Unit 1

VocabularySchoolGrade levelElementary (Primary)Middle (Intermediate)High (Secondary)

Schools and Grade Levels

Pre-school (Pre-K)Elementary School (K-5)Middle School (6-8)High School (9-12)

Pre-schoolIt is not mandatory3-5 years oldHead Start is available at some schools at no-costChild Find is a program to identify special needs at no-cost

Elementary SchoolKindergarten-fifth grade (K-5)

Ages: 5-11

Middle SchoolSixth-Eighth grade (6-8)

Ages: 11-14Classes by department

High SchoolNinth-Twelfth grade (9-12)Ages: 14-17 (ESOL students can stay in high school to finish their diploma requirements until age 22)

Classes by departmentChoose classes to meet graduation requirements

PWCS School CalendarSchool begins the Tuesday after Labor Day (September 8th)

Ends in June (June 8th, 2010)Vacations (Holidays)

Veterans Day (November 11)Thanksgiving Break (November 26-27)

PWCS School CalendarWinter Break (December 24, 2009-January 3, 2010)

Martin Luther King, Jr. (Jan. 18)President’s Day (February 15)Spring Break (March 29-April 5)Memorial Day (May 31)

Literacy ActivityRead the story “Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan’s

Chinese New Year,” by Kate Waters.

Create a Venn diagram of U.S. and world

holidays to compare similarities and

differences.

Holiday ActivityFrom Activity 1: share your

partner’s favorite holiday.Picture-Word Matching Game

Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year

ThanksgivingEaster (Spring)Religious Holiday (Ramadan, Yom

Kippur, etc.)Mother’s Day/Father’s DayIndependence Day

Computer LabGo to the Internet and find information on

their own country’s holiday(s)Write notesDownload pictures to share