that enables an entrepreneur

to put a voice to their dream and excite others about it
4. Leading this is the part of the personality that enables an entrepreneur to assume
responsibility for moving their dream forward it combines the three other aspects and
takes accountability for making the dream a reality
The Leading aspect is responsible for many essential functions of entrepreneurship
including concentration, organization, innovation and communication.
Is entrepreneurship right for you?
The following quiz helps identify aspects of entrepreneurial personality:
http://www.forbes.com/2005/11/15/entrepreneur-personality-quiz_cx_bn_1116quiz.html

Eleventh Grade
Free World U

Grade Eleven Language Arts

Vocabulary

Etymology
Significant terms used in political science and history

Greek, Latin, and Anglo-Saxon Roots

Applying to scientific and mathematical terminology

Greek, Latin, and Anglo-Saxon Prefixes

Applying to scientific and mathematical terminology

Greek, Latin, and Anglo-Saxon Suffixes

Applying to scientific and mathematical terminology

Analogies

Reading Informational Materials

Rhetorical Devices
Students will review rhetorical devices then read and analyze public documents such as
policy statements and speeches

Verifying Meaning
Students will use other texts to verify facts in expository writings

Analyzing Meaning
Students will analyze how textual structures, word choice, syntax, and organization
contribute to clarity of meaning, interpretation, and expression of philosophical
assumptions and beliefs

Critiquing Works on the Same Topic

Students will critique the arguments and rhetorical appeals of public documents as well as
the clarity and consistency of political assumptions

Written Historical Investigation Report/Oral Presentation

Writing Strategies

Elements of Discourse
How to use when writing narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive passages

Using Point of View, Characterization, and Style

Structure and Support of Ideas

Enhancing Meaning
Students learn how the use of rhetorical devices, visual aids, and the issuance of a call for
action can enhance the meaning of their writings

Establishing Tone
Students learn how to use language to establish a specific tone in their writings

Using Questions and Research Strategies to Develop Presentations

This section will cover various strategies for gathering information

Organizing and Recording Information

Students will learn strategies for organizing and recording the information they have
gathered

Evaluation and Revision

Students will learn to make revisions to writings consistent with purpose, audience, and
genre as well as using proper grammar, diction, and paragraph and sentence structure

Written Autobiographical or Biographical Narrative

Resume and Cover Letter

Listening and Speaking Strategies

Media and Message

Students will learn about strategies used to inform, persuade, entertain, and transmit
culture and analyze the effectiveness of a presented excerpt

Media and Democracy

Students will learn about the medias influence on political process

Visual Media
Students will learn to interpret and evaluate how visual image makers communicate their
message

Using Literary Devices and Language in Oral Communication

The use of language and devices such as rhetorical questions, figurative language, and
others

Using Logical Arguments

Inductive and deductive reasoning as well as syllogisms and analogies

Presentation Techniques
Students will learn rehearsal techniques, use of visual and audio effects, and other
strategies to enhance performance

Analysis of Oral and Media Communications

Students will learn to critique diction and syntax and identify logical fallacies

Four Types of Persuasive Speech

Propositions of fact, value, problem, or policy

American Literature

American Literary History from the Colonial Period to the Present

A general overview of the major periods of American literature

Analysis of American Literature

Students will compare and contrast the characteristics of the major periods

American Short Story #1: Young Goodman Brown, by Nathaniel

Hawthorne

Hawthorne and the Puritans

How the story and its theme are shaped by the culture and time during which it was
written

Use of Archetypes
Define and explore archetypes and their use in Young Goodman Brown along with other
examples from film, political speeches, and religious writings

American Short Story #2: To Build a Fire, by Jack London

Authors Style
Define the terms and discuss their use in the chosen short story

Oral Response:
The student will deliver an oral response to To Build a Fire and in doing so demonstrate
a comprehensive understanding of the significant ideas of the story; analyze the imagery,
language, universal themes, and unique aspects of the text through the use of rhetorical;
support important ideas and viewpoints through accurate and detailed references to the
text or to other works; demonstrate an awareness of the author's use of stylistic devices
and an appreciation of the effects created; and identify and assess the impact of
perceived ambiguities, nuances, and complexities within the text

American Play: The Piano Lesson by August Wilson

Theme
Define and discuss theme as a view or comment on life and its use in the chosen play

Multimedia Presentation
The student will combine text, images, and sound by incorporating information from a
wide range of media, including films, newspapers, magazines, CD-ROMs, online
information, television, videos, and electronic media-generated images; select an
appropriate medium for each element of the presentation; use the selected media
skillfully, editing appropriately and monitoring for quality; test the audience's response and
revise the presentation accordingly.

American Novel: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

Contextual Analysis
Evaluate the chosen novel based on the philosophical, political, religious, ethical, and
social influences of the time in which it was written

Philosophical Analysis
Analyze the philosophical arguments in the chosen novel

World Literature

World Literary History

A general overview of the major periods of world literature

Analysis of World Literature

Compare and contrast the characteristics of the major periods

World Short Story #1: The Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka

Subgenres
Define and present examples of subgenres and their use in the chosen short story

Reflective Composition

The student will explore the significance of personal experiences, events, conditions, or
concerns by using rhetorical strategies; draw comparisons between specific incidents and
broader themes that illustrate the writer's important beliefs or generalizations about life;
and maintain a balance in describing individual incidents and relate those incidents to
more general and abstract ideas

World Short Story #2: The Necklace, by Guy de Maupassant

Authors Style
Discuss the elements that define an authors style and their use in the chosen short story

Written response
The student will respond to the text by demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of
the significant ideas in works or passages; analyzing the use of imagery, language,
universal themes, and unique aspects of the text; supporting important ideas and
viewpoints through accurate and detailed references to the text and to other works;
demonstrating an understanding of the author's use of stylistic devices and an
appreciation of the effects created; and identifying and assessing the impact of perceived
ambiguities, nuances, and complexities within the text.

World Play: Antigone, by Sophocles

Theme
Define and discuss theme as a view or comment on life and its use in the chosen play

Recitation
The student will recite a monologue from the text with attention to performance details to achieve
clarity, force, and aesthetic effect and to demonstrate an understanding of the meaning.

World Novel: Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe

Use of Archetypes
Extend the discussion of archetypes to analysis of a contrasting piece of literature

Contextual Analysis
Evaluate the chosen novel based on the philosophical, political, religious, ethical, and
social influences of the time in which it was written

Use of Literary Devices to Express Emotion

Including imagery, personification, figures of speech, and sound

Reflective Presentation
Deliver an oral reflective presentation based on a personal experience inspired by the
reading of poetry

Poetry

Precalculus
Trigonometry

Angles Measured in Radians or Degrees

Students understand the notion of angle and how to measure it, in both degrees and
radians. They can convert between degrees and radians

Introducing Sine and Cosine

Students know the definition of sine and cosine as y- and x- coordinates of points on the
unit circle and are familiar with the graphs of the sine and cosine functions

Pythagorean Identity
Students know the identity cos2 (x) + sin2 (x) = 1; students can prove that this identity is
equivalent to the Pythagorean Theorem (i.e., students can prove this identity by using the
Pythagorean Theorem and, conversely, they can prove the Pythagorean Theorem as a
consequence of this identity)

Proving Other Trigonometric Identities

Students prove other trigonometric identities and simplify others by using the identity cos2
(x) + sin2 (x) = 1. For example, students use this identity to prove that sec2 (x) = tan2 (x) +
1

Graphing Trigonometric Functions

Students graph functions of the form f(t) = A sin ( Bt + C ) or f(t) = A cos ( Bt + C) and
interpret A, B, and C in terms of amplitude, frequency, period, and phase shift

Tangent and Cotangent Functions

Students know the definitions of the tangent and cotangent functions and can graph them

Secant and Cosecant Functions

Students know the definitions of the secant and cosecant functions and can graph them

Tangent and Slope

Students know that the tangent of the angle that a line makes with the x- axis is equal to
the slope of the line

Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Students know the definitions of the inverse trigonometric functions and can graph the
functions

Computing Functions by Hand

Students compute, by hand, the values of the trigonometric functions and the inverse
trigonometric functions at various standard points

Addition Formulas for Sines & Cosines

Students demonstrate an understanding of the addition formulas for sines and cosines
and their proofs and can use those formulas to prove and/ or simplify other trigonometric
identities

Half-Angle and Double-Angle Formulas

Students demonstrate an understanding of half-angle and double-angle formulas for sines
and cosines and can use those formulas to prove and/ or simplify other trigonometric
identities

Right Triangle Trigonometry

Students use trigonometry to determine unknown sides or angles in right triangles

Law of Sines & Law of Cosines

Students know the law of sines and the law of cosines and apply those laws to solve
problems

Determining the Area of a Triangle

Students determine the area of a triangle, given one angle and the two adjacent sides

Polar Coordinates

Students are familiar with polar coordinates. In particular, they can determine polar
coordinates of a point given in rectangular coordinates and vice versa

Converting Points
Students represent equations given in rectangular coordinates in terms of polar
coordinates

Complex Numbers
Students are familiar with complex numbers. They can represent a complex number in
polar form and know how to multiply complex numbers in their polar form

DeMoivres Theorem
Students know DeMoivre's Theorem and can give n th roots of a complex number given in
polar form

Applying Trigonometry
Students are adept at using trigonometry in a variety of applications and word problems

Mathematical Analysis

Application of Polar Coordinates and Vectors

Students are familiar with, and can apply, polar coordinates and vectors in the plane. In
particular, they can translate between polar and rectangular coordinates and can interpret
polar coordinates and vectors graphically

Arithmetic of Complex Numbers

Students are adept at the arithmetic of complex numbers. They can use the trigonometric
form of complex numbers and understand that a function of a complex variable can be
viewed as a function of two real variables. They know the proof of DeMoivre's theorem

Proofs by Mathematical Induction

Students can give proofs of various formulas by using the technique of mathematical
induction

Fundamental Theorem of Algebra

Students know the statement of, and can apply, the fundamental theorem of algebra

Conic Sections
Students are familiar with conic sections, both analytically and geometrically

Manipulating Quadratic Equations

Students can take a quadratic equation in two variables; put it in standard form by
completing the square and using rotations and translations, if necessary; determine what
type of conic section the equation represents; and determine its geometric components
(foci, asymptotes, and so forth)

Quadratic Equations from Conic Sections

Take a geometric description of a conic section - for example, the locus of points whose
sum of its distances from (1, 0) and (-1, 0) is 6 - and derive a quadratic equation
representing it

Roots and Poles of a Rational Function

Students find the roots and poles of a rational function and can graph the function and
locate its asymptotes

Parametric Definitions
Students demonstrate an understanding of functions and equations defined parametrically
and can graph them

Limits of Sequences and Functions

Students are familiar with the notion of the limit of a sequence and the limit of a function
as the independent variable approaches a number or infinity. They determine whether
certain sequences converge or diverge

Linear Algebra

Gauss-Jordan Elimination
Students solve linear equations in any number of variables by using Gauss-Jordan
elimination

Coefficient Matrices
Students interpret linear systems as coefficient matrices and the Gauss-Jordan method as
row operations on the coefficient matrix

Row Echelon Form

Students reduce rectangular matrices to row echelon form

Addition on Matrices and Vectors

Students perform addition on matrices and vectors

Matrix Multiplication
Students perform matrix multiplication and multiply vectors by matrices and by scalars

Forms of Linear Systems

Students demonstrate an understanding that linear systems are inconsistent (have no
solutions), have exactly one solution, or have infinitely many solutions

Geometric Interpretation of Vectors

Students demonstrate an understanding of the geometric interpretation of vectors and
vector addition (by means of parallelograms) in the plane and in three-dimensional space

Geometric Interpretation of Solution Sets

Students interpret geometrically the solution sets of systems of equations. For example,
the solution set of a single linear equation in two variables is interpreted as a line in the
plane, and the solution set of a two-by-two system is interpreted as the intersection of a
pair of lines in the plane

Inverse to a Square Matrix

Students demonstrate an understanding of the notion of the inverse to a square matrix
and apply that concept to solve systems of linear equations

Determinants of Matrices
Students compute the determinants of 2 x 2 and 3 x 3 matrices and are familiar with their
geometric interpretations as the area and volume of the parallelepipeds spanned by the
images under the matrices of the standard basis vectors in two-dimensional and threedimensional spaces

Inverse Square Matrices

Students know that a square matrix is invertible if, and only if, its determinant is nonzero.
They can compute the inverse to 2 x 2 and 3 x 3 matrices using row reduction methods or
Cramer's rule

Dot Products
Students compute the scalar (dot) product of two vectors in n- dimensional space and
know that perpendicular vectors have zero dot product

Chemistry
Atomic and Molecular Structure

Review of Matter
Atoms, elements, compounds; review introductory terminology; review atomic theory

Atomic Structure
Define nucleus, protons, neutrons, electrons, orbitals

Atomic Number and Mass

How to relate the position of an element in the periodic table to its atomic number and
atomic mass; know the nucleus of the atom is much smaller than the atom yet contains
most of its mass

Areas of the Periodic Table

Students know how to use the periodic table to identify metals, semimetals, nonmetals,
and halogens; use the periodic table to identify alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and
transition metals.

Information from the Periodic Table

Use the periodic table to identify trends in ionization energy, electronegativity, and the
relative sizes of ions and atoms

Electrons Available for Bonding

Students know how to use the periodic table to determine the number of electrons
available for bonding

Chemical Bonds

Atomic Bonds
Students know atoms combine to form molecules by sharing electrons to form covalent or
metallic bonds or by exchanging electrons to form ionic bonds

Covalent Bonds
Students know chemical bonds between atoms in molecules such as H2, CH4, NH3,
H2 CCH2, N2, Cl2, and many large biological molecules are covalent

Salt Crystals
Students know salt crystals, such as NaCl, are repeating patterns of positive and negative
ions held together by electrostatic attraction

Bonds in Liquids
Students know the atoms and molecules in liquids move in a random pattern relative to
one another because the intermolecular forces are too weak to hold the atoms or
molecules in a solid form

Lewis Dot Structures

Students know how to draw Lewis dot structures

Conservation of Matter

Writing Balanced Equations

Students know how to describe chemical reactions by writing balanced equations

Moles
Students know the quantity one mole is set by defining one mole of carbon 12 atoms to
have a mass of exactly 12 grams; one mole equals 6.02x1023 particles (atoms or
molecules)

Molar Mass of Molecules

Determine the molar mass of a molecule from its chemical formula and a table of atomic
masses; convert the mass of a molecular substance to moles, number of particles, or
volume of gas at standard temperature and pressure

Calculating Masses
Students know how to calculate the masses of reactants and products in a chemical
reaction from the mass of one of the reactants or products and the relevant atomic
masses

Gases and Their Properties

The Random Motion of Molecules

Students know the random motion of molecules and their collisions with a surface create
the observable pressure on that surface; know the random motion of molecules explains
the diffusion of gases

Gas Laws
Students know how to apply the gas laws to relations between the pressure, temperature,
and volume of any amount of an ideal gas or any mixture of ideal gases

Temperature
Know the values and meanings of standard temperature and pressure (STP); convert
between the Celsius and Kelvin temperature scales; know there is no temperature lower
than 0 Kelvin

Acids and Bases

Observable Properties
Students know the observable properties of acids, bases, and salt solutions

Acids and Hydrogen

Students know acids are hydrogen-ion-donating and bases are hydrogen-ion-accepting
substances

Dissociation
Students know strong acids and bases fully dissociate and weak acids and bases partially
dissociate

pH Scale
Students know how to use the pH scale to characterize acid and base solutions

Solutions

Definitions
Know the definitions of solute and solvent; describe the dissolving process at the
molecular level by using the concept of random molecular motion;

The Dissolving Process

Students know temperature, pressure, and surface area affect the dissolving process

Calculating Solutions

Students know how to calculate the concentration of a solute in terms of grams per liter,
molarity, parts per million, and percent composition

Chemical Thermodynamics

Thermal Energy
Describe temperature and heat flow in terms of the motion of molecules (or atoms);
chemical processes can either release (exothermic) or absorb (endothermic) thermal
energy

Release of Energy
Students know energy is released when a material condenses or freezes and is absorbed
when a material evaporates or melts

Solving Thermal Problems

Students know how to solve problems involving heat flow and temperature changes, using
known values of specific heat and latent heat of phase change

Reaction Rates

Rate of Reaction
Students know the rate of reaction is the decrease in concentration of reactants or the
increase in concentration of products with time

Factors Affecting Reaction Rates

Students know how reaction rates depend on such factors as concentration, temperature,
and pressure

Reaction Rate and Catalysts

Students know the role a catalyst plays in increasing the reaction rate

Chemical Equilibrium

Le Chateliers Principle
Students know how to use Le Chatelier's principle to predict the effect of changes in
concentration, temperature, and pressure

Chemical Equilibrium
Students know equilibrium is established when forward and reverse reaction rates are
equal

Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry

Polymers
Students know large molecules (polymers), such as proteins, nucleic acids, and starch,
are formed by repetitive combinations of simple subunits

Bonding Characteristics of Carbon

Students know the bonding characteristics of carbon that result in the formation of a large
variety of structures ranging from simple hydrocarbons to complex polymers and biological
molecules

Amino Acids
Students know amino acids are the building blocks of proteins

Nuclear Processes

Nuclear Forces
Students know protons and neutrons in the nucleus are held together by nuclear forces
that overcome the electromagnetic repulsion between the protons

Energy Release
Energy release per gram of material is much larger in nuclear fusion or fission reactions
than in chemical reactions; change in mass (calculated by E = mc2 ) is small but significant
in nuclear reactions

Radioactive Isotopes
Students know some naturally occurring isotopes of elements are radioactive, as are
isotopes formed in nuclear reactions

Radioactive Decay
Students know the three most common forms of radioactive decay (alpha, beta, and
gamma) and know how the nucleus changes in each type of decay

Types of Radiation
Students know alpha, beta, and gamma radiation produce different amounts and kinds of
damage in matter and have different penetrations

U.S. History and Geography

The Founding of the Nation

Rise of Democratic Ideas

Enlightenment and rise of democratic ideas as the context in which the nation was
founded

Ideas and Debates

Ideological origins of the American Revolution; Founding Fathers' philosophy of divinely
bestowed unalienable natural rights; debates on the drafting and ratification of the
Constitution; addition of the Bill of Rights

History of the Constitution

History of the Constitution after 1787; federal versus state authority; growing
democratization; attempts to realize the philosophy of government described in the
Declaration of Independence

Civil War, Reconstruction and the Industrial Revolution

Effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction and of the industrial revolution; demographic
shifts; emergence in the late nineteenth century of the United States as a world power

Industrialization, Urban Migration and Immigration

Effects of Industrialization
Effects of industrialization on living and working conditions; portrayal of working conditions
and food safety in Upton Sinclair's The Jungle

Growth of Cities
The changing landscape; growth of cities linked by industry and trade; development of
cities divided according to race, ethnicity, and class

Americanization
Effect of the Americanization movement

Political Machines
Effect of urban political machines; responses to them by immigrants and middle-class
reformers

Monopolies
Corporate mergers that produced trusts and cartels; economic and political policies of
industrial leaders

Economic Development
Economic development of the United States; its emergence as a major industrial power;
its gains from trade; advantages of its physical geography

Social Darwinism
Similarities and differences between the ideologies of Social Darwinism and Social
Gospel; biographies of William Graham Sumner, Billy Sunday, Dwight L. Moody

Populism
Effect of political programs and activities of Populists

Progressivism
Effect of political programs and activities of the Progressives; federal regulation of railroad
transport, Children's Bureau, the Sixteenth Amendment, Theodore Roosevelt, Hiram
Johnson

Role and Impact of Religion in America

Contributions of Religion
Contributions of various religious groups to American civic principles and social reform
movements - civil and human rights, individual responsibility and the work ethic,
antimonarchy and self-rule, worker protection, family-centered communities

Great Religious Revivals

The great religious revivals; leaders involved in them; First Great Awakening; Second
Great Awakening; Civil War revivals; Social Gospel Movement; rise of Christian liberal
theology in the nineteenth century; impact of the Second Vatican Council; rise of Christian
fundamentalism in current times

Religious Intolerance
Incidences of religious intolerance in the United States - persecution of Mormons, antiCatholic sentiment, anti-Semitism

Religious Pluralism
Expanding religious pluralism in the United States and California that resulted from largescale immigration in the twentieth century

Religion and the Constitution

Principles of religious liberty found in the Establishment and Free Exercise clauses of the
First Amendment; debate on the issue of separation of church and state

The United States as a World Power

Open Door Policy

Purpose and effects of the Open Door policy

Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War; U.S. expansion in the South Pacific

Panama Canal

America's role in the Panama Revolution; building of the Panama Canal

Foreign Policy
Theodore Roosevelt's Big Stick diplomacy; William Taft's Dollar Diplomacy; Woodrow
Wilson's Moral Diplomacy; relevant speeches

World War I
Political, economic, and social ramifications of World War I on the home front

United States as a World Power

Declining role of Great Britain; expanding role of the United States in world affairs after
World War II

The 1920s

Presidents
Policies of Presidents Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover

Attacks on Civil Liberties

International and domestic events, interests, and philosophies that prompted attacks on
civil liberties; Palmer Raids; Marcus Garvey's "back-to-Africa" movement; Ku Klux Klan;
immigration quotas; responses of organizations such as the American Civil Liberties
Union, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the AntiDefamation League to those attacks

Prohibition
Passage of the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution; the Volstead Act

Womens Suffrage
Passage of the Nineteenth Amendment; changing role of women in society

Harlem Renaissance
Harlem Renaissance; new trends in literature, music, and art; the work of writers - Zora
Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes

Popular Culture
Growth and effects of radio and movies; their role in the worldwide diffusion of popular
culture

Prosperity
Rise of mass production techniques; the growth of cities; impact of new technologies automobile, electricity; the resulting prosperity and effect on the American landscape

The Great Depression and the Role of the Federal Government

Monetary Issues
Monetary issues of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries that gave rise to the
establishment of the Federal Reserve; weaknesses in key sectors of the economy in the
late 1920s

Causes of the Great Depression

Principal causes of the Great Depression; steps taken by the Federal Reserve, Congress,
and Presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin Delano Roosevelt to combat the economic
crisis

Human Toll

Human toll of the Depression; natural disasters; unwise agricultural practices; their effects
on the depopulation of rural regions; political movements of the left and right; Dust Bowl
refugees and their social and economic impacts in California

New Deal
Effects of and the controversies arising from New Deal economic policies; expanded role
of the federal government in society and the economy since the 1930s; Works Progress
Administration; Social Security; National Labor Relations Board; farm programs; regional
development policies; energy development projects such as the Tennessee Valley
Authority, California Central Valley Project, and Bonneville Dam

Labor Movement
Advances and retreats of organized labor; creation of the American Federation of Labor
and the Congress of Industrial Organizations; current issues of a postindustrial,
multinational economy; United Farm Workers in California

America in World War II

Origins
Origins of American involvement in the war; events that precipitated the attack on Pearl
Harbor

Wartime Strategy
U.S. and Allied wartime strategy; major battles of Midway, Normandy, Iwo Jima, Okinawa,
and the Battle of the Bulge

American Soldiers
Roles and sacrifices of individual American soldiers; unique contributions of the special
fighting forces - Tuskegee Airmen, 442nd Regimental Combat team, Navajo Code Talkers

Foreign Policy
Roosevelt's foreign policy during World War II; Four Freedoms speech

The Home Front

Constitutional issues; impact of events on the U.S. home front; internment of Japanese
Americans - Fred Korematsu v. United States of America; restrictions on German and
Italian resident aliens; response of the administration to Hitler's atrocities against Jews
and other groups; roles of women in military production; roles and growing political
demands of African Americans

Industry
Major developments in aviation, weaponry, communication, and medicine; war's impact
on the location of American industry and use of resources

Atomic Bomb
Decision to drop atomic bombs; consequences of the decision; Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Rebuilding Europe
Effect of massive aid given to Western Europe under the Marshall Plan to rebuild itself
after the war; importance of a rebuilt Europe to the U.S. economy

Post-World War II America

Growth of Service Sector

Growth of service sector, white collar, and professional sector jobs in business and
government

Immigration
Significance of Mexican immigration; its relationship to the agricultural economy,
especially in California

Labor Policy
Truman's labor policy; congressional reaction to it

Fiscal Policy
New federal government spending on defense, welfare, interest on the national debt;
federal and state spending on education; California Master Plan

Presidency
Increased powers of the presidency in response to the Great Depression, World War II,
and the Cold War

Environment
Diverse environmental regions of North America; their relationship to local economies;
origins and prospects of environmental problems in those regions

Technological Developments
Effects on society and the economy of technological developments since 1945; the
computer revolution; changes in communication; advances in medicine; improvements in
agricultural technology

Popular Culture
Forms of popular culture; their origins and geographic diffusion; jazz and other forms of
popular music; professional sports; architectural and artistic styles

U.S. Foreign Policy Since World War II

International Organizations
Establishment of the United Nations and International Declaration of Human Rights;
International Monetary Fund; World Bank; General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
(GATT); their importance in shaping modern Europe and maintaining peace and
international order

Military Alliances
Role of military alliances; NATO; SEATO; deterring communist aggression; maintaining
security during the Cold War

Cold War
Origins and geopolitical consequences, foreign and domestic, of the Cold War and
containment policy; era of McCarthyism, instances of domestic Communism (Alger Hiss)
and blacklisting; Truman Doctrine; Berlin Blockade; Korean War ; Bay of Pigs invasion;
Cuban Missile Crisis; Atomic testing in the American West; "mutual assured destruction"
doctrine; disarmament policies; Vietnam War; Latin American policy

Domestic Considerations
Effects of foreign policy on domestic policies and vice versa; protests during the war in
Vietnam; "nuclear freeze" movement

Winning the Cold War

Role of the Reagan administration and other factors in the victory of the West in the Cold
War

Middle East Policy

U.S. Middle East policy; its strategic, political, and economic interests; the Gulf War

United States and Mexico

Relations between the United States and Mexico in the twentieth century; key economic,
political, immigration, and environmental issues

Federal Civil Rights and Voting Rights

Effect of World War 2

How demands of African Americans helped produce a stimulus for civil rights; President
Roosevelt's ban on racial discrimination in defense industries in 1941; how African
Americans' service in World War II produced a stimulus for President Truman's decision to
end segregation in the armed forces in 1948

Milestones in Civil Rights

Key events, policies, and court cases in the evolution of civil rights; Dred Scott v.
Sandford; Plessy v. Ferguson; Brown v. Board of Education; Regents of the University of
California v. Bakke; California Proposition 209

Higher Education
Collaboration on legal strategy between African American and white civil rights lawyers to
end racial segregation in higher education

Important Leaders
Roles of civil rights advocates; A. Philip Randolph; Martin Luther King, Jr.; Malcolm X;
Thurgood Marshall; James Farmer; Rosa Parks; significance of Martin Luther King, Jr. 's
"Letter from Birmingham Jail" and "I Have a Dream" speech

Spread of Civil Rights

Diffusion of the civil rights movement of African Americans from the churches of the rural
South and the urban North; resistance to racial desegregation in Little Rock and
Birmingham; how the advances influenced the agendas, strategies, and effectiveness of
the quests of American Indians, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans for civil rights
and equal opportunities

Legislation
Passage and effects of civil rights and voting rights legislation; 1964 Civil Rights Act;
Voting Rights Act of 1965; Twenty-Fourth Amendment; equality of access to education
and to the political process

Womens Movement
History of the women's rights movement; Elizabeth Stanton; Susan Anthony; passage of
the Nineteenth Amendment; the movement launched in the 1960s; differing perspectives
on the roles of women

Social and Domestic Issues in Contemporary America

Immigration
Reasons for the nation's changing immigration policy; how the Immigration Act of 1965
and successor acts have transformed American society

Important Speeches
Significant domestic policy speeches of Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon,
Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton - with regard to education, civil rights, economic policy,
environmental policy

Roles of Women
Changing roles of women in society; entry of more women into the labor force; changing
family structure

Watergate
The constitutional crisis originating from the Watergate scandal

Environment
Impact of, need for, and controversies associated with environmental conservation,
expansion of the national park system, and development of environmental protection laws;
the interaction between environmental protection advocates and property rights advocates

Poverty
Persistence of poverty; how different analyses of the issue of poverty influence welfare
reform, health insurance reform, and other social policies

Social Issues
How the federal, state, and local governments have responded to demographic and social
changes such as population shifts to the suburbs, racial concentrations in the cities,
Frostbelt-to-Sunbelt migration, international migration, decline of family farms, increases
in out-of-wedlock births, and drug abuse

Grade Eleven Health

Strategies for Managing Illnesses

Contagious Illnesses

Chronic Illnesses

Degenerative Illnesses

Altering Health and Safety Problems

By Technology

From the Media

With Medicine

Correction of Health Threatening Environmental Problems

Correction by Individuals

Correction by Communities

Correction by States

Healthy Strategies

Asserting Yourself

Preventing Conflict

Resolving Differences

Marriage

Recognition

Rights and Obligation

Cohabitation

Types

As a Defense Mechanism

Denial of Fact

Denial of Responsibility

Denial of Impact

Denial of Awareness

Denial of Cycle

Denial

Family as the Basic Unit of Society

Definition

Kinds of Families

Values

Roles & Responsibilities in Meeting Needs throughout the Life Cycle

Impact of Family-Related Issues on Society

Grade Eleven Spanish II

Possessives (new topic area)

Possessive constructions
Possessive adjectives
Possessive pronouns
Ser and possession
Family titles, relationships and diminutives

Likes and Dislikes (new topic area)

Things you like to do

How to say No
Introduction to Gustar To like

Questions (new topic area)

Intonation
Interrogatives
Subject-Verb switch
Interjections
Better and best

Communication Methods Putting Language Skills to Practice (new topic area)

In person
At social gatherings
By mail
By phone

Exploring Cultures (existing content in Eleventh Grade Spanish I)

Grade Eleven French II

Objects, Prepositions, and Pronouns (new topic area)

Direct and indirect objects

Prepositions
Object pronouns
Object pronouns and the imperative
Demonstrative pronouns
Relative pronouns

Adjectives and Adverbs (new topic area)

Introduction to adjectives
Gender agreement of adjectives
Plural agreement of adjectives
Position of adjectives
Comparative sentences
Possessive adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives
Introduction to adverbs
Forming adverbs
Memorizing adverbs
Position and use of adverbs
Adverbial phrases

Past-Tense, Reflexive, and Future-Tense Verbs (new topic area)

Past-tense constructions
Simple past-tense (La Passe Compos)
Imperfect past-tense (LImparfait)
Pluperfect tense (Le Plus-Qu-Parfait)
Choosing appropriate past tense
Literary tenses
Introduction to reflexive verbs
Negatives with reflexive verbs
Questions with reflexive verbs
Reflexive verbs in the past
Reciprocal verbs
Pronominal verbs
English future-tense constructions
Le Futur Proche
Le Futur Simple
Use of future with Si and Quand
Le Futur Antrieur

Conditional Tense and Subjunctive Mood (new topic area)

Introduction to conditional tense

Polite forms of conditional tense
Conditional tense formation
Past conditional tense
The verb Devoir
Introduction to French subjunctive
Forming the subjunctive mood
Irregular subjunctive verbs
Specific uses of the subjunctive
Past subjunctive

Communication Methods Putting Language Skills to Practice (new topic area)

In person
At social gatherings
By mail
By phone
Family communications and customs

Exploring Cultures (new topic area)

Travel

School terms
Technology
Professions and jobs

Grade Eleven German II

Past Tense (new topic area)

The regular past tense

Forming questions in the past tense
Irregular verbs in the past tense
The significance of being

Future Tense (new topic area)

Using werden
Present, past, and future
Irregular verbs in the future tense
Giving commands
Informal commands

Perfect Tenses (new topic area)

The present perfect tense with haben

Irregular perfect tense
Verbs using sein with participles
The past perfect tense
The future perfect tense
The spoken past tense vs. the written past

Modals and Special Prefixes (new topic area)

The modal auxiliary

Modals in the past
Forming the present perfect tense
Modals in the future
Inseparable prefixes
Separable prefixes

Possessives (new topic area)

Belonging to You and Me

Additional possessive adjectives
A new case
Additional uses of the genitive
Body parts
Games and sports

Opposites and Comparisons (new topic area)

Antonyms and words of contrast

Der words and ein words
Special nouns

Making comparisons
Good, Better, and Best

Conjunctions (new topic area)

Und, ober, aber, and denn

Conjunctions affecting word order
Interrogatives used as conjunctions
Der, die, and das
New types of prepositions

Passive Voice (new topic area)

Introduction to the passive voice

Forming the passive voice
Using von, durch, and mit
Identifying passives vs. adjectives

The Subjunctive (new topic area)

Subjunctive forms that still exist

He said and She said
The past tense of the subjunctive mood
Additional use for Wenn!
Als ob

Communication Methods Putting Language Skills to Practice (new topic area)

In person
At social gatherings
By mail
By phone
Family communications and customs

Exploring Cultures (new topic area)

Travel
School terms
Technology
Professions and jobs

Grade Eleven Sociology

Social Institutions

What is a family?
A family can be defined as any relationship involving the following:
-

People living together with a commitment

People forming an economic unit (shared resources)

People caring for children or other individuals

People who associate their identity with each other

What is marriage?
In the United States, marriage is legally sanctioned commitment between two people a man and a
woman.
Marriage and family have changed dramatically in the United States in the following ways:

Cohabitation (unmarried couples living together) has increased

Dual-earner marriages (husband and wife both working) are more common

Single-parent families are growing in increasing numbers

Education and Religion

Education and religion are both social institutions that do the following:
-

Impart values

Promote beliefs

Share knowledge

What is the function of education?

-

The primary function of education is to transmit knowledge, skills and cultural values within an
organized structure

What is the function of religion?

-

The primary function of religion is to guide human behavior, give meaning to life and unite
believers (on the basis of shared beliefs, rituals and a sacred or supernatural force)

*Discussion Question: What social institutions do you belong to? How do you see your role in these
institutions evolving in the future?

Grade Eleven Character Development

Character Awareness

Can we change our character?

We can change how we view parts of ourselves and how we process memories and
experiences affecting our character.
How can we change our character? By learning self-acceptance and radiating positive
energy

Discussion topic: Are there aspects of your character that you would like to change? What
factors might have contributed to these parts of yourself? Consider memories or
experiences that may be associated with your outlooks.

Levels of Awareness

Love
Love is a level of personal awareness that is not to be confused with the emotion of love
rather it refers to an unconditional love, understanding and compassion for the world
around you. At this level, people place their logic and abilities aside to focus on
conscience the sense of right and wrong. Motives at this level are pure and uncorrupted
by the desires of the ego and are guided by a force greater than oneself.

Joy
Joy is level of personal awareness characterized by pervasive, unshakable happiness.
This is the level of saints and advanced spiritual teachers who lead lives that are fully
guided by intuition. It marks an expansion of consciousness where people operate at
much higher level. Some people can temporarily reach this level following a near-death
experience.

Character in Action

Love: At this level, individuals often commit to a lifetime of service to humanity. Examples
of people who have reached this level include Gandhi and Mother Teresa people guided
by a stronger force than themselves and dedicated to improving the world.

Joy: At this level, individuals radiate a happiness that affects everyone around them.
People at this stage are led by a higher power and look at life from an elevated
perspective.

Extend discussion of love and peace, considering individuals in history who have
exemplified these levels of awareness. What must it have been like to be around them?
What can they teach us about the world and ourselves?

Grade Eleven Health & Wellness

Stress

What causes stress?

Many factors cause stress stress can result from any change that requires you to change your
methods of doing something

Stress can result from a variety of occurrences (major or minor) including:

-

Moving

Loss of a loved one

Job change

Pregnancy

Schedule change

Weather change

Traffic jam

Lost personal items (keys, etc.)

Electrical outage

Stress can be a healthy, normal part of life however, excessive stress can lead to physical and
emotional health problems including:
-

Physical: damage to heart, increased body fat, decreased energy, interrupted sleep, muscle
tension, stomach acid and indigestion, weakened immune system

Emotional: anxiety, depression

How to reduce daily stress:

-

Take breaks throughout the day to do activities you enjoy such as:

Reading
Writing
Walking
Singing
Listening to music

Anxiety

What causes anxiety?

Anxiety can result from any situation that involves something new, unknown or dangerous anxiety is
often a positive reaction, as it prepares you physically and emotionally for difficult situations.

What is an anxiety disorder?

Anxiety disorders occur when anxiety levels fail to assist you in coping with situations and instead
dramatically disrupt your daily life. Anxiety disorders are illnesses that are connected to biological
makeup (genetics, family history) as well as past experiences.
Symptoms of anxiety disorders:
-

Excessive worrying about daily life (health, money, job, family, etc.)

Difficulty relaxing or achieving restful sleep

Physical reactions including twitching, trembling, headaches, irritability, muscle tension,

sweating

Feelings of breathlessness or being light-headed

Nausea or bathroom frequency

Palpitations or chest pain

Exhaustion, difficulty concentrating

Depression

What causes depression?

Depression is often caused by an imbalance of hormones in the brain; depression is often experienced
in connection with anxiety disorders.

Symptoms of depression:
-

Reduction in motivation, energy and concentration

Change in sleeping and eating patterns

Lack of interest in school, work or hobbies

Feelings of sadness

How to treat anxiety and depression:

-

Counseling

Dietary supplements

Nutritional therapies

Medication

Exercise

Suicide

What is suicide?
The process of taking ones own life; suicide ranks among the top five causes of death from
adolescence to middle age.

Suicidal behavior
Warning signs and symptoms of suicidal behavior include the following:
-

Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness

Fascination with death or dying

Poor impulse control

Antisocial behaviors (including drug and alcohol abuse)

Excessive risk taking

Suicide prevention
Be alert for the above symptoms and seek medical help immediately; additional resources are available
at: www.mentalhealth.org/suicideprevention

Grade Eleven Home Skills

Home & Property Management

Home Safety and Security:

Identify the biggest threats to your home and possessions: personal accidents and injury, fire,
electrocution, extreme weather and burglary
-

Tips for making your home as safe as possible:

Select products and materials that meet current safety requirements

Do not attempt do-it-yourself projects that you cannot safely complete
Install working alarms (burglar alarms, fire alarms)
Ensure door and window locks are in working order
Install external lighting sources and keep plants and hedges in front of doors and
windows trimmed

Pet Care:

Understand the significant responsibility of family pets. Pets need to be fed, walked,
bathed, brushed, taken to the vet, given medication and boarded (or cared for by friends
or family) if you go out of town.

Insurance

Insurance can protect you against the losses associated with property, life or health.

Primary types of insurance include:

Homeowners Insurance: typically covers loss of and damage to property due to

theft, fire or various other causes

Auto Insurance: typically covers damage or theft of vehicle and medical bills for
injuries caused in auto accidents

Life Insurance: typically covers related expenses for loss of life and associated
income

Health Insurance: typically covers preventative healthcare and a portion of office

visits, hospital care, prescriptions, etc.

Auto Maintenance

Understand the important of auto maintenance proper and proactive auto maintenance will
save you time and money by minimizing the need for auto repairs. Refer to the owners manual
for specific service guidelines for your vehicle.

For a chart on basic automotive maintenance including common service requirements,

visit:
http://theserviceadvisor.com/maintain.shtml

Video Tutorial: How to Check Engine Oil Levels

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IbK6flCqfk

Grade Eleven Personal Finances

Credit

What is credit?

Credit is borrowed money that you can use to make immediate purchases and repay the funds at
a later time.

There are pros and cons to using credit:

Pros:
o
o
o

Convenience and immediacy

Establishing a credit history
Ability to finance major purchases (house, car) over time

Cons:
o
o
o

Temptation to spend more money than you have or are able to pay back
Interest accumulation on money borrowed
Debt accumulation

How to manage your credit effectively:

Pay your credit card/loan payments as soon as statement arrives

o Late payments can result in higher interest rates

Do not take cash advances or accept convenience checks

o The fees on these services are very high and difficult to repay

Do not apply for too much credit

o Excessive credit makes you appear as a high-risk customer to creditors

Pay more than the minimum payment

o Minimum payments will keep you on a course to remain in debt because you are
primarily paying toward interest only

Do not carry balances

o Only charge what you can pay off at the end of every month; this will cut interest
charges and leave you less likely to accumulate debt

What is a credit score? How is it determined?

A credit score is a figure that lenders use to determine how likely a borrower is to repay their
debts on time. The most widely used credit scores are known as FICO scores three separate
scores computed by credit history with three major credit bureaus.

FICO scores are determined by several factors including the following:

-

How long you have used credit

How often you pay on time

How much you owe

Length of employment with current employer

What is a good credit score?

Every lender considers different factors in evaluating credit scores; however, an excellent credit
score would be 740 or higher (out of 850); anything below the mid-600s will probably result in
poor credit options including high interest rates or denial of credit altogether.

How to improve your credit score:

Check your credit report for any errors that may have lowered your score

Pay down the high balances on your credit cards

Pay all bills as soon as they arrive; pay more than the minimum; pay balances off each
month

Pay off any old, outstanding bills they will not go away just by ignoring them

Expand your credit history (if it is too limited) consider adding another line of credit and
making timely payments to demonstrate responsible credit habits

Identity Theft:
Identity thieves open fraudulent accounts in your name or change the address on your credit
cards and take over accounts you already have. These thieves can then run up huge bills and
leave you with the payment. The result can be devastating to your personal credit and financial
future.
To prevent identity theft, consider taking the following steps:
-

Put a security freeze on your credit account this prevents anyone from opening
accounts in your name without your personal authorization

Do not carry critical information (pin number, social security card number) in your wallet

Ask that your credit reports display only the last four digits of your Social Security
number

Do not provide personal information to people who call or send email inquiries

Do not store financial passwords in your computer

Shred financial records before throwing them out

Check your credit report regularly

Large Purchases

What are the largest purchases typically made in ones lifetime?

Homes and automobiles; these purchases require special consideration as they will affect your
current and future financial outlook

Buying a Home
The decision to buy a home (rather than rent) should include consideration of the following
factors:
-

How long will you be living in the area? (If you only plan to live in an area for two years
or less, renting may be a better option)

Are you financially secure or dealing with heavy debt? (If you have financial strain, you
may pay more or not qualify for a mortgage; homeowners expenses such as property
taxes, insurance and maintenance may also be too overwhelming

What is the real estate market like? (Locations with high real estate prices or periods
when interest rates are high indicate poor home-buying conditions)

How will a mortgage benefit you? (Tax breaks on mortgage interest paid, appreciation
on home value, pride in ownership)

Buying an Auto
Unlike a house, a car is a depreciating asset an item that decreases in value the longer you
have it. The decision to buy a car should include consideration of the following factors:
-

Do you need a car? (Public transportation is a valuable option in some cities)

Do you need a different car? (If you have a reliable, paid-off car that does not require
costly gas or maintenance, you are better off keeping the same car)

How much do you owe on your current vehicle? (If you owe more than your car is
worth, you should not sell it refinancing it may be a better option)

What type of car fits your needs best? (Smaller cars are more economical they
typically cost less, get better gas mileage, are cheaper to insure, etc.)

Auto Loans
If you cannot pay cash for a car, it is important to find a viable financing option. Consider the
following:
-

Lenders evaluate your income in relation to a projected car payment most lenders
look for a 13% payment/income ratio (example: if you make $3,000 a month, your car
payment should not exceed 13% ($390) of that total)

Lenders typically require 10% cash down to cover signing fees including tax, tag and
registration, and licensing

Limit the length of your loan by buying a reliable car for the least number of payments
you can afford

Think of a car as a long-term investment; the less time you keep a car, the more money
you lose on the investment

Auto Leasing
Leasing involves borrowing a car for a specified number of months or years at a monthly
payment, then giving the car back at the end of the contract; the option can result in lower
payments than a purchase but leasing is not an investment it is a long-term rental car
agreement

Grade Eleven Parenting Skills

Communication

I-Messages: non-threatening, healthy model of communication that gives child information about
how their behaviors affect parent.

Three components of I-Messages:

1. When you (state the problem behavior)

2. I feel (identify emotion aroused)
3. because (provide a logical reason for emotion)

Example: When you scream in the car . I feel scared . because I may get
distracted or not hear traffic warnings and we could get in an accident.

Active Listening: a form of listening wherein parent uncovers emotional content of message
being sent by child

How to actively listen:

1. When child brings up a problem they are having, do not provide answers or
agreements; invite children to say more with open-ended phrases such as Oh,
Really, Interesting, or Mmmm.

2. Rephrase their concerns in your own words to validate their feelings without
inserting your own thoughts or opinions.
Example: Child: Mommy, Sally wont let me be the princess when we play!
Parent: You dont like that you never get to play the princess.

3. Allow child opportunity to work through the situation on their own while you listen;
understand that child may not always reach a resolution to their problem while you
listen it may happen later on, after they reflect on it. Invest your time and trust
that child has ability to solve their own problem.

Benefits of active listening: allows child to express their feelings in their own way, even
negative thoughts and feelings; gives parent stronger insight on childs perspective

When active listening is inappropriate: when parent does not have adequate time to fully
interact with child, when child wants privacy, when child is requesting specific information

Mutual Solutions

Parents and children should play an equal and shared part in determining acceptable
solutions to relationship problems

Working together, parent and child can reach more effective solutions to issues

Process gives child more responsibility and inspires a greater respect for the solution
and a higher likelihood of sticking to the agreement

Problem ownership
-

Identify who owns a problem: The Parent; The Child; or The Relationship
1. Parent Problem: parent has their own feelings of unacceptance about a
situation
Example: Child is interrupting an important phone call of parent
Solution: Use of I-Messages
2. Child Problem: child has a problem independent of their parents
Example: Child is not getting along with one of their friends
Solution: Use of active listening
3. Relationship Problem: shared conflict between parent and child
Example: Parent and child in disagreement over how to clean a room or how
clean it should be kept
Solution: Determine mutually acceptable solution

Non-verbal communication: gestures, body language, actions that communicate messages

without words

Body language can contradict messages sent to children need to be genuinely

interested and concerned to help children
Examples of negative body language: yawning, raising eyebrows, looking at clock,
frowning

Communication awareness: parents must become aware of their own communicative responses
and techniques in interactions with their children.

Setbacks in parent-child communication blaming, lecturing, questioning, minimizing,

agreeing, questioning all of these tactics allow parents to insert their own judgments
and opinions on an issue; child should be encouraged to make their own judgments

Communicating while angry express anger/disappointment to child in a non-destructive

manner: refrain from yelling at child but express feelings of anger about action child

engaged in, recognize importance of taking a parental time out to cool off and gain
composure

Grade Eleven Study Skills

Test-Taking Strategies

The test-taking process can create worry and anxiety before, during and after a test.
Tips for coping with test-taking anxiety:
-

Discuss test content with instructor and classmates

Develop effective study skills

Spread your studying over a longer period rather than cramming at the last minute

Review your text, notes and homework assignments

Use index cards for important concepts or formulas

Take a practice test

Avoid studying directly before test; relax or do another activity before test time

Be a few minutes early for a test to organize yourself; but do not arrive too early

Take deep breaths

Think positively

Visual a calm, pleasing scene if you begin to feel anxious

There are several types of testing formats including:

Objective only one correct answer is possible (multiple choice, true-false, short-answer, problemsolving)
Tips for objective tests:
-

Look over the entire test before answering any questions

Mark difficult questions to be revisited at the end of the test

Read the questions carefully; think of an answer before looking at the options

Use the process of elimination to narrow your choices

Work quickly; do not spend too much time on any one question

Be aware of distracting words (words that look like the word to be defined but are not)

Pay special attention to words that can change the meaning of a statement (all, always,
because, generally, never, none, only, sometimes, usually)

Subjective no single correct answer exists; a person is graded on hew they demonstrate an
understanding of the material (essay tests)
Tips for subjective tests:
-

Read all directions, underlining important words or phrases

Consider the amount of time it will take to address each section

Outline your answer; brainstorm

Write the answer

Read the directions again and review your response; proofread and edit

Grade Eleven Career Skills

Professional Development

Resume
What is a resume? Why is a resume important?
o

A document that outlines a job candidates experience, education and skills

A resume is often the first impression an employer gets of a potential employee; it

usually determines if a job candidate is granted an interview for a position

What factors should be considered in developing a resume?

o

The type of job you are seeking: research the industry; read job descriptions/duties;
determine if employers in the industry typically look for a specific style of resume (federal
resume, curriculum vitae) or section (special skills, volunteer experience)

Choose a resume format: chronological (listing work experience in order from most
recent) and combination (lists relevant skills and career milestones before work
experience) are the most common formats

Write your resume:

Be honest, professional and concise

Include information relevant to the job you are seeking
Include personal contact information including address, phone number and email
address (do not use inappropriate email address names)
Use clear, easy-to-read fonts

Review industry-specific resume samples at:

http://www.resume-resource.com/samples.html

Cover Letter
What is a cover letter? Why is a cover letter important?

A cover letter is used to introduce your resume to a potential employer; it provides you
with an opportunity to sell your skills and demonstrate the benefit you could bring to an
organization

What factors should be considered in developing a cover letter?

Format: use a professional business letter format; view samples at

http://workbloom.com/cover-letter/cover-letter-samples.aspx

Employer name and address: determine a specific hiring manager or point of contact and
address letter to that individual at the correct company address; use appropriate
salutations (Dr., Mrs.)

Return address and contact information: include your personal information

Use appropriate salutations closing, expressing appreciation for consideration and

include your personal signature

The Job Interview

What is a job interview?
A job candidates opportunity to meet with an employer and showcase their qualifications.
Preparation for Interview:
-

Learn about the employer and the position

Review your qualifications for position

Be ready to briefly describe your experience as it relates to position

Be ready to answer broad questions including: Why should I hire you? Why do you
want this job? and What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Take care in your personal appearance: be well groomed, dress professionally, do not
chew gum

Bring any of the following items that may be appropriate to the position:

Identification and/or social security card

Resume or application

References list three people (not relatives) who can speak positively about
your work performance/history; include names, relationships, phone
numbers/emails

Transcripts

The Interview Itself:

-

Be early

Learn the name of your interviewer and greet him/her with a firm handshake

Use good manners with everyone you meet

Use proper English avoid slang

Be enthusiastic and cooperative

Use positive body language eye contact, good posture

Ask questions about the organization and the position

Avoid questions about salary/wages until a job has been offered

Thank the interviewer when you leave and shake hands

Send a short thank you note to the interviewer following the interview

Grade Eleven Business Management

Managing People
Recognize that the ability to effectively manage people is a learned skill involving many functions.
The following three-step method provides a quick, effective way to manage people:
1. Goal Setting

Establish and agree on goals and appropriate behavior with your team members

Record each goal on a separate sheet of paper; identify ways to measure progress
toward goals

Inform team members that you will provide feedback on their performance through
praising and reprimands

2. Praising

Seek out good behavior and/or strong performance by your team members

Provide clear, positive feedback specifically state what you liked about their behavior
and how their efforts helped the team and the entire organization

Allow time for silence after you praise a team member, enabling them to feel your
positive reaction

Shake hands or pat team member on the back and encourage similar behavior in the
future

Recognize instances when you, as a manager, are performing well this increases
productivity in yourself and, consequently, in your team

3. Reprimanding

Respond immediately to a wrongdoing or poor performance by a team member

Provide a clear explanation of what was done wrong and why it was unacceptable

Do not attack a persons character; identify the behavior as the wrongdoing

Allow time for silence after you reprimand a team member, enabling them to feel your
negative reaction

Shake hands or pat team member on the back and remind them how valuable they are
to your team and organization

Allow yourself, as the manager, to move on after the reprimand and put it behind you

Training People
Effective managers ensure the people they are managing are trained in how to perform their job. A
manager can perform training functions themselves or delegate training to another team member and
supervise the progress.
Every manager should have a training strategy including the following:
-

Documents/Manuals a written list of policies and procedures should be available to

trainees. It can guide the training process and provide a resource for trainees to follow when
problems/questions arise in the future.

Trainer Selection managers should carefully oversee the training process if they choose to
delegate training functions to another team member; often, people who are proficient at
doing a job are not proficient at explaining how to do it to others. Follow-through and
consistency are important in choosing a trainer trainers can also benefit from attending
seminars or training sessions of their own.

Hearing, Seeing, Doing trainees should be given the opportunity to learn procedures in the
three methods of learning (hearing an explanation of the procedure, watching the procedure
being performed and performing the procedure themselves)

Grade Eleven Survey of Careers

Careers by Field (continued)

Engineering
The engineering field is based on the application of science and math to develop economic solutions to
technical problems. Engineers often develop new products the development process requires
engineers to research, test, design and maintain technical components for effectiveness, cost, reliability
and safety standards. Most engineers are employed in corporations, laboratories and industrial plants.
There is a strong demand for engineers especially those with highly-specialized focus.
Occupations in the field:
-

Electrical
Mechanical
Chemical
Aeronautical/aerospace
Biomedical
Nuclear
Architectural
Environmental
Civil
Industrial

Building Trades
The building trades are comprised of individual who construct, install or repair various structures or
fixtures. There are varying levels of specialization within the building trades; the most experienced
workers are able to work in a variety of settings including residential and commercial arenas. Workers
are either self-employed as contractors or work for construction companies, manufacturing firms or
several other types of organizations. The work can be strenuous as it often involves a great deal of
physical labor and precision.
Occupations in the field:
-

Carpenter
Plumber
Electrician
HVAC Technician
Brick/Stone Mason
Architecture
Drafting and drawing
Auto/motorcycle mechanic
Green jobs
Machinist
Contractor/construction worker
Locksmith
Home inspector

Hospitality
The hospitality industry employs people in various service functions, especially in food, hotel and
entertainment venues. Workers in the industry are involved in daily operations of service establishments
such as restaurants, hotels and other facilities. A major focus in these occupations is customer service,
as the consumer is the driving force behind the industry.

Occupations in the field:

Hotel management
Restaurant management
Wait staff
Chef
Food preparation worker
Caterer
Bartender
Gaming services worker
Concierge staff
Travel agent

Transportation
The transportation industry employs individuals in a variety of arenas from service and support to
mechanics and repairs. Workers are often employed by large establishments and can work in terminals,
airplanes or offices. The transportation industry has undergone significant changes due to national
health and safety concerns, resulting in more restrictions and regulations throughout the industry.
Occupations in the field:

Air traffic controller

Aircraft pilot
Flight engineer
Flight attendant
Airport personnel
Motor vehicle operator
Bus driver
Taxi driver and chauffeur
Truck driver and sales worker
Rail transportation worker

Water transportation worker

Farming
The farming industry employs workers to manage the systems involved with getting food, plants and
other natural products to the marketplace. Workers are typically employed on farms or ranches as well
as nurseries and slaughterhouses. Activities mostly include planting and harvesting crops, installing
irrigation and delivering animals there is increasing demand for workers with high skills and technical
job knowledge.
Occupations in the field:
-

Agricultural worker
Agricultural inspector
Fisher and fishing vessel operator
Forest and conservation worker
Logging worker

Other Trades
-

Beautician/cosmetologist
Barber

Secretary
Day care specialist
Gardener/landscaper
Funeral director
Interior decorator
Real estate agent
Tailor/seamstress
Retail sales/cashier
Janitor/maintenance worker

Grade Eleven Entrepreneurship

Reasons to Become an Entrepreneur
There are many reasons people choose to start their own business it is important to consider your
personal reasons for wanting to start your own business and determine if they are the right reasons.
The right reasons to start a business:
-

For creation of wealth making money is a primary goal of any business; however, wealth
can also be measured in good will, reputation, partnership and experience

For a higher purpose to fill a need, empower others, create opportunities, reach shared
goals

For creativity building and nurturing a business requires constant generation of ideas and
solutions

For a challenge risk and difficulty can inspire feelings of excitement and satisfaction

For independence being able to make your own decisions and do things according to your
individual values (rather than the values of a boss)

The wrong reasons to start a business:

-

To get rich quick it takes more than financial motivation to make a business work

To escape another job discontentment in current employment should not be a main factor
in starting your own business

To be your own boss it can be surprisingly difficult to guide your own tasks and make
critical decisions

To have more free time starting a business can be time-consuming and may likely require
even more time than other types of employment

To prove something many people start a business because they believe they can do
anything and everything better than others; ego should not drive a business venture

Pros and Cons of Entrepreneurship

There are advantages and disadvantages to entrepreneurship. It is important to consider the
following factors associated with entrepreneurship:

Pros:
-

Excitement associated risk brings a feeling of adventure

Fewer rules approval processes and constraints are lessened or eliminated

Originality being able to offer a new service or product

Competition being able to offer service or product at a lower expense than competing
businesses

Independence being able to make important decisions and not having to answer to
anyone else

Flexibility being able to schedule work hours around other commitments or activities

Freedom being able to work when, how and where you want

Pay being able to pocket more money for the work that is done (rather than an employer
taking a large percentage of the payment)

Cons:
-

Pay giving up the security of a regular paycheck; awaiting initial profit

Benefits giving up benefits typically offered by larger employers (health insurance,

retirement plans, etc.)

Work Schedule your work schedule can be unpredictable and you may have to be
available at off hours to handle emergencies that arise with your business

Administration you do not have authority figures to rely on for difficult questions and
decisions

Staffing you are ultimately responsible for hiring, firing, supervising and training staff

Twelfth Grade
Free World U

Calculus
Limits of Values of Functions

Definition and Graphical Interpretation

Demonstrate knowledge of both the formal definition and the graphical interpretation of
limit of values of functions, including one-sided limits, infinite limits, and limits at infinity

Convergence and Divergence

Students know the definition of convergence and divergence of a function as the domain
variable approaches either a number or infinity

Function Theorems
Students prove and use theorems evaluating the limits of sums, products, quotients, and
composition of functions

Calculators and Limits

Students use graphical calculators to verify and estimate limits

Special Limits
Students prove and use special limits, such as the limits of (sin(x))/x and (1-cos(x))/x as x
tends to 0

Continuity of a Function
Students demonstrate knowledge of both the formal definition and the graphical
interpretation of continuity of a function

Intermediate and Extreme Value Theorem

Students demonstrate an understanding and the application of the intermediate value
theorem and the extreme value theorem

Derivative of a Function

Understanding Derivatives
Students demonstrate an understanding of the formal definition of the derivative of a
function at a point and the notion of differentiability

Slope of the Tangent Line

Students demonstrate an understanding of the derivative of a function as the slope of the
tangent line to the graph of the function

Instantaneous Rate of Change

Students demonstrate an understanding of the interpretation of the derivative as an
instantaneous rate of change. Students can use derivatives to solve a variety of problems
from physics, chemistry, economics, and so forth that involve the rate of change of a
function

Differentiability and Continuity

Students understand the relation between differentiability and continuity

Deriving Derivative Formulas

Students derive derivative formulas and use them to find the derivatives of algebraic,
trigonometric, inverse trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions

Chain Rule
Students know the chain rule and its proof and applications to the calculation of the
derivative of a variety of composite functions

Parametrically Defined Functions

Students find the derivatives of parametrically defined functions and use implicit
differentiation in a wide variety of problems in physics, chemistry, economics, and so forth

Derivatives of Higher Orders

Students compute derivatives of higher orders

Calculus

Theorems and Rules

Students know and can apply Rolle's theorem, the mean value theorem, and L'Hpital's
rule

Sketching Graphs of Functions

Students use differentiation to sketch, by hand, graphs of functions. They can identify
maxima, minima, inflection points, and intervals in which the function is increasing and
decreasing

Zeros of a Function
Students know Newton's method for approximating the zeros of a function

Solving Optimization Problems

Students use differentiation to solve optimization (maximum-minimum problems) in a
variety of pure and applied contexts

Solving Related Rate Problems

Students use differentiation to solve related rate problems in a variety of pure and applied
contexts

Defining the Definite Integral

Students know the definition of the definite integral by using Riemann sums. They use this
definition to approximate integrals

Applying Definition of the Integral

Students apply the definition of the integral to model problems in physics, economics, and
so forth, obtaining results in terms of integrals

Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

Students demonstrate knowledge and proof of the fundamental theorem of calculus and
use it to interpret integrals as antiderivatives

Applying Definite Integrals

Students use definite integrals in problems involving area, velocity, acceleration, volume
of a solid, area of a surface of revolution, length of a curve, and work

Integrals of Various Functions

Students compute, by hand, the integrals of a wide variety of functions by using
techniques of integration, such as substitution, integration by parts, and trigonometric
substitution. They can also combine these techniques when appropriate

Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Students know the definitions and properties of inverse trigonometric functions and the
expression of these functions as indefinite integrals

Integrals of Rational Functions

Students compute, by hand, the integrals of rational functions by combining the
techniques in standard 17.0 with the algebraic techniques of partial fractions and
completing the square

Integrals of Trigonometric Functions

Students compute the integrals of trigonometric functions by using the techniques noted
above

Simpsons Rule and Newtons Method

Students understand the algorithms involved in Simpson's rule and Newton's method.
They use calculators or computers or both to approximate integrals numerically

Improper Integrals
Students understand improper integrals as limits of definite integrals

Convergence and Divergence

Students demonstrate an understanding of the definitions of convergence and divergence
of sequences and series of real numbers. By using such tests as the comparison test,
ratio test, and alternate series test, they can determine whether a series converges

Convergence of Power Series

Students understand and can compute the radius (interval) of the convergence of power
series

Manipulating Terms of a Power Series

Students differentiate and integrate the terms of a power series in order to form new
series from known ones

Taylor Polynomials and Series

Students calculate Taylor polynomials and Taylor series of basic functions, including the
remainder term

Elementary Differential Equations

Students know the techniques of solution of selected elementary differential equations and
their applications to a wide variety of situations, including growth-and-decay problems

Probability and Statistics

Basic Probability and Statistics

Independent Events
Know the definition of the notion of independent events and use the rules for addition,
multiplication, and complementation to solve for probabilities of particular events in finite
sample spaces

Conditional Probability
Students know the definition of conditional probability and use it to solve for probabilities in
finite sample spaces

Discrete Random Variables

Demonstrate an understanding of the notion of discrete random variables by using them
to solve for the probabilities of outcomes, such as probability of the occurrence of five
heads in 14 coin tosses

Standard Distributions
Students are familiar with the standard distributions (normal, binomial, and exponential)
and can use them to solve for events in problems in which the distribution belongs to
those families

Standard Deviation
Students determine the mean and the standard deviation of a normally distributed random
variable

Mean, Median and Mode

Students know the definitions of the mean, median, and mode of a distribution of data and
can compute each in particular situations

Variance and Standard Deviation

Students compute the variance and the standard deviation of a distribution of data

Displaying Data
Organize & describe distributions of data by using a number of different methods:
frequency tables, histograms, standard line & bar graphs, stem & leaf displays,
scatterplots, box-and-whisker plots

Advanced Probability and Statistics

Problems Having Finite Sample Spaces

Solve probability problems with finite sample spaces using the rules for add., mult., &
complementation for probability distributions; understand the simplifications that arise with
independent events

Continuous Random Variables

Understand notion of a continuous random variable; interpret probability of an outcome as
the area of a region under the graph of the probability density function associated with the
random variable

Mean of a Discrete Random Variable

Students know the definition of the mean of a discrete random variable and can determine
the mean for a particular discrete random variable

Variance of a Discrete Random Variable

Students know the definition of the variance of a discrete random variable and can
determine the variance for a particular discrete random variable

Central Limit Theorem

Students know the central limit theorem and can use it to obtain approximations for
probabilities in problems of finite sample spaces in which the probabilities are distributed
binomially

Least Squares Regression

Students find the line of best fit to a given distribution of data by using least squares
regression

Correlation Coefficient
Students know what the correlation coefficient of two variables means and are familiar
with the coefficient's properties

Working With a Statistic

Students are familiar with the notions of a statistic of a distribution of values, of the
sampling distribution of a statistic, and of the variability of a statistic

Relations Between Distribution Data

Students know basic facts concerning the relation between the mean and the standard
deviation of a sampling distribution and the mean and the standard deviation of the
population distribution

Determining Confidence Intervals

Students determine confidence intervals for a simple random sample from a normal
distribution of data and determine the sample size required for a desired margin of error

Determining P- Value
Students determine the P- value for a statistic for a simple random sample from a normal
distribution

Chi-Square
Students are familiar with the chi- square distribution and chi- square test and understand
their uses

Physics
Motion and Forces

Constant and Average Speed

Students know how to solve problems that involve constant speed and average speed

Newtons First Law

Students know that when forces are balanced, no acceleration occurs; thus an object
continues to move at a constant speed or stays at rest (Newton's first law)

Newtons Second Law

Students know how to apply the law F=ma to solve one-dimensional motion problems that
involve constant forces (Newton's second law)

Newtons Third Law

Students know that when one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object
always exerts a force of equal magnitude and in the opposite direction (Newton's third
law)

Gravity Relationships
Students know the relationship between the universal law of gravitation and the effect of
gravity on an object at the surface of Earth

Applying Force to an Object

Applying force to an object perpendicular to the direction of its motion causes the object to
change direction but not speed (gravitational force causes a satellite to change direction
but not speed)

Circular Motion
Students know circular motion requires the application of a constant force directed toward
the center of the circle

Conservation of Energy and Momentum

Kinetic Energy
Students know how to calculate kinetic energy by using the formula E=(1/2)mv2

Gravitational Potential Energy

Students know how to calculate changes in gravitational potential energy near Earth by
using the formula (change in potential energy) =mgh (h is the change in the elevation)

Conservation of Energy
Students know how to solve problems involving conservation of energy in simple systems,
such as falling objects

Momentum
Students know how to calculate momentum as the product mv; momentum is a separately
conserved quantity different from energy; an unbalanced force on an object produces a
change in its momentum

Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

Students know how to solve problems involving elastic and inelastic collisions in one
dimension by using the principles of conservation of momentum and energy

Heat and Thermodynamics

Heat Flow and Work

Students know heat flow and work are two forms of energy transfer between systems

First Law of Thermodynamics

Work done by a heat engine working in a cycle is the difference between the heat flow into
the engine at high temp and the heat flow out at a lower temp; this is example of law of
conserve. of energy

Thermal Energy
The internal energy of an object includes the energy of random motion of the object's
atoms and molecules, often called thermal energy. The greater the temperature, the
greater the energy of motion

Energy Levels Over Time

Students know that most processes tend to decrease the order of a system over time and
that energy levels are eventually distributed uniformly

Entropy
Students know that entropy is a quantity that measures the order or disorder of a system
and that this quantity is larger for a more disordered system

Identifying Waves
Waves carry energy from one place to another; identify transverse and longitudinal waves
in mechanical media, such as springs and ropes, and on the earth (seismic waves)

Solving Problems with Waves

Students know how to solve problems involving wavelength, frequency, and wave speed

Sound Waves
Students know sound is a longitudinal wave whose speed depends on the properties of
the medium in which it propagates

Radio, Light and X-ray Waves

Students know radio waves, light, and X-rays are different wavelength bands in the
spectrum of electromagnetic waves whose speed in a vacuum is approximately 3108 m/s
(186,000 miles/second)

Waves

Characteristic Properties of Waves

Students know how to identify the characteristic properties of waves: interference (beats),
diffraction, refraction, Doppler Effect, and polarization

Electric and Magnetic Phenomena

Predicting Voltage or Current

Students know how to predict the voltage or current in simple direct current (DC) electric
circuits constructed from batteries, wires, resistors, and capacitors

Ohms Law
Students know how to solve problems involving Ohm's law

Resistive Elements
Any resistive element in a DC circuit dissipates energy, which heats the resistor; calculate
the power (rate of energy dissipation) in any resistive circuit element by using the formula
Power = IR (potential difference) I (current) = I2R

Transistors
Students know the properties of transistors and the role of transistors in electric circuits

Electric Fields
Students know charged particles are sources of electric fields and are subject to the
forces of the electric fields from other charges

Sources of Magnetic Fields

Students know magnetic materials and electric currents (moving electric charges) are
sources of magnetic fields and are subject to forces arising from the magnetic fields of
other sources

Direction of Magnetic Fields

Students know how to determine the direction of a magnetic field produced by a current
flowing in a straight wire or in a coil

Changing Magnetic Fields

Students know changing magnetic fields produce electric fields, thereby inducing currents
in nearby conductors

Plasmas
Students know plasmas, the fourth state of matter, contain ions or free electrons or both
and conduct electricity

Grade Twelve American Democracy

Foundations of American Government

Principles of Government
Government and the state definition, characteristics, origins, purpose; forms of
government; basic concepts of democracy

Origins of American Government

American political beginnings English documents, colonies; the coming of
independence; the critical period Articles of Confederation; creating the Constitution;
ratifying the Constitution Federalists & anti-Federalists

The Constitution
The six basic principles popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers,
checks and balances, judicial review, federalism; formal amendment amending
Constitution; informal amendment over time by executive decisions, judicial rulings

Federalism
The division of power powers of federal government and states; relationship of the
national government and the 50 states; interstate relations

Political Behavior

Political Parties
Parties and what they do; the two-party system; the two-party system in American history;
the minor parties; party organization

Voters and Voter Behavior

The right to vote; voter qualifications ; suffrage and civil rights; voter behavior

The Electoral Process

The nominating process; elections; money and elections

Mass Media and Public Opinion

The formation of public opinion; measuring public opinion; the mass media

Interest Groups
The nature of interest groups; types of interest groups; interest groups at work

The Legislative Branch

Congress
The national legislature; the house of representatives; the senate; the members of
congress

Powers of Congress
The scope of congressional powers; the expressed powers of money and commerce;
other expressed powers; the implied powers; the nonlegislative powers

Congress in Action
Congress organizes; committees in congress; how a bill becomes a law: the house; the
bill in the senate

The Executive Branch

The Presidency
The presidents role and responsibilities; presidential succession and the vice presidency;
presidential selection: the Framers plan; presidential nominations; the election

The Presidency in Action

The growth of presidential power; the presidents executive powers; diplomatic and
military powers; legislative and judicial powers

Government at Work
The federal bureaucracy; the executive office of the president; the executive departments;
independent agencies; the civil service

Financing Government
Taxes; nontax revenues and borrowing; spending and the budget

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Foreign affairs and national security; other foreign and defense agencies ; American
foreign policy overview; foreign aid and defense alliances

The Judicial Branch

The Federal Court System

The national judiciary; the inferior courts; the Supreme Court; the special courts

First Amendment Freedoms

The unalienable rights; freedom of religion; freedom of speech and press; freedom of
assembly and petition

Protecting Individual Rights

Due process of law; freedom and security of the person; rights of the accused;
punishment

Civil Rights
Diversity and discrimination in American society; equality before the law; federal civil
rights laws; American citizenship

Comparative Political and Economic Systems

Comparative Political Systems

The political systems of Great Britain, Japan, Mexico, Russia, China compared to the
American system and to each other

Comparative Economic Systems

Characteristics of, role of government in, and advantages/disadvantages of capitalism,
socialism, and communism

State and Local Government

State Governments
State constitutions; state legislatures; the governor and state administration; courtroom
functioning; the courts and their judges

Local Governments
Counties, towns, and townships; cities and metropolitan areas; providing important
services; financing state and local government

Grade Twelve Economics

Basic Economic Terms, Concepts and Reasoning

Basic Economic Concepts

The fundamental economic problem; factors of production; three basic questions; the
scope of economics; scarcity, trade-offs, opportunity cost, needs, wants, goods, services,
consumers, value, utility, wealth, productivity

Economic Systems and Decision Making

Traditional, command, and market economies; economic performance; capitalism and
free enterprise

Business Organizations and Economic Institutions

Sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations; business growth and expansion;
other organizations and institutions, including nonprofit organizations, cooperative
associations, labor unions, professional and business and organizations

Microeconomics

Demand
The demand schedule; the law of demand; change in demand; diminishing marginal utility;
elasticity of demand

Supply
The supply schedule; change in supply; elasticity of supply; the theory of production; three
stages of production; the role of cost

Prices
Advantages; allocation without prices; determination of prices; prices as a system; price
supports

Competition
Pure and monopolistic competition; oligopolies and monopolies; market failures; the role
of government, including antitrust legislation and regulation

Macroeconomic Institutions

Employment, Labor, and Wages

History of the labor movement; resolving union and management differences; labor and
wages; employment trends and issues

Sources of Government Revenues

Taxation; economic impact of taxes; types of taxes; the federal tax system; state and local
tax systems; current tax issues

Government Spending
Two kinds of government spending; impact of government spending; the federal budget;
state and local government expenditures; federal deficits and the national debt

Money and Banking

History and characteristics of money; early banking and monetary standards;
development of modern banking; banking reform

The Federal Reserve System and Monetary Policy

Features, structure, and responsibilities of the Fed; monetary policy, its impact and related
issues; bank failures

Financial Investments, Markets, and Equities

Savings and the financial system; investment considerations; bonds, financial assets, and
financial markets; equities, futures, and options

Macroeconomic Policies

Gross Domestic Product

Measurement methods and considerations; measures of national income; the outputexpenditure model; price indices

Population, Economic Growth, and Business Cycles

American population trends; American economic growth; factors influencing economic
growth; productivity and growth; business cycles and fluctuations

Unemployment, Inflation, and Poverty

Measuring unemployment; kinds of unemployment; inflation in the United States; causes
and consequences of inflation; the distribution of income; antipoverty programs

Achieving Economic Stability

Costs of economic instability; macroeconomic equilibrium; stabilization policies, including
demand-side, supply-side, and monetary policies; economic politics

International and Global Economics

International Trade
Absolute and comparative advantage; barriers to international trade; financing
international trade; the trade deficit

Comparative Economic Systems

Advantages and disadvantages of capitalism, socialism, and communism; the rise and fall
of communism; transition to capitalism; varieties of capitalism

Developing Countries
Interest in and obstacles to economic development; stages of economic development;
priorities; financing economic development

Global Economic Challenges

The global demand for resources; economic incentives and resources; the economic way
of thinking

Grade Twelve Health

Effectiveness of Health Data

Health Promotion

Illness Prevention Methods

Primary (Universal) Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Analyzing Public Health Policies

Function of Laws

Function of Media

Illness Control

The Aging Process

Aging Affects Vision

Aging Affects Hearing

Aging Affects the Immune System

Effects of Healthy Living

On Individuals

On the Community

On Future Generations

Immediate and Long Term Impacts of Health Decisions

Individual

Family

Community

Development of Relationships

Types of Relationships

Factors to Consider in Forming a Healthy Relationship

Responsibilities in Relationships

Issues Which Enhance or Threaten Relationships

Laws Relating to Relationships/Marriage

Importance of Monogamy in Building Trust in a Relationship/Marriage

Grade Twelve Sociology

Social Change

What is social change?

Social change is the process of altering, modifying or transforming public policies, cultures or social
institutions.
-

Social change is often enforced by collective behavior activity that stems from a groups
shared response to a situation and results in behavior that typically violates social norms

What is a social movement?

A social movement is an organized group that operates cooperatively to promote or resist change; types
of social movements include the following:
-

Reform aim to improve society through changing a part of a social structure

Revolutionary aim to bring about complete change in a social structure (sometimes through
extreme, radical methods)

Religious aim to bring about significant change in individuals thoughts and behaviors based
on belief systems

Alternative aim for limited change to a specific aspect of human behavior

Resistance aim to prevent change or undo change that has been enacted

Citizenship
What is a citizen?
-

A citizen is a resident of a city or town, including those entitled to vote and enjoy other privileges
of that location

What does it mean to be a good citizen?

-

Good citizenship requires citizens to be responsible and demonstrate actions including:

Understanding of government

Promotion of community

Support of special groups and causes

Involvement in the democratic process

Consideration for individuals and families

Knowledge of history and heritage

Application Exercise
Develop a community project that demonstrates good citizenship. Choose, plan and complete a task
that contributes to a social cause. Make a journal to record the following activities:
- Research needs in your community
-

Determine your personal motivation for supporting this cause

Consider action items necessary for making a positive change

Identify roadblocks, events or attitudes that impact your progress

Evaluate your success and reflect on the experience

Grade Twelve Character Development

Character Awareness

Self-Acceptance via Acupressure Point Tapping:

This technique has been proven to cure individuals of unresolved emotional issues and
physical problems. How it works:

1. The use of positive affirmations to correct negative feelings you have (fears, anger,
tragic memories).
Examples:
Even though I have this fear of public speaking, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though I have this traumatic memory from childhood, I deeply and completely
accept myself.
*Whether you believe in the affirmation or not, it is important to say it aloud so that
you are acknowledging your problem.
2. Acupressure Points
A registered nurse/tapping specialist identifies these pressure points and
demonstrates the method in the following video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l-VDOGqmd4
** A free manual on this technique is available by email request at the following link:
http://www.emofree.com/downloadeftmanual.asp

Levels of Awareness

Peace
Peach is level of total transcendence. This level is reached by very few individuals.

Enlightenment
Enlightenment is the highest level of personal awareness where humanity blends with divine
power this level is extremely rare and is associated with Jesus, Buddha, etc.

Character in Action

Peace: At this level, individuals operate at a perspective above the created universe that
surpasses physical existence.

Enlightenment: At this level, individuals find a final blessed state, free from ignorance,
desire and suffering.

Extend discussion of these highest levels of awareness; contemplate why it is so rare for
individuals to achieve these levels.

Grade Twelve Health & Wellness

Dealing with Violence

Acts of violence (assault, abductions, murder, terrorism) can impact ones emotional well being.
Violent incidents are tragic and can be difficult to discuss but it is important to deal with these
experiences in order to avoid long-lasting emotional difficulties.

Methods for dealing with violence:

-

Stay informed about the situation; ignore rumors or reports that are false

Share your feelings with others; understand that others experience fear, anxiety, etc.

Find a place or activity that helps calm your nerves (go for a walk, draw a picture, etc.)

Learn what is being done to ensure your safety (review precautions and identify mentors)

Limit your exposure to violent television, movies and video games

Identify personal vulnerabilities to violence and determine feasible changes in environment,

habits, etc.

Maintain normal daily activities (follow consistent eating and sleeping patterns)

Seek professional advice/counseling

Grade Twelve Personal Finances

Investments
There are many available options for investing your money including mutual funds, stocks and bonds and real
estate. You should create a sensible, written investment plan to decide how to allocate your money.
What types of investments are available?
-

Stocks effective for building capital in the long term (over a 15-year period, stocks typically outperform
bonds and simple bank accounts)

o
o

Bonds effective for additional income and stability

o
o

Stock-owning mutual funds are a better way to buy stocks; these funds diversify your investments
and balance risks
Individual stocks are best for professional money managers; amateurs who buy individual stocks
without a thorough understanding of the market typically lose money

Medium-term bonds are good for adding to your income with interest earnings
Long-term bonds are good for speculating on falling interest rates

Investment real estate effective for building future savings if you can commit the money for at least a
10-year period (a good savings method for retirement)

Principles of investing include:

-

Diversify choose different types of investment options; you need different types of stock funds to keep
pace with how various market sectors perform at various times

Control risk consider consequences in advance and limit your investments accordingly

Keep it simple elementary investment plans and options are all that are needed for effective investing
(complicated investment options only serve to educate on financial options their return is typically no
better)

Reinvest by reinvesting money made on investments, you will earn compounding interest and ensure
larger investment totals

Rebalance as your investments go up and down in value, make adjustments to keep your investment
plan in place (example: 40% bonds/60% stocks)

Invest regularly use a portion of every paycheck toward your investments

Forget market timing trying to buy when market is low and sell when market is high is too complicated
and risky; stay on course through reinvesting, rebalancing and regular investing

Be patient stick to your investment plan and understand that some years you will make money; some
you will lose money keep the long term in mind

Safe Savings
Investments almost always carry some risk because they are linked to the ever-changing market. It is important
to keep enough of the following types of money in a safe savings (with no market risk):
-

A cash reserve of approximately 3-6 months living expenses (an emergency fund)

Any fixed expense that has to be met within five years (a house down payment, a vacation, college
savings, taxes)

Any special sum of money (inheritance, etc.) you do not want putting at risk

Security/Insurance
Without insurance to protect your assets, you do not truly own anything an unfortunate event such as a
sickness or an accident can leave you with nothing.
The following types of insurance provide protection for your greatest assets:
-

Life Insurance (provides payment to your dependents upon your death)

Health Insurance (should cover costs of basic hospital services, preventative health care, etc.)

Disability Insurance (coverage in the event you cannot work due to injury, accident, etc.)

Auto Insurance (coverage for cost of repairs, theft, bodily injury that can result from auto use)

Home Insurance (coverage for events that can affect your home fire, theft, wind, flood, etc.)

In choosing insurance policies, select low-cost options from high-quality companies.

Application Exercise
Choose an occupation and research its average monthly income. Using its salary as a guideline, create a reallife financial plan. Make a journal of the following:
-

By researching housing cost of the area you choose to live, find a place that fits within your budget for
housing and record specifics on its accommodations

Determine which bills/expenses you can decrease and/or eliminate

Factor in costs that you have brought with you to this point (student loans, credit card debt, etc.)

Identify real-life events that may take your financial plan off-track and determine how you can plan for
these scenarios

Grade Twelve Parenting Skills

Conflict

Know the definition of conflict:

-

Understand that conflict is a normal, healthy occurrence in a relationship

It is not important what causes conflict importance is in how it is resolved

Power struggles: when power is used in parent-child conflicts, one person gets their way while
the other ends up losing
-

When parent uses power and child gives in authoritarian style of parenting
When child uses power and parent gives in permissive style of parenting
o Neither of these approaches are effective someone always loses and child
does not learn personal responsibility

It is important to use a No-Lose method where parents and children determine mutually
acceptable solutions to problems
o This approach develops childrens thinking skills and inspires them to carry out
their solutions

Values Collision children have a right to their own values and beliefs (basic civil rights
cleanliness, personal style, schoolwork, eating habits)
-

Older children will try to separate themselves from parents who try to change them or
their values

Parents can teach values to their children by modeling their values with their own
behavior; parents can teach values by consulting with expertise and providing
information about topics

Parents must ultimately learn to accept what cannot be changed about their children

Spousal agreement
o

Environmental conflict resolution

o

Spouses do not always have to agree on a solution that is not an honest approach.
Everyone needs to respect their own feelings on an issue or behavior.

Altering the surrounding environment to prevent/resolve conflicts: simplifying, restricting,

child-proofing, planning ahead, preparation, providing alternative activities

Discipline
-

Punishment becomes unnecessary if parent and child both feel their needs are being
met

Children must develop responsibility and become self-disciplined behave out of

thought for their parents and themselves

Recognize that all children (and adults) are different. There will be exceptions to the
preceding parenting approaches especially when situations become out of control and
destructive to the child and/or parent. (Review Tough Love methods in the following
topic)

Dealing with Unusual/Destructive Behavior

It is important to identify unusual and/or destructive behaviors so they can be addressed. These
behaviors include: drug/alcohol use, violence, defiance

Drugs/Alcohol Be able to identify potential signs of usage:

-

Significant physical changes (persistent cough, glazed and red eyes, physical ailments,
fatigue, lack of coordination, slurred speech)
Significant behavioral changes (abrupt shift in personality, new friends, sexual behaviors)
Academic problems (low grades, lack of interest, discipline issues)
Lying, stealing, urgent need for money
Changes in family relationships (arguments, rule breaking)

Violence Keeping children safe and promoting non-violent behavior:

-

Talk to your children about ways to solve arguments without violence identify sources
of support (family members, significant adults) that they can turn to
Help your child deal with anger identify anger as a normal feeling but one that needs to
expressed appropriately
Monitor the media your child is engaged in: TV, Internet, video games limit the media
containing violent content and address violent incidents encountered together
Be a role model by handling problems in nonviolent ways: do not hit your child; cool
down; solve problems together
Reduce the threat of gun-related violence if guns are present in your home, ensure
your child understands gun safety measures and that your child does not have
unsupervised access to guns

Get involved in your community; join neighbors in activities to reduce violence in your
area

Defiance outright acts against parental authority; dishonesty; delinquency

o

Identify when defiance becomes a problem with your child:

Use imperative sentences (commands) in communicating your expectations:

Tell children what to do (or not to do) in clear, authoritative language:

Example: Clean up your room. or Do not dawdle. We are leaving in five

minutes.
Avoid indirect commands and/or threats such as: If you do not clean up your
room, then I will throw all your stuff away, or If you do not hurry up, I am leaving
without you. This approach diminishes parental authority because children
instinctively know that the parent will not follow through on these consequences.
As a result, these types of threats impact the parents credibility and impede their
ability to effectively direct their childs behavior.
*Threats should only be made if parents intend to follow through on them; and
they should never be a primary mode of communication.
Finding a Parenting Approach that Works for You

Childs behavior is much worse than what is considered normal for other children
in his/her age group
Childs behavior is making it difficult for him/her to function as expected
Childs behavior is causing emotional distress or harm to him/her or others

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting. Every child has a different

personality and every parent will have a different way of dealing with their childrens
personalities. These factors will affect parenting style. The most important goal in
parenting is to find an approach that works for you and your child.

Tough Love: a parenting method that employs the use of direct, significant consequences to
address ongoing, disagreeable behavior in children.

Tough Love fundamentals:

Do not panic or take your childs negative behavior personally

Adopt a strong attitude and confidence in your ability to parent
Do not permit or justify destructive behaviors this would be negligent
Attempt to address behaviors through open, honest communication
If negative behaviors continue, give child a direct warning of consequence
Follow through with a significant consequence, allowing child to face results of
his/her actions

Example:
A child refuses to follow household rules. After parent communicates
their feelings and expectations about the situation, child persists in

breaking the rules. Parent provides child with a warning that there will be
significant consequences for their behavior. When child continues to
break the rules, parent withdraws material support from child (does not
give child money for activities, possessions, etc.).

Method of last resort (for children ages 16 & up):

When teen persist in breaking the rules, parent puts all of the teens
belongings on the front lawn, essentially expelling them from the house
whose rules they have refused to follow. This teen no longer is granted
access to the comforts of home.

Parents experiencing guilt from following these tactics can find support
from the TOUGHLOVE organization an international program with
parent-run groups offering support to members who are dealing with
uncontrollable children. http://www.4troubledteens.com/toughlove.html

Professional Therapy: when other parenting methods have not proven effective and/or you feel
isolated from your child, parents should seek advice from professionals in the field of child
psychology.

How to find a therapist:

Contact your local hospitals mental services division there are referral services
for child psychiatrists
Do not rely too heavily on referrals from personal friends or family as a therapist
who is good for one individual may not necessarily be good for another
Research potential therapists and meet with at least three therapists before
deciding which one to work with it is important to feel comfortable with the
therapist and it is an appropriate and typical part of the process

Grade Twelve Study Skills

Online Learning

The Web has made research easier and more convenient; however, with the tremendous amount of
information available on the Web, it can be difficult to determine the reliability of the information you find.
It is important to identify where the content came from (site names) and how to find the information
(search engines).

Tips for navigating the Web:

Site names web sites are categorized by the organization that owns them and are reflected in the
suffix the web site address (URL) ends in:
-

.com (commercial) -- typically reserved for individuals and businesses

.edu (educational) typically reserved for educational institutions

.gov (governmental) typically reserved for government institutions and agencies

.net (network) typically reserved for Internet service providers

.org (organization) typically reserved for nonprofit organizations and associations

Search engines enable Web users to enter keywords to find information through a combination of
formulas that detect matching data
-

Tips for forming a quick, effective search:

o

Leave out words such as the, a, an or plural form of keywords search engines do not
pay attention to these words

Use quotation marks to find a specific unit of information such as names or titles
(example: Benjamin Bloom)

Use specific keywords to narrow down results (example: instead of searching for
diabetes as a broad term, search for diabetes education or diabetes treatment)

Revising your search:

o

Use different words or phrases relating to the term you are looking for

Try a different search engine an identical search with another search engine may
result in more findings

Utilize advanced search options on a search engine to help narrow results

Grade Twelve Career Skills

Professional Performance

Setting Workplace Goals and Priorities:

Why is it important to establish workplace goals and priorities?

o

Goals and priorities drive productivity and increase job satisfaction and work
performance.

How to establish workplace goals and priorities:

Consider the organizations overall vision/mission

Evaluate specific goals and determine how you can contribute to those goals

Translate your ideas into specific, measurable projects/tasks

Evaluate your progress and re-evaluate your contributions as appropriate

Workplace Etiquette
What is workplace etiquette? Practices and behaviors acceptable in a professional setting
Basic rules of workplace etiquette:

Be on time call if you will be late or cannot make it in

Do not use office resources for your personal use

Do not work on personal projects at work

Do not make personal phone calls if you receive personal calls, keep them brief

Do not surf the Internet, send personal emails or text messages

Keep your area clean and clean up after yourself in main areas

Follow the workplace dress code

Do your job be reliable

Workplace Communication
Why is workplace communication important?
Effective communication in the workplace enables you to establish positive, professional
relationships with your co-workers; these relationships foster a productive work environment.

Verbal Communication: (in-person or on the telephone)

-

Be enthusiastic and friendly a positive attitude affects your speech and mannerisms

Avoid slang and never use foul or offensive language

Be thoughtful and consider how your behaviors may affect others

Accept different opinions and welcome a variety of perspectives

Keep your supervisor and co-workers informed updates should be provided directly
by you

Avoid unnecessary conflict and gossip

Avoid taking sides or playing office politics

Do not complain

When you make mistakes and/or receive criticism:

Be accountable take responsibility

Apologize do not offer excuses
Learn from your mistakes

Written Communication: (emails, letters, memos, faxes)

Why is written communication important in a work environment?
Clearly communicating your messages in writing will provide others with a positive impression of
you. Ineffective written communication can cause others to question your attitude, attention to
detail, level of education, etc.
When is written communication commonly used in the workplace?
-

Providing detailed information to clients, co-workers, etc.

Resolving misunderstandings or clarifying a situation

Following up on action items

Tips for effective written communication:

-

Practice effective grammar and correct spelling always proofread your documents.

Be careful what you put in writing in todays electronic workplace, retrieval of

electronic documents (even deleted ones) is always possible.

Be formal and objective remove personal, subjective viewpoints from business

writing. Write in the third person remove I and me statements wherever possible.

Use common sense is your message more effectively conveyed in person or on the
phone?

Avoid statements that can be viewed as potential harassment do not make references
to race, religion, gender, etc.

To review samples of business documents including emails, letters and memos, visit:
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0070880581/student_view0/sample_letters.html

Meetings
Understand that meetings serve an important function in the workplace they are used to
identify and meet goals. Effective meetings require work before, during and after the meeting
takes place.
Before the meeting:

Plan the meeting determine the purpose for the meeting (what you hope to accomplish
by meeting); ensure a meeting is the most appropriate vehicle for accomplishing the
purpose (consider if the goal can be better met through an email discussion or by a
highlight in the company newsletter, etc.)

Ensure attendance follow up with key participants to ensure their participation in

meeting; reschedule if critical staff members are unable to attend

Distribute meeting materials provide necessary background information (graphs,

reports, etc.) to meeting participants in advance of meeting

Finalize a written agenda a document that outlines topics of discussion for meeting;
make enough agenda copies to give one to each meeting participant

During the meeting:

-

Select a meeting leader or assume the role yourself this facilitator will help the meeting
stay on track and yield productive results

Ensure each meeting begins with a review of the goals for that meeting as well as an
overview of the meeting agenda

Reference the meeting materials participants will understand the integral role of these
documents and feel a connection to the topic

Involve participation from all meeting members ensure every attendee has a role

Establish a follow-up plan to the meeting identify action items; assign people and due
dates to each item

After the meeting:

Document, publish and distribute meeting minutes a document outlining discussed

action items; this should be distributed within 24 hours of meeting

Check progress of each action item by following up with the individuals assigned to
each task

Invite feedback about the effectiveness of your meetings ask participants to share
what was effective or ineffective about the meeting process

Teamwork in the Workplace

Teamwork is an essential part of the workplace and is often a requirement to finish tasks.
How to create effective teams:
-

Understand the purpose of project/task; identify outcomes, deadlines

Engage in team-building exercises: get to know each other, do a social activity together,
identify skills/strengths of the team

Establish team rules attendance, manners, productivity, accountability, etc.

Assign significant roles: Leader, Note Taker, Progress Chaser, Time-Keeper

Divide the project into individual tasks decide who will be responsible for what

Hold regular meetings with an agenda, meeting leader, etc.

Address problems; identify solutions

Leadership in the Workplace

Keys to leadership:
-

Planning leaders are proactive rather than reactive. They identify potential problems in
an effort to avoid crisis or setbacks. Leaders scope out plans and adapt those plans for
new circumstances and opportunities.

Vision leaders follow up their planning with a vision. This vision provides direction and
keeps goals on track.

Communication leaders share their vision with others they lead; this strengthens the
leaders determination to make their vision a reality and others become inspired to take
part in the process.

Decisions leaders take charge of an action plan by making important decisions and
ensuring all actions are carried out.

Example a leader inspires others through their own actions and leads by example.

Grade Twelve Survey of Careers

Careers by Field (continued)

Armed Forces
The armed forces industry supports national defense efforts. Military personnel are provided training
and work experience in several areas including active combat, administration, construction, engineering,
healthcare and human services.
The branches of the U.S. armed forces include:
-

Army
Navy
Marine Corps
Air Force
Air and Army National Guard
Coast Guard (Department of Homeland Security)

Armed forces occupation areas include:

o

Administrative careers personnel keeps accurate information for planning and managing
operations; administrative workers prepare reports, maintain files and review information

Combat specialty occupations enlisted individuals serve in infantry, artillery and special
forces, operating weapons or executing missions during combat

Construction occupations personnel build or repair buildings, equipment or components for

military use; these individuals often collaborate with military officers and engineers or other
specialists to enhance military capabilities

Electronic and electrical equipment repair occupations personnel repair and maintain military
equipment including computers, optical equipment, communications or weapons systems; these
individuals install, test and evaluate a wide array of instruments and technical controls

Engineering, science, and technical occupations personnel operate technical equipment,

solve complex problems and provide or interpret information; these individuals typically
specialize in one area and provide technical expertise to enhance military functions

Healthcare occupations personnel assist medical professionals in treating and providing

services for men and women in the military; these individuals provide emergency medical
treatment, operate diagnostic tools and perform lab work or healthcare administrative tasks

Human resources development specialists personnel recruit qualified personnel, place them
in suitable occupations, and provide training programs

Machine operator and production occupations personnel operate industrial equipment,

machinery, and tools to fabricate and repair parts for a variety of items and structures

Media and public affairs specialists personnel assist with the public presentation and
interpretation of military information and events

Protective service specialists personnel enforce military laws and regulations and provide
emergency responses to natural and human-made disasters

Support service occupations personnel provide services and support the morale and wellbeing of military personnel and their families; service teams may include counselors, social
workers, psychologists, medical officers, chaplains, personnel specialists and commanders

Transportation and material-handling specialists personnel ensure the safe transport of

people and cargo by aircraft, motor vehicle or ship

Vehicle and machinery mechanics personnel conduct preventive and corrective maintenance
on aircraft, automotive and heavy equipment, heating and cooling systems, marine engines and
powerhouse station equipment

U.S. Military Links:

The following links provide additional information on military options and the individual branches:
http://www.usmilitary.com/
http://www.armedforcescareers.com/
http://www.defense.gov/

Grade Twelve Entrepreneurship

How to Start a Business
The steps of starting a business:
-

An original idea identifying a need for a product or service and creating something to fill
that need

Research learning about the need and market for your product/service; evaluating
competition; conducting market research (surveys, focus groups, etc.) to understand
audience

Business plan/model determining a strategy for business growth; establishing business

structure (registering business name, obtaining tax identification information and licenses,
establishing legal structure partnership, sole proprietorship, etc.); identifying employer
responsibilities

Funding locating financial sources including government loans, venture capital or grants
that can help you get started

Marketing identifying target audience for your product/service and developing outreach
initiatives (advertising, branding, press coverage, etc.) to promote your idea

Evaluation establishing a routine method for measuring business outcomes and adjusting
objectives

Entrepreneurial Mentors and Resources

Mentors:
It is helpful to seek out entrepreneurial mentors to determine how they accomplished
success in their own businesses. Interview a mentor to develop a deeper understanding of
what it takes to start and build a business.
Interview questions should cover the following:
o

History What experience, education and path led to current position?

Idea Where did the business idea originate?

Resources How much money did it require to get started? How did you get the money?

Customer Who is the customer? How did you get your first customer(s)?

Challenges What were your biggest challenges? How did you overcome them?

Future What are your goals for the future?

Networking Are there are other people you know who may be interested in talking to
me about how they got started in their own business?

Resources:

Entrepreneurs should take advantage of the many resources available for new businesses.
o

The following provides a resource center for business tools, forms, advice, news:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/resourcecenter/index.html

The following provides a resource center for rules, regulations and legal considerations
of starting a business:
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/content/0,,id=98864,00.html