Barker Creek Community School

One of the perks of working at home with a virtual school is that you can adjust your school schedule to meet the needs of your family. To keep up with the assigned coursework, students should expect to spend about 1 hour per course per day, five days per week. Many students do best with a consistent schedule, so we encourage the Learning Coach and student to work together to create and follow a weekly school schedule.

Remember to leave time for off-screen breaks between core coursework. It is important to give learning brains time to refresh! These breaks could include:
PE activities such as walking, running, playing basketball, jumping on a trampoline, bike riding, etc. 
Art activities
Snack / Lunch
Independent reading
Journal writing

Example Daily Schedule
Please note that this schedule is only a suggestion to support daily structure. 
Your advisor may provide more specific daily schedule recommendations. At least one day a week will include a meeting with your advisor.

• 8-8:30 am: Prepare for the day. Review your schedule and arrange materials.
• 8:30-9 am: Math
• 9:15-9:45 am: Language Arts
• 10-10:30 am: PE (activities such as hiking, walking, running, playing soccer or basketball)
• 12 - 12:30 pm: Lunch
• 12:30 pm - 1 pm: Social Studies
• 1:15-1:45 pm: Science
• 2 - 3 pm: Independent work time (work on assignments, read, etc.)

• Personal Device or CK Chromebook
• Pencil and sharpener
• Composition Book, spiral notebook or paper to: take notes, record ideas, write drafts, practice math, etc
• Printer for Pearson math practice sheets, graphic organizers, etc.
• OPTIONAL: student planner [you can pick one up at Barker Creek or purchase one]

Math 6 (equivalent to Math 1 at the neighborhood schools)
In this course, the student will learn, practice, and apply the fundamental skills and strategies that will help them grow into strong mathematical thinkers. Daily instruction supports student learning of core math concepts and development of procedural fluency regarding:

• ordering numbers 
• working with whole numbers and decimals
• ratios and percentages 
• rates and measurements
• the coordinate plane
• adding and subtracting fractions. 
• multiplying and dividing fractions
• expressions and equations
• inequalities
• area and volume
• coordinate geometry and nets
• statistics

Students are encouraged to use visual representations of their thinking to bridge their understanding between the concrete and abstract, allowing patterns and mathematical principles to come to life. Peer Model videos throughout provide illustrations of a peer learning how to use and apply the target mathematical skill using a real-world example. 21st Century instruction further illustrates the connection of mathematical concepts to the real world while supporting students' development of skills, knowledge, and expertise they must master to succeed in work and life. 

The course is designed to support a growth mindset regarding math and encourages students to engage in productive struggle; instructional materials explicitly and frequently remind students that mistakes are opportunities for learning and acquiring new skills. Together the course elements ensure the student grows as a mathematical thinker and masters the skills to succeed in work and life.

Language Arts 6 
In this course, students will sharpen and strengthen their skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The student is exposed to a wide variety of writing styles to create a sense of curiosity and excitement.

During this course, the student will learn to make connections between readings, podcasts, radio clips, videos, and the world. The student will also expand their academic vocabulary and build confidence through independent reading, peer model videos, and practice opportunities. The student will write expository and argumentative essays using formal writing techniques and employ test-taking strategies that are effective for different types of learners.  Students will also compare different types of media used to tell stories. These methods include textual, audio, and visual media types.  During the second semester, students will complete a novel study on a book of their choice.

Science 6 
This course explores natural objects and phenomena on our planet, in our solar system, and beyond. This course uses multiple media sources to foster scientific inquiry and spark curiosity. The student will discover ways that scientists use data, models, and technology to gather information and make predictions.

The student will:

• use models to explore the relationship between the sun, moon, and Earth and formulate explanations of lunar phases, eclipses, and seasons. Scientific views and evidence of how Earth and other objects in the universe were formed are presented as the student learns about galaxies, asteroids, and stars.
• analyze and interpret data from rock layers and fossils giving clues to Earth’s age. They will also discover how Earth has changed over time as the student makes connections between Earth’s energy systems and plate tectonics. 
• collect and analyze data to discover how changes to weather conditions occur. They will also use scientific models to investigate how atmospheric circulation produces climate patterns and how thermal energy transfer affects climate. 
• learn about renewable and non-renewable resources and the environmental implications associated with methods of managing and using energy resources. The student will identify and describe human activities that contribute to global climate change.
• learn about natural hazards and how scientists use historical data to forecast and prepare for future catastrophic events.

Social Studies 6A

This course offers a broad survey of world history from the beginnings of civilization to the earliest river valley civilizations in Africa and Asia. The course examines world political, economic, geographic, and social history from a hybrid regional and chronological point of view. Throughout the course, the student will make connections between geography, politics, and economics, and their impact on world events and the human progress. The student will enhance his social studies skills by completing activities that teach analysis of primary and secondary sources, reading graphs and maps, organizing information, and more. Lessons are designed to develop the student's ability to read, question, analyze, interpret, and evaluate different forms of information.

World Studies (Social Studies 6B)
This course provides a unique balance of history, geography, and culture; it expands students’ understanding of each world region through a focus on its major countries. Additionally, students learn the foundations of geography. Regions covered include Africa, Asia and the Pacific, the United States and Canada, Europe and Russia, and Latin America.

Math 7 (equivalent to Math 2 at the neighborhood schools) 
In this course, the student will learn, practice, and apply the fundamental skills and strategies that will help them grow into strong mathematical thinkers. Daily instruction supports student learning of core math concepts and development of procedural fluency regarding:

• rational numbers 
• unit rates and proportions
• algebraic expressions 
• solving one-, two-, and multi-step equations
• inequalities
• angle pairs
• triangles
• area and perimeter
• surface area and volume
• probability and statistics

Students are encouraged to use visual representations of their thinking to bridge their understanding between the concrete and abstract, allowing patterns and mathematical principles to come to life. Peer Model videos throughout provide illustrations of a peer learning how to use and apply the target mathematical skill using a real-world example. 21st Century instruction further illustrates the connection of mathematical concepts to the real world while supporting students' development of skills, knowledge, and expertise they must master to succeed in work and life. 

The course is designed to support a growth mindset regarding math and encourages students to engage in productive struggle; instructional materials explicitly and frequently remind students that mistakes are opportunities for learning and acquiring new skills. Together the course elements ensure the student grows as a mathematical thinker and masters the skills to succeed in work and life.

Language Arts 7 
In this course, the student will focus on reading, writing, and analyzing informational and narrative texts, as well as developing their vocabulary and grammatical knowledge. The student will read poetry by Lewis Carroll and Danile Beatty, short stories, and informational texts on Rosa Parks and Army Code. The student will also read classics including Great Expectations and Peter Pan, as well as non-fiction historical texts. During the second semester, students will complete a novel study on a book of their choice.

Science 7 
This course uses multiple media sources to foster scientific inquiry and spark curiosity. Throughout this course, the student will discover ways that scientists use data, models, and technology to gather and apply information.

The student will:

• investigate cell structure in plants and animals and discover how organisms use cells to perform complex life functions.
• identify and describe the functions of several body systems including the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, and excretory systems.
• evaluate reproductive strategies and genetics to discover the important roles they play in the survival of organisms.
• explore the role of plants and photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and the flow of energy into and out of organisms.  They will analyze and interpret data to determine the effects of resource availability on biodiversity among populations in an ecosystem.
• learn about evolution, natural selection, and scientific classification.  They will analyze and interpret data for patterns in the fossil record that document the change of life forms and examine genetic variations of a population over time. The student will also learn how scientists classify organisms based on similar characteristics.

American History (Social Studies 7)
The American History course presents a chronological history of the American experience from the earliest times to the present. It covers topics such as, colonial America, the American Revolution, and issues faced by the early republic. It also covers westward expansion, the Civil War, industrialization, WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, the Cold War, Civil Rights, and the Vietnam War. Finally, students learn about the challenges faced by the United States in the 21st century.

Washington State History (Social Studies 7b)

In this course, the student will study the history and geography of Washington from prehistory through the modern period. The student will examine the relationship between native cultures and European settlers during the era of exploration and the territorial period; trace Washington's path to statehood, the establishment of the state's constitution, and the development of its major industries; and analyze ways the Great Depression, World War I, World War II, and the Cold War impacted the state’s culture and economy. The student will examine the struggles of Native Americans to secure treaty rights and reclaim tribal sovereignty; analyze the contributions of immigrants, minorities, and women to Washington’s development; and examine the challenges faced by each of these groups. Lastly, the student will connect Washington’s industries to its ongoing sustainability challenges, consider the role of labor unions in the state's economy, and explore the state’s emergence as a leader of high-tech industry in the early twenty-first century.

Pre-Algebra (equivalent to Math 3 at the neighborhood schools)
In this course, the student will learn, practice, and apply the fundamental skills and strategies that will help them grow into strong mathematical thinkers. Daily instruction supports student learning of core math concepts and development of procedural fluency regarding:

• exponent rules
• scientific notation
• roots and irrational numbers
• triangles, cones, cylinders, spheres, right rectangular prisms and pyramids
• transformations and congruence
• transformations and similarity
• solving and graphing linear equations
• systems of linear equations
• scatter plots and data analysis
• functions

Students are encouraged to use visual representations of their thinking to bridge their understanding between the concrete and abstract, allowing patterns and mathematical principles to come to life. Peer Model videos throughout provide illustrations of a peer learning how to use and apply the target mathematical skill using a real-world example. 21st Century instruction further illustrates the connection of mathematical concepts to the real world while supporting students' development of skills, knowledge, and expertise they must master to succeed in work and life. 

The course is designed to support a growth mindset regarding math and encourages students to engage in productive struggle; instructional materials explicitly and frequently remind students that mistakes are
opportunities for learning and acquiring new skills. Together the course elements ensure the student grows as a mathematical thinker and masters the skills to succeed in work and life.

Language Arts 8 
In this course, the student studies and analyzes explanatory, informational, and argumentative texts.  Throughout the course, curiosity and critical thinking are encouraged as the student practices reading comprehension through analogy and allusion in works by O. Henry and Roald Dahl. The student will learn to make connections between reading and the world around them as they read interesting texts about Female WWII Pilots and the Invention of the Popsicle. The will also explore and analyze several literary genres including narrative, poetry, suspense, and humor. Their academic vocabulary will be expanded as they explore word choice and meaning to refine communication skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. This course presents strategies to strengthen writing skills through grammar, punctuation, and sentence and paragraph structure. The student will refine, reinforce and apply these skills though their own explanatory and persuasive compositions.  During the second semester, students will explore character development and dramatic irony as they complete a fictional novel study on a book of their choice.

Science 8 
This course uses multiple media sources to foster scientific inquiry and spark curiosity as the student explores topics in the physical sciences. Throughout this course, the student will discover ways that scientists use data, models, and technology to gather and apply information.

The student will:

• learn about atomic composition and the properties of matter. They will also distinguish between chemical and physical changes in matter and investigate how thermal energy transfer affects particle motion in matter.
• examine the relationship between potential and kinetic energy as they explore how mass and speed affect energy transfer.
• discover how different types of waves transmit light, sound, and other forms of energy both in the presence and absence of matter.
• investigate the relationship between force and motion as they explore Newton's Laws of Motion. The student will learn about the unseen forces of gravity, magnetism, and electricity as they determine factors that affect the strength of these forces.
• explore the role of design in machines as they investigate the relationship between force and work with regards to the transfer of mechanical energy.

American History (Social Studies 8 - 1st Semester)
The American History course presents a chronological history of the American experience from the earliest times to the present. It covers topics such as colonial America, the American Revolution, and issues faced by the early republic. It also covers westward expansion, the Civil War, industrialization, WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, the Cold War, Civil Rights, and the Vietnam War. Finally, students learn about the challenges faced by the United States in the 21st century.

Washington State History (Social Studies 8 - 2nd semester)
In this course, the student will study the history and geography of Washington from prehistory through the modern period. The student will examine the relationship between native cultures and European settlers during the era of exploration and the territorial period; trace Washington's path to statehood, the establishment of the state's constitution, and the development of its major industries; and analyze ways the Great Depression, World War I, World War II, and the Cold War impacted the state’s culture and economy. The student will examine the struggles of Native Americans to secure treaty rights and reclaim tribal sovereignty; analyze the contributions of immigrants, minorities, and women to Washington’s development; and examine the challenges faced by each of these groups. Lastly, the student will connect Washington’s industries to its ongoing sustainability challenges, consider the role of labor unions in the state's economy, and explore the state’s emergence as a leader of high-tech industry in the early twenty-first century.