What are we Learning?
Math:
Unit 1: Generalize Place Value Understanding
In Unit 1 students will extend their work with whole numbers and use this generalized understanding of the place value system in the context of ten times greater or ten times less, practice multiplying and dividing multi-digit whole numbers by 10, comparing numbers, and rounding them.
Unit 2: Represent and Interpret Data on Line Plots
In Unit 2 students will interpret data, read measurements as a fraction, create line plots, and solve problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions by using information presented in line plots.
Unit 3: Fluently Add and Subtract Multi-Digit Whole Numbers
In Unit 3 students will work with whole numbers and use their understanding of the place value system to fluently add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers, compare parts of an equation to find the unknown number, estimate sums or differences, and solve word problems.
Unit 4: Use Strategies and Properties to Multiply by One-Digit Numbers
In Unit 4 students will multiply by one-digit numbers, by a multiple of 10, 100, or 1,000, estimate the product of an equation by rounding the factors, solve word problems, use arrays and area models, and multiply a four-digit whole number by a one-digit whole number.
Unit 5: Use Strategies and Properties to Multiply by Two-Digit Numbers
In Unit 5 students will multiply two-digit numbers, using area models, arrays, and partial products, estimate products by rounding, and solve one-and-two step multiplication word problems.
Unit 6: Use Strategies and Properties to Divide by One-Digit Numbers
In Unit 6 students will explore the concept of multi-digit division using partial quotients, solve word problems involving division, and interpret the remainder of a division problem.
Unit 7: Use Operations with Whole Numbers to Solve Problems
In Unit 7 students will use operations with whole numbers to solve problems including times as many, multiplication as comparison, and solve multi-step multiplication and division problems.
Unit 8: Factors and Multiples
In Unit 8 students understand factors and multiples, including identifying factors, finding the factors of a given number, finding the common factors of two or more numbers, determine whether a number is prime or composite, and determine if a whole number is a multiple of a given one-digit number.
Unit 9: Fraction Equivalents and Comparing
In Unit 9 students will learn to find equivalent fractions, compare fractions, create equivalent fractions using a variety of methods, compare two different fractions using <, >, and =, and use multiples to find the common denominator to compare fractions with unlike denominators.
Unit 10: Understanding Addition and Subtraction of Fractions
In Unit 10 students will use fraction models to add fractions and subtract fractions and mixed numbers, solve word problems involving fractions and mixed numbers, decompose a fraction, and rewrite a mixed number as an improper fraction and vice versa.
Unit 11: Extend Multiplication Concepts to Fractions
In unit 11 students will decompose fractions into repeated addition equations, multiply a whole number by a fraction, and solve word problems involving multiplying a whole number by a fraction.
Unit 12: Understand and Compare Decimals
In Unit 12 students will read, write, and compare decimals through hundredths, write decimals as a fractions, convert a decimal to a mixed number and vice versa, and solve word problems involving money and decimals.
Unit 13: Lines, Angles and Shapes
In Unit 13 students will explore, draw, and classify lines, angles, and shapes, classify triangles and quadrilaterals, and identify lines of symmetry in two-dimensional figures.
Unit 14: Geometric Measurement: Angles and Angle Measurement
In Unit 14 students will measure and draw angles using a protractor and use addition and subtraction to find unknown angles.
Unit 15: Measurement: Find Equivalence in Units of Measure
In Unit 15 students will find equivalence in and compare units of measure (both customary and metric) and solve area problems and perimeter problems with an unknown factor.
Unit 16: Algebra: Generate and Analyze Patterns
In Unit 16 students will generate and analyze patterns.
Reading:
Module 1:
Understanding Characters: Students will learn how to use context clues within a text to determine the meaning of a word. Students will read two texts and then write an informative essay about one of the texts and answer a series of questions about the story elements in the other. Students will practice identifying proper nouns, helping and linking verbs, and formal and informal language.
Module 2:
Investigation: Students will learn how to determine the meaning of a word or phrase using context clues, breaking it apart by syllables, and sounding out the word. They will then read a variety of texts and make inferences, determine the main idea, and organize events in chronological order. Students will then choose a personal event and be guided through the planning, writing, and revising stages to write a personal narrative.
Module 3:
Greek Mythology: Students will use context clues to determine the meanings of unknown words. They will learn about similes and metaphors through a variety of examples. Students will also read a variety of texts, including plays, poems, and short stories. They will compare the differences between these different texts, determine their themes, points of view, and summarize them. Students will then write an opinion piece that includes hooks, transition words, elaboration, and a strong conclusion.
Module 4:
Motivations: Students will use context clues to determine the meanings of unknown words. Students will read a variety of texts and determine the text structures as well as whether each text is a firsthand or secondhand account of an event. They will also write an informative essay comparing and contrasting the experiences of two boys who were motivated to solve problems.
Module 5:
Traditional Tales: Students will look at a variety of traditional literature (such as fables, legends, folktales, and tall tales), and compare different literature and look at the themes by exploring the characters, setting, events, problems and solutions. Finally, they will use these writing conventions to enhance their opinion essay that compares the two texts.
Module 6:
Travels and Journeys: Students will read informative articles related to travel. They will practice identifying and interpreting different nonfiction elements. Students will study how writers use reasons and evidence to make and support their point. They will also learn to use pronouns and antecedents, comparative and superlative adjectives, as well as relative adverbs correctly. Students will write two essays in response to opinion-based prompts.
Module 7:
Writing Performance Task: Students will engage in the inquiry process through a hands-on investigation and explore informational text, videos, and graphics. Students will begin the pre-writing which they will independently read Text 1 and create a main idea web. Students will continue to engage in researching, discussing pre-writing by independently reading Text 2 and adding to their individual main idea webs. Students will review the rubric with the teacher and then write a plan for their informative essay. Students will use their outline to draft their multi-paragraph informative essay for how tourists travelling to a coastal region can survive a tsunami. Students will share, revise, and edit their Informative essay and then share their final copies of the essay.
Module 8:
Growing and Changing: Students will learn about text features, text structure, and main idea in informative text. They will develop their inference skills and learn genre-specific words to better understand the text. Students will also explain procedures, events, ideas and concepts within technical and scientific text. They will also complete an informative writing piece.
Module 9:
Fairy Tales and Myths: Students will learn about traditional text literature text types including myths, tales, and poems, working to compare and contrast them as well as determine their themes. Students will also write an opinion essay.
Module 10:
Explanations: Students will read explanations of natural phenomenon and social issues in various informative articles. They will learn and practice different ways to decode an unknown word. They will learn about text features, including interactive elements, the main idea of a text, and the author’s point. Students will also use multiple texts to support an informative writing piece.
Module 11:
Everyday Heroes: Students will compare and contrast themes, story structure elements, and point of view. Students will learn new words and their spellings and meanings through various strategies, including examining their affixes. They will also learn about various literary elements and write a narrative writing piece.
Module 12:
Discoveries: Students will review and learn more about text structures—scientific, technical, and historical texts—and an author’s points, reasons, and evidence. Students will learn about firsthand and secondhand accounts of an event or topic and practice reading with fluency. They will write a multi-paragraph opinion piece.
Science:
Module 1: Transfer of Energy
This module is Unit 1 from Discovery Science Tech Book, and includes the core ideas of understanding energy, electric circuits, magnetic force, magnets and electricity. It also includes an exploration of fossil fuels and alternative energy sources. This module is taught through the lens of understanding transfer of energy.
Module 2: Earth’s Changing Systems
This module is Unit 2 from Discovery Science Tech Book, and includes the core ideas of waters and structures of the earth, changing landscapes, earthquake waves, and how to reduce impacts of earthquakes. This module is taught through the lens of understanding the systems of the Earth and changes they undergo.
Module 3: Changes to Ecosystems
This module is Unit 3 from Discovery Science Tech Book, and includes the core ideas of interactions of the hydrosphere and biosphere, water as a valuable natural resource, short term changes in ecosystems, survival, and extinction. This module is taught through the lens of water and survival.
Module 4: Weather and Climate Patterns
This module is Unit 4 from Discovery Science Tech Book, and includes the core ideas of regional climates, predicting weather, and weather hazards. A key focus will be how understanding regional climates allows for weather prediction.
Social Studies:
Unit 1: Inquiry What Makes a Society Successful?
Students explore Mesoamerican society by analyzing documents and working with the following supporting questions:
Who lived in Mesoamerica?
How did geographical features influence the culture of the early Mesoamerican civilizations?
What was society like in each of these early civilizations?
Students construct an argument about what made the Mesoamerican societies successful. Students will work in their taking informed action to utilize what they learned about Mesoamerica and propose ideas to make the city of surprise better.
Unit 2: Early North America
Students will explore major United States physical features, and locate them on a map of North America. They will locate places on a map or globe using coordinates. Students will explore and compare cultural aspects of ancient American civilizations. They will understand the role of trade in the economic growth of North America in Pre-Columbian times. Students will identify geographic regions of North America, and cultural aspects of Native American tribes in North America. They will explore Native American tribes from given geographic regions in North America.
Unit 3: European Exploration
Students will explore how interactions among different groups and cultures affect change by reading about various explorations, examining maps and other documents and timelines to answer the following supporting questions:
What technological developments shaped European exploration?
How did technology change during European Exploration?
What factors prompted European Exploration?
Who were the European explorers and what expeditions did they embark on?
What events happened when the European explorers and Native Americans interacted together?
How were the perspectives of the Native Americans and the European explorers different?
What effects did European Exploration have on the world?
How did trade affect economic growth in North American during the 16th century?
Unit 4: Settlement of North America
Students will explore the reasons for colonial settlement in the original thirteen colonies and the key political, social, and economic aspects that led to the growth of North America in the 17th and 18th centuries to answer the following supporting questions:
explain the reasons for slavery in the colonies
identify natural events that have impacted human/physical environments in the United States through 1850
explain the impact natural events have had on human/physical environments in the United States through 1850
explain the role of trade in the economic growth in North America in the 17th and 18th centuries
Unit 5: Civics and Government
Students will be looking at state government and civic participation. They will compare the U.S. Constitution to state constitutions and explore the different branches of government, looking at their functions, structures, and powers. They will also compare state and local government and examine what kinds of issues communities face. They will find out how people can work together to find solutions and influence government.
Unit 6: Financial Literacy
Students will learn about spending choices and how to manage money to reach financial goals. People have all kinds of spending goals. In order to spend money, people have to make money. They will find out how people make money, save money, and plan their spending. They will learn about financial institutions, like banks and credit unions. They will find out how people use them to save money.