First Americans Module

No aspect of our past is more enshrouded in myth and misconceptions than the history of Native Americans. This module examines the rich and diverse cultures of the first Americans and the far-reaching consequences of their encounter with Europeans.

Students will examine the cultures of the Plains and the Southwest Indians. These cultures will be compared with the culture of the students. Map reading skills will be reinforced. In science, different habitats (desert and plains) are studied. Animals indigenous to each area will be presented. Graphing and computational skills will be reinforced in math. Various games will be played, with an emphasis on simple probability. Various Indian related stories will be read for language arts. Sign language, story writing and poetry are also included. Because of the rich artistic history of Native Americans, a wide variety of art projects are incorporated.

Highlights of this module include the construction of a 3D Native American virtual world community.

Mars Module

This module is an introduction to science fiction as well as a unit designed to start students thinking about the future and their roles in it. Twenty short stories are to be read, and their similarities and differences discussed. As students read through these stories, they will be exposed to many possibilities for life in the future. More important, they will become more aware of the present, and how what we are doing right now will affect all our futures.

Students conduct research on space science and fiction by completing the online space lessons. After completing their research, students  compose science fiction stories about imaginary planets by creating an interactive 3D mars world! Students’ stories  incorporate elements of fact and fiction that they gather during their research.

Students begin this unit by discussing science fiction and working towards an operational definition of science fiction for the purposes of this unit only. Many students do not realize that movies such as Star Wars, Aliens and E.T. are science fiction. Students  learn that science fiction concepts can be future-oriented, based on real scientific knowledge and predictions.

Objectives:

At the end of this module, students should be able to:

1. Understand the concepts of future and change.
2. Understand how their own future effects of change upon their lives.
3. Predict possible alternatives for the future.
4. Examine themes of adventure, family, relationships, and technology and our responsibility to technology and change.
5. Develop organizational skills through record keeping.
6. Examine the impact of technology on the space program, in the past, and at present.
7. Speculate on the direction that space exploration could (or should) take in the future.
8. Create a 3D Mars Space Colony

Assessment

Students complete a variety of written assignments and final projects to assess progress. All work is archived in individual student folders at the WiloStar3D site. Final multimedia projects are showcased at the WiloStar3D site and are archived into personal student portfolio CD’s at the end of the school year to document progress and student growth.

WiloStar3D teachers provide written daily feedback on all student assignments. Students have password protected learning portals where assignment feedback is stored along with their e-Gradebook. Students have access to this area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

These include:

•   Daily assignments
• Mars Mini-Web
• Student Created 3D Mars World: This includes an interactive science fiction game that students create for the rest of the WiloStar3D student body.
• Science Fiction Novel Responses and Book Review

Module Resources

Self-selected Science Fiction Novels to coincide with a genre study of science fiction writing and science fiction authors.

Oceans Module

The WiloStar3D online homeschooling oceanography unit is an integrated module that gives the student an overview of the oceans. It deals with the nature of the ocean basins, the physical and chemical aspects of the water in the oceans, the nearshore environments, the ocean’s interaction with the coastline and finally the interactions between organisms and their environments. Students also study the tools of oceanography as well as life within the different ocean zones.

This module uses the novel The Cay and Treasure Island to teach language arts skills during this 6 week module. Students create a 3D aquarium as a final research project in our 3D learning world called Wiloworlds.

Objectives:

At the end of this module, students should be able to:

• Describe, in general terms, the geography of the world’s oceans.
• Understand and explain plate tectonics.
• Describe the chemical and physical properties of seawater.
• Describe the processes that characterize water movement in the world’s oceans.
• Describe the relationship between oceans and climate.
• Describe the type and distribution of ocean sediments, the processes by which they are deposited, and how the coastline influences this process.
• Describe the organisms that live in the ocean and the factors that control their diversity.
• Describe the natural resources available from the ocean and the ocean’s role as a waste disposal site.

Assessment

Students complete a variety of written assignments and final projects to assess progress. All work is archived in individual student folders at the WiloStar3D site. Final multimedia projects are showcased at the WiloStar3D site and are archived into personal student portfolio CD’s at the end of the school year to document progress and student grow.

WiloStar3D teachers provide written daily feedback on all student assignments. Students have password protected learning portals where assignment feedback is stored along with their e-Gradebook. Students have access to this area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

These include:

•  Daily assignments
•  3D Aquarium Exhibit
• The Cay Essay Test

Resources Needed

1. Treasure Island by Robert Lewis Stevenson

Reading level: 6-adult

2. The Cay by Theodore Taylor

Editorial Reviews

This award-winning novel remains a powerful classic of prejudice, love, and survival. In 1942, 11-year-old Phillip Enright lives with his parents on the Dutch island of Curaçao, but when the war moves too close for comfort, his mother decides to travel with him back to the safety of Virginia. When their boat is torpedoed, however, Phillip is blinded and finds himself adrift on a life raft with an old black man and a cat. They eventually land on a deserted island. Phillip is suspicious of “the large Negro,” but soon grows to trust–and ultimately love–the patient and generous Timothy. Dedicated to “Dr. King’s Dream,” The Cay has a clear message that friendship is colorblind; it is also a terrific adventure story of a young, newly blinded man learning to survive on an uninhabited island. (Ages 12 and older)

3. Self-Selected Novels for Reading Workshop

Revolutionary War Module

This WiloStar3D online homeschooling virtual world module is about the people, places, and battles of the American Revolution. In module 5 students studied the reasons the English colonists came to America. This module begins with the irritations and frustrations that lead up to the fight for independence. The students will make comparisons and connections between the demands the British government placed upon the colonists in 1776 and those placed upon our American citizens today. After this module, the students will go on to discuss the United States Constitution and the building of a new government.

Module Goals

Students will be able to connect the situations and people of the eighteenth century to those in the 20th century, have an awareness of the factors that lead up to the Revolutionary War, recognize that there were minorities and women who fought for America’s independence.

Objectives:

At the end of this module, students should be able to:

• Recall the important battles of the Revolutionary War
• Understand the geography of North America in the mid 1700s, especially the thirteen colonies.
• Indicate how economic specialization led to regional interdependence among colonies.
• Describe actions that provoked protests against English authority and fueled the desire for independence.
• List the main ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
• Identify the contributions of selected men and women to the American cause during the Revolution.
• Identify the major events of the War for Independence which culminated in the “American” victory
• Justify Colonist’s frustrations that lead to war.

Assessment

Students complete a variety of written assignments and final projects to assess progress. All work is archived in individual student folders at the WiloStar3D site. Final multimedia projects are showcased at the WiloStar3D site and are archived into personal student portfolio CD’s at the end of the school year to document progress and student growth.

WiloStar3D teachers provide written daily feedback on all student assignments. Students have password protected learning portals where assignment feedback is stored along with their e-Gradebook. Students have access to this area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

These include:

•  Daily assignments
• Famous Patriot Biography
• 3D Revolutionary War Simulation Participation in Wilowords virtual world for students
• The Fighting Ground Essay Test

Module Resources

The Fighting Ground, Avi

Self-Selected Novel

Rain Forest Module

This integrated module covers topics relating to the rain forest ecology, ancient Maya civilization and how archeology uncovers the pieces of the past. Students read Jaguar during this study and participate in an online collaborative 3D project re-recreating a lost civilization.

An introduction to the way archaeologists work using the lost civilization of the Maya as the basis. In the process of learning about these examples students explore how to find and excavate archaeological sites, how to date the past, and how to interpret archaeological data.

Learning about the Mayan people and their culture is achieved in this module through visuals, writing and developing computation in Mayan. This module will help the students become aware how our modern hierarchies are similar to their own social structure.

Students will realize the great contributions in astronomy and math by identifying calendar symbols.

Students also explore the Ancient Mound Builders and Mississippian Culture.
Objectives:

At the end of this module, students should be able to:

• Develop an awareness of the complex nature of a given culture: its history, geography, art, religion, architecture, communication and social structure.
•  Understand the concept of region in relation to race, religion and culture.
• Understand how belief systems affect a society’s actions and their accomplishments as architects and artisans
• Understand the development of a system of hieroglyphic writing.
• Create an interactive 3D Mayan Exhibit.

Assessment

Students complete a variety of written assignments and final projects to assess progress. All work is archived in individual student folders at the WiloStar3D site. Final multimedia projects are showcased at the WiloStar3D site and are archived into personal student portfolio CD’s at the end of the school year to document progress and student growth.

WiloStar3D teachers provide written daily feedback on all student assignments. Students have password protected learning portals where assignment feedback is stored along with their e-Gradebook. Students have access to this area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

These include:

• Rain forest Mini-Web
• 3D Rain forest Exhibit
• Jaguar Essay Test

Module Resources

Jaguar by Roland Smith

Self-Selected Novel

Virtual World Builders 1

In this fun beginning WiloStar3D virtual world online homeschooling class, students learn how to build and manipulate objects in Wiloworlds, our online 3D learning world. Students learn how to create objects, build simple structures, add commands and execute actions. Students create their own student housing sector to showcase their skills as part of the course completion.
Topics covered in 3D Programming 1 include:

• Starting an object
• Moving an object
• Changing an object
• Assigning actions to objects
• Simple triggers
• Simple commands
• Simple animation commands
• Simple behavior commands
• Simple special commands

Builder’s Academy 101 offers everything kids need to build their own 3D castles and houses. In this 3D course children can embark on a fun-filled adventure that covers these areas:

• The fundamentals of 3D building and combining shapes in a three dimensional environment
• Utilizing tools to build a fantasy world of their own making
• Enjoying hours of fun after camp interacting in Wiloworlds playing with their creations and socializing with new friends

This unique program takes your child on an adventure they’ll never forget! Children not only explore the 3D worlds that already exist within Wiloworlds (castle and house templates), but they can also construct their own unique models from the tools provided. Any objects and buildings children create may be accessed at home as well!

3D building combines fun experimentation and exploration with engaging learning experiences. In addition, children acquire an understanding of the way things are built and learn to follow clear instructions, building good listening skills.

Everyone dreams of building their own fantasy world. Now your dreams can come true!

Wolves Module

The objective of this integrated online homeschooling module is to expose students to new ideas in the area of animal behavior and to help develop critical thinking. This module also exposes students to Jack London’s classic Call of the Wild.

In this module, students explore the proximate causes and ultimate evolutionary explanations for the behavior of animals. The goal is to give students exposure to current ideas in animal behavior, and to develop abilities in independent, critical thought. Students take an in depth look at the current state of Wolf populations world wide to study changes in populations. Classes consist of 3D classroom lectures, discussions, and 3D student presentations on observations using supplemental material from scientific journals and Web sites.

Objectives

• Draw and articulate his/her perception of the wolf.
• List negative and realistic characteristics of wolves derived from children’s literature.
• Identify causes for the decline of wolf populations.
• List reasons why wolves should be protected.
• Sequence the life cycle of the gray wolf.
• Observe a dog and compare its posture with that of the wolf.
• Explain how the wolf maintains the complex social structure of the pack through scent, communication, vocalizations, and body postures.
• Write and illustrate an informative booklet about wolves.
• Use online searches to find information about wolves.
• Experiment with technology to assist the writing process.
• Ask relevant questions calling for clarification and respond thoughtfully.

Assessment

Students complete a variety of written assignments and final projects to assess progress. All work is archived in individual student folders at the WiloStar3D site. Final multimedia projects are showcased at the WiloStar3D site and are archived into personal student portfolio CD’s at the end of the school year to document progress and student growth.

WiloStar3D online homeschool teachers provide written daily feedback on all student assignments. Students have password protected learning portals where assignment feedback is stored along with their e-Gradebook. Students have access to this area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

These include:

•  Daily assignments
•  Wolf Mini-Web Research Project
• 3D Wolf Den
• Wolf Essay Test
• Call of the Wild study questions
• Jack London research paper

Module Resources

Call of the Wild, by Jack London

Self-Selected Novel