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TAP/ACE Curriculum 2005-06 |
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| 2nd Grade |
| 3rd Grade |
| 4th Grade |
| 5th Grade |
| 6th Grade |
| 7th Grade |
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Units may not be taught in the order listed. A minimum of three units will be covered. |
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Castles and Dragons Would you like to meet a dragon? What about living in a castle? In this unit you will learn about "real live" dragons as well as fictional ones. Using various units of measure, you will compare and contrast the sizes of animals studied and compare the size of a real castle with your model. Creating your own dragon and building a castle will transform our classroom into a fairyland. Standards of Learning supported: English 1.1, 1.2, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12; Math 1.12, 1.15, 1.17
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Fins, Fur, and Feathers Calling all young zoologists! Classify animals through the use of dichotomous keys. After studying animal habitats and adaptations, try your hand at creating your own animal. This is the "purr-fect" unit for animal lovers! Standards of Learning supported: Science 1.1, 1.5, 1.7 English 1.12
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| Build It! Festival Make a move with math! Slide, turn, flip, and rotate. Experiment with pattern blocks, tangrams, and other manipulatives to create designs and tessellations. Explore the way geometric shapes are used in the real world. Standards of Learning supported: Math 1.5, 1.12, 1.15-1.17, 1.20, 1.21 English 1.12
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Take a Chance Any way you throw the dice or spin the spinner, you're sure to enjoy this unit on probability. You will investigate both fair and unfair games using dice, spinners, and math manipulatives to learn how probability can affect the fairness of the games people play. The data you collect will help you evaluate the probability of a favorable outcome. Standards of Learning supported: Math 1.17, 1.20, 1.21, 2.23
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Units may not be taught in the order listed. A minimum of three units will be covered. |
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Catch a Story by the Tale Travel around the world as you read folk tales, fairy tales and fables from many countries. Tickle your funny bone with the antics of some famous tricksters. Discover what happens when fairy tales and folk tales get mixed up! Imagine what fun you will have when you write your own tale! Standards of Learning supported: English 2.1, 2.3, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10
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Calling All Engineers! Get your glue, paper and scissors ready to build! Travel through time to explore the architecture of ancient cultures. Investigate the historical development of columns and bridges. Use what you learn to build and test the strength of your creations. Will they stand the test of time? Standards of Learning supported: Science 2.1, Math 2.21, 2.23, History 2.1 |
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Ancient Civilizations, Part 1 How were the hieroglyphs decoded? Have you ever wondered why kids are shouting "Marco Polo" in the pool? Now's your chance to find out! You will follow the trade routes of ancient cultures, reading and writing your own hieroglyphs, and discovering other exciting information about the ancient cultures of China and Egypt. Standards of Learning supported: History 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.9 Language Arts 2.7-2.9 Math 2.22 Science 2.2 |
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What's the Matter? Explore the real work of chemistry as you experiment with a variety of everyday items. You will perform many tests as you discover the properties of some unusual solids and liquids and explore all sorts of gooey matter. Can you win with mind over matter? Standards of Learning supported: Science 2.1, 2.3 Math 2.13, 2.15, 2.17, 2.21 English 2.2, 2.3, 2.7, 2.11
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3rd Grade Units may not be taught in the order listed. A minimum of three units will be covered.
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The Day I Was Born What song was on the radio on the day you were born? What famous people share your birthday? Use the Internet to find and share important and interesting information about what was happening in the world on your special day. As your culminating activity, you will prepare and share an audio-visual presentation. Standards of Learning supported: History 3.6 English 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5, 3.8, 3.10 Math 3.16, 3.21, 3.22 |
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Ancient Civilizations, Part 2 Grab your knapsacks and prepare for adventure! Meet some of the greatest thinkers and leaders of all time. Find out for yourself how the ancient cultures of Greece, Rome and Mali still influence your world today. Standards of Learning supported: History 3.2, 3.5, 3.11-3.13 Language 3.1, 3.2, 3.6, 3.10 Math 3.18 Science 3.14-3.17 |
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Painless Poetry Create beautiful word pictures during our study of poetry. Read and write a variety of poetry such as limericks, haiku, cinquains. Our trip through tongue twisters is sure to test even the most talented talker. Standards of Learning supported: English 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 |
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Don't Drink the Water How would you feel if you couldn't drink the water that came out of your faucet at home? Just how important is water anyway? Read about a group of people who didn't think about water at all and find out what happened in the end. Use the scientific method to find solutions for pollution. Standards of Learning supported: Science 3.1, 3.5, 3.6, 3.9, 4.5, 4.8 |
| Shape Up! Build up your mental muscles as you travel through the spatial world of geometry. Learn to think like an artist, engineer, or architect. Leap from plane to solid figure constructions and beyond! Standards of Learning supported: Math 3.18, 3.19, 3.20, English 3.1, 3.9, Science 3.1
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4th Grade Units may not be taught in the order listed. A minimum of three units will be covered.
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The Right Stuff: What Makes a Hero? Do you have what it takes? Find the hero within you. As critical readers and thinkers, you will focus on the traits that heroes have in common and explore the essential question "Who can be a hero?". Through studying a powerful mix of fiction and nonfiction selections, you will develop your own definition of what makes a person a hero. Standards of Learning supported: English 4.1, 4.4, 4.5 |
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Patterns and Architecture Explore the fascinating world of patterns through tessellations and architecture. Study the spectacular works of artists such as M.C. Escher and attempt some amazing math-based art of your own. Continue your search for patterns in the worlds of architecture and building construction. This unit concludes with a structure building contest. Standards of Learning supported: English 4.1, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8 Math 4.15, 4.17. 4.21 |
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What Gives You the Right? Do you have the right to get watch TV? Do you have the right to stay up late? Do you have the right to get an allowance? What gives you the right? Find out how your government decides what's right for you. Standards of Learning supported: History 4.3 English 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 4.7, 4.9 |
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How Did You Do That? Your creative abilities will explode as you research inventors and how their inventions changed everyone's lives. You will actually create your own invention, advertise and market it, and defend it when faced with a Consumer Advocacy group. Finally, your invention will be featured at a special Invention Convention. Standards of Learning supported: English 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.9 Math (varied) Science (varied)
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Under the Microscope I Take a closer look at the world of science. Here's your chance to explore a topic of interest. You will develop an essential question to guide your exploration. After in-depth research and/or experimentation, you will present your discoveries to an audience. Standards of Learning supported: Science SOLs specific to topic (varied)
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5th Grade Units may not be taught in the order listed. A minimum of three units will be covered.
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Lost and Found Calling all heroes! Someone is lost or injured and needs rescuing. You will form teams to organize and plan a search and rescue mission. The entire area must be searched methodically and thoroughly, just like a real rescue team would. Using various math skills, your team will rise to the occasion and save the day! Standards of Learning supported: Math 5.3, 5.8, 5.10, 5.11, 5.12, 5.15 English 5.1, 5.7
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I Wonder What do you wonder about? Here is your chance to study what you want, to pursue that one intriguing topic. With the facilitator's guidance, you will research a topic of personal interest. You will share your findings with an audience. Standards of Learning supported: Language Arts 5.1-5.8 and other SOLs specific to topic selected |
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How Strong Is It? Investigate the fascinating worlds of architecture and building construction. Learn from your own mistakes and the historical mistakes of others. Work in teams to create the strongest structure possible while staying within time and budget constraints. Grab your hard hats and get ready to build. Standards of Learning supported: Science 5.1, 5.7 Math 5.3, 5.11, 5.14, 5.19 English 5.7 |
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Why Virginians Remember How does the Civil War impact our lives? Is the war really over? You decide! Standards of Learning supported: US 1.1, US 1.5, US 1.9, US 1.10 Language Arts 5.1-5.8 |
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Under the Microscope II Topics in science are like stars in the sky: many are still to be discovered. Explore a new interest in science and refine your methods of scientific discovery as you go under the microscope. You will develop an essential question to guide your in-depth research and/or experimentation. Then you will present your discoveries to an audience. Standards of Learning supported: Science SOLs specific to topic (varied)
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6th Grade Units may not be taught in the order listed. A minimum of three units will be covered.
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Teamwork The TEAMWORK interactive teambuilding unit provides opportunities for students to develop, experience and strengthen the group skills that are fundamental in cooperative learning simulations, interactive units, and real life! Standards of Learning supported: English 6.1, 6.2 |
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Mysterious Circumstances Students will participate in a thematic literature program that teaches them to be critical readers and thinkers! We will explore the essential question, "Why are we fascinated by mystery?" Math and forensic science will be integrated into this unit. The great detective, Sherlock Holmes, will be our role model. We will explore this fictional character and view two of his mysteries, The Sign of the Four and The Hound of the Baskervilles. Students will solve three math mysteries, The Perfect Pizza Caper, The Last Will and Testament of Mr. Marfitt, and The Phantom of the Bell Tower. Students will take on the roles of detectives as they use forensic science methodologies, deductive, inductive, and logical reasoning to solve a variety of mysteries. Standards of Learning supported: English 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.8 Math 6.6, 6.7, 6.23 Science 6.1, 6.2 |
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Jason XIV: From Shore to Sea In this unit, students will embark on an exciting research expedition in which they work with Dr. Robert Ballard and other Jason team scientists. Students will take on the challenge of understanding their world and questing for the "Golden Fleece" of knowledge. They will explore the unique features of the California Channel Islands, as well as the history and culture of the people who live there. This exploration will revolve around the following six research stories; Geology and Geography: Where Are We Going and Why?, Channel Islands Culture: Past and Present, Coastal Ecosystems: Land, Water, and Sea, Kelp Forest Ecosystems: Monitoring and Management, Pinnipeds: Monitoring and Management, and Conserving Our National Resources: A Balancing Act. This is an inquiry-based, interdisciplinary expedition that integrates science, math, and supporting disciplines. The culminating activity of this unit will be students using the future problem solving model in developing a park management model in respect to the Channel Islands National Park. This journey of exploration and discovery will inspire a lifelong passion for learning. Standards of Learning supported: Science 6.1, 6.8. 6.9. 6.11 English 6.1, 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.8, 6.9 Math 6.1, 6.2, 6.18, 6.21, 6.23 |
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Future Problem Solving You are the creative problem solver of tomorrow! "Today's students will live most of their lives in the 21st century. As society changes more quickly now than ever before, we face the awesome burden of preparing today's students for the uncertainties of the new millennium. We cannot provide students with all the information they will need to survive in the future, but we can help them develop the thinking skills necessary to adapt to a changing world. The National Commission on Excellence in Education-recognizing this need-referred to problem solving as an important curriculum matter that must be addressed as part of a curriculum designed to provide a sound basis for study." Standards of Learning supported: English 6.1, 6.2, 6.7, 6.8, 7.1, 7.8 |
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Widen Your Horizons! This unit will widen students' vocabulary horizons and set them up for success for future academic endeavors. Throughout each semester in ACE, students will participate in a literature-based vocabulary program. Standards of Learning supported: English 6.7, 7.4
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Units may not be taught in the order listed. A minimum of three units will be covered.
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AHHAA! Creativity! You will explore the concept of creativity, which is synonymous with problem solving by viewing and analyzing biographical videos of several creative people. We will focus on the characteristics, processes, and products of creative people. We will explore the four elements of creativity, which are flexibility, fluency, elaboration and originality. You will produce a variety of creative products. You will embrace your own creativity by analyzing the creativity of others! Standards of Learning supported: English 7.9, 7.10 |
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You Can Make It Happen! You will explore how you are the principle force in your life in determining success. The national bestseller, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey, will be our guide in this study. "The choices you make determine your fate!" Gloria Estafan. Standards of Learning supported: English 7.1, 7.2 |
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And Justice For All We will explore the essential question "What is Justice?" through the use of a thematic literature program that teaches you to be critical readers and thinkers. Through studying a powerful mix of stimulating, challenging, highly focused fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and more we will answer the following questions-"What's Fair-What's Not?", "Who Judges?" and "Punishment or Mercy?". In this creative solution unit, students will take on the roles of Supreme Court Justices and rule on cases by applying the Bill of Rights. Also, students will learn how a cartoonist expresses opinion and bias by the way in which he/she draws characters, and presents situations. Students will use critical thinking skills and their knowledge of the world to interpret editorial cartoons. Each student will create an editorial cartoon on an issue dealing with justice. Standards of Learning supported: English 7.1, 7.2, 7.6, .7, 7.10 Social Studies 7.1, 7.5, 7.9, 7.10
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Roller Coaster! Students will explore the physics and mathematics of roller coasters. You will use your math skills, creative problem solving skills, and the scientific method to design an exciting five element looping roller coaster! Whee!!! Standards of Learning supported: Physical Science 1, Algebra A.3, Math 7.6, 7.23, 7.24 |
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"The Fragile Web of Biodiversity" Using various resources and approaches, students will explore "the intricate web of animals, plants, and all other living things that populate the planet. A vital element of biodiversity is not only the number of species, but the genetic diversity within a species." During this unit, you will grasp the enormity of the impact of biodiversity on the planet Earth through participating in a Socratic Seminar on the National Geographic article, "The Sixth Extinction". You will explore the biodiversity of the country of Belize using methods utilized by scientific researchers in the National Geographic Jason V Project. Students will extend their study of biodiversity by performing experiments dealing with genetic variation and paleontology. This is an inquiry-based interdisciplinary unit that integrates science, math, and supporting disciplines. The culminating activity of this unit will be students using the future problem-solving model in exploring a solution concerning a problem dealing with biodiversity. Standards of Learning supported: Life Science 1, 3, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 |
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Future Problem Solving You are the creative problem solver of tomorrow! "Today's students will live most of their lives in the 21st century. As society changes more quickly now than ever before, we face the awesome burden of preparing today's students for the uncertainties of the new millennium. We cannot provide students with all the information they will need to survive in the future, but we can help them develop the thinking skills necessary to adapt to a changing world. The National Commission on Excellence in Education-recognizing this need-referred to problem solving as an important curriculum matter that must be addressed as part of a curriculum designed to provide a sound basis for study." Standards of Learning supported: English 6.1, 6.2, 6.7, 6.8, 7.1, 7.8 |
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Widen Your Horizons! This unit will widen students' vocabulary horizons and set them up for success for future academic endeavors. Throughout each semester in ACE, students will participate in a literature-based vocabulary program. Standards of Learning supported: English 6.7, 7.4
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