Unit 1: First Americans to the Time of Explorers
This unit expands from complex urban societies in Mesoamerica and North America before 1500 to the exploration of Africa, Asia, and the Americas by Europeans. Students will learn about various Native American communities; explorers from Portugal, Spain, and France; the effects of exploration on the Native people of Africa and the Americas; and motives for exploration.
Unit 2: Colonization and Settlement
In this unit, students will explore the various types of settlements and colonies in North America. Students will study the diverse American colonies and the differences in their establishment. During the examination of the colonies, students will apply their knowledge of maps to discover the physical and human characteristics of the colonies as well as compare and contrast the colonies. Another attribute of this unit includes the beginning of slavery within the colonies. Students will learn about how African-Americans maintained and developed their cultural identity as slaves and freed people.
Unit 3: American Revolution
In this unit, students will learn about the conflicts between England and the American Colonies. Students will also learn about the major events that led to a new independent nation. Finally, students will learn about the multiple perspectives, impact, and “roles” of different groups, i.e. Native Americans.
Unit 4: Documents of Democracy
This is an interdisciplinary unit intended to weave social studies and English Language Arts standards. Through the in-depth study of the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Constitution and Bill of Rights, students will apply ELA standards through Close Reading, summarizing, researching, analyzing and writing and at the same time understand the formation of our modern government. Students will immerse themselves in a variety of nonfiction texts including primary documents, leveled readers, biographies and trade books that share a common theme of democracy. Students will further their understanding of the content provided by the texts but also learn and practice ELA skills. Students will immerse themselves in a research writing project where they will choose a topic from the American Revolution.
Nature of Science and Engineering
Students engage in science and engineering practices by asking questions, participating in collaborative investigations, observing, recording, and interpreting data to build explanations, and designing objects and systems to achieve outcomes.
Motion Force & Models
In this physical science unit students learn about the science concepts of force and motion. They develop their scientific thinking by designing and conducting controlled experiments about energy transfer, construct explanations about forces and motion and create models to explain how something works.
Landforms
In this Earth science unit students learn about the processes that form the features of the Earth’s surface. The concepts that change takes place when things interact; all things change over time; patterns of interaction and change are useful in explaining landforms. Students also explore renewable and nonrenewable energy resources that are found in Minnesota.
Environments
In this life science unit students’ study of the relationships between one organism and its environment build knowledge of all organisms. The concepts that organisms need energy and matter to live and grow, and living organisms depend on one another and on their environment for their survival and the survival of populations.
Simple Machines
In this physical science and engineering unit students explore and discuss simple machines, technological processes, and industrial engineering. They learn about the connections between the physics of simple machines and their uses in industrial processes.
Cleaning and Oil Spill
In this physical science and engineering unit students explore the field of environmental engineering as they design a process to clean an oil spill in a model river. They learn how pollution can negatively impact the organisms in the ecosystem and how engineers must consider both short and long-term effects of pollutants on the organisms in a given ecosystem.