Curriculum Overview
Mr. VanDerWerken


FIRST QUARTER


Social Studies
SKILLS AND CONCEPTS:
  • The Five Themes of Geography
  • Map and Globe Studies
  • Latitude and Longitude
  • Native Americans
  • States (A state research project will be assigned this quarter)
Science
Interdependence of Plants and Animals
(ECOSYSTEMS):

Describe and compare ecosystems and their Interaction with the environment;
Identify and analyze the functions of organisms within the population of the ecosystem:

  • Producers
  • Consumers
  • Decomposers
Explain why an ecosystem can support a variety of organisms;
Discuss and determine the role of light, temperature, And soil composition to support the ecosystem;
Determine the interaction of organisms within the Ecosystem;
Explain and evaluate some ways that humans affect Ecosystems:
  • Habitat reduction due to development
  • Pollutants
  • Increased nutrients
Determine how materials are recycled in nature

 

Health
Health Risks; Taking Responsibility for Own Health; Concept of Living Well; Benefits of a Healthy Life-style; Impact of Emotions on Health; Managing Strong Feelings; Patterns of Normal Physical, Social, and Emotional Development.
Math
Students have daily math classwork/homework. I give time for students to start (and sometimes students will complete) their work in class. This helps clarify any problems the student has with the assignment. I would encourage parents to make sure their child brings home their book/work, even if they finish their work in class. You can check your child's work to be sure they understand the math concept that we did that day. Every quarter will have a quarter review, followed by the end of quarter test.
SKILLS:
  • Whole Number Computations
  • Decimals
  • Place Value (Whole Numbers & Decimals)
  • Compare/Order Whole Numbers & Decimals
  • Estimate Whole Numbers & Decimals
  • Adding and Subtraction Expressions
  • One Step Equations (Adding & Subtraction)
  • Multiplication and Division Expressions
  • One Step Equations (Mult. & Division)
  • Maintain: Median, Mode, Range
  • Problem Solve with sets of data (Using Median, Mode, Range)
  • Coordinate Grids and Order Pairs of the First Quadrant
  • Review Graphs: Line plots, Circle, Picto, Line, & Tallies
  • Graphs: (Including Stem and Leaf plots)
  • Compare/Contrast different representations of the same data
  • Problem Solving throughout the quarter with objectives taught this quarter.
    Every quarter will have a quarter review, followed by the end of quarter test.
Reading
READING THEMES: "Relating To Others," and the first half of "My World And Yours." Students will also utilize the Accelerated Reader Program. Students need to read at least 20 minutes per night. They can read their accelerated reader, or any story book that interests him/her. Although, I don't require a daily parent signature for the home reading, I am asking parents to routinely monitor their child's nightly reading. I'm planning on reading one story from our textbook per week (Mon.-Wed.). Then on Thursday or Friday, take a comprehension test on the story. Every quarter will have a quarter review, followed by the end of quarter test.
GENRE:
  • Informational Articles
  • Realistic Fiction
  • Fantasy
  • Biography
  • Autobiography
*In addition to our whole group instruction, we will also have guided reading in small groups.*

SKILLS: Sequence of Events; Generalizing; Cause and Effect; Author's Purpose; Steps In A Process; Graphic Sources.

English / Grammar
SKILLS: Four Types of Sentences; Subject and Predicate; Compound And Complex Sentences; Correcting Run-On Sentencs; Proper And Common Nouns.
Writing
For the first semester, I am concentrating on having students write a structurally sound clarification writing example. I plan to model the writing prompt with the class Mon.-Wed., and then let the students do the writing prompt independently on Thur./Friday. Ideally, I would like the students to type and edit their writing assignments on Thur./Friday, on the class computers in html format. Their finished stories will then be placed on their writing page in the "Aspiring Writers" section of my web site.
SKILLS: Introduction To Clarification; Journal Writing.
Wordly Wise
LESSONS: One-Seven. Parts A and B will be done on Mon., parts C and D on Tue., part E on Wed., and the test will be given on Thursday. By Friday, students should have all their words and definitions on their index cards. Writing the words and definitions on index cards, helps students with retention, which in turn, helps them on their wordly wise tests.
Spelling
LESSONS: One-Seven. There will be a trial test on Monday, and a final test on Friday. Students who achieve a 100% on the trial test, need not take the final test. The spelling words are taken from our stories in our reading textbook.