Language Arts

Work on skills/fluency continues as needed, but increased emphasis is placed on comprehension - reading for meaning, using facts, inference, and interpretation.

Students begin participation in "Reading in Common," a shared group-reading experience using trade books, intended to expose students to a variety of literature: fiction, poetry, and nonfiction including biography.

In writing the emphasis is on experiential writing. Cursive writing is introduced with mastery expected. Spelling is taught, along with grammar, usage, and mechanics.

Mathematics

The Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley enVision math program is used and supplemented with TERC Investigations and teacher-selected materials to reinforce skills. Focus is on building understanding.Topics include:

• Place value and numeration
• Review of addition and introduction of subtraction using standard algorithms
• Intro to x and ÷ (multiplication and division)
• Estimation strategies
• Measurement
• Geometry
• Time and Money

Science

• Producers, Consumers and Decomposers
• Predator/Prey
• Chemical Tests
• Electrical Circuits

Social Studies/Geography

• Massachusetts: geography, history, culture, and landmarks
• Paris: culture and landmarks.

Related Studies

Boston landmarks are visited as time permits. The study of Paris is integrated with a study of French Impressionist painting and a mini-study of the French language.