ELA students will start the year building their skills in literacy and:

• citizenship, as they engage in a study of toys and play
• science, as they engage in a study of the weather

The second half of the year continues to build literacy and scientific knowledge by exploring the:

• big ideas that all living things in the natural world have needs in order to survive and grow
• importance of trees to people and their communities

Students focus on building literacy and citizenship skills as they engage in:

• a study of tools and work. Then students build their literacy and science skills as they engage in a study of the sun, moon, and stars. (first half of the year)
• an in-depth study of birds’ bodies and how animals have physical features that help them survive (Second half of the year)

Students build literacy and:

• citizenship skills as they engage in a study of schools, and science skills as they learn about fossils (first half of the year)
• research skills, science knowledge and citizenship as they study the world of plants and pollinators (second half of the year)

Students learn the power of literacy and how people around the world overcome learning challenges. Students:

• are encouraged to embrace a love of literacy and reading.
• will use their literacy skills to become experts (using reading, writing, listening, and speaking), to build and share deep knowledge about topics like the importance of clean freshwater around the world.

Students read texts to understand what inspires people to write as they embrace a love of literacy. They will:

• build proficiency in informational and narrative writing as they build expertise about an animal
• through the lens of the American Revolution, consider how perspective influences one’s opinions
• study gender and racial inequality issues in the US in the first half of the 20th century (ratifying the 19th Amendment)

Students develop their ability to read and understand complex text as they consider human rights and the things that threaten human rights. They will:

• read to build knowledge about the rainforest as they analyze the author’s techniques used in writing
• consider the factors that contribute to the success of professional athletes as leaders of social change
• read texts to understand the impact of natural disasters on places and people

Students dive into an enriching curriculum designed to foster their language arts skills and ignite a passion for learning. You can expect your child to grow as a reader, writer, and thinker, gaining valuable skills and insights that will benefit them academically and personally.

Throughout the year, they will:

• explore a diverse array of literary works, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama, while engaging in thought-provoking discussions and activities
• develop essential reading comprehension strategies, improve their writing proficiency, and refine their critical thinking abilities
• embark on exciting literary expeditions that encourage creativity, collaboration, and exploration, with a focus on experiential learning and real-world connections

Through ELA Expeditionary Learning Education, students will experience an exciting journey through literature and language arts, designed to cultivate their skills and ignite a love for learning. You can expect your child to deepen their understanding of literature, strengthen their communication skills, and become more confident and capable learners as they progress.

Through Expeditionary Learning Education, your child will take off on an enriching educational journey focused on developing advanced language arts skills and fostering a deeper understanding of literature. You can expect your child to deepen their appreciation for literature, improve their communication skills, and develop the confidence and competence needed for success as they progress.

Students embark on a journey through the world of English. StudySync’s integrated approach to language arts education incorporates multimedia resources, collaborative activities, and scaffolded instruction. By the end of 9th grade students will emerge with an enhanced appreciation for literature and the capability to effectively convey their thoughts and ideas through both written and spoken communication.

Students will continue to expand their literacy skills and critical thinking capabilities. StudySync’s dynamic approach to language arts education blends multimedia resources, collaborative activities, and tailored instruction to enrich student learning and engagement. By the end of 10th grade students will have developed stronger literacy skills, heightened critical thinking abilities, and a greater understanding of the influence of language and literature.

Students will deepen their understanding of literature and sharpen their critical thinking skills. StudySync uses a combination of multimedia resources, collaborative discussions, and differentiated instruction to foster student engagement and comprehension. By the end of 11th grade, students will have a strong foundation in ELA skills and concepts, preparing for them the rigors of 12th grade and beyond.

In 12th grade ELA, students will set out on a final voyage that brings together all they have learned and experienced in their previous years of literary exploration. StudySync’s integrated approach to language arts education leverages multimedia resources, collaborative discussions, and differentiated instruction to promote critical thinking and engagement. By the end of the year, students will have fine-tuned their ability to analyze complex texts, articulate informed opinions, and communicate effectively, equipping them with the skills and confidence to succeed in college and beyond.

(coming soon)

(coming soon)

Students will work to:

• know the number names and the counting sequence
• count the number of objects and compare numbers
• understand addition as “putting together” and “adding to” understand subtraction as “taking apart” and “taking from”
• build their understanding of number facts that add up to 5 and by the end of the year, work with numbers 11-19 to form the foundation of place value

Students will represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction. They will:

• understand and apply properties of operations and the relationship between addition and subtraction
• add and subtract within 20 and work with addition and subtraction equations
• work to extend the counting sequence and understand place value using place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract
• measure lengths indirectly and by iterating length units

The most critical work in mathematics requires students to represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction, solidify their fluency of addition and subtraction within 20, and understand place value and use it to add and subtract. These big buckets of work can be taught together and a number line is one of the most powerful models to support this work.

Students are working in 4 major skill areas:

1. developing an understanding of multiplication and division and strategies for multiplication and division within 100
2. developing an understanding of fractions, especially unit fractions (fractions with numerator 1)
3. developing an understanding of the structure of rectangular arrays and of area
4. describing and analyzing two-dimensional shapes

Students will learn to use the four operations, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, with whole numbers to solve problems and generalize place value understanding for multi-digit whole numbers.
They also:

• use place value understanding and properties of operations to perform multi-digit arithmetic
• extend their understanding of fraction equivalence and ordering to build fractions from unit fractions by applying and extending previous understandings of operations on whole numbers
• develop understanding of decimal notation for fractions, and compare decimal fractions

Students will understand the place value system and perform operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with decimals to hundredths.
They also:

• use equivalent fractions as a strategy to add and subtract fractions
• apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to multiply and divide fractions
• understand and explore concepts of volume and relate volume to multiplication and to addition

Students will understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems.
They also:

• apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to divide fractions by fractions
• apply and extend previous understandings of numbers to the system of rational numbers
• apply and extend previous understandings of arithmetic to algebraic expressions
• reason about and solve one-variable equations and inequalities
• represent and analyze quantitative relationships between dependent and independent variables

Students will analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve real-world and mathematics problems.

They also:

• apply and extend previous understandings of operations with fractions to add, subtract, multiply and divide rational numbers
• use properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions
• solve real-life and mathematical problems using numerical and algebraic expressions

Students will work with radicals and integer exponents.

They also:

• understand the connections between proportional relationships, lines and linear equations
• analyze and solve linear equations and pairs of simultaneous linear equations
• define, evaluate, and compare functions and use functions to model relationships between quantities
• understand congruence and similarity using physical models, transparencies, or geometric software

In Algebra I, students formalize and extend what they learned in the middle grades. This course offers more challenging content as well as strengthening the development of critical thinking skills. Students will:

• continue to summarize and analyze data, using one-variable Statistics
• compare and contrast data sets by using summary statistics and their graphical representations
• continue to analyze graphs as well as interpret them in the context of real-world situations
• continue to simplify algebraic expressions, then use their skills to solve one-variable equations and inequalities and graph the solution sets
• solve systems of equations and inequalities -with one or two variables; using a variety of graphical and analytical strategies
• continue to explore linear and exponential models individually before comparing and contrasting them
• expand their understanding of functions with the introduction to quadratic functions
• use two-variable statistics to make inferences with mathematical tools such as correlation and regression

In Algebra II, students focus on expanding their knowledge and skills with linear, quadratic, and exponential functions. They also:

• extend their repertoire of functions to include polynomial, rational, and radical functions
• work closely with the expressions that define the functions
• continue to expand and hone their abilities to model situations and to solve equations, including solving quadratic equations over the set of complex numbers and solving exponential equations using the properties of logarithms

In Geometry, students focus on formalizing and extending their geometric experiences from the middle grades. Important differences exist between this Geometry course and the historical approach taken in Geometry classes. For example, transformations are emphasized early in this course.

Students also:

• explore more complex geometric situations and deepen their explanations of geometric relationships, moving towards formal mathematical arguments

• Science is powered by student ideas: Students’ own ideas are what guide their learning and help them make new discoveries.
• Students are the scientists: Students do most of the scientific thinking, communicating, and investigating in the classroom.
• Learning is three-dimensional: Students learn about science by exploring big science ideas, using science tools, and thinking in a scientific way. They learn through real research and meet state and national goals for science.
• Phenomena drive the learning: Students’ science learning is motivated and sustained by the need to make sense of phenomena: puzzling, observable events that require the mastery of science ideas to explain fully.
• Learning Builds Over Time: Lessons are planned so that students can keep improving and adding to their science knowledge over time—across lessons, over the course of a unit, throughout a school year, or across their K-12 journey.
• Instruction is equitable and responsive: Our science classrooms include students’ different cultures and languages, making sure every student feels valued and learns well. Students’ unique backgrounds help everyone grow as scientists.

• 4th Grade Science PSSA
• 8th Grade Science PSSA
• High School Biology Keystone Exam

Note: As of October 2024, these pages haven’t been updated yet by PDE for the 2024/25 school year.

How Can I Help My Child Learn and Grow in Science? Studies show that family involvement is one of the biggest predictors of success in school.

• Seek opportunities to explore science at home and in the community with your child.
• Encourage them to keep asking questions, just like scientists.
• Let them know you don’t have all the answers, and together try to find them.
• Get involved at your child’s school and connect with teachers to learn more about changes in science instruction as they occur
• Help inspire children by exploring careers in STEM fields.

Click Here to check out the National Science Teaching Association’s parent page. You’ll find tips to support science learning at home, links to student competitions, recommendations for science trade books, and much more.

• Science Programs for Students
• Carver Science Fair

Students will explore the theme of “My Identity-Who Am I?” where students learn about their rights, roles, and responsibilities within their community.

Students will explore their roles and responsibilities within their community, learning about the importance of contributing positively to their surroundings.

Students will explore the concept of “Unity in our community,” learning about cooperation, teamwork, and the importance of working together for common goals.

Students will engage with critical topics such as “Issues in communities and defining justice,” where they will explore concepts of fairness, equity, and resolving conflicts within their communities.

Introduces students to geography through various content and skills.

Designed to provide students with an introduction to Geography and United States History.

Focuses on civilizations in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Focuses on civilizations in the Western Hemisphere.

Focuses on United States History.

In High School United States History, we learn about the events and ideas that made America what it is today, all while trying to answer the question, “What is America’s identity from its history?”

The new African American History lessons want to take students on an exciting trip through history. We’ll begin with ancient African civilizations and go all the way to today’s issues. We’ll learn about sustaining culture, standing up for what’s right, and how people saw the world back then.

Key Components:

• We learn about African American history in order, so it’s easier to understand how it all happened.
• We talk about important themes like culture, standing up for what’s right, and what people thought during that time.
• We do activities like essays and discussions that make us think and use what we’ve learned in real life.
• We look at primary sources and writings from that time, so we can hear what people said back then.
• We do lots of different things in class like reading, talking, doing creative projects, and researching, so everyone can learn in their own way.
• We see how what we learn in history connects to things happening today, so we know why it still matters.
• We get to be a part of learning by exploring and thinking about history from different points of view.

We explore important topics like culture, resistance, and conquest. We talk about economics and what makes an economy good or bad, delve into war and ask if it’s something that humans always have to do, and look at the challenges our world faces today, like climate change and inequality, and how we can make a better system for a sustainable planet.

The themes and essential questions are:

Beliefs, traditions migrations and resistance

• How is culture and the denial of culture used as a tool for conquest?
• How are culture and language used as acts of resistance?

War and Militarization

• What is worth fighting for?
• Is war inevitable between humans?

Capitalism, Imperialism and Struggles for Liberation

• What is an economy of extraction?
• How does a sustainable human centered economy look?

Confronting the new world disorder: human rights and social movements and the challenges for climate change, fascism, economic inequality, and globalization

• How is the current state of the climate related to the Western economic system and culture?
• What system do we need to create a sustainable planet?

Civics

We explore the history of democracy in the United States and the struggles against unfair systems. We learn about how to be active in our communities and understand democracy.

• We study citizenship and look at how people around the world fight for their rights.
• We talk about how economies and military power can affect the world and people’s lives.
• We listen to the stories of real people and learn about their cultures and experiences in the context of United States citizenship rights.

Economics

We learn about how money and resources work, and talk about how some people have more power and money than others and how this affects the world. We study:

• We look at how power and privilege impact money and resources in society.
• We learn about the history of the modern global economy and listen to voices that are often not heard.
• We explore the idea of scarcity, which means there’s not enough of something, and how different societies have tried to solve this problem.
• We also think about what kind of economy we need for a better future and how to make sure we have what’s most important to us.

• Kindergarten
• 1st Grade
• 2nd Grade
• 3rd Grade
• 4thGrade
• 5th Grade
• 6th Grade
• 7th Grade
• 8th Grade
• 9th Grade
• 10th Grade
• 11th Grade
• 12th Grade

Video Resources

In elementary school, programs are designed to introduce students to new languages in a fun and exploratory way.

• Age-appropriate learning includes stories, songs, games, lessons, and talking with classmates
• Focus is on everyday language that helps them understand the world they live in including the things people who speak the language use and do (called Products and Practices)
• View Languages offered in K-5 Programs

In middle school, classes meet more often than in elementary school, so students have more time to learn and improve their language skills. Middle school students are also learning more about the world around them, and their reading and writing skills help them understand other languages better.

• Students will talk about and learn about important topics like people, places, and ideas.
• They use what they know about their own lives to understand and connect with communities that speak the language they’re learning.
• View Languages offered in Middle School Programs

High school novice courses introduce students to the language and help them build their skills for conversations with their classmates and Target-language speakers in the community.

• Expressing their ideas and interests through speaking and writing
• Learning and exploring through reading and listening
• Connecting with each other by interacting in the language
• Understanding their own home cultures and the varied cultures of Target-Language speakers
• View Language course themes.
• View Languages offered in High School

Students use their home language and experiences as a foundation to explore a variety of interesting topics and further improve their reading and writing skills.

• Students investigate course themes through more advanced texts in the language, such as articles, interviews, stories, poems, music, and art.
• They engage in deep discussions and complete real-world tasks that require them to use the language authentically.
• View Languages offered in High School

Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses are good for continued learning for Heritage speakers or for students who’ve studied the language for several years.

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by the School District of Philadelphia and the State of Pennsylvania in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation.

Information about the program for schools, teachers, students, and families can be found HERE