Grade 1
Unit 1: Snap Shots
Focus: For students who completed the Kindergarten CKLA program, Unit 1 provides a review of the sounds and spellings taught in the CKLA Kindergarten curriculum. Students are introduced to Tricky Spellings (spellings that can be sounded more than one way) and Tricky Words (words that cannot be sounded out using the letter-sound correspondences taught so far). The decodable Student Reader for Unit 1 is Snap Shots.
Number of Lessons: 32
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: reading and writing • decoding • phonics • grammar • listening and speaking
Unit 2: Snap Shots
Focus: Unit 2 introduces five vowel sounds and the most common (or least ambiguous) spelling for each sound. Students learn to read and write words with separated digraphs (such as a and e in cake). The unit also includes grammar lessons on nouns (including proper nouns) as well as practice with new Tricky Words. The decodable Student Reader for Unit 2 is Gran.
Number of Lessons: 19
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: reading and writing • decoding • phonics • grammar • listening and speaking
Unit 3: Fables
Focus: Unit 3 introduces students to five vowel sounds and the most common spelling for each sound, five new Tricky Words, and the Tricky Spelling “oo.” Grammar exercises focus on identifying verbs and verb tense (regular present, past, and future). Students begin formal instruction in the writing process with a focus on narrative writing.The decodable Student Reader for Unit 3 is Fables.
Number of Lessons: 19
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: reading and writing • decoding • phonics • grammar • listening and speaking • fiction
Unit 4: The Green Fern Zoo
Focus: Unit 4 introduces the most common (or least ambiguous) spellings for /r/-controlled vowel sounds. Students learn the concept of a syllable and practice with two-syllable words. Students are introduced to past-tense verb forms ending with –ed as they continue to work with nouns and verbs in phrases. Students are introduced to adjectives and they practice descriptive writing. The decodable Student Reader for Unit 4 is The Green Fern Zoo.
Number of Lessons: 28
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: reading and writing • decoding • phonics • grammar • listening and speaking • informational text
Unit 5: Kate's Book
Focus: In Unit 5, students begin learning spelling alternatives that make up the advanced code. They practice making nouns plural and changing spelling when adding suffixes. In grammar, students identify sentence types (statements, questions, and exclamations) and practice creating longer sentences. They plan, draft, and edit a letter in which they express their opinions to the main character of the decodable Student Reader for Unit 5, Kate’s Book.
Number of Lessons: 22
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: reading and writing • decoding • phonics • grammar • listening and speaking
Unit 6: Grace
Focus: In Unit 6, students continue work with several spelling alternatives for consonant sounds. Students review nouns and pronouns and learn to match pronouns to the nouns to which they refer. They plan, draft, and edit a personal narrative. The decodable Student Reader for Unit 6 is Grace.
Number of Lessons: 25
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: reading and writing • decoding • phonics • grammar • listening and speaking
Unit 7: Kay and Martez
Focus: In Unit 7, students continue to learn the advanced code, focusing on spelling alternatives for vowel sounds. In addition, students learn about the use of conjunctions and commas, as well as and noun-verb agreement in sentences. Students practice the writing process by planning, drafting, and editing an informative/explanatory text. The decodable Student Reader for Unit 7 is Kay and Martez. Students are administered a cumulative End-of-Year assessment, the results of which can be shared with second grade teachers via the End-of-Year Summary sheet included in the Student Workbook.
Number of Lessons: 21
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: reading and writing • decoding • phonics • grammar • listening and speaking
Domain 1: Fables and Stories
Focus: Students are introduced to fables and stories that have delighted people for generations, including Aesop’s fables, a folktale of Anansi the Spider, and Beatrix Potter’s “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” Students increase their vocabulary and reading comprehension skills, learn valuable lessons about virtues and behavior, and become familiar with the key elements of a story.
Number of Lessons: 10
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: folktales • Aesop’s fables • sayings and phrases • moral of the story • fiction
Domain 2: The Human Body
Focus: Students are introduced to the systems of the human body and the functions of major organs. They learn about care of the body, germs and disease, vaccines, and keys to good health.
Number of Lessons: 10
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: skeletal system • muscular system • digestive system • circulatory system • nervous system • Edward Jenner • Louis Pasteur
Domain 3: Different Lands, Similar Stories
Focus: Students encounter different cultures from around the world as they explore the ways in which folktales from different lands treat similar themes or characters, including variations on the Cinderella story, the adventures of supernaturally small characters, and the exploits of cunning tricksters.
Number of Lessons: 9
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: folktales • fairy tales • Cinderella • Tom Thumb • Thumbelina • Issun-Boshi • Little Red Riding Hood
Domain 4: Early World Civilizations
Focus: What is needed to build a civilization? Going back to the ancient Middle East, students explore Mesopotamia and Egypt and learn about the importance of rivers, farming, writing, laws, art, and religious beliefs. A third section introduces the development of three major world religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) to provide students with a basic vocabulary for understanding many events and ideas in history throughout their studies in later grades.
Number of Lessons: 16
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • ancient Egypt • ancient civilizations • world religions • geography
Domain 5: Early American Civilizations
Focus: Students compare and contrast key features of the early civilizations of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca, and explore the development of cities such as Tenochtitlan and Machu Picchu. They are also introduced to the work of archaeologists who unearth ancient civilizations.
Number of Lessons: 11
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • ancient civilizations • geography • archaeology
Domain 6: Astronomy
Focus: In this introduction to the solar system, students learn about Earth in relation to the moon, the other planets, the sun, and the stars. They learn about the sun as a source of light, heat, and energy. And they are introduced to space exploration, including the Apollo missions to the moon.
Number of Lessons: 9
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: astronomy • astronauts • constellations • NASA • technology
Domain 7: The History of Earth
Focus: Students learn about the geographical features of the Earth’s surface, the layers of the Earth, rocks and minerals, volcanoes and geysers—and, last but not least, fossils and dinosaurs!
Number of Lessons: 8
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • geology • geography • fossils
Domain 8: Animals and Habitat
Focus: Students focus on the interconnectedness of living things with their physical environment as they learn what a habitat is and explore plants and animals in specific types of habitats.
Number of Lessons: 9
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • animals • habitats • plants • seasons and weather • taking care of the earth
Domain 9: Fairy Tales
Focus: Students are introduced to fairy tales that have been favorites for generations, including “Sleeping Beauty,” “Rumpelstiltskin,” “The Frog Prince,” “Hansel and Gretel,” and “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Students learn about the Brothers Grimm, identify common elements of fairy tales, consider problems and solutions, make interpretations, and compare and contrast different tales.
Number of Lessons: 9
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: fairy tales • Brothers Grimm • fantasy
Domain 10: A New Nation
American Independence
Focus: Students learn about the birth of the United States of America. They are introduced to important historical figures and events in the story of how the thirteen colonies became an independent nation. They also learn the significance of patriotic symbols, including the U.S. flag, the Liberty Bell, and the bald eagle.
Number of Lessons: 12
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • American Revolution • geography • African Americans • Declaration of Independence • presidents • George Washington • Thomas Jefferson • Benjamin Franklin • Betsy Ross
Domain 11: Frontier Explorers
Focus: Students are introduced to early exploration of the American West and learn about key figures such as Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark, and Sacagawea. They learn how colonists spread westward, including their struggles and successes and their interactions with native peoples.
Number of Lessons: 11
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • Native Americans • thirteen colonies • westward expansion • geography
Grade 2
Unit 1: The Cat Bandit
Focus: For students who completed the first grade CKLA program, Unit 1 serves as a review. This unit focuses on various spellings with an emphasis on consonant sounds, one- and two-syllable words, and high-frequency Tricky Words. The decodable Student Reader for Unit 1 is The Cat Bandit.
Number of Lessons: 22
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: reading and writing • decoding • phonics • spelling alternatives • grammar • listening and speaking
Unit 2: Bedtime Tales
Focus: For students who completed the first grade CKLA program, Unit 2 largely serves as a review. This unit focuses on various spellings with an emphasis on vowel sounds. Students read one- and two-syllable words, as well as contractions. They practice with a number of high-frequency Tricky Words. They learn about the use of quotation marks and begin instruction in the writing process, writing narratives and opinions. The decodable Student Reader for Unit 2 is Bedtime Tales.
Number of Lessons: 16
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: reading and writing • decoding • phonics • spelling alternatives • grammar • listening and speaking
Unit 3: Kids Excel
Focus: Unit 3 introduces spelling alternatives for vowel sounds, as well as various tricky spellings (spellings that can stand for more than one sound, such as “o” in hop or open). Students practice writing a personal narrative. Grammar instruction focuses on capitalization, quotation marks, ending punctuation, and common and proper nouns. Students are also introduced to antonyms and synonyms. The decodable Student Reader for Unit 3 is Kids Excel.
Number of Lessons: 25
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: reading and writing • decoding • phonics • spelling alternatives • grammar • listening and speaking
Unit 4: The Job Hunt
Focus: Students are introduced to more spelling alternatives for vowel sounds, as well as three tricky spellings (spellings that can stand for more than one sound, such as “y” in try or yes). Students practice persuasive writing as part of a friendly letter. In grammar, students review singular and regular plural nouns, as well as common and proper nouns. They are introduced to the formation of irregular plural nouns, as well as action verbs and to be verbs. The decodable Student Reader for Unit 4 is The Job Hunt.
Number of Lessons: 25
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: reading and writing • decoding • phonics • spelling alternatives • grammar • listening and speaking
Unit 5: Sir Gus
Focus: Unit 5 introduces spelling alternatives for vowel sounds and the schwa sound. Students practice chunking phonemes as a means of reading multi-syllable words. They review grammar skills and learn about adjectives, as well as how to identify the subject and predicate in a complete sentence. Additionally, students continue to practice narrative writing by rewriting an ending to a story from their decodable Student Reader, Sir Gus.
Number of Lessons: 30
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: reading and writing • decoding • phonics • spelling alternatives • grammar • listening and speaking
Unit 6: The War of 1812
Focus: Unit 6 introduces several new spelling alternatives for vowel and consonant sounds. Students review grammar skills and learn about adverbs. They also learn to distinguish complete from incomplete sentences, as well as how to identify and correct run-on sentences. Students are introduced to expository or report writing. The decodable Student Reader for Unit 6 is The War of 1812. Students are administered a cumulative End-of-Year Assessment, the results of which can be shared with third grade teachers via the End-of-Year Summary sheet included in the Student Workbook.
Number of Lessons: 36
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • reading and writing • decoding • phonics • spelling alternatives • grammar • listening and speaking
Domain 1: Fairy Tales and Tall Tales
Focus: Students are introduced to three classic fairy tales: “The Fisherman and His Wife,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” and “Beauty and the Beast.” They consider characteristic elements of fairy tales and consider problems faced by the characters as well as lessons each story conveys. Students then turn to the American frontier and tall tales about Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, John Henry, and Casey Jones. They learn about the characteristics of tall tales, such as exaggeration and larger-than-life characters.
Number of Lessons: 8
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: fiction • Brothers Grimm • Hans Christian Andersen • American West • westward expansion • American geography
Domain 2: Early Asian Civilizations
Focus: Students are introduced to the continent of Asia and its two most populous countries, India and China. Students learn about early India, the importance of the Indus and Ganges Rivers, and the basics of Hinduism and Buddhism. Students then explore early Chinese civilization and its lasting contributions, including paper, silk, and the Great Wall of China. In addition, students are introduced to related folktales and poetry, including “The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal,” “The Blind Men and the Elephant,” and “The Magic Paintbrush.”
Number of Lessons: 14
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • geography • ancient civilizations • • Diwali • Yellow and Yangtze Rivers • Confucius • Chinese New Year
Domain 3: The Ancient Greek Civilization
Focus: Students explore the civilization of ancient Greece, which lives on in many ways—in our language, government, art and architecture, the Olympics, and more. Students learn about the city-states of Sparta and Athens, Greek democracy, the gods and goddesses of the ancient Greeks, and the philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.
Number of Lessons: 12
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • myths and mythical characters • world geography • ancient civilizations • Parthenon • Olympic Games
Domain 4: Greek Myths
Focus: Building on the Ancient Greek Civilization domain, students explore several well-known Greek myths and mythical characters, including Prometheus and Pandora, Demeter and Persephone, Arachne the Weaver, Oedipus and the Sphinx, Theseus and the Minotaur, and others. Students learn about common characteristics of myths and examine story elements in the myths.
Number of Lessons: 10
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: ancient Greece • Icarus and Daedalus • Hercules • Atalanta • Mount Olympus
Domain 5: The War of 1812
Focus: Students are introduced to major figures and events in the War of 1812, sometimes called America’s second war for independence. Students learn about James and Dolley Madison, “Old Ironsides,” “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the Battle of New Orleans, and more, all of which build a foundation for more in-depth study in later grades.
Number of Lessons: 8
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • Native Americans • Francis Scott Key • Andrew Jackson • presidents • White House
Domain 6: Cycles of Nature
Focus: Students are introduced to natural cycles that make life on Earth possible. Students will learn about seasonal cycles, plant and animal life cycles, and the water cycle. Students will also enjoy poems by Emily Dickinson and Robert Louis Stevenson.
Number of Lessons: 9
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • seasons • photosynthesis • animals and habitats • metamorphosis
Domain 7: Westward Expansion
Focus: Students are introduced students to an important period in the history of the United States—the time of westward expansion during the 1800s. Students explore why pioneers were willing to endure the hardships to move westward, and learn about innovations in transportation and communication, including the steamboat, the Transcontinental Railroad, and the Pony Express. Students also come to understand the hardships and tragedies that Native Americans endured because of westward expansion.
Number of Lessons: 9
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • Robert Fulton • Erie Canal • Oregon Trail • Sequoyah • Trail of Tears
Domain 8: Insects
Focus: Students learn about the characteristics of insects, the largest group of animals on Earth. Students explore insect life cycles and social insects such as bees and ants. They consider helpful and harmful aspects of insects. This domain lays the foundation for more in-depth study in later grades of life cycles and animal classification.
Number of Lessons: 8
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • animals and habitats • plants • informational writing
Domain 9: The U.S. Civil War
Focus: This domain lays the foundation for more in-depth study in later grades of a critical period in American history. Students learn about the controversy between the North and the South over slavery. Students also become familiar with the achievements of key historical figures during this time, including Harriet Tubman, Clara Barton, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Robert E. Lee.
Number of Lessons: 12
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • Underground Railroad • Red Cross • Union • Confederacy • Jefferson Davis • Emancipation Proclamation
Domain 10: The Human Body
Building Blocks and Nutrition
Focus: Students learn about Anton van Leeuwenhoek and his pioneering work with the microscope. They then proceed to explore a number of topics regarding the human body, including cells, tissues, organs, and body systems, with a focus on the digestive and excretory systems. In addition, students learn about good nutrition and other keys to good health.
Number of Lessons: 9
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • science biographies • exercise • balanced diet
Domain 11: Immigration
Focus: Students explore the idea of e pluribus unum and the importance of immigration in the history of the United States, with a focus on the great wave of immigration between 1880 and 1920. They learn reasons why people immigrated and why they settled in particular cities or regions. In learning about citizenship, students are introduced to basic knowledge about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Number of Lessons: 10
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • James Madison • Statue of Liberty • push and pull factors • American government • civics
Domain 12: Fighting for a Cause
Focus: Students learn about seven key figures who fought for a cause and, against great opposition, stood up for what they believed in: Susan B. Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mary McLeod Bethune, Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Cesar Chavez. Students explore the connection between ideas and actions, and see how people can do extraordinary things to change a nation’s understanding and actions.
Number of Lessons: 9
Lesson Time: 60 minutes each. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: nonfiction • civil rights • human rights • suffrage • migrant workers • American government • African American history • civics
