Summer Journey 2013
Course Descriptions
Kindergarten Program
Morning Academic Curriculum
Kids at Work
“Work” is fun in the four weekly mini-units Dinosaur Bones, Pat-A-Cake, At the Pet Shop, and Detectives
for Hire. Students build on prior knowledge as they learn about a variety of careers. Each activity is
designed to foster early learning concepts, such as letter and sound recognition, phonemic awareness,
measurement, counting, and shape recognition. Daily, students are Letter Detectives as they manipulate
and play with letters and learn letter names utilizing the ABC Mystery Box. Thematic centers and
literature-based math activities complete the morning. From digging for fossils to tracking down missing
letters, this unit offers multi-level activities appropriate for all early learners.
Afternoon “Just for Fun” Curriculum
Kindergarten Road Trip
Pack your bags for an exciting adventure! Kindergarten students are off on a Kindergarten Road Trip as
they visit exciting places each afternoon. After daily quiet time at the rest stop, students enjoy themerelated activities while traveling on the Reading Roadway. Next, students rev up their engines as they
engage in gross motor play. Last stop - a visit to the souvenir stands where students engage in
purposeful play. A few of the summer fun destinations include going fishin’, visiting an amusement park,
and heading out West. From taking a ride on a classroom roller coaster to roping a bull, this trip is a
dream vacation!
Early Learner (Students entering 1st grade)
Language Arts Program
Foundations
Literacy and fun go together! Foundations utilizes hands-on activities and active learning techniques to
develop problem-solving thought processes as young children are introduced to a variety of reading and
writing concepts in two modules, FUNdamentals and Word Play. Many engaging activities are included
in FUNdamentals, from literacy labs to making letters with jump ropes. In the Word Play module,
students develop phonemic awareness at the Wacky Word Factory, create alphabet riddles, and make
an anagram word.
Investigations Program
School Measures Up
School Measures Up is an investigations module designed to further students’ understanding and ability
to apply appropriate techniques and tools to determine measurement. Students participate in Real
World Labs that link math and science with real places in a child’s life. To support and build on children’s
intuitive understandings and informal measurement experiences, the unit emphasizes what it means to
measure. Students utilize a variety of standard and non-standard measurement tools to compare
objects, count the number of units, and make connections with numbers. Teachers are encouraged to
prompt, guide, and celebrate discoveries as their students think, speak, and write mathematically.
What’s the Score?
Lessons within What’s the Score? encourage students to pose questions, gather data, and represent
their findings using objects, pictures, charts, and graphs. Each lesson provides extensive opportunities
for students to strengthen mathematical communication and reasoning skills as they develop their
understanding of scientific process skills. Students discover that data collection has real-life applications
as they participate in a mock visit to a baseball stadium!
Primary Learner (Students entering 2nd/3rd)
Reading Course
Adventure and Mystery Level 2
Adventure and Mystery Level 2 features two thematic reading units in one course. During the first
portion of the course, students find themselves on a swashbuckling adventure as they read about
pirates. Students then become detectives in the suspense-filled second half of the course as they
investigate two exciting mysteries! Throughout the course, students develop and practice reading
strategies as they engage in a wide variety of hands-on word play, games, and story-related activities
such as Buccaneer Blends, Buried Treasure, Concluding Evidence, and even writing words in the “sand.”
Cause and effect, story elements, and comprehension strategies are the main focus skills of this unit.
Language Arts Course
The Write Stuff
With a focus on author’s purpose and descriptive writing, students improve their writing skills with
engaging team-writing activities. The first component of the unit focuses on the author’s purpose in
writing followed by improving writing through description and details. Students participate by writing
and following treasure hunt directions, interviewing peers, composing letters, and creating riddles.
Math Course
Adventures in Math
This unit provides opportunities for students to grasp grade-level standards and objectives in an
exciting, child-oriented context. High student motivation and interest is a natural result, with topics such
as pirates, adventure, and mystery. Key concepts for instruction and review include money,
measurement, geometry, place value, and problem solving. Students strengthen their understanding of
mathematical concepts as they engage in a variety of games and projects offered in this course.
Science Courses
Scientific Mysteries
Students engage in various hands-on science experiences. Life science, physical science, and earth
science standards are all addressed as students hatch butterflies, observe mealworms, work with
electricity, create compasses, and investigate soil properties. They are engaged daily in solving The
Mystery Question that facilitates inquiry-based thinking. Cooperative teams observe, predict, compare
and analyze data with each investigation.
Speed
Speed is a science course that combines the concepts of Newton’s laws of motion and sound as energy.
This course is jam packed with experiments, activities, and games about sound vibration, pitch,
magnetism, gravity, simple machines, external force and much more! Students won’t be able to sit still
as they speed through this course!
Primary Journey Courses
Grades 1-3
Local Action
Districts may invoice up to $300 to purchase materials and then create their own lifetime sports, team
sports, or activity course. Take advantage of this great deal! Imagine –district teachers pick their favorite
student sporting activities and customize twelve fun lessons packed with local action.
Magic Show
Let’s put on a magic show! Students learn the art of illusion using simple slight of hand magic tricks. A
game-like format is utilized, allowing opportunities for students to practice magic tricks using common
materials such as cups, coins, and cards. Participants create props and make magician costumes as they
prepare for a culminating magic show.
Nature With a Twist
Imaginations will run wild as students participate in the Journey course, Nature with a Twist. Each craft,
game, and activity will have a nature theme ranging from the environment, land, animals from all over
the world, plants, and much more. Stained glass ornaments, painted pet rocks, handcrafted games, and
jungle jute bracelets are just a few of the activities that students are sure to love, Naturally!
Parachute Play
Primary students engage in parachute play focusing on cardiovascular and upper-body conditioning.
Making use of a variety of fun materials, students play cooperative games designed to develop physical
movement skills. An ample bank of activities is included, encouraging teacher-choice for activities
matched to students’ skills and interests. Whether avoiding the swamp crocodile, surfing in the ocean,
or looking under the bed, exercise was never such fun!
The Science of Super Powers
Discover the science that inspired the super powers of Aquagirl, Spiderman, Batmas, Iceman and more!
Learn the amazing characteristics of the insects and animals that inspired these super heroes. Students
will get a chance to create their own super power at the end of the camp and create a hero of their
own!
To Games and Beyond
The course is simple in design while providing a maximum of entertainment for those involved. Several
“brain-powered” BOARD games have been compiled to provide learning and summer fun. Games vary
and all are age appropriate. New selection for 2013!
Elementary (Students entering 4th and 5th )
Reading Course
Round Table Reading
Students flourish in this themed reading unit about Knights and Castles. Two fictional books, with
respective lexiles of 630 and 310, contain similar plots to facilitate skill focus. This unit provides
exceptional reading opportunities through partner, teacher-directed, and small-group reading. Students
are exposed to expository text through an additional nonfiction book as they investigate fascinating
medieval life. A separate teacher read aloud book adds yet one more literary exposure for students, and
ties the unit together. Through activities such as building a castle with sugar cubes to creating their own
“coat of arms” students become engaged from start to finish. Reading objectives in this unit include
genre classification, cause and effect, figurative language, and drawing conclusions, among others.
Through expository text, students gain skills such as locating facts and details, following directions, main
idea and summarizing. This course provides an opportunity for teachers to work in small groups with
students who need a boost in reading skills and confidence.
Language Arts Course
All In the Process
Students in this course use the writing process to develop an explanatory essay to be presented in a
visual or demonstration style. The essay allows students the opportunity to incorporate and display their
own talents. A short story is used to build on skills such as identifying how-to processes, writing a
business letter, and analyzing the six-traits of writing. Throughout the unit, several hands-on activities
enrich language arts skills and spark student interest.
Math Course
Basically Math
This course includes a teacher read aloud book that serves as a springboard to engaging math lessons.
With a fun presentation style, the book captivates students’ attention as they are exposed to topics such
as place value, graphing, and symmetry. Students are provided opportunities to learn the basics of math
in a hands-on environment. They investigate estimation, deal with money, discover patterns, and
explore time intervals. Engaging lessons help students discover they CAN conquer math…and enjoy it!
Science Course (2 weeks)
Molecules and Mixtures
This investigative unit provides numerous experiences for “Chemists in the Making.” Throughout the
course, students discover the differences between physical and chemical changes. They explore solids,
liquids, and gases, as they find the freezing point of water and melt the shell from an egg. Other topics
include diffusion, reaction rates, solutions, and acids and bases. Students apply the scientific method as
they create hypotheses, perform experiments, and record observations.
Social Studies Course (2 weeks)
It’s a Wonder
It’s a Wonder is designed to do just that…increase students’ appreciation for the wonders of our world.
Students travel through the rich cultures of the ancient world from Greece to Babylon and sites
between. A student magazine, Seven Wonders of the World, provides a springboard for discussions and
activities. A few natural wonders of the world are also explored, and a teacher-read fiction novel, Seven
Wonders of Sassafras Springs, inspires students to find local wonders right where they are. Lesson topics
include maps, timelines, investigations of primary and secondary evidence, and more.
Elementary Journey Courses
Grades 4-5
Daily Challenge Jr.
Physical fitness and teamwork is the focus. Developmentally appropriate games and activities such as
Crows and Cranes, Five Passes, and Group Juggling have students working cooperatively and begging for
more when the class concludes. The activities are geared to develop cooperative group problem-solving
skills and thinking strategies.
Retro Recreation
Step back into the past with Retro Recreation. This course offers students opportunities to experience
activities such as tie-dying shirts, building old fashion toys, learning about the history of classic games
such as jacks, marbles and a variety of board games, and tasting candies that have been tantalizing
children for decades. These activities develop thinking skills, team interaction, and good old-fashioned
fun. Some of the activities require outdoor facilities in which to jump rope and create sidewalk chalk art.
Science Magic
Be a scientist each day of camp! Learn tricks to amaze your family and friends in the PCS Science Magic
Camp. Discover the how and why of simple science experiments. Students will leave each camp day with
a scientific understanding of a new experience and a way to impress others!
Sports Clips Junior
The Sports Clips curriculum offers a variety of sports, games, and skill lessons. Various high-energy
games and activities are designed to improve cardiovascular function and increase strength and
flexibility. The overall lessons provide fun-filled competition, etiquette, and rules, as well as a general
sense of fair play. Sports Clips Junior requires access to cones and basketballs.
Tech Lab
This class will be used primarily for learning to type, do presentations, make a word document ,etc.
Basic technology skills that students will need for next generation assessments will be addressed
through lab time.
To Games & Beyond
The course is simple in design while providing a maximum of entertainment for those involved. Several
“brain powered” BOARD games have been compiled to provide learning and summer fun. Games vary
and all are age appropriate. New selection for 2013!
Intermediate (Students entering 6th and 7th)
Reading Course
Short Takes
Short Takes is a course designed to expose students to pleasure of reading short stories. Two student
texts and a read-aloud book of short stories combine to provide a plethora of reading experiences. Each
day, young readers will engage in and complete one or two chapters that tell individual stories. Both
books were selected to provide students experiences with vignettes that culminate into larger stories.
For a generation that revels in short sitcoms, emails and text messages, this is a great avenue!
Language Arts Course
Newsworthy
Students enter the world of journalism as they enjoy a teacher read-aloud of Andrew Clements’ novel,
The Landry News. This engaging novel chronicles the ups and downs of a student-initiated and
classroom-produced newspaper. Likewise, Newsworthy Summer Journey students participate in
reporting teams to create their own newspapers. Each lesson focuses on a specific language arts skill as
reporting teams create articles, cartoons, features, reviews and other news pieces. Through authentic
writing pursuits, students explore purposes for writing, figurative language, narrative point of view and
more.
Math Course
Hands on Equations
The goal of this commercially produced curriculum is to provide concrete experiences in pre-algebra and
algebra. Class sets of manipulatives and a complete teacher guide are provided, and teachers can adjust
the lessons to suit the achievement levels and needs of the individual classroom. Students from fourth
grade to adult can benefit from this course. As an added bonus, Summer Journey also provides a set of
“quick skill” transparencies to provide problems of the day for the summer session. These skills provide
practice in a variety of math strands, from fractions to word problems to geometry. Taking just 5 to 10
minutes from the class period, the “quick skill” sets are a good way to investigate many national math
standards and objectives for the intermediate grades.
Science Courses (each 2 weeks)
AP Camp
Atmospheric Pressure Camp that is! This fast-paced science course integrates easy-to-use manipulatives
such as balloons and vacuum pumps to bring to life concepts that are not easily seen: atmosphere and
atmospheric pressure. Hands-on experiment titles include Magdeberg Sphere, Effect of Heat on a
Balloon, Air is a Substance and Molecules and Vacuum. The unit ends with The Wheel of Knowledge
activity in which students review experiments and ensure they are able to apply new knowledge long
after the summer session.
Structures
Structures is truly a “hands-on” course as students build bridges and structures, testing their strength
and stability. The building blocks of science objectives focusing on analysis of structures, and the
relationships of structure components (columns, triangles, arches and domes) are covered extensively.
Throughout this learning experience students discover concepts through exploration and “build” on
these principles in a progression of lessons. Structures such as tunnels and dams are introduced, and
pictures of famous structures are provided to show how scientific principles work together, providing
form and function in the real world.
Intermediate (Students entering 8th and 9th)
Reading Course
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
This historical novel by the popular author, Avi, is a somewhat challenging read, in part because of the
precise writing style of the character telling the story. A teenage girl boards a shop from her father’s
fleet to travel from England to America. After a series of mishaps, she is the only female aboard, and a
mutiny is only one of the adventures that await her. Skills include point of view, suspense, vocabulary
(including jargon), character studies, diagrams and visual aids, predictions, paraphrasing, and more. The
book itself is difficult to put aside, as suspense builds throughout.
Language Arts Course
Language Arts Excursion
Are many students already comfortable with conventions, sentence structure, and basic paragraph
construction? Students in this course go beyond, and participate in engaging activities that provide
exposure to a variety of additional language arts experiences. Students enjoy excursions into thesis
statements, transitional words and phrases, and figurative language. Writing for a variety of purposes,
practicing research skills, and making oral presentations are but a few of the additional activities in this
module.
Math Course
Math Mixer
A mix of strategies and experiences for understanding algebra are found in this unit of study. Motivating
lessons are designed to capture student interest and build their confidence in mastering algebraic
concepts. Through such activities as flying balsa wood aircraft and calculating slopes for “designer” roller
coasters, student see the connection to real-world situations, and algorithms seem more fun when
applied to the creation of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Throughout, students are given a variety
of tools to master algebra. Mathematical representations include equations, tables, graphs, and
pictures. Addition and subtraction, multiplication and factoring, patterns, and exponentials manipulate
variables. Important skills and interesting projects combine in a meaningful “mix” throughout the
lessons.
Science Course (4 week course)
Space Camp
Space Camp provides the perfect opportunity to explore the last frontier. This course comes from the
PCS Edventures curriculum, and provides an exciting hands-on introduction to the exploration of space
and astronomy. Topics include rocketry, living in space and star charting.
Intermediate Journey Courses
Grades 6-9
3-D Art
All art projects in this course are above the plane and definitely beyond plain! Students sculpt, create
nylon modern art, construct balloon sculptures, and form masks in this fun course. These and other
projects all involve three-dimensional creativity. Students assuredly gain a new perspective on art.
Daily Challenge Plus
Physical fitness and teamwork is the focus. Developmentally appropriate games and activities such as
Whistle Mixer, Call-Out Soccer, and Guard the Pin have students working cooperatively and begging for
more when the class concludes. The activities are geared to developing cooperative group problemsolving skills and thinking strategies.
Electronics
Created by our Edventure partners, this module is sure to SPARK lots of fun and learning. Electricity is
that miraculous force that exists in nature, making our lights flow, vacuums roar, and blenders blend.
Students participate in a variety of hands-on activities that explore the field of electronics, and prove
that electricity is all around. Participants learn about the very small, very cool electron and how to
control it through the creation of electronic circuits. This Journey course is designed to light up Summer
Journey! Edison Learning Premiere Course.
Game Show!
Get ready, get set for Game Show! An intermediate Journey course designed to challenge students in
wild ways. Activities allow participation in a variety of TV games and contests that are familiar to most
students. Games such as Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Beat the Clock, and Family Feud provide the venue
for engaging fun and entertainment!
Local Action
Districts may invoice up to $300 to purchase materials and then create their own lifetime sports, team
sports, or activity course. Take advantage of this great deal! Imagine –district teachers pick their favorite
student sporting activities and customize twelve fun lessons packed with local action.
Serve It Up!
This experience is as unique as the students and their local community. Teens discover they can make a
difference. Serve It Up! Is a twelve-day course designed to provide guidelines and ideas for
implementing a community service project. The course provides for maximum student involvement and
supplies clear and helpful guidelines for teachers. A budget of $300 and a course of action set students
on their way to success and service.