Elementary Program

The Brandywine Heights Virtual Academy (BHVA) is an online program using courses through Accelerate and Pearson Connexus. Through the virtual academy, the Brandywine Heights School District offers numerous online courses to satisfy student needs and specific situations. Our students have the choice between Accelerate or Pearson Connexus programs and curriculum. Students may choose to take their courses online, and/or choose to take courses in our brick and mortar school.

Both providers provide a high quality, accredited online program for grades K-5. The online courses are custom-designed by teams of curriculum experts to engage students in a multi-dimensional learning experience. Rich in scope and sequence, our proprietary lesson plans are designed for student mastery and tailored to diverse learning styles. The courses include web-based curriculum, highly qualified teachers, and a proprietary technology platform specifically designed for elementary school education (grades K-5). Accelerate and Pearson Connexus allow students in grades K-5 to experience a flexibility that the traditional, structured classroom environment cannot offer.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum brings lessons to life with a rich mixture of online and offline teaching tools, including interactive animations, award-winning printed books with beautiful illustrations and narrative, videos, and materials for hands-on experiments. In addition, lesson plans for each subject are integrated, so your child may be reading literature from the same time period as the art or history lesson he or she is studying.

Lessons are followed by assessments, so you can be sure that your child has mastered a particular area before moving on. Our individualized approach means your child can go as fast or slow as needed. The online assessments are integrated with the planning and progress tools, making it easy to find the right pace by subject and to stay on track.

Guideline for Elementary Curricula Pacing

Language Arts/English

The curriculum for Language Arts/English develops important reading and writing skills as your child moves through the stages of learning to read and reading to learn. We reinforce phonics, literature, language skills and spelling lessons through classic works and the writing process. Students are also prepared for standardized tests in language skills and reading comprehension.

Math

The curriculum for Math strengthens fundamental skills mastery through critical thinking and problem-solving. Your child will see mathematical concepts presented in understandable concrete realities. Basic skills are reinforced through regular practice and review. Concepts are clarified through the use of online games and animations while challenging problems help develop critical thinking skills.

Science

The curriculum for Science promotes hands-on learning experiences and the systematic study of scientific terms and concepts. Students perform experiments to learn scientific principles and receive guided instruction in important scientific concepts. K12 Inc. Science promotes curiosity and analytic skills with real-world examples of scientific and technological advances.

History

Beginning in Kindergarten, the curriculum for History takes your child on a tour of the seven continents and re-tells American History and World History through the life stories of famous Americans and world leaders. At each grade level, your child engages in lessons of different countries, cultures and eras.

Art

The curriculum for Art follows the History lesson timeline so your child experiences the great works of art from different cultures and eras. Lessons also include creative activities like painting, drawing, and pottery to introduce essential art elements of line, shape, color and form.

Music

The curriculum for Music introduces various concepts at each grade level designed to promote musical knowledge and appreciation. Students learn the essential concepts governing Western music. The structure of the music curriculum builds a foundation of music comprehension. Your child can build on this foundation to develop his or her own appreciation for music.