ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA)
PA Core Standards
READING
1.1 Foundation Skills
1.2 Reading Informational Text
- Determine the central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
- Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly, as well as inferences and/or generalizations drawn from the text.
- Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text.
- Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.
- Analyze the author’s structure through the use of paragraphs, chapters, or sections.
- Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in grade-level reading and content, including interpretation of figurative language in context.
- Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
- Evaluate an author’s argument by examining claims and determining if they are supported by evidence.
- Examine how two authors present similar information in different types of text.
- Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
- Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade-level reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies and tools.
- Read and comprehend literary nonfiction and informational text on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.
1.3 Reading Literature
- Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
- Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly, as well as inferences and/or generalizations drawn from the text.
- Describe how a particular story or drama’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes, as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
- Determine an author’s purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in a text.
- Analyze how the structure of a text contributes to the development of theme, setting, and plot.
- Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in grade-level reading and content, including interpretation of figurative language in context.
- Compare and contrast the experiences of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text, including contrasting what is “seen” and “heard” when reading the text to what is perceived when listening or watching.
- Compare and contrast texts in different forms or genres in terms of their approaches to similar themes and topics as well as their use of additional literary elements.
- Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple meaning words and phrases based on grade-level reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies and tools.
- Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
- Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.
LANGUAGE ARTS
1.4 Writing
- Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information clearly.
- Identify and introduce the topic for the intended audience.
- Develop and analyze the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples; include graphics and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
- Organize ideas, concepts, and information using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts; provide a concluding statement or section; include formatting when useful to aiding comprehension.
- Write with an awareness of the stylistic aspects of composition, Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic, Use sentences of varying lengths and complexities, Develop and maintain a consistent voice, Establish and maintain a formal style.
- Demonstrate a grade appropriate command of the conventions of standard English grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
- Write arguments to support claims.
- Use clear reasons and relevant evidence to support claims, using credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic.
- Organize the claim(s) with clear reasons and evidence clearly; clarify relationships among claim(s) and reasons by using words, phrases, and clauses; provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the argument presented.
- Write with an awareness of the stylistic aspects of composition.
- Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic, Use sentences of varying lengths and complexities, Develop and maintain a consistent voice, Establish and maintain a formal style.
- Demonstrate a grade appropriate command of the conventions of standard English grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
- Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events.
- Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and introducing a narrator and/or characters.
- Use narrative techniques such as dialogue, description, and pacing to develop experiences, events, and/or characters; use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to convey experiences and events.
- Organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically, using a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another; provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences and events.
- Write with an awareness of the stylistic aspects of writing: Vary sentence patterns for meaning, reader/listener interest, and style, Use precise language, Develop and maintain a consistent voice.
- Demonstrate a grade appropriate command of the conventions of standard English grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
- Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research, applying grade-level reading standards for literature and literary nonfiction.
- With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
- Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of three pages in a single sitting.
- Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.
- Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources; assess the credibility of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources.
- Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
1.5 Speaking and Listening
- Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions, on grade-level topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
- Delineate a speaker’s argument and specific claims by identifying specific reasons and evidence and recognize arguments or claims not supported by factual evidence.
- Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
- Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks.
- Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify information.
- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English when speaking based on Grade 6 level and content.
MATH
PA Common Core Standards
2.1 Numbers and Operations
- Understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems.
- Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to divide fractions by fractions.
- Identify and choose appropriate processes to compute fluently with multi-digit numbers.
- Develop and/or apply number theory concepts to find common factors and multiples.
- Apply and extend previous understandings of numbers to the system of rational numbers.
2.2 Algebraic Concepts
- Apply and extend previous understandings of arithmetic to algebraic expressions.
- Understand the process of solving a one-variable equation or inequality and apply it to real-world and mathematical problems.
- Represent and analyze quantitative relationships between dependent and independent variables.
2.3 Geometry
- Apply appropriate tools to solve real-world and mathematical problems involving area, surface area, and volume.
2.4 Measurement, Data, and Probability
- Demonstrate an understanding of statistical variability by displaying, analyzing, and summarizing distributions.
SOCIAL STUDIES
PA Academic Standards
5.0 Civics and Government
- Explain the effect of the rule of law in protecting property rights, individual rights, and the common good.
- Compare and contrast a direct democracy with a republican form of government.
- Explain how the principles and ideals shape local, state, and national government: Liberty / Freedom, Democracy, Justice, Equality
- Explain the basic principles and ideals within documents and the roles played by the framers as found in significant documents: Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, Pennsylvania Constitution
- Summarize individual rights guaranteed by the PA Constitution and the U.S. Constitution.
- Describe how citizens and leaders use political symbols.
- Compare and contrast rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the community, state, and nation.
- Explain how citizens resolve conflicts in society and government.
- Describe the importance of political leadership and public service.
- Explain why participation in government and civic life is important.
- Describe the responsibilities and powers of the three branches of government.
- Define and compare the role and structure of local, state, and national governments.
- Describe how local, state, and national governments provide services.
- Identify leadership positions and their primary duties at the local, state, and national levels.
- Describe the voting process, including registration, primaries, and general elections.
- Explain how courts resolve conflicts.
- Identify individual interest groups and how they impact government.
- Describe the influence of mass media on society.
- Explain what taxes are and why they are necessary.
- Identify how countries have varying interests.
- Explain the difference between allies and adversaries.
6.0 Economics
- Explain how limited resources and unlimited wants cause scarcity.
- Compare ways that people meet their needs with how they meet their wants.
- Describe how resources are combined to produce different goods and services
- Define opportunity cost and describe the opportunity cost of personal choice.
- Identify incentives that affect personal choices.
- Describe the interaction of consumers and producers of goods and services in the state and national economy.
- Explain why and how market competition takes place.
- Explain how advertising influences economic decisions.
- Describe how prices influence both buyers and sellers and explain why prices may vary for similar products.
- Explain the causes and effects of expansion and contraction of businesses.
- Explain the influence of private economic institutions on the local and state economy.
- Examine how various economic systems address the three basic questions: What to produce? How? For whom?
- Examine government's role in providing public goods and services.
- Describe the impact of government involvement in state and national economic activities.
- Explain the cost and benefits of taxation.
- Explain the benefits of international trade.
- Explain why people specialize in the production of goods and services and divide labor.
- Explain how trade affects standards of living.
- Explain how multinational corporations contribute to economic interdependence.
- Explain how transportation, communication networks, and technology contribute to economic interdependence.
- Describe how the availability of goods and services is made possible by the work of members of the society.
- Explain the concept of labor productivity.
- Explain how profits and losses serve as incentives.
- Describe how people accumulate tangible and intangible assets.
- Explain the role of the entrepreneur in Pennsylvania.
- Identify the costs and benefits of saving.
- Explain the differences between interest rates for saving and borrowing.
7.0 Geography
- Describe how common geographic tools are used to organize and interpret information about people, places, and environment.
- Describe and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features.
- Describe the characteristics of places and regions.
- Describe the physical processes that shape patterns on Earth’s surface.
- Describe the human characteristics of places and regions using the following criteria: Population, Culture, Settlement, Economic activities, Political activities
- Describe and explain the effects of the physical systems on people within regions.
- Describe and explain the effects of people on the physical systems within regions
8.0 History
- Explain continuity and change over time using sequential order and context of events.
- Differentiate between fact and opinion, multiple points of view, and primary and secondary sources to explain historical events.
- Identify a thesis statement using appropriate primary and secondary sources. (Reference RWSL Standard 1.8.5 Research)
- Explain the social, political, cultural, and economic contributions of individuals and groups from Pennsylvania.
- Describe the importance of significant historical documents, artifacts, and places critical to Pennsylvania history.
- Explain how continuity and change have impacted Pennsylvania history: Belief systems and religions, Commerce and industry, Technology, Politics and government, Physical and human geography, Social organizations
- Explain how conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations have impacted the history and development of Pennsylvania: Ethnicity and race, Working conditions, Immigration, Military conflict, Economic stability
- Explain the social, political, cultural, and economic contributions of individuals and groups to United States history.
- Explain the importance of significant historical documents, artifacts, and places critical to United States history.
- Explain how continuity and change have impacted U.S. history: Belief systems and religions, Commerce and industry, Technology, Politics and government, Physical and human geography, Social organizations
- Explain how conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations have impacted the history and development of the U.S.: Ethnicity and race, Working conditions, Immigration, Military conflict, Economic stability
- Explain the social, political, cultural, and economic contributions of individuals and groups to world history.
- Identify and explain the importance of historical documents, artifacts, and sites which are critical to world history.
- Explain how continuity and change have impacted world history: Belief systems and religions, Commerce and industry, Technology, Politics and government, Physical and human geography, Social organizations
- Examine patterns of conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations that impacted the development of the history of the world.