Language Arts

"Reading In Common" experiences with quality trade books continue, with the added strategies of questioning and using inferences. Students explore more sophisticated aspects of literature, including character, setting, theme, and point of view. Students also read nonfiction texts related to science, math, and social studies.

Writing is integrated into all areas of the curriculum. The students are introduced to a variety of strategies and techniques to build their confidence as creative individuals. We use the workshop model of Process Writing (brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing and publishing) along with the Six Trait Model of revision. Students write in a variety of genres including fiction, essays, personal narratives, poetry, myths, adventure tales, and drama. Many of the writing projects have a visual (artistic) component. A variety of materials are used for spelling and vocabulary instruction, along with words culled from the "Reading in Common" texts.

Mathematics

• performing whole number operations to billions
• understanding decimals to thousandths; adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals
• finding equivalent fractions; adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers with like and unlike denominations
• finding percent equivalencies for fractions and decimals
• exploring experimental and theoretical probability
• interpreting and constructing bar, line, and stem-and-leaf graphs
• measuring and constructing angles
• ongoing problem-solving in logic and visual/spatial analysis

Science

Pond Study/Ecosystems: on-site observations and collection; habitat of plants and organisms; properties of water; effects of pollution (acid/base testing); populations and food chains/webs in the pond as well as other earth biomes.

Motion and Design: building vehicles from technical two- and three-view drawings; investigating how forces affect a vehicle's motion; designing vehicles that are propelled by stored energy; understanding the design process, and solving design problems

Investigate Simple Machines: identifying/studying basic simple machines; analyzing and identifying simple machines within complex machines; inventing machines which make use of simple machines

Social Studies/Geography

American History Part I: Life and times of the original thirteen colonies; issues and events surrounding and leading up to the Declaration of Independence; period of the American Revolution; post-Revolution through the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. Students use books, primary sources, periodicals, and the Internet to conduct research, and to develop skills of note-taking, report-writing, and oral, written and visual presentation.

The Ancient World Part I: A look at the development of the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome and the ways in which these civilizations have influenced our lives today, especially in the areas of government, language, and the arts.

Related Studies

• Human Growth and Development
• Health Education
• Merrowvista: Whole-grade 3-day/2-night field trip to environmental camp in the fall.