Social Studies 5 Learning Coach Guide

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 5 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 that 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.

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

Course Goals

In Social Studies 5, your learner will discover early European explorers, how the age of exploration began, and the similarities and differences of the original thirteen colonies. They will examine important events leading up to, during, and after the Revolutionary War and the Civil War and explore how new inventions changed the United States. Your learner will develop an understanding of the United States government and economic systems from the past and present.

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

• identify early explorers and their exploration routes to the Americas;
• describe how slavery impacted the colonies;
• describe the similarities and differences between the colonial regions;
• understand what government was like in the Americas before the Revolutionary War;
• identify important events leading up to, during, and after the Revolutionary War;
• describe important documents that helped shape America;
• describe the role that the early pioneers played in westward expansion of the United States;
• explain how new inventions changed the United States;
• summarize the differences in the economy between the North and the South through the years and its impact on slavery;
• identify the causes of the Civil War;
• describe what life was like before, during, and after the Civil War;
• tell what reconstruction looked like after the Civil War;
• identify new amendments to the Constitution;
• identify new inventions in the 1900s;
• summarize the causes of World War I and World War II;
• describe the hardships Americans faced during the Great Depression;
• describe the United States economic system;
• compare and contrast the members and roles of the three branches of government; and
• identify the five regions of the United States.

Course Format

Lesson Components:

Each day, your learner will spend 45 minutes completing a Social Studies 5 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 day.

See example below.

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 and prepares learners for a future lesson or assessment.

The course includes assignments and projects. These graded assignments allow your learner to show what they have learned and apply their new skills. All CCA assignments and projects 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, 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 and projects, this course also includes quizzes and tests.

• 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. A quiz will usually be worth 10–15 points.
• Unit Review: Before a test, learners will have the opportunity to review the content they will be assessed on in the test.
• Unit Test: A test will assess learning across topics or at the end of a unit. A test is usually worth 25–50 points.

Course Features

This course includes and uses unique features such as:

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 Projects: In this course, learners will complete three Social Studies projects to demonstrate their understanding of the concepts.

Note-Taking: This course features a note-taking icon throughout the course to help your learner develop note-taking skills. This icon corresponds with the note-taking sheets, which are found in the Social Studies Activity Book.

Part C:
Unit Information

Early America Unit

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will discover about explorers, the territories they claimed, the establishment of the thirteen original colonies, the introduction of slavery, life for enslaved Africans, tensions with Great Britain, and the colonies’ declaration of independence and the American Revolution.

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 do you think was one of the biggest challenges the first English colonies faced?

What was the impact of slavery on Black Americans?

Do you think the colonists could have resolved their issues with Great Britain differently?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will explore the characteristics of the thirteen original colonies. Discuss the benefits and challenges of settling in each colony with them.

Kit Materials

crayons, or colored pencils, Social Studies Activity Book

(optional): construction paper, glue stick, scissors

Household Materials

none

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will discover about explorers, the territories they claimed, the establishment of the thirteen original colonies, the introduction of slavery, life for enslaved Africans, tensions with Great Britain, and the colonies’ declaration of independence and the American Revolution.

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 do you think was one of the biggest challenges the first English colonies faced?

What was the impact of slavery on Black Americans?

Do you think the colonists could have resolved their issues with Great Britain differently?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will explore the characteristics of the thirteen original colonies. Discuss the benefits and challenges of settling in each colony with them.

Kit Materials

crayons, or colored pencils, Social Studies Activity Book

(optional): construction paper, glue stick, scissors

Household Materials

none

A Growing Nation Unit

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will discover the early pioneers who led the charge in expanding the United States to the Southwest and West. They will also learn about the acquisition of new land and the differences in economic influences that would eventually cause a conflict between the North and the South, which led to another war in America.

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

Would you have chosen to move west? Why or why not?

Which advancement in technology, communication, or transportation do you think was the most helpful to Americans during this time?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will explore the United States’ westward expansion. With them, discuss the challenges the pioneers faced and how those challenges were overcome. To further explore the concepts, support your learner in researching different pioneers, the challenges they faced, and their successes.

Kit Materials

flour, measuring cups, paint, paintbrushes, plastic spoon or fork, salt, scissors, Social Studies Activity Book, toothpicks

Household Materials

piece of cardboard, plastic bowl, water

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will discover the early pioneers who led the charge in expanding the United States to the Southwest and West. They will also learn about the acquisition of new land and the differences in economic influences that would eventually cause a conflict between the North and the South, which led to another war in America.

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

Would you have chosen to move west? Why or why not?

Which advancement in technology, communication, or transportation do you think was the most helpful to Americans during this time?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will explore the United States’ westward expansion. With them, discuss the challenges the pioneers faced and how those challenges were overcome. To further explore the concepts, support your learner in researching different pioneers, the challenges they faced, and their successes.

Kit Materials

flour, measuring cups, paint, paintbrushes, plastic spoon or fork, salt, scissors, Social Studies Activity Book, toothpicks

Household Materials

piece of cardboard, plastic bowl, water

The Civil War and Reconstruction Unit

Modern Day America Unit