Social Studies A Learning Coach Guide

Social Studies A

Learning Coach Guide

Contents

Part A

Welcome to Social Studies A!

Part A: Welcome to Social Studies A

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 A 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

Course Goals

In Social Studies A, your learner will explore what makes up their neighborhood as well as how to interact with others around them. They will enhance their mapping skills while learning about maps, features of Earth, and transportation. Your learner will also explore the difference between needs and wants and dive into the concept of goods and services. Finally, your learner will learn about the state and country they live in as they explore cultures found where they live as well as 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, laws, responsibilities, and services provided in the home and local community;

understand that location can be represented using maps;

identify physical characteristics in a community;

develop knowledge about weather and climate and the impact it has on a local community;

develop knowledge about jobs and businesses;

understand that people make choices about money based on different needs;

understand that money can be used to purchase goods and services, or be 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 Activity Book in which they can answer questions and complete activities that support the online lessons.

Social Studies Assignments: Learners will complete 5 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

My Neighborhood

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will discover many things surrounding them in their neighborhood and why they are significant. They will learn about rules, consequences, and responsibilities to themselves and their neighborhood. Your learner will learn how to get along with others, take turns, be a good listener, make good choices, share, use kind words, and do kind actions. Your learner will be introduced to three careers: paramedic, sports coaches, and computer programmers.

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 be a leader in your neighborhood?

How can you make good choices?

How can you solve problems?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will learn a lot about leaders. Give them opportunities to be a leader at home and discuss how they can be a leader in the community. Read books with your learner about different leaders in a community. Share with your learner some of your responsibilities and ask them some of theirs.

Kit Materials

Social Studies Activity Book, crayons or colored pencils, scissors

Household Materials

a toy

Optional: printer

The World Around You

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will learn how information is shared through maps. They will explore simple maps and their different components. Your learner will explore the beauty of Earth’s features and learn about different landforms and bodies of water and how people use them. Different types of transportation will be introduced for how people get around by land, air, and water. At the end of the unit, your learner will become a cartographer and create a map of their own island. They will be introduced to two careers: hydrologists and cartographers.

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 information do maps show?

How are human-made features and Earth’s physical features different?

How do people get from one place to another?

Unit Notables

Your learner will be introduced to maps and Earth’s features in this unit. Look at different maps with your learner and discuss some of the features that are shown. Take a walk around your neighborhood and ask your learner to find some physical features that might be included on a map of the neighborhood.

Kit Materials

Social Studies Activity Book, colored pencils, crayons, plate, playdough

Household Materials

box, a toy

People and Money

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will explore needs and wants for themselves and their family. They will learn how needs and wants affect their choices. Your learner will learn what money is and what it is used for and understand the difference between goods, services, and consumers. They will explore the purpose of advertisements. Your learner will identify the difference between services and volunteering. They will be introduced to the career of product designers!

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 can impact your choice regarding needs or wants?

Why is it important to volunteer?

How can you volunteer in your community?

Unit Notables

Your learner is introduced to needs and wants in this unit. Plan a shopping trip with your learner and discuss what needs and wants are on the list. Talk with your learner about some of their favorite goods and services in the community. Discuss different volunteer opportunities in the community and choose a volunteer activity to do as a family.

Kit Materials

Social Studies Activity Book, colored pencils, crayons, glue, scissors

Household Materials

Optional: printer

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will explore their state and country and identify symbols that represent both. They will learn the difference between a fact and an opinion. Your learner will also learn about time and sequencing events in order. They will focus on the past of Pennsylvania and be introduced to the career of librarians! Your learner will explore different communities and traditions of people around the world. They will be able to identify how people around the world communicate, eat, and celebrate.

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 symbols are important to Pennsylvania or the United States?

How are people around the world the same as you? How are they different from you?

How can you show respect for customs that are different from your own?

Unit Notables

Your learner will explore different cultures in this unit. Read books with your learner about different cultures and celebrations. Your learner will also be introduced to the career of librarians. Visit a local library to find a real librarian. Encourage your learner to observe the librarian working and ask questions about their job to learn more.

Kit Materials

Social Studies Activity Book, colored pencils, crayons, dry erase marker, glue, scissors, whiteboard

Household Materials

Optional: printer