READING
Readers will engage in our Fiction "Characters" Unit. In this unit:
• Readers follow the journey of characters to develop new understandings about the human experience. • Readers consider multiple points of view within a text. • Readers compare perspectives with others and build on ideas in discussion
Readers will then engage in the "Critical Literacy" Unit.
In this unit, students learn that readers and authors bring their own beliefs and assumptions into the texts they read and write. These beliefs and assumptions, whether explicit or implicit, can be controlling and can influence beliefs and attitudes. 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. As students develop a critical eye, we encourage them to not only examine media and persuasion in this way, but to value looking at all text through this lens and use this skill as a lifelong reader.
We want students to understand the following in unit 3:
Readers understand that media messages (advertisements, radio ads, PSAs, OpEds, blogs, and nonfiction articles) represent beliefs held by the author and groups in society.
Readers analyze the choices the author makes (organization, language, and format) to construct power, position, and perspectives.
Readers take a critical stance while reading, analyzing the author’s explicit and implicit beliefs and comparing them against their own.
Readers determine whether or not to accept how the text is positioning them.
WRITING
At the beginning of the month we will wrap up our second writing unit, "Memoirs." This unit includes:
• Writers analyze the significant moments in their lives for larger lessons and ideas. • Writers revise their piece using literary techniques to elaborate on the message. • Memoir writers use a combination of narrative and expository writing to develop their message. • Writers discuss, share ideas, and provide feedback with community members who can provide support on specific aspects of their piece or process.
Then we will move into our third writing unit, "Persuasive Essay Writing." This unit includes:
Writers consider multiple perspectives to develop their position on an issue. • Writers craft a more persuasive piece when voice is informed by their audience. • Writers decide how to organize and order the parts of their essay to build the most convincing argument. • Writers rely on feedback from the community to help refine their argument.
Math
We will begin Unit 3, Whole Number Computation. In this unit, students investigate properties and rules that govern the way in which numbers operate (i.e., distributive property of multiplication over addition and the order of operations).
Students will Create and solve single-step and multistep practical problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers.
Simplify whole number numerical expressions, using the order of operations limited to parentheses, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
ADVANCED MATH
Unit 2: Fractions and Decimals
In this unit, students will:
Expand their ability to operate with fractions and mixed numbers to include multiplication and division.
Solve both single- and multistep practical problems in all four operations with fractions and mixed numbers.
Solving multistep practical problems in all four operations with decimals is included in this unit as well.
Content Emphases
To develop an understanding of the connections among ratios, fractions, decimals, and percents.
To develop an understanding of and fluency with multiplication and division of fractions and decimals
Quarter 1:
This unit of study focuses on Landforms and the basic theory behind the changing Earth. Throughout the unit students develop their understanding of the nature of science, particularly the concept that scientific ideas are durable and yet subject to change as new data are collected. Through hands-on investigations, students learn to inquire, observe, experiment, solve problems, collect and record information, and come to conclusions concerning matters about the earth and its landforms.
Students learn about the basic layers of the Earth and the characteristics of each layer. Students study continental drift in relation to fossil and geological evidence, and describe the physical results of plate tectonics on the Earth’s surface by analyzing locations of earthquakes and volcanoes. Students model how rocks are formed and changed within the rock cycle; what are physical and chemical weathering and their effects on landforms and man-made structures; what erosion, both natural and human-made, is and its effects on landforms. Students consider how humans impact Earth’s surface and how this impact can be controlled. They learn how fossils show evidence of both Virginia’s and Earth’s geologic history.
Students will know…
● landform vocabulary
● the composition of Earth’s layers and how they interact
● cause of changes in Earth’s crust
● the rock cycle and how rock types can change
● process that shape Earth’s surface landforms
● connection between Earth’s history and fossil evidence
● effects of human impact on Earth’s landforms and how it can be controlled
● that scientific ideas are durable, yet subject to change
Quarter 1:
Being an Ethical and Global Citizen
An ethical and global citizen...
Acknowledges and understands diverse perspectives and cultures when considering local, national, and world issues
Contributes to solutions that benefit the broader community
Demonstrates empathy, compassion, and respect for others
Exploring Culture through Global Awareness
Culture is a way of life of a group of people who share similar beliefs, traditions, values, and customs.
Cultural universals are common attributes that may be different across cultures.
A person’s culture often shapes their identity and behavior.
Relationships are purposeful and can change over time.
People and countries/cultures often establish relationships that can lead to interdependence (being mutually dependent on each other).
Ancient Cultures
Where people live affects how they live.
Geographical features impact daily life for people around the world (food, clothing, shelter).
The contributions of ancient cultures and civilizations continue to impact our world today.