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Allegiance STEAM Academy Thrive Chino

Enrichments

Monthly Enrichment Learning Hub

Each month, our enrichment teachers share what students are learning and how families can partner with us to extend learning at home.

Spanish (Grades 4–8)

What Students Are Learning

  • Grade 4: Describing family members using adjectives and family vocabulary. Students will present a family tree project.

  • Grades 5–8: “La Casa y Quehaceres” (Household items and chores). Students will also participate in our annual music competition, Locura de Marzo, analyzing and voting on Spanish-language songs.

  • Students explore culture through authentic traditions and celebrations.

Talk With Your Student About…

  • How would you describe our family in Spanish?

  • What chores do you do at home? Can you say them in Spanish?

  • Which song is your favorite in Locura de Marzo and why?

Support at Home

  • Practice vocabulary during car rides or dinner.

  • Watch a Spanish-language show with subtitles.

  • Ask your child to teach you five new words each week.

Mandarin (TK–3)

What Students Are Learning

  • Foundational vocabulary, tones, and character recognition.

  • Chinese New Year traditions through the story of the Nian Monster.

  • Cultural symbols such as red envelopes, lanterns, dragon dances, and traditional greetings.

Older students analyze traditions and explore folklore such as Ne Zha.

Talk With Your Student About…

  • Why is red important during Chinese New Year?

  • What scared away the Nian Monster?

  • Can you teach me a Chinese New Year greeting?

Support at Home

  • Count to 10 in Mandarin together.

  • Label common household items with simple characters.

  • Read or watch a short Chinese New Year story together.

Music (TK-8)

What Students Are Learning

  • TK/K: Rhythm, steady beat, and teamwork in ensemble performance.

  • Grades 2, 4, 5: Preparing for winter performances through vocal and theatrical practice.

  • Middle School: Music theory fundamentals and global music exploration.

  • Think Tank: Adapted musical engagement experiences.

Music instruction emphasizes collaboration, listening skills, and performance confidence.

Talk With Your Student About…

  • What rhythm patterns did you practice today?

  • How does music connect different cultures?

  • What part are you most excited to perform?

Support at Home

  • Encourage 10–15 minutes of daily practice.

  • Listen to different music genres together.

  • Attend student performances when possible.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION (TK–8)

What Students Are Learning

  • TK–K: Locomotor skills and cooperative movement.

  • Grades 1–3: Dribbling, kicking, and foundational sport skills.

  • Grades 4–6: Football, volleyball, and frisbee fundamentals.

  • Grades 7–8: Advanced techniques, fitness goal-setting, and endurance training.

Students also develop goal-setting skills and healthy lifestyle habits.

Talk With Your Student About…

  • What fitness goal are you working toward?

  • Why is teamwork important in sports?

  • How do you show sportsmanship?

Support at Home

  • Take a family walk or bike ride.

  • Set a weekly family movement goal.

  • Encourage outdoor play over screen time.

STEAM LAB (TK–4)

What Students Are Learning

This month’s theme: How nature and engineering help living things survive.

  • TK/K: Animal needs and habitats.

  • Grade 1: Light and sound communication design.

  • Grade 2: States of matter and solar ovens.

  • Grade 3: Inherited traits and survival challenges.

  • Grade 4: Earthquake-resistant bridge design.

Students follow the engineering process: plan, build, test, improve.

Talk With Your Student About…

  • What problem were you trying to solve?

  • What happened when your design didn’t work?

  • What would you improve next time?

Support at Home

  • Build a structure with household items and test its strength.

  • Observe animal traits during a nature walk.

  • Create a simple at-home experiment.

STEAM LAB (Grades 5–8)

What Students Are Learning

Students are applying scientific reasoning and real-world problem solving:

  • Grade 5: Ecosystems and energy flow.

  • Grade 6: Cells and environmental change.

  • Grade 7: Cellular respiration and evidence from labs.

  • Grade 8: Kinetic energy calculations and motion graphs.

Students define problems, design solutions, test ideas, and refine their thinking.

Talk With Your Student About…

  • What evidence supports your conclusion?

  • How does this concept connect to the real world?

  • What variables did you test?

Support at Home

  • Visit a science museum or maker space.

  • Ask your child to explain a lab experiment.

  • Encourage independent innovation projects.