You and Your World Curriculum Kindergarten - Grade 2

[Pages:160]840010

You and Your World Curriculum Kindergarten - Grade 2

MARCH 2005

Catalogue # 840010

Department of Education Educational Programs & Services Branch

Acknowledgements

The Department of Education acknowledges, with appreciation, the many dedicated educators who gave their time and energy to develop this curriculum. A special thank you is extended to the many pilot teachers across the province who provided feedback on the draft curriculum. Without their input, this document would not be as rich and locally meaningful.

The following people are members of the Curriculum Development Advisory Committee and the core writing team.

Brenda Campbell Catherine Campbell Avis Fitton Mark Holland Dianne Kay Margie Layden-Oreto Neil Martell Keith McAlpine Derek O'Brien Charlene Robinson Marilyn Tranquilla Darlene Whitehouse-Sheehan Joanne Williams

School District 14 School District 17 School District 14 Department of Education Department of Education Department of Education School District 06 Department of Education School District 10 School District 16 School District 14 Department of Education Department of Education

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Purpose of the Curriculum ............................................................................. 1 Organization and Design of the Curriculum ................................................... 1 Delivery of the Curriculum ............................................................................ 2 An Integrative Approach to Learning .............................................................. 2 Supporting You and Your World through English Language Arts ....................... 3 Supporting You and Your World through Mathematics ..................................... 3 Background on Curriculum Areas in You and Your World ................................ 4 The Primary Years .......................................................................................... 5 The Primary Learner ...................................................................................... 6

Kindergarten: Connections ....................................................................................................... 9 Year Overview ................................................................................................ 11 Setting the Stage ............................................................................................. 12 Unit 1 ? Students as Individuals ......................................................... 13 Unit 2 ? Healthy Lifestyles ................................................................. 33 Unit 3 ? Our Senses ........................................................................... 39 Unit 4 ? Place and Community .......................................................... 47

Grade 1: Interactions ................................................................................................................ 57 Year Overview ................................................................................................ 59 Setting the Stage ............................................................................................. 60 Unit 1 ? Groups ................................................................................. 61 Unit 2 ? Our Environment ................................................................ 71 Unit 3 ? Healthy Lifestyles ................................................................. 87 Unit 4 ? Community ......................................................................... 97

Grade 2: Change ....................................................................................................................... 111 Year Overview ................................................................................................ 113 Setting the Stage ............................................................................................. 114 Unit 1 ? Growth and Development .................................................... 115 Unit 2 ? Technology and Community ................................................ 123 Unit 3 ? Work ................................................................................... 131 Unit 4 ? Healthy Lifestyle .................................................................. 137 Unit 5 ? Change and the Physical Environment .................................. 143

Appendix: Sample Letter - Information Letter for Parents/Guardians ............................................ 153

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Introduction

INTRODUCTION

Purpose of the Curriculum

The You and Your World Curriculum represents an integrative approach to teaching and learning in grades K-2 and supports the emphasis being given to literacy at the primary level. It incorporates outcomes from health, personal development and career planning, science and social studies and replaces the curriculum guides in these areas. Outcomes from all four subject areas were reviewed carefully and natural connections and commonalities among outcomes were identified. Conceptual organizers were then selected around which new units were developed. The units at each grade level promote an active, student-centred approach to learning and are intended to help students understand the connections between and among major skills and concepts arising from the four disciplines. Teaching/learning and assessment strategies are proposed to support achievement of the curriculum outcomes. Within the strategies are suggestions to support the development of literacy and numeracy skills and authentic links to physical education and the arts. The You and Your World Curriculum builds and expands on cross-curricular skills of communication, inquiry, life-long learning, decision-making, participation, teamwork, and personal management.

Organization and Design of the Curriculum

The You and Your World Curriculum is designed around three conceptual organizers: Kindergarten ? Connections, Grade 1 - Interactions, Grade 2 - Change.

CONCEPTUAL ORGANIZERS

Kindergarten - Connections

Grade 1 - Interactions

Learner

Grade 2 - Change Each grade level is comprised of the following:

Year Overview Setting the Stage

Unit Overview Unit

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Introduction

The units are presented in a two-page, four-column format as shown below.

Outcomes

Suggestions for Teaching and Learning

Suggestions for Assessment

Resources

This column provides the specific curriculum outcomes (what students are expected to know, be able to do, and value). Elaborations clarify the intent and scope of each outcome.

This column offers strategies from which teachers may choose. Suggested learning experiences can be used in various combinations to help students achieve an outcome or outcomes. It is unnecessary to use all suggestions; equally it is unnecessary for all students to engage in the same learning experiences. Teachers also may choose to use other strategies. Background teacher information is italicized. Sensitive topics are identified with the heart symbol. Sensitive Topic

This column provides suggestions, both of a formative and summative nature, for assessing achievement of specific curriculum outcomes.

This column lists resources that support achievement of specific curriculum outcomes.

The school house symbol indicates resources that can be found within every school.

Delivery of the Curriculum

The order in which the units for each grade level appear in the You and Your World Curriculum suggests a sequence. In some cases, the rationale for the recommended sequence is related to the conceptual flow across the year. (i.e., a unit introduces a concept that is then extended in a subsequent unit). Equally, a unit may focus on a skill or context that is built upon later in the year.

The curriculum is designed based on approximately 130 minutes of instructional time per week. If possible, it is suggested that teachers deliver the curriculum in blocks of time (e.g., two sixty-five-minute blocks of time per week, on-going throughout the school year).

An Integrative Approach to Learning

The You and Your World Curriculum reflects an integrated approach to learning. As many experiences in students' lives are multi-faceted and interdisciplinary, it is important this phenomenon is supported in the education system. Integrative learning experiences developed around a unifying concept, idea or issue are more compatible with the way in which students learn, particularly during the primary years. Through an integrated approach, students are engaged in rich learning experiences and have access to a range of materials and opportunities that enable them to gain knowledge and skills across curricular areas in such a way they are not required to analyze or separate aspects of their learning. Integrated curricula help students appreciate the connections between and across the various subject areas, as well as the connections between school learning and the world beyond school.

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