Scope & Sequence 2-3rd - Putting Children First

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

Core GATE Enrichment or Extensions GATE Enrichment or Extensions
Subject Activities Materials/Enrichment
(District Adoptions) that Support the Core
that Support the Core
English Lang Arts
SRA/McGraw-Hill, * In Each Full-Day GATE Classroom

Open Court The core Open Court program is “compacted” in * The Classics, SRA/ McGraw-Hill
GATE classrooms. To add additional challenge,
delivered at an accelerated pace, The Classics are * Book & Brain Reading, Nancy
integrated into ELA instruction, 2nd-6th grade. Linden

GATE teachers receive on-going in-service training * Chapter books & decodables
in how to integrate critical thinking into core aligned to OC theme.
curricula. They each have the icon posters and have
taught students how to use these elements to * Novels that extend/enrich core
explore content in more depth/complexity. Frames instruction, for example;
are also being used as graphic organizers to guide
further investigations beyond core assignments. • The Little Prince
• The Cricket In Time Square
English Language Arts Practice Tests & Workbook • The Velveteen Rabbit
material is aligned to grade-level ELA standards.
Data generated from practice tests (2nd-6th grades) * The Flip Book, Kaplan & Gould,
allow teachers to pre & post assess student Educator To Educator
knowledge related to grade specific standards.
Using individual data, teachers may compact * Frames, Kaplan & Gould,
material that is mastered, focus on skills gaps and Educator To Educator
accelerate instruction based on student needs.

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

-Students are taught an analysis process for * Depth & Complexity Icon Cards,
responding to questions found in standardized Kaplan & Gould, Educator To Educator
tests, 2nd-6th grade. Book & Brain
Graphic Organizers & Activities For
- Learning contracts are used during workshop, Differentiated Instruction in
2nd-6th grade, which includes opportunities to Reading, Scholastic Teaching
differentiate according to student choice, the need Resources (2nd-6th)
for depth & complexity & pacing options.
Differentiation: Simplified,
- Icons, representing elements of depth & Realistic & Effective, B. Kingore,
complexity) are integrated into questions, prompts, Professional Associates Publishing
and student activities, 2nd-6th grade. (2nd-6th)

- Students are exposed to world folk tales and * Interact Units aligned to grade-
practice the art of story telling. Folk Tales level ELA standards:

- A learning-station format is used to study the • Folk Tales
genre of Mysteries. Students conduct crime-lab • Sleuth
tests on evidence to solve a variety of mysteries.
Mystery Festival (2nd-3rd) GEMS: Lawrence Hall of Science Units
aligned to grade-level ELA standards:
- A literary treasure hunt is used as students
investigate the plot, settings, characters & themes • Mystery Festival (2nd-3rd)
of ten mystery novels. Sleuth
Language Arts Today by McGraw Hill
- Students “Think Like An Author” by experiencing
the Young Author’s Program. They write, edit, “Blast-Off”, English Language Arts
illustrate & bind their own book. Practice Tests & Workbook, Buckle
Down Publishing (2nd-5th)
- Students study California authors, with a

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

culminating field trip by train to Jack London Young Author’s Program
Square. (3rd) Jack London Square

Writing To encourage challenging writing practice, beyond * Six+1 Writing Traits, Scholastic
SRA/McGraw-Hill, the core OC program, GATE students use the
Six+1 Writing Traits process, 2nd-6th grade.
Open Court
To help advise parents on how to support the Writer’s Express, Write Source
writing process at home, each full-day GATE Handbooks
teacher has a copy of Dear Parent: A Handbook
For Parents of Six +1 Writing Students. * Dear Parent: A Handbook For
Parents of Six +1 Writing
-Writer’s Workshop is used to support the writing Students, Scholastic
process.
Teacher developed writing prompts
- Writing is encouraged through participation in a San Diego Learning Headquarters
Pen Pal Program with students in a different state. Writing Program

- Teacher created writing prompts, aligned with O/C
units, challenge students to respond to more
sophisticated questions in writing.

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

Research Skills All full-day GATE students are guided in the process * Independent Investigation
of learning inquiry, research & investigation skills Method (IIM), Active Learning
No district adoption using the IIM method. Each teacher has an IIM Systems
at this time binder & CD. To help advise parents on how to
support the research process at home, each teacher * The Parent Guide To Raising
also has The Parent Guide To Raising Researchers. Researchers, Active Learning
Students do many research projects throughout the Systems
year, for example:

• Famous Person Reports
• Animal Reports w/ Habitat Models
• Creative Person Project in conjunction w/

O/C Imagination Unit
• Native American Tribe Report
• Research for Play Parts
• Life Cycles, Insect Reports

Vocabulary/Spelling -Vocabulary Cartoons are used to expose students Scholastic Spelling Workbooks, (2nd-6th)
Grammar to SAT level vocabulary words through the use of Vocabulary Cartoons, New Monic Books
humorous picture (transparencies) to aide memory. Grammar & Punctuation, Evan-Moor
SRA/McGraw-Hill, (2nd-6th) Educational Publishers (2nd-6th)
Open Court Vocabulary Workshop, Sadlier-Oxford
-To avoid skills gaps, The Grammar & Punctuation
Series, 1st-6th grade, provides for the sequential
development of grammar & punctuation skills that
align from one grade level to the next.

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

- Vocabulary Workshop uses a five-step method to
teach vocabulary words: definitions, completing the
sentence, synonyms/antonyms, choosing the right
word to complete sentences, and deriving word
meaning from text.

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

Mathematics Mathematics Practice Tests & Workbook material is * Mathematics Practice Tests &
Saxon Mathematics aligned to grade-level Math standards. Data Workbook, Buckle Down
generated from practice tests (2nd-6th grades) allow Publishing Blast-Off (2nd-5th)
teachers to pre & post assess student knowledge
related to grade specific standards. Using individual *Aims Units aligned to grade-level
data, teachers may compact material that is math standards:
mastered, focus on skills gaps and accelerate
instruction based on student needs. • Hardhatting in a Geo-World
(3rd-5th)
- “Daily Plexers” are used with students to
challenge higher-order thinking. • Primarily Bears: Logic (K-6th)

- Teachers infuse more sophisticated/complex math Math Books: (2nd-6th)
problems into the “Mental Math” section of Saxon • Write About Math, Nasco
Math instruction. • Cooperative Learning &
Mathematics, Nasco
- Geo-world allows for the investigation of three • Around the Globe Math
concepts: Structures investigate stable designs; Adventures, Nasco
measurement uses units to investigate volume, time • Tiling, by Marcy Cook
and angles; and geometry creates awareness of
geography in our world. (Geo-World)

- Activities that build mental imagery of algebraic
processes using Multiplication the Algebra Way.

-Students explore life-related problems that
demonstrate the power of pattern recognition in
problem solving. A Pattern Approach To Problem-

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

Solving * Interact Units aligned to grade-
level math standards:
- As bankers, students learn the skills of counting
and making change. They sharpen basic math skills, • Money Matters (2nd-6th)
use coins & charts to visualize mathematical • Math Quest (3rd-6th)
concepts & explain rules/steps in writing. Money • Game Factory (3rd-6th)
Matters • Math Marvels (2nd-6th)
• Into The Unknown (2nd-4th)

- An adventure simulation is used to teach students * Hands-On Equations, Borenson
six problem-solving strategies: Guess & Check, First Section: Lessons 1-8 (2nd -3rd )
Draw a Picture, Make a Table or Chart, Look for A
Pattern, Work Backwards & Act It Out. Math Quest

- Students learn the fundamentals of probability as
they test the “fairness” of various games. Game
Factory

- Students learn a variety of math games, and then
organize a Math Night event to create a shared
learning experience for the entire school. Math
Marvels

- A simulated trip into the sea introduces students
to algebraic thinking. Math-mates work together to
explore the “unknowns” of algebra. Into The
Unknown

- While playing an interactive board game, students

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

solve algebraic equations by identifying the
“unknown X.” Hands-On Equations

Science Physical Science Science Books, McMillan/McGraw-Hill
McMillan/McGraw-Hill, class sets (2nd & 3rd )
AIMS Units, aligned to grade-level science * Learning From Fossils Kits, Frey
California Science standards, are used with students. For example: Scientific

- Hands-on exploration of the varied behavior of Vocabulary-Word-A-Day Cards
magnets. Mostly Magnets
* Magnets…Materials That Attract
- Primarily Physics offers activities investigating and Repel, Frey Scientific
sound, light, and heat energy divided into three
sections. Each section begins with fact sheets that * Skeletons: Velociraptor,
provide essential background information. Sample Stegosaurus, Brachiosaurus,
title investigations include, “What Can Sound Travel Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus Rex,
Through?” and “Prism Power”. (2nd-3rd) Creative Brains (2nd-3rd)

- Explore the physical properties such as surface Aims Units aligned to grade-level
tension, elasticity, molecular structure and color science standards:
patterns using bubbles. Soap Films & Bubbles
• Mostly Magnets (2nd-3rd)
-Students learn about the Period Table/Chart • Primarily Physics (2nd-3rd)
• Water, Precious Water (3rd-5th)
-Students explore electricity by constructing & • Cycles of Knowing & Growing
testing circuits. As a culminating project, students
build their own light bulbs (2nd-3rd)

.

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

Life Science • Soap Films & Bubbles (3rd-5th)
Vocabulary-Word-A-Day Cards are used to • The Budding Botanist (3rd-5th)
familiarize students with the nomenclature related • Overhead, Underfoot (3rd-5th)
to the life sciences. • Winter Wonders (1st-2nd)
• Field Detectives (2nd-3rd)

-Cycles of Knowing & Growing explores the cyclical InterAct Units aligned to grade-
changes common to living systems. As students level science standards:
observe animal cycles, plant cycles, Earth cycles,
sky patterns, and Earth-friendly cycles, they will see • Roberto’s Rainforest (2nd)
living things change over time. Students also will • Dinosaur (2nd)
become aware of predictable patterns in their own
lives. (2nd-3rd) Splash Program, Dept. of Fish & Game
(3rd)
-Students investigate the role of water, the water
cycle, and conservation issues. A study trip to a GEMS, Great Explorations In Math &
local pond takes place in the spring. (Water, Science, Lawrence Hall of Science, Units
Precious Water) (3rd-5th) aligned to grade-level Science & Math
-Terrariums are used to demonstrate the water standards:
cycle (evaporation, condensation, precipitation &
accumulation.) • Terrarium Habitats
• Oobleck: What Do Scientists Do?
- Hands-on activities explore the world of plants.
Students explore three topics; seeds, plants & the
structure of plant cells (The Budding Botanist)

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

- Using terrariums, the natural world comes into the
classroom to deepen student understanding of and
connection to all living things. After an exploration
of soil, students design and construct terrariums.
Sow bugs, earthworms, and crickets are placed in
the habitat, and students observe and record
changes over time. Terrarium Habitats

-Student sleuths will look closely at diverse habitats
in and around the school playground, searching for
evidence of life and clues to the natural world
around them. Activities emphasize the provision of
needs within a habitat for food, water, air, shelter,
and space. Field Detectives (2nd-3rd)

- Take an imaginary canoe trip through the
rainforest to study its ecosystem & identify
conservation concerns. Roberto’s Rainforest

- Students investigate their natural environment
with an emphasis on weather. (1st-2nd)

- Third grade students involved in the Splash
Program study vernal pools, aquatic habitats,
watershed, & the flora & fauna of vernal pools…
including hatching fairy shrimp. (3rd)

- Through a program sponsored by the Dept. of
Fish & Game, students study the lifecycle of

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

salmon. Students experience hatching eggs in
refrigerated tanks that simulate river habitats. (3rd)
Earth Science
- Students study the composition of rocks & soil.
They learn the possible sources of pollution &
suggest conservations remedies to real-world
environmental challenges. (Overhead, Underfoot)
- While studying Dinosaurs, students join one of six
cooperative learning teams and imagine dinosaur
life. Students extract fossils, assemble fossils and
complete a Dinosaur Discovery Report. Dinosaur
(2nd )
- Students excavate fossils for identification &
classification. Learning From Fossils Kits (2nd )
- Students learn that fossils are “historical records”
& this understanding is further enhanced by a trip
to Discover Museum.
Investigation & Experimentation

- Winter Wonders emphasizes the teaching of
science processes & skills: observational skills,
comparing & contrasting, sorting and classifying,
measurement, data collecting, and graphing.

-Students investigate and analyze the properties of

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

a strange green substance, Oobleck, said to come
from another planet. The class holds a scientific
convention to discuss experimental findings.
Students design a spacecraft to land on an ocean of
Oobleck. In the final session, the methods the
students used to analyze Oobleck are compared to
those of professional scientists, such as those on
the Mars Viking mission. Oobleck: What Do
Scientists Do?

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

Social Science Second & Third grade classes have sets of the Social Studies Books, McMillan/McGraw-
McMillan/McGraw-Hill, Houghton-Mifflin Social Studies textbooks. Hill class sets (2nd & 3rd )
John Muir Living History Program
California Vistas - Students understand their ancestral roots as they
research & explore their genealogy. (Family Tree)

- The National Park Service operates an Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park
Environmental Living Program at the John Muir California State Indian Museum
National Historic Site. John Muir Living History is an Effie Yeaw Nature Center & Maidu
interdisciplinary yearlong study of our state’s Village
environmental history through the eyes of John Interact Units aligned to grade-
Muir. Activities relate to Muir's conservation level standards:
philosophy and the study of nature.
• Ancestor Adventure (2nd-4th)
- Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park is located • Family Tree, (2nd-4th)
in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The Chaw'se Regional
Indian Museum features a variety of exhibits and an
outstanding collection of Sierra Nevada Indian
artifacts. A Miwok village, complete with a
ceremonial roundhouse, has been reconstructed.
Students spend a day immersed in the Native
American culture that helped shaped the state of
California.

- Students take a trip to the California State Indian
Museum & the Effie Yeaw Nature Center… an
award-winning environmental and cultural
education center housing a replica Maidu Indian
Village, an acorn grinding rock, etc.

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

Arts -Students create art and learn about the elements • Arts Attack
No district adoption • Art posters, SRA/ McGraw-Hill
and principals of art in a developmental and
at this time sequential way through the use of the Arts Attack aligned to OC units
video/DVD based teaching method.

-Students make masks as they study the First Rumpus In the Rain Forrest, Bad Wolf
Press (2nd 3rd)
Americans. Interact Units aligned to grade-
level standards:
- Students prepare songs & dances for an American
History Pageant (3rd) • Geology Rocks (3rd)

-Students prepare a Victorian Tea for family.

-Students put on the play, “Hansel & Gretel”

-As they study African culture…students create a
videotape of African clothing, song & dance.

- A musical format reinforces the science standards Art posters aligned to Open Court
as students sing about the changing earth, themes, SRA-McGraw Hill (2nd-6th)
including rock sedimentation. Geology Rocks (3rd)

- Through a musical play, Rumpus In the Rain
Forrest, students explore the rainforest.
- Through a musical play, students learn important
facts related to the solar system as each planet
comes to life as a character with attitude.”

- Art posters that aligned to the OC unit themes are

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

used to support the core ELA program.

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

Technology -All classrooms have, or have access to, computer OnePlace: A Digital Resource
centers. Computers are used to facilitate the writing Management Software package
No district adoption process and conduct research. Teachers have providing teachers and administrators
at this time variety of resources at OnePlace to enrich the core the power to share and manage locally-
curriculum. Technology skills are also encouraged created digital content, student
as students pursue independent investigations; projects, teacher presentations and
prepare PowerPoint presentations; communicate more.
on-line with other students & mentors; record &
chart data; create original products & projects, etc. Discovery Education Streaming
Digital video-based learning resource.
- Students learn initial keyboarding skills. Featuring more than 5,000 full-length
videos segmented into 50,000 content-
- Students participate in Web Quests aligned to core specific video segments,
instruction. Unitedstreaming allows teachers to
seamlessly integrate its content into
- Kidspiration & Inspiration software supports their curriculum.
visual learners as it allows students to create
concept maps, create graphic organizers, diagram, AP Images Database: Online resource
etc. for primary source news photos from
Associated Press.
- Accelerated Reader software differentiates the
degree of challenge a student is given based on Curriculum Companion:
individual readiness levels. The Curriculum Companion for Open
Court is a site devoted to helping
teachers understand, apply, and teach
state adopted curriculum materials, and
integrate technology in their classroom.

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

NetTrekker: Educational search engine
which is maintained by professional
teachers.

Kidspiration, Inspiration software

PowerPoint

Web Quests

Build A Website In A Day, Vision
Technology

Accelerated Reader

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

Character Education Character education is infused into daily instruction. Interact Units aligned to grade-level
Students are encouraged to reflect on their learning standards:
No district adoption by:
at this time • Friends
• Responding to probing questions (orally & in
writing)

• Identifying ethical issues
• Recognizing bias
• Defending personal points of view
• Analyzing conflicting perspectives
• Appreciating diversity
• Creating original products that address “real

world” issues

- Background essays are used to introduce students
to the meaning of friendship while exploring diverse
cultures through a variety of role-playing, literacy
activities and art projects. (Friends)

Cross-Curricular - Most classes choose at least one Community John Muir Living History Program
Integration Service Project each year. Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park
California State Indian Museum
Fieldtrips are aligned to the core instructional Effie Yeaw Nature Center & Maidu
program and grade-level standards. These learning Village
excursions are used to extend student
understanding and to help them generalize their
learning to real worlds situations.

Field trip Sol Ceramica (sculpting)

Sacramento City Unified School District

Gifted and Talented Education Department

CORE PLUS Scope & Sequence
Full-Day GATE Program: Second-Third Grade

- Field trip to various museums

Nature & Nurture of - William Land Pond (ecosystems) GATE books & videos available For
Gifted Children Check-Out at the district office &
Teaching the Professional Development regarding the specialized through classroom teachers.
Gifted Child needs of gifted and talented children is offered
continuously throughout the school year. For
example:

California Association for the Gifted State
Conference

GATE teachers & their principals were offered the
opportunity to attend the California Association for
the Gifted Sate Conference in Anaheim, 2007-2008.

Guiding the Gifted Child Guest Speaker Series

See District In-Service Opportunities

Professional Sequence Certificate In Gifted
and Talented Education

See District In-Service Opportunities

GATE Full-Day Articulation In-Services

See District In-Service Opportunities