Math

The emphasis of this unit is for students to develop fluency with whole number multiplication and apply an understanding of the inverse relationship between multiplication and division. In this unit, students apply their knowledge of multiplication and division concepts that were previously taught in Unit 3. Through the use of arrays, base-ten blocks, and story contexts, students develop their own strategies and algorithms for multiplying and dividing large numbers. Connections between algorithms, including student-generated algorithms and the traditional algorithm, are explored.

Reading

This month we will be focusing on critical literacy. Critical literacy is about reading and analyzing all text thoughtfully, taking position, power, bias, and assumptions into consideration as readers work to deepen and/or revise their own beliefs and understandings. Identities are shaped by everything, including what is read. Adults learn not to take everything at face value. When an ad in a magazine promises happiness and confidence by just wearing something, they know not to believe it. Students are constantly bombarded with text, literature, and media that encourages them to think or feel a certain way, and they may not be as savvy as adults. In this unit, students learn that readers and authors bring their own beliefs and assumptions into the texts they read and write.

Writing

In February, students will write persuasive reviews. In this unit, students have the opportunity to compose reviews of their choice about restaurants, movies, television shows, toys, video games, and more. In order to write persuasively, students craft claims and state specific evidence to support and elaborate on these claims. By studying and analyzing persuasive reviews, students learn how to craft a compelling review that considers their intended audience. Throughout the unit, students try techniques of persuasive reviews such as catchy titles, compelling leads, and convincing supporting evidence. Students need opportunities to give and receive feedback from their community of writers to help strengthen their reviews. Hearing multiple perspectives allows students to expand their thinking and help them develop a persuasive review.

Social Studies

Students will learn about the New Nation in this unit. The student will explore the connections between liberty and slavery in the ideas and lives of George Washington, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and George Mason. The student will explore the influence of geography and technological advances on the migration of Virginians into other states and western territories and how it impacted different cultures. After this unit, we will be learning about the Civil War.

Science

This unit of study focuses on Oceans. Throughout the unit students develop their understanding of the nature of science, particularly the concept that the natural world is understandable and that science is based on evidence, both observational and experimental. Through hands-on science, students learn to inquire, observe, experiment, solve problems, collect and record information, and come to conclusions concerning matters about the ocean environment.

Advanced Math

Our new unit is algebraic reasoning. In this unit, students explore the language of algebra as they learn the meaning of a variable and apply this understanding to the translation of patterns, models, and story contexts to algebraic expressions and equations. Students use tables, words, and symbols to describe and express relationships found in number patterns as well as use concrete materials, pictures, and tables to identify, describe, and extend numerical patterns.

Next we will move into measurement. In this unit, students derive and use formulas to find the perimeter of polygons, the area of squares, rectangles, and right triangles, and the volume of rectangular prisms using manipulatives. They solve practical problems that involve area, perimeter and volume and justify which attribute is most appropriate for a given situation. Students also explore equivalent measurements within the metric system. In addition, they learn strategies to determine elapsed time.