Language Arts

Trade books ("Reading in Common") continue to be used to expand students' awareness and appreciation of different forms of literature. Children are taught about using evidence from their reading to explain (orally and in writing) their factual understanding, interpretations/inferences,and comparisons to other readings. Children learn to lead discussion and activity groups and to record and report on the work conducted.

The teaching of writing focuses on the writing process in both expository and creative genres, with attention to different ways of adding description and improving the appearance of the piece. Spelling rules, grammar, parts of speech, shades of meaning, word families, and figurative language continue to be taught.

Mathematics

The math program emphasizes building understanding of math concepts and problem-solving strategies through standard algorithms and hands-on projects. Topics include:

• continued use and practice of the four operations
• introduction to the standard algorithm for multiplication and division
• decimals
• spatial relationships
• geometry
• measurement
• fractions
• probability and statistics
• logic
• algebra

Children practice explaining their answers in words, numbers, and pictures.

Science

• Experiments with Plants: setting up an experiment with variables
• Astronomy: Solar System, Earth/Moon relationship, Shadows/Light
• Land and Water: Erosion/Weathering, Land Forms, Humans' impact on the environment

Social Studies/Geography

People Come to North America:

• the settlement of North America by Native Americans
• the Bering Land Bridge theory
• the role geography plays in the development of regional and cultural differences

Related Studies

Children use computers in the classroom and computer lab to do word-processing, skill reinforcement, and research.

The arts are integrated with language arts and social studies via songs, plays, mixed media (e.g. watercolors, paint, pastels, cut paper) and Sloyd projects.