C3’s Mission Statement: To create a nurturing and compelling learning community that engages young people in an arts integrated STEAM curriculum allowing them to thrive and be their best selves.
C3’s School Philosophy: For young people to be successful, they need to learn how to think, not what to think. We believe that learning should be fun and exciting and that students should be actively involved in their education. The rigorous STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) curriculum will be anchored in the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and will be delivered in a digitally enhanced, project-based learning environment. Relevant, hands-on programming will integrate the school and community to create an authentic education experience. The development of character, leadership skills, and community responsibility is at the heart of our whole-child approach and ensures students have the knowledge and skills to become contributing members of a democratic society.
Below you will find examples of programming opportunities available at Creativity CoLaboratory Charter School.
ELA
ELA @ C3
5th Grade
6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade
ELA @ C3
English Language Arts (ELA) classes aim to prepare students to be competent communicators who are capable of analyzing information and diverse points of view as they prepare to become members of a global community. Through a combination of novel studies, short stories, informational articles, poems, speeches, pieces of media, works of art, and other everyday texts, students explore different historical time periods and cultures from around the world. By practicing different writing and presentation styles emphasizing real-world applications, students gain skills in composition, language, and grammar, and they learn to express their well-researched ideas clearly and effectively. All learning objectives are aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.
5th Grade
- Blood on the River by Elisa Carbone – Twelve-year-old Samuel Collier is a lowly commoner on the streets of London. So when he becomes the page of Captain John Smith and boards the Susan Constant, bound for the New World, he can’t believe his good fortune. He’s heard that gold washes ashore with every tide. But beginning with the stormy journey and his first contact with the native people, he realizes that the New World is nothing like he imagined. The lush Virginia shore where they establish the colony of James Town is both beautiful and forbidding, and it’s hard to know who’s a friend or foe. As he learns the language of the Algonquian Indians and observes Captain Smith’s wise diplomacy, Samuel begins to see that he can be whomever he wants to be in this new land.
- Heroes of the Revolution by David Adler – brief biographical information on the following people: Ethan Allen, Crispus Attucks, Lydia Darragh, Nathan Hale, Mary “Molly Pitcher” Hays, Thomas Jefferson, John Paul Jones, Thomas Paine, Paul Revere, Haym Salomon, Deborah Sampson, and George Washington.
- Young Patriots by Marcella Anderson and Elizabeth Weiss Vollstadt – Major events of the American Revolution are brought to life in this collection of historical fiction that shows young people caught up in the dangers, hardships, and conflicts of America’s fight for independence.
- The Fighting Ground by Avi – Takes place during the American Revolution in NJ – The compelling story of a young boy’s first encounter with war and how it changes him.
- Charlie Skedaddle by John and Patricia Beattle – Charley is a member of the Bowery Boys in New York City. When his older brother is killed at Gettysburg, Charley vows revenge against the Confederates. So he joins the Union Army as a drummer boy. Charley thinks war will be glamorous and exciting. But then he sees two of his friends gunned down mercilessly. When Charley shoots a Confederate soldier in self-defense, he knows he can’t take any more killing. He “skedaddles” away from the battle, convinced he’s a coward. Hiding in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charley encounters the ultimate test of courage. Can Charley prove his mettle once and for all — and restore his shattered self-image?
6th Grade
- Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis – It’s 1936, deep in the heart of The Great Depression, Flint, Michigan. Times are hard, and ten-year-old Bud is a motherless boy on the run, but he’s got an idea about how to find his father. Once he decides to hit the road to find this mystery man, nothing can stop him—not hunger, not fear, not even Herman E. Calloway himself.
- The Odyssey by Gillian Cross – An illustrated version of Homer’s epic, age-old story. Odysseus faces storm and shipwreck, a terrifying man-eating Cyclops, the alluring but deadly Sirens, and the fury of the sea-god Poseidon as he makes his ten-year journey home from the Trojan War.
- I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb – When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education. Read about Malala’s extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she became a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize.
7th Grade
- Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess by Richard Platt – What was it really like to live in a castle? Step back to the Middle Ages with CASTLE DIARY: THE JOURNAL OF TOBIAS BURGESS. Eleven-year-old Toby’s vivid diary entries offer an insider’s view of day-to-day castle life, including tips on etiquette (where do you spit at a feast?) and exciting descriptions of hunting, jousting, and harvesting. Complete with glossary, index, and detailed endnotes, this is a rich look at medieval life that informs as much as it entertains.
- The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, Retold by Geraldine McCaughrean – Geraldine McCaughrean retells The Canterbury Tales for children in a lively and humorous style which captures the original flair of Chaucer himself. She introduces us to the characters who told these tales: the shy, battle-hardened Knight, the Summoner whose breath smells of onions, the angry Miller with his read beard, and the Widow of Bath who likes a happy ending. (7th graders will read a small selection of tales.)
- Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac – Joseph Bruchac brings World War II Navajo Code Talkers’ stories to life for young adults through the riveting fictional tale of Ned Begay, a sixteen-year-old Navajo boy who becomes a code talker. His grueling journey is eye-opening and inspiring. This deeply affecting novel honors all of those young men, like Ned, who dared to serve, and it honors the culture and language of the Navajo Indians. (1 choice for our 7th grade book club)
- The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman – A brutally moving work of art—widely hailed as the greatest graphic novel ever written—Maus recounts the chilling experiences of the author’s father during the Holocaust, with Jews drawn as wide-eyed mice and Nazis as menacing cats. (1 choice for our 7th grade book club)
- Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston – The powerful true story of life in a Japanese American internment camp.In Farewell to Manzanar, Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston recalls life at Manzanar through the eyes of the child she was. She tells of her fear, confusion, and bewilderment as well as the dignity and great resourcefulness of people in oppressive and demeaning circumstances. Jeanne delivers a powerful first-person account that reveals her search for the meaning of Manzanar. (1 choice for our 7th grade book club)
- The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton – The Outsiders is a dramatic and enduring work of fiction that laid the groundwork for the YA genre. S. E. Hinton’s classic story of a boy who finds himself on the outskirts of regular society remains as powerful today as it was the day it was first published.
- Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson – In vivid poems, Woodson shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world.
8th Grade
- A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park – Set in Africa, this story is told from the perspective of two characters impacted by events beyond their control, and touches on themes of facing and overcoming tremendous challenges.
- Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech – Set in the United States, this novel tells the story of a young teenager who takes a journey of self-discover and is challenged by family, love, and loss.
- Caminar by Skila Brown – In this book written in verse, an adolescent boy in Central America, along with his family and community, learns several lessons as he faces tremendous challenges to his security and his identity.
- American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang – This semi-autobiographical story is presented as a graphic novel that considers themes of identity, acceptance, and belonging.
- Finding Wonders: Three Girls Who Changed Science by Jeannine Atkins – This tells the story of the lives of three girls in Europe and the United States who developed an interest in different fields of science and later contributed to their fields in exciting ways.
Math
Math @ C3
Math @ C3
Creativity CoLaboratory uses EnVision Math Curriculum. EnVision combines problem-based learning and visual learning to deepen students’ conceptual understanding. EnVision incorporates problem-based and visual learning that can be differentiated to meet the needs of students. Students see and experience mathematics with exclusive visual models, animations, 3-act tasks, graphing, and student-centered projects.
Project Block
Project Block @ C3
5th Grade
6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade
Project Block @ C3
Project Block is a project-based learning class aimed at critical thinking, innovation, and collaborative learning. Each grade level’s content is unique as the course is designed around cross-curricular integration. This means students can apply concepts they are learning in Math, Science, and ELA to real-world scenarios. Along the way, students also receive instruction in the areas of History, Civics, & Geography. Assessment takes place in the form of multiple large-scale projects, which are graded on a rubric using our school-wide standards-based grading system.
5th Grade
- Playground project – This highly engaging class opens the doors to the creative minds of our students. This project introduces students to the engineering design process, a planning process that is reflected in science and will be used throughout the school year.
- Make-a-Monster Project – Incorporates lessons on abstract design, structural forms..etc. Students will use abstract ideas to design their monsters AND habitat. This project will include activities to help students understand important factors of each biome and give examples of habitats in each biome for students to adapt into their abstract designs.
- Ad for Sustainability Project – Students will learn about different types of ads, identifying ads in commercials (what characteristics does each commercial obtain in correspondence to that type of ad and product being sold). To save the planet, students will create a commercial promoting a sustainable solution in city areas based on research of Native Americans and sustainability.
- Walk in Their Shoes Project – This project will be introduced in the second half of the school year to rekindle our students and get them engaged and ready for the second half of the year! Some conflicts occur throughout the year, and this project is great for reconnecting friendships, introducing students to each other from other classrooms (great for preparing for next year!) And it finishes in time for Valentine’s Day!
6th Grade
- Famous “Failures” – Students will learn about the growth mindset of famous figures who weren’t defeated by early failures (Walt Disney, Henry Ford, Michael Jordan, Albert Einstein, etc). The goal is for students to understand how failure is a natural part of life and creates opportunities to grow and move forward toward their goals and dreams. Final Project: Students will dress up as their famous figure, create a visual display to support their research, and perform a living wax museum.
- Create-a-Country – Students will design their own country. Along the way they will learn about global forms of government, map skills, and flags. Students will write the founding story of their country, and design and carve its passport stamp. Final Project: Students will create a printed and bound Traveler’s Guide to their very own country.
- Theme Park – We will study the ways in which Ancient Greece has influenced American culture (especially government as it is the founding place of democracy). Final Project: Students create an Amusement Park where the “theme” is Ancient Greece and its influence on modern America. They will build rides, design a website, film a commercial, food and souvenirs to sell, etc.
- Environmental Education – Our class will study a series of people who used STEAM and creativity to solve environmental problems. Ex: The Boy who Harnessed the Wind, Long Walk to Water, Wangari’s Trees of Peace, One Plastic Bag, etc. Projects: As we read about each of these people and their contribution to the environment, students will complete small STEAM projects like: designing their own windmill, or a way to transport water, planting seeds, and even making art from “trash.”
7th Grade
- Medieval Architecture Project – Students will select at random a certain class and empire from the medieval ages (example; a peasant from Europe or a Samurai from Japan). Based on their identity they will be given a plot of land and supplies. Using these, they will create a 3D scale model of their house!
- Silk Road Trade Project – Each 7th grade class will choose an empire along the Silk Road. As a class they will create goods that would have originated in their empire. They will also create costumes and maps that work for their empire. On Halloween the whole grade will trade with each other and put on a medieval feast with their goods!
- Podcast Project – Students will examine the history of the Holocaust and create a podcast discussing examples of genocide that have occurred post-WWII.
- Propaganda Project – Students will create their own propaganda on a modern issue.
- Folklore Dungeons and Dragon Project – Based on urban legends, mythology, and folklore around the world students will apply this knowledge to the world of role playing games. They will create a character based on a person of folklore and create a world that has its own currency, beliefs and topography!
- Cultural Exchange Fair – Students will apply their knowledge of cultural exchange and put on a culture fair at C3 containing booths, performances, and art inspired by global and local culture!
- Civil Rights Project – Students will create websites based on any civil rights activist or leader and write posts of them reacting to a modern civil rights issue
- Community Organizing Project – Students will create a project that directly impacts their local community. Example; building rain gardens, food pantries etc.
8th Grade
- Socratic Seminars and debate based on student research.
- Exploring local natural resources and the history of industry in South Jersey.
- Living history: use research and information to create a unique costume and develop characters and a setting based on a specific historic time period.
- Using the books in ELA to explore community support systems, poetry, equality, problem solving and ethics.
- Create a personal biography including beliefs, background, experiences, formative experiences, achievements and personal philosophy. How have you experienced the family culture? What will you carry on? This will include a self portrait and original poetry as well as a narrative.
- Sustainability and consumption: branding a product that is both necessary and useful in society. Students will make sure to use best practices in ecological impact, sustainability, and economic value.
Minors
Minors @ C3
5th Grade
6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade
Minors @ C3
Minors are passion classes with a focus on physical education, health, and wellness. Students rotate through a different minor each quarter
5th Grade
- Performing Literature – Students experience history through the performance of a historically based play. Emphasis is given to dramatic reading and character expression as well as connection to the audience and movement related to the written word.
- Coding – An entry level course that introduces computer programming basics in order to provide a foundation in computational thinking through visuals, as opposed to coding that is based in text. Students will explore block-based coding or programming that utilizes a drag-and-drop learning environment, where programmers use coding instruction “blocks” to construct animated stories and games. Text-based languages will also be discussed and made available for advanced coding learners.
- Wellness – In 5th grade Wellness, students will be learning health and gym standards with a blend of outdoor activities, social emotional strategies, and mindfulness time. Wellness helps students develop the skills to interact with their peers, learn about their bodies and how to develop healthy habits, and participate in hands-on and outdoor activities. Students stay active and also learn valuable life skills in this minor!
- World Culture – As one of the most diverse states in the United States, New Jersey encompasses a multicultural, global citizenry. World culture education provides learners with a broader scope of cultural understandings in cultures across the globe. It is important to engage students in cultural experiences that reflect society.
6th Grade
- Creative Writing –
- Engineering – C3 6th graders have the opportunity to explore the engineering design process (EDP) through an exploration of various topics. Students identify how the EDP applies to projects around the world. As students gain a deeper understanding of the EDP, they apply the EDP to various projects in class.
- Wellness – In 6th grade Wellness, students will be learning health and gym standards with a blend of outdoor activities, social emotional strategies, and mindfulness time. Wellness helps students develop the skills to interact with their peers, learn about their bodies and how to develop healthy habits, and participate in hands-on and outdoor activities. Students stay active and also learn valuable life skills in this minor!
- World Culture – As one of the most diverse states in the United States, New Jersey encompasses a multicultural, global citizenry. World culture education provides learners with a broader scope of cultural understandings in cultures across the globe. It is important to engage students in cultural experiences that reflect society.
7th Grade
- Adulting 101 – Have you ever lost a button and had no idea how to sew it back on? Have you ever thought about what it actually takes to open a bank account? In this minor you will learn some life skills to take with you long after you graduate from C3.
- Regenerative Agriculture – A curriculum dedicated to the preservation and maintenance of modern agriculture. Students will be instructed on aiding our natural world; from local farms, to state parks, and neighborhood food forests. This class will help reclaim skills that have been lost for generations. These skills will range from soil replenishment to species identification and care.
- Wellness – In 7th grade Wellness, students will be learning health and gym standards with a blend of outdoor activities, social emotional strategies, and mindfulness time. Wellness helps students develop the skills to interact with their peers, learn about their bodies and how to develop healthy habits, and participate in hands-on and outdoor activities. Students stay active and also learn valuable life skills in this minor!
- World Culture – As one of the most diverse states in the United States, New Jersey encompasses a multicultural, global citizenry. World culture education provides learners with a broader scope of cultural understandings in cultures across the globe. It is important to engage students in cultural experiences that reflect society.
8th Grade
- Yearbook – Students take on the majority of the work creating the C3 yearbook. From deciding on a theme, designing the layout and taking photos. Students are given the responsibility of creating something that will speak of the legacy they leave on C3.
- Public Speaking – Students will be able to recognize that speaking and communication are a significant part of our everyday lives, both professionally and personally. Also, students will develop strategies to overcome speech and communication anxiety. Another aspect of the class is learning how to professionally speak in a variety of different settings. Finally, students will have the opportunity to create and present effective presentations using digital and non-digital presentation tools.
- Wellness – In 8th grade Wellness, students will be learning health and gym standards with a blend of outdoor activities, social emotional strategies, and mindfulness time. Wellness helps students develop the skills to interact with their peers, learn about their bodies and how to develop healthy habits, and participate in hands-on and outdoor activities. Students stay active and also learn valuable life skills in this minor!
- World Culture – As one of the most diverse states in the United States, New Jersey encompasses a multicultural, global citizenry. World culture education provides learners with a broader scope of cultural understandings in cultures across the globe. It is important to engage students in cultural experiences that reflect society.