Language Arts:
Reading:
1st Quarter
The students will be focusing on three areas in reading during the first quarter. First, they will read short informational texts and develop skills that they can apply to these type of texts. Second, they will read shorter literary passages. Finally, they will focus their efforts on reading extended literature pieces. This will include reading a novel.
2nd Quarter
To begin the quarter, the students will be reading short informational texts, followed by extended informational texts. As part of the focus on informational texts, they will practice using context clues to determine the meanings of unknown words, and they will compare and contrast texts. They will finish the quarter by reading shorter literature texts. As part of this, they will compare and contrast characters, events and settings. They will also analyze how visual elements contribute to the meaning of the text, and they will determine how the point-of-view can affect the story. As part of all their reading, the students are expected to find evidence to support their opinions and to quote accurately from the text.
3rd Quarter
The students will begin the quarter by reading extended literary pieces, followed by short informational texts and then extended informational texts. As part of the literary reading, the students
will analyze the setting, plot, characters, and theme of the pieces. For the informational texts, the students will learn how to analyze, summarize, and cite evidence from a text.
Writing:
1st Quarter
For the first quarter, we will be writing personal narratives. The students will compose small moment narratives that incorporate dialogue. At the outset of the unit, the students will use a variety of strategies to brainstorm possible topics and write a number of short narratives. Then they will pick one to focus on for the remainder of the quarter. Finally, they will learn how to revise and edit their writing before publishing.
2nd Quarter
During the 2nd quarter, the students will be writing informational pieces. They will be learning how to ask good questions, take notes, and organize their thinking as part of writing a biography. Their biographies will be of the individuals that they are going to portray at the wax museum.
3rd Quarter
During the 3rd quarter, the students will be writing opinion pieces. They will learn how to conduct
research and analyze evidenced used to support their opinions and arguments.
Math:
1st Quarter
During the first quarter, the students will concentrate on these areas:
2nd Quarter
During the 2nd quarter, the students will:
3rd Quarter
During the 3rd quarter, the students will:
Science
1st Quarter
Matter and Energy
During this unit, the students will focus on answering this driving question:
How do you create a healthy and self-sustaining ecosystem?
As part of this, the students will:
- learn about ecosystems and research an ecosystem of their choice.
- build their understanding of the difference between matter and energy by comparing the energy burned or released to the matter consumed.
- make a plan to ensure that the plants are receiving what they need to be self-sustaining in the terrarium habitat.
- make connections by reviewing the structures and needs of plants.
- learn the difference between a food chain and a food web.
- observe and read about crickets and anoles to determine what they will need to survive in the terrarium habitat.
- explore the specific role of decomposers.
- observe an owl pellet and record observations.
- learn about an invasive species.
Earth's Systems
During this unit, the students will focus on answering this driving question:
Driving Question: What can we do as individuals and communities to protect the Earth’s resources and environment?
As part of this unit, the students will:
2nd Quarter
Space Systems: Stars and the Solar System
During this unit, the students will focus on answering this driving question:
Driving Question: How can we better understand space systems through big ideas found in the cross-cutting concepts?
As part of this unit, the students will:
Structure and Property of Matter
During this unit, the students will focus on answering this driving question:
Driving Question: How can I as a forensic scientist collect data and analyze evidence to create a theory that solves a mystery?
As part of this unit, the students will:
Social Studies:
3rd Quarter
Unit 1: American Beginnings
The students will explore these concepts:
Unit 2: Colonization of the New World
The students will explore these concepts:
Reading:
1st Quarter
The students will be focusing on three areas in reading during the first quarter. First, they will read short informational texts and develop skills that they can apply to these type of texts. Second, they will read shorter literary passages. Finally, they will focus their efforts on reading extended literature pieces. This will include reading a novel.
2nd Quarter
To begin the quarter, the students will be reading short informational texts, followed by extended informational texts. As part of the focus on informational texts, they will practice using context clues to determine the meanings of unknown words, and they will compare and contrast texts. They will finish the quarter by reading shorter literature texts. As part of this, they will compare and contrast characters, events and settings. They will also analyze how visual elements contribute to the meaning of the text, and they will determine how the point-of-view can affect the story. As part of all their reading, the students are expected to find evidence to support their opinions and to quote accurately from the text.
3rd Quarter
The students will begin the quarter by reading extended literary pieces, followed by short informational texts and then extended informational texts. As part of the literary reading, the students
will analyze the setting, plot, characters, and theme of the pieces. For the informational texts, the students will learn how to analyze, summarize, and cite evidence from a text.
Writing:
1st Quarter
For the first quarter, we will be writing personal narratives. The students will compose small moment narratives that incorporate dialogue. At the outset of the unit, the students will use a variety of strategies to brainstorm possible topics and write a number of short narratives. Then they will pick one to focus on for the remainder of the quarter. Finally, they will learn how to revise and edit their writing before publishing.
2nd Quarter
During the 2nd quarter, the students will be writing informational pieces. They will be learning how to ask good questions, take notes, and organize their thinking as part of writing a biography. Their biographies will be of the individuals that they are going to portray at the wax museum.
3rd Quarter
During the 3rd quarter, the students will be writing opinion pieces. They will learn how to conduct
research and analyze evidenced used to support their opinions and arguments.
Math:
1st Quarter
During the first quarter, the students will concentrate on these areas:
- Use the multiplication algorithm to multiply a multi-digit number by a whole number.
- Use their understanding of multiplication to help them explore the strategies of area model and partial quotient to divide whole numbers up to four-digit dividend and one-digit divisor apply this concept to a real world context.
- Recognize that in any multi-digit number, a digit in one place represents 10 times as much as it represents in the place to its right and 1/10 of what it represents in the place to its left.
- Denote powers of 10 and use symbols to compare two powers of 10 expressed exponentially (Example: 10 to the power of 2 and 10 to the power 5).
- Use parentheses, brackets, or braces in a numerical expressions and evaluate expressions with these symbols.
- Read, write, and compare decimals to thousandths using base ten numerals, number names & expanded form.
- Compare decimals using symbols and rounding strategies and use place value understanding to round decimals to any place.
- Round numbers.
- Add and subtract decimals.
- Add or subtract two fractions or mixed numbers with unlike denominators using only fraction with denominators of 2, 4, 5, 8 or 10 in such a way to produce an equivalent sum or difference with like denominators.
- Use benchmark fractions and number sense of fractions to estimate mentally and assess the reasonableness of answers in real world problems.
- Make and interpret a line plot (by adding and subtracting) to display a data set of fractional measurements with denominators of 2, 4 and 8.
- Develop problem-solving strategies and apply them to real world problems.
2nd Quarter
During the 2nd quarter, the students will:
- recognize that in any multi-digit number, a digit in one place represents 10 times as much as it represents in the place to its right and 1/10 of what it represents in the place to its left.
- explain patterns in the number of zeros of the product when multiplying a number by powers of 10 and explain patterns in the placement of the decimal point when a decimal is multiplied or divided by a power of 10. Use whole-number exponents to denote powers of 10.
- use parentheses, brackets, or braces in a numerical expressions and evaluate expressions with these symbols.
- use their knowledge of converting the metric system to support their understanding of our base ten system for solving multiplication and division problems.
- multiply decimals to hundredths using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used.
- understand volume as the filling of a three dimensional array with no gaps or overlaps.
- recognize volume as an attribute of solid figures and understand that a cubic unit is used to measure volume.
- measure volumes by counting unit cubes, using cubic cm, cubic in., cubic ft., and improvised units.
- connect the area formula to volume to solve for an unknown using visual models or manipulatives by identifying the length, width and height.
- use parentheses and brackets to write simple expressions that record calculations.
- write simple expressions that record calculations with numbers, and interpret numerical expressions without evaluating them.
- solve real world problems by applying the formula for volume and relating it to the properties of addition and multiplication.
- recognize volume as additive by finding the volume of solid figures of two or more non-overlapping parts.
3rd Quarter
During the 3rd quarter, the students will:
- add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators by replacing given fractions with equivalent fractions as fractions greater than one (improper fractions) to produce an equivalent sum or difference of fractions with like denominators. For example, 2/3 + 5/4 = 8/12 + 15/12 = 23/12. (In general, a/b + c/d = (ad + bc)/bd.
- solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions referring to the same whole, including cases of unlike denominators, e.g., by using visual fraction models or equations to represent the problem and use benchmark fractions and number sense of fractions to estimate mentally and assess the reasonableness of answers.
- make a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions of a unit (½, ¼, ⅛) and use add/ sub fractions for this grade to solve problems involving information presented in plots. (MD.B.2)
- apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication to multiply a fraction or a whole number by a fraction by interpreting the product (a/b) x q as a parts of a partition of q into b equal parts; equivalently, as the result of a sequence of operations a x q b. (For example, use a visual fraction model to show ⅔ x 4= 8/3 and create a story context for this equation and do the same for ⅔ x ⅘ ).
- find the area of a rectangle with fractional side lengths by tiling it with unit squares of the appropriate unit fraction side lengths, and show that the area is the same as would be found by multiplying side lengths and multiply fractional side lengths to find areas of rectangles, and represent fraction products as rectangular areas (NF.B.4b)
- reason about the product in relationship to the factors when multiplying fractions greater than and less than 1 by comparing the size of the product to the size of one factor on the basis of size of the other factor, without performing the indicated multiplication.
- explain why multiplying a given number by a fraction greater than 1 results in a product greater than the given number and explain why multiplying a given number by a fraction less than 1 results in a product smaller than the given number; and relating the principle of fraction equivalence a/b = (nxa)/(nxb) to the effect of multiplying a/b by 1.
- solve real world problems involving multiplication of fractions and mixed numbers by using visual fraction models or equations to represent the problem. (Students must create their own visual model). (NF.B.6)
- make a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions of a unit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8) and use operations on fractions for this grade to solve problems involving information presented in problems.
- solve problems where they need to interpret a fraction as division of a numerator by the denominator.
- explore dividing a unit fraction by a whole number or a whole number by a unit fraction and create a story context to model the expression. (Students must create their own visual model).
Science
1st Quarter
Matter and Energy
During this unit, the students will focus on answering this driving question:
How do you create a healthy and self-sustaining ecosystem?
As part of this, the students will:
- learn about ecosystems and research an ecosystem of their choice.
- build their understanding of the difference between matter and energy by comparing the energy burned or released to the matter consumed.
- make a plan to ensure that the plants are receiving what they need to be self-sustaining in the terrarium habitat.
- make connections by reviewing the structures and needs of plants.
- learn the difference between a food chain and a food web.
- observe and read about crickets and anoles to determine what they will need to survive in the terrarium habitat.
- explore the specific role of decomposers.
- observe an owl pellet and record observations.
- learn about an invasive species.
Earth's Systems
During this unit, the students will focus on answering this driving question:
Driving Question: What can we do as individuals and communities to protect the Earth’s resources and environment?
As part of this unit, the students will:
- begin by thinking about Frederick County and how they personally impact the environment.
- explore how much of Earth’s water (a resource) is available for human consumption.
- be introduced and develop an understanding of the four major Earth Systems (Geosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, and Biosphere).
- develop a model to show the interaction between two or more systems.
- explore some examples of how humans impact the environment, particularly the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.
2nd Quarter
Space Systems: Stars and the Solar System
During this unit, the students will focus on answering this driving question:
Driving Question: How can we better understand space systems through big ideas found in the cross-cutting concepts?
As part of this unit, the students will:
- discover that the sun is a star and explore the idea that the apparent brightness of the sun compared to other stars is due to their relative distances from Earth.
- explore the concept of gravitational force.
- study the concept of earth’s rotation.
- investigate the concept of earth’s revolution around the sun.
- study shadows will be studied to determine how they provide evidence of Earth’s motion relative to the sun.
- explore moon phases to better understand the relationship between the earth, sun, and moon.
- study constellations.
Structure and Property of Matter
During this unit, the students will focus on answering this driving question:
Driving Question: How can I as a forensic scientist collect data and analyze evidence to create a theory that solves a mystery?
As part of this unit, the students will:
- be introduced to the STEM career of a forensic scientist.
- explore the concept that air is matter because it has mass and takes up space.
- explore changing states of matter and conservation of matter concepts when melting and freezing an ice cube.
- learn how to make a scientific observation and identify materials based on their physical properties.
- explore the property of magnetism.
- explore the property of conductivity.
- discover the difference between chemical and physical changes by exploring the station rotations.
- review the conservation of mass and design an investigation to answer the question, does the law of conservation of mass apply to chemical changes?
- apply their knowledge of chemical tests and the properties of matter to identify a mystery white powder.
Social Studies:
3rd Quarter
Unit 1: American Beginnings
The students will explore these concepts:
- Geography influences the movement and interaction of different cultural groups.
- The natural resources of a region affect the types of food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and tools that people create.
- Advances in technology helped make exploration possible.
- European countries had many reasons to send explorers to new lands.
- Exploration has had a profound effect on world history.
Unit 2: Colonization of the New World
The students will explore these concepts:
- Exploration and colonization of North America transformed human history.
- Geography influences needs, culture, opportunities, choices, interests, and skills.
- Colonies developed distinct identities based upon the physical location, cultural make-up of the population and political/economic circumstances.
- Physical environment can determine the way people meet basic needs such as food and shelter.
- Geographic, political, and economic factors can influence settlement patterns.