This year our theme is Explorations and our three units of study are Astronomy, Archaeology, and Architecture. We will spend approximately 10 weeks on each unit.

Astronomy

Students will explore man’s attempts to understand the universe and its celestial bodies from early times to the present. 

• Investigate the attempts of ancient peoples such as the Mayans, Greeks, and Egyptians to understand their world through astronomy. 

• Understand the characteristics of galaxies and stars, including the life cycle of stars.

• Recognize and identify major constellations. 

• Research and describe the contribution of scientists to our changing understanding of astronomy. 

• Compare and contrast various units of scale, size, and distance used in astronomy.

• Predict possible contributions to the field of astronomy made by current and future manned and unmanned space exploration.

Archaeology

Students will discover how the study of archaeology uncovers history and provides clues into the lives of people in the past. 

• Describe and analyze the components of culture, such as written language, calendar, and number systems 

• Examine the procedures and techniques used in archaeology such as stratigraphy, mapping, dating, and satellite imagery.

• Describe how archaeologists interpret artifacts and share their findings.

• Explore key archaeological sites such as Stonehenge, Valley of the Kings, Palenque, Chichen Itza, and Machu Picchu and why they are significant.

• Compare and contrast two self-selected ancient cultures, such as Mayan and Egyptian

Architecture

Students will explore the art and technique of designing and constructing buildings and other structures, and evaluate the contributions of innovative architects to the field. 

• Understand that the function of a building or structure determines the form.

• Recognize structural components found in architectural design, such as roofs, windows, arches, columns, and others.

• Explore the contributions and influence of famous architects, such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Gustave Eiffel, Antoni Gaudi, Zaha Hadid, I.M. Pei, Paul Revere Williams, Rienzo Piano and Frank Gehry.

• Explore the historical, social, and structural influence of famous structures around the world.

• Explore architects’ use of sustainable/green/eco-friendly materials and construction practices.

• Explore structural design and integrity through construction simulation.