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Acquiring And Applying Core Content

The Suites system emphasizes the acquisition and application of core content. Students aren’t just challenged to work through real-world career scenarios – they’re asked to apply math, science, and language arts skills just like the professionals they’re emulating. Suite activities and challenges are designed to specifically require the application of core content to ensure students are practicing these invaluable skills.

Meeting and Exceeding Standards

Suites continuously correlates its curriculum with educational standards by using Amalgama™, Pitsco’s proprietary, comprehensive standards database. Amalgama provides schools with a report of how event-by-event activities within every Harbor and every planned activity correlate to local, state, and national standards.

Not only do students complete numerous inquiry-based science activities like electrophoresis and fitness analysis, they must communicate and defend scientific arguments as part of the Team Challenge. This application of science concepts – using real-world tools and techniques – reinforces and gives context to the science lessons they’re learning every day.

Each Suite topic is unique, and the technology within is a close approximation of what’s used in the real world. Students test the tensile strength of metal, report the thrust and drag of a rocket, program robots, and follow proper laboratory procedures with scientific equipment. In addition, students extensively use computers for communication, design, programming, and more.

Communication – written and spoken – is a key requirement of every Suite. Students apply language arts skills including creating and delivering presentations, leading the Suite Team, brainstorming with teammates, and writing summaries and progress reports.

Students apply math in the context of the Suite topic. Algebra, engineering, coordinates, measurements, and more combine to offer rich math experiences in many Suites. Examples include charting rocket thrust, using coordinate planes in the creation of a 3-D animation, and creating a scale drawing of a crime scene.