Social Studies B Learning Coach Guide

Part A: Welcome to Social Studies B

Welcome Letter

Dear Learning Coach, 

Thank you for partnering with CCA and investing in your learner’s education. This Learning Coach Guide is intended to help you support your learner in their Social Studies B course. 

Within this guide, you will find the goals, components, and features of the online course. Please take time to read and review this information so you understand how to help your learner interact with all the course’s elements. 

The Learning Coach Guide also includes information about each of the units in this course. On each page of unit information, you will discover the following.  

• The Unit Overview will tell you what the focus, content, and skills of the unit will be.  
• The Unit Assessment section is a place for you and your learner to preview the graded work in the course. At the start of each unit, work with your learner to look at the unit in edio and find out which types of graded work are in this unit. Write them in the box and use it as a checklist. You can check off each one as your learner completes it. 
• The Unit Materials section tells you the materials your learner will need to complete the activities in this unit. You will also find the materials list repeated within each lesson so that your learner has exactly what they need at the right time. 
• The Unit Discussion Questions are optional questions that you may want to ask your learner during the unit to increase home and school connections about what your learner is studying.   
• In the Unit Notables section, you may find optional activities, literature connections, career connections, technology tips, ideas to help your learner if they get stuck, or safety tips.

CCA wishes you and your learner a terrific school year! 

Supporting Your Learner

Your role as a Learning Coach is very important. Here are a few ways you can help your learner do their very best in the course.

• Help your learner know what time guided or live class instruction is scheduled for, and prompt them to attend sessions or watch recordings.
• Look for Learning Coach Notes in the course. These are special messages to provide you with information about an activity or topic.
• Remember, it is okay for your learner to get stuck. Learning new material takes time. Encourage them to take breaks, keep trying, and even ask the teacher for help.
• Help your learner navigate technology. That may mean helping them type information or upload work into edio.
• Always encourage your learner to do their very best.
• Review the course syllabus for your learner’s course.
• Maintain communication with your learner’s teacher.

Part B

Course Information

Part B

Course Information

Part B: Course Information

Course Goals

In Social Studies B, your learner will learn about rules and laws in school and a community. They will explore responsibilities and services provided in schools and local communities. Your learner will learn about maps and learn about the impact weather and climate have on a community. Your learner will learn about jobs and business and the importance of money. Finally, your learner will learn about sequencing events and different traditions around the world.

By the end of the course, your learner will be able to:

• develop knowledge about the world around us with a focus on rules and laws;
• develop knowledge about responsibilities and services provided within the school and local community;
• understand that location can be represented using maps;
• identify physical characteristics in the local community;
• develop knowledge about weather and climate and how it impacts the local community;
• develop knowledge about jobs and businesses;
• understand that people make different choices about money based on different needs;
• understand that money can be used to purchase goods and services, or saved;
• understand time and how to sequence events; and
• develop knowledge about traditions and celebrations in Pennsylvania and around the world.

Course Format

Lesson Components:

Each day, your learner will spend about 45 minutes completing a social studies lesson. Some days may take less time, while other days may take a little more time. The lesson does not need to be completed in one sitting. Encourage your learner to take short breaks as they need.

This section will help you to understand how your learner’s course is structured in edio.

Lesson Bundling:

Within the lesson bundles, there are different components your learner will interact with. These components will not be used every day.

In Unit 1, the Knowledge Check will be bundled with the lesson on Day 2. In each unit that follows, the Knowledge Check will be bundled with the first lesson of that unit.  See example below.  

Quiz Review and Quiz will also be bundled together. See example below.    

Some other lesson components your learner will see throughout the course include:  

1. Getting Started Lesson: There is one Getting Started lesson in this course. It can be found on Day 1 of Unit 1. This lesson includes important information about the course and contact information for your teacher.

2. Unit Overview: Each unit will include a unit overview. This describes what your learner will learn in the unit and how many assessments the unit will have.

3. Prep for Success: At the beginning of each unit, your learner will find a Prep for Success. This component offers learners tips to be successful in the course, such as study tips, important software information, safety reminders, and more.

4. Knowledge Check: There will be one Knowledge Check in each unit. The Knowledge Check is designed to check prior learning and understanding about key skills and concepts that will be taught in the unit. The Knowledge Check is not a graded assessment.

Each lesson has its own components to help guide your learner through the lesson.

1. Lesson Overview: At the beginning of every lesson, your learner will see the lesson overview. This section contains lesson objectives, lesson vocabulary, materials your learner will need for the lesson, and the suggested lesson length.

2. Engage: The first section of the lesson is Engage. In this section, learners will be introduced to the lesson by making a connection to past and present knowledge and will get ready for the lesson’s instruction.

3. Discover: New content and instruction is presented in the Discover section. Your learner will interact with the lesson content through defined vocabulary terms, videos, audio, and Pause and Think activities. Your learner will be able to practice and answer questions as they work through the lesson.

4. Show: Learners will demonstrate what they have learned in the lesson through a series of practice questions.

5. Wrap Up: This section recaps the day’s objectives.

The course includes a variety of assignments. These graded assignments allow your learner to show what they have learned and apply their new skills. All CCA assignments include these components.

1. Assessment Overview: At the beginning of each assessment, your learner will see the assessment overview. This section contains the goals of the assessment, materials your learner will need, the length of the assessment, and directions for completion.

2. Plan: In the Plan section, learners will be introduced to the assignment or project. Learners may be provided with a review of content from the previous lessons, strategies for completing the activity, graphic organizers, and grading rubrics.

3. Do: Learners put their plan into action and work to complete the assignment or project successfully. This section also provides the grading expectations and/or rubric the teacher will use to grade the work.

4. Reflect: In Reflect, learners will think back to the work they completed. They will reflect upon the experience and analyze how well they completed the task. These moments of reflection are important and allow learners to think about their learning and their work habits.

In addition to assignments, this course also includes quizzes.

• Quiz Review: Before a quiz, learners will have the opportunity to review the content they will be assessed on in a quiz.
• Quiz: A quiz may be given at the end of a topic or the end of a unit.

Course Features

Social Studies Activity Book: Learners will receive a Social Studies ActivityBook in which they can answer questions and complete activities that support the online lessons.    

Social Studies Assignments: Learners will complete 3 social studies assignments in this course to demonstrate their understanding of the concepts.   

Career Spotlights: Learners will explore a variety of careers related to social studies in Career Spotlight lessons.  

Part C: Unit Information

Your Community

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will learn about the purpose and importance of rules and laws in the local community. They will learn that everyone has responsibilities in their communities, including within their school and classroom. Your learner will explore the responsibility and importance of treating others with kindness and equality. Finally, your learner will learn the importance of the services that community workers provide, and how taxes are used to support the roles and services of the government.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

Why are rules and laws important in the community?

What responsibilities do you have in your school and community?

What services does the local government provide?

Unit Notables

Your learner will explore a lot about rules in this unit. Discuss with your learner some rules and responsibilities you have. They will also explore treating people with kindness. Read books about kindness and respect and talk with your learner about how they can show kindness in the community.

Kit Materials

Social Studies Activity Book, colored pencils or crayons, modeling clay

Household Materials

Optional: printer

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will learn about the purpose and importance of rules and laws in the local community. They will learn that everyone has responsibilities in their communities, including within their school and classroom. Your learner will explore the responsibility and importance of treating others with kindness and equality. Finally, your learner will learn the importance of the services that community workers provide, and how taxes are used to support the roles and services of the government.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

Why are rules and laws important in the community?

What responsibilities do you have in your school and community?

What services does the local government provide?

Unit Notables

Your learner will explore a lot about rules in this unit. Discuss with your learner some rules and responsibilities you have. They will also explore treating people with kindness. Read books about kindness and respect and talk with your learner about how they can show kindness in the community.

Kit Materials

Social Studies Activity Book, colored pencils or crayons, modeling clay

Household Materials

Optional: printer

The World Around You

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will learn how to read, interpret, and use maps to understand location and physical features. They will read and use symbols from a key to identify places in the community and around the world, and describe a location using directions and symbols. Your learner will learn about physical features such as mountains, islands, plateaus, valleys, plains, deserts, lakes, rivers, and streams and their impact on the community.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

How can you represent the location of places and things?

How do physical features impact the community that you live in?

How does weather impact the activities and events that occur in your community?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will explore a lot about maps. Look at some local maps with your learner and discuss some things that can be found on them. Explore your community with your learner and ask them to find some physical features they have been learning about.

Kit Materials

Social Studies Activity Book, ink pad, laminated United States of America map, laminated world map

Household Materials

none

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will learn how to read, interpret, and use maps to understand location and physical features. They will read and use symbols from a key to identify places in the community and around the world, and describe a location using directions and symbols. Your learner will learn about physical features such as mountains, islands, plateaus, valleys, plains, deserts, lakes, rivers, and streams and their impact on the community.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

How can you represent the location of places and things?

How do physical features impact the community that you live in?

How does weather impact the activities and events that occur in your community?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will explore a lot about maps. Look at some local maps with your learner and discuss some things that can be found on them. Explore your community with your learner and ask them to find some physical features they have been learning about.

Kit Materials

Social Studies Activity Book, ink pad, laminated United States of America map, laminated world map

Household Materials

none

People and Money

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will learn that money can be used to purchase goods and services, saved, or donated. They will be able to identify their needs and wants and how to make a choice based on their needs and wants. Finally, your learner will explore how to earn money through different jobs. They will develop knowledge about the businesses in their community.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

What are goods and services?

How do people make choices based on their needs and wants?

How can you earn money?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will explore making decisions based on needs and wants. Encourage your learner to identify a want and create a plan to earn money to purchase the want. Discuss with your learner how learning about money can help them with their math skills.

Kit Materials

Social Studies Activity Book, birdhouse craft kit, crayons or colored pencils

Household Materials

none

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will learn that money can be used to purchase goods and services, saved, or donated. They will be able to identify their needs and wants and how to make a choice based on their needs and wants. Finally, your learner will explore how to earn money through different jobs. They will develop knowledge about the businesses in their community.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

What are goods and services?

How do people make choices based on their needs and wants?

How can you earn money?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will explore making decisions based on needs and wants. Encourage your learner to identify a want and create a plan to earn money to purchase the want. Discuss with your learner how learning about money can help them with their math skills.

Kit Materials

Social Studies Activity Book, birdhouse craft kit, crayons or colored pencils

Household Materials

none

History