Quarter 1

Summary

Unit 1: Classic Tales     

Students are exposed to descriptive paragraphs and characters to explore themes and discuss character traits. Students will determine elements of fictional narratives, discuss literary tools and identify theme.

Unit 2: Animal Classification 

Students will classify animals to develop the  essential skills of organizing, analyzing, and understanding data. Research is conducted to support informational writing.

Quarter 2

Summary

 Unit 3: The Human Body 

Students focus in detail on the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems of the human body and how they are interconnected. Students will learn about the senses of sight and hearing and how the eyes and ears work.

Unit 4: Ancient Roman Civilization 

Students will read and analyze ancient Rome’s influence and contributions to our society today. They will learn about the geography, history and culture including the rise and decline of the Roman Empire.

Unit 5: Light and Sound  

Students will learn about the properties of light and sound, how light and sound travel in waves, and how both can be manipulated by various instruments, such as magnifying glasses, microscopes, and telescopes.

Quarter 3

Summary

Unit 6: The Viking Age    

Students will be introduced to the people of the Viking Age: the men, women, and children who spoke the old Norse language and lived in Scandinavia. 

Unit 7: Astronomy 

Through reading and listening, students will explore our solar system, galaxies, and the universe. Students determine the difference between a hypothesis and a theory, including the Big Bang theory.

Unit 8: Native Americans 

Students will learn how some Native Americans first migrated from Asia to North America and how their ways of obtaining food changed over the years. Students will learn how people adapted to the environment of the region in which they settled and how that shaped their cultural identity. 

Quarter 4

Summary

Unit 9: Early Explorations of North America 

Students will learn about the motivations behind European exploration, how those motivations changed over time, and how the European explorers and settlers interacted with the Native Americans already inhabiting the continent. 

Unit 10: Colonial America  

Students will analyze the way in which the climate, geography, and motivations of the settlers influenced life in the thirteen colonies. They will be introduced to the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War.

Unit 11: Ecology 

Students will develop an understanding of Ecology through animal habitats and taking care of the earth. They will learn about food chains, the balance of nature, changes to the environment, and protecting the environment.