Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School

Asynchronous Summer Term Course Proposal

Proposed By: Ms. Aubrey E. Pace, Intermediate School Teacher (Grade 5)
Course Title: 5th Grade Literature/Special Interest “Justice League”

Course Description
Many of our fifth-grade families elect to complete their studies asynchronously. The purpose of
this asynchronous course is to give fifth grade students the opportunity to make up and complete
their Literature hours, which may have been missed due to illness or travel, through a five-week
summer session. In this course, students will examine the topic of heroes to engage students in
building various skills, such as reading comprehension and writing, typically emphasized
through our K12 Literature 5 curriculum. This course will be available for fifth grade students in
the Pennsylvania Virtual Intermediate School in need of make-up hours or identified as “at risk”
in English language arts. If seats remain available, this course will become open as a special
interest course for all fifth-grade families seeking English language arts enrichment. (Please
note: While the main delivery method is asynchronous, two activities and a group project will
require students to meet synchronously.)

Rationale
The Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School faces the challenge of handling families that have not
met or are in danger of meeting curriculum requirements (course hours and mastery) by the end
of the school year. Make-up opportunities are sought to give students a “second chance” at
meeting required hours and increasing mastery, without having to hold students back an entire
academic year. Additionally, opportunities are sought to provide students with enrichment for
families who express interest in further building their student’s knowledge and skills in a
specified subject. The school would like to make these opportunities available in a short summer
session to avoid hiring additional full-time, year-round support teachers and staff due to current
budget constraints. Furthermore, the school aims to hire internally for this summer session to
maintain familiarity and consistent communication between families and the school. Each family
will remain in possession of school materials and technology utilized throughout the regular
year, including laptops and K12 textbooks. Technology maintenance and updates will be
regularly pushed to all families, beginning before the first day of the summer term, by our 12-
month technology staff to ensure a smooth transition.

Objectives
After successfully completing this course, the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate comprehension of texts.
2. Support definitions with examples from texts.
3. Define important qualities of a hero.
4. Make inferences and draw conclusions based on textual evidence.
5. Describe main characters.
6. Compare and contrast characters.
7. Contribute meaningfully to group discussions by:
a. Being prepared for discussion.
b. Drawing on preparation.
c. Explaining own ideas.
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d. Building upon others' comments.

e. Asking questions.

Related Standards
 CC.1.3.5.A: Determine a theme of a text from details in the text, including how characters in
a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic;
summarize the text.
 CC.1.3.5.C: Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings or events in a story or
drama, drawing on specific details in the text.
 CC.1.3.5.D: Analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important
similarities and differences in the point of view they represent.
 CC.1.3.5.I: 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
 CC.1.4.5.C: Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other
information and examples related to the topic; include illustrations and multimedia when
useful to aiding comprehension.
 CC.1.5.5.A: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions on grade-level topics
and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Instructor Information
Ms. Aubrey E. Pace
Intermediate School Teacher, Grade 5
Phone Number: (484) 680-7845
Email Address: apace@pavcsk12.org
Office Hours: MWF 3:00-4:00 PM. Other virtual hours available by appointment.
Office Location: Blackboard Collaborate

I am fully available by phone, video conference, chat box, or email during office hours.
Additional meeting times can be made by appointment. Please email me to schedule.

Textbook Information
K12 Literature 5 Student Guide (accessible online via the OLS at https://login-learn.k12.com/)
K12 Classics for Young Readers (Volume 5A)

Course Syllabus
Week Activities Related Resources
#
1 Getting Started
 Course Introduction  Blackboard1 Homeroom
 Tips for Students  “Tips for Students - Staying
o Read the Tips for Students Organized in a DE Course”
documents based on how to be document
successful in our asynchronous  “Tips for Students - Online
course. Course Rules and Procedures”
document

o Use Poll Everywhere to share one
unique tip to stay organized in our
asynchronous course.
 Create a 3-4 slide “All About Me” using a
presentation tool such as PowerPoint or
Google Slides. Examples of information to
include are your hobbies, favorite subjects,
pets, and family members. Your final slide
should describe your favorite hero.
2 “St. George and the Dragon”
 Read “Unit 2 Lecture” document.
 Watch video “Marvel: What is it, to be a
Hero?”
 Review “St. George and the Dragon”
vocabulary.
 Read “St. George and the Dragon” on
pages 47-51. Complete “St. George and the
Dragon” notes in your Student Guide while
reading.
 Participate in “Unit 2: St. George and the
Dragon” discussion forum in our
Blackboard homeroom.
 Complete the “Hall of Heroes” pages in
your Student Guide.
3 What is a Hero?
 Read “Unit 3 Lecture” document.
 Post response to “What is a Hero?” Padlet.
 Watch videos “For the Heroes: A Pep Talk
from Kid President” and “3-Year-Old
Hero.”
 Attend Collaborate session on [Date Here]
to hear from our guest speaker, a local
firefighter. Have questions prepared for the
speaker. If you have a time conflict, view
the recorded session.
 Participate in “Unit 3: Qualities of a Hero”
discussion forum in our Blackboard
homeroom.
 Complete the “Calling All Heroes!”
activity in your Student Guide.
4 “Robin Hood and Allin-a-Dale”
 Read “Unit 4 Lecture” document.
 Watch video “Robin Hood and Little John
(Disney Robin Hood).”
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 Poll Everywhere
 Microsoft PowerPoint, Google
Slides, or other presentation tool
of student’s choice
 “Unit 2 Lecture” document
 “Marvel: What is it, to be a
Hero?” video
 “St. George and the Dragon”
Vocabulary Quizlet
 K12 Classics for Young Readers
(Volume 5A) book
 K12 Literature 5 Student Guide
or OLS2
 Blackboard1 Discussion Forum
 K12 Literature 5 Student Guide
or OLS
 “Unit 3 Lecture” document
 “What is a Hero?” Padlet
 “For the Heroes: A Pep Talk
from Kid President” video
 “3-Year-Old Hero” video
 Blackboard Collaborate
 Blackboard Discussion Forum
 K12 Literature 5 Student Guide
or OLS
 “Unit 4 Lecture” document
 “Robin Hood and Little John
(Disney Robin Hood)” video
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 Review “Robin Hood and Allin-a-Dale”  “Robin Hood and Allin-a-Dale”

vocabulary. Vocabulary Quizlet
 Read “Robin Hood and Allin-a-Dale” on  K12 Classics for Young Readers
pages 62-65. Complete “Robin Hood and (Volume 5A) book
Allin-a-Dale” notes in your Student Guide  K12 Literature 5 Student Guide
while reading. or OLS
 Participate in “Unit 4: Robin Hood and  Blackboard Discussion Forum
Allin-a-Dale” discussion forum in our
Blackboard homeroom.
 Working in your group:  Google Hangouts or Blackboard
a) Meet with your group via Google Collaborate
Hangouts or our Collaborate classroom to  K12 Classics for Young Readers
create your group’s illustrated Song of (Volume 5A) book
Robin Hood.  K12 Literature 5 Student Guide
b) Post at least two ideas for the group’s or OLS
writing or illustration to our Blackboard  Blackboard Discussion Forum
discussion forum.
c) Identify the roles and responsibilities of
the team members in your group in our
Blackboard discussion forum.
5 Let’s Talk About Heroes
 Read “Unit 5 Lecture” document.  “Unit 5 Lecture” document
 Watch video “How to Run a Debate.”  “How to Run a Debate” video
 Complete the Interactive Debate Game.  Interactive Debate Game
 Complete the reflection (found in your  K12 Classics for Young Readers
Student Guide) on the differences in (Volume 5A) book
heroism between the prince and the  K12 Literature 5 Student Guide
princess in “St. George and the Dragon” or OLS
and Robin Hood.
 Participate in “Unit 5: Let’s Talk About  Blackboard Discussion Forum
Heroes” discussion forum in our
Blackboard homeroom.
 Attend synchronous debate session in  Blackboard Collaborate
Collaborate on [Date Here]. Come
prepared with thoughts and responses to
the reflection.
1
Login required for all Blackboard tools (contact your Family Support Coordinator if needed).
2
OLS - K12 Online School (login required: contact your Family Support Coordinator if needed).
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Scoring:
Assignment Points
“All About Me” Presentation 10
“St. George and the Dragon” Discussion 5
Qualities of a Hero Discussion 5
“Robin Hood and Allin-a-Dale” Discussion 5
Let’s Talk About Heroes Discussion 5
Hall of Heroes Assignment 20
Calling All Heroes! Assignment 10
Song of Robin Hood Group Project 20
Synchronous Debate 20
Total: 100 points

Grading:
Range (as a percentage) Letter Grade
90 + A
80 - 89.9 B
70 - 79.9 C
60 - 69.9 D
< 59.9 F