Grade-Level Curriculum

Science

• seasons
• heat
• nocturnal animals
• taking care of my body
• baby animals

Math

• Can count to 20
• Can arrange numerals 0-12 in correct order
• Can identify numerals by name to 12
• Can write numerals 0-10
• Can count objects 1-12 with a one-to-one correspondence
• Can recognize, describe, create and extend a simple pattern
• Can sort, classify, and order objects by color, size, and shape
• Can recognize and describe shapes- square, rectangle, circle, triangle, rhombus, and oval
• Can demonstrate the understanding of size- small, medium, large
• Can demonstrate the understanding of position words- above/below, in/out, over/under, top/bottom, inside/outside, in front/behind

Financial Literacy

• Understand the distribution of resources
  • Explain spending versus savings
  • Recognize that items cost money
• Understand financial instruments
  • Distinguish different types of money (bills, coins)
  • Identify the values of each type of money
• Understand rights and responsibilities as borrowers
  • Explain that a borrowed item needs to be returned
  • Demonstrate that if loaned, an item should be returned
• Establish strategies for protection of identity
  • Describe what an identity is
• Recognize different types of insurance
  • Recognize ways people can lose possessions
  • Demonstrate ways to protect possessions
  • Recognize the consequences of loss
• Recognize different types of non-insurance protection
  • Explain how written notes, emails, or phone calls between school and home can help prevent misinformation
  • Recognize the role of adults in providing safety

Handwriting

• capital and lowercase of each letter
• write top to bottom and left to right
• write first name correctly

Phonics

• identifying the name and sound of each letter
• initial sounds in words

Social Studies

• all about me
• community helpers
• transportation

Bible

• Christmas
• Easter
• chapel theme stories/topics/songs
• how we can honor, praise, obey our God in our work and play (mission statement)
• showing love to others
• devotion for each letter of the alphabet

Reading

• following left to right, top to bottom
• rhyming words
• onset rhymes
• word families
• sequencing
• listening
• comprehension

Music

• chapel theme songs
• alphabet songs
• nursery rhyme songs
• TK-4th grade musical

Art

• multiple projects
• identify 8 basic colors (red, yellow, blue, orange, green, purple, black, brown)

PE

• running
• walking
• hopping
• stretching
• marching
• catching
• bouncing
• jumping
• kicking
• throwing
• over, under, around, through

Additional Topics

• apples
• pumpkins
• grandparents
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas
• snow
• Valentine's Day
• spring
• rain
• Mother’s Day

Social and Personal Development

• follow group directions
• raise hand before speaking
• participate in discussions
• pay attention, respond to questions, and speak audibly
• be respectful of themselves and others
• able to solve conflict independently
• independent in the classroom by learning to help themselves
• good hygiene practices
• independent in toileting, washing hands, dressing, eating, blowing nose, zipping, buttoning, and cleaning up

Fine Motor Skills

• hand-eye coordination to perform self-help and fine motor tasks with a variety of manipulative materials
• show increase in skills in scissors, glueing, writing tools

Speaking

• participate in one-on-one situations and group settings
• ask teacher and peers for help
• speak in complete thoughts and sentences
• respond appropriately to conversations
• ask appropriate questions
• participate without disruption
• take turns speaking

Listening

• listen for information and understanding
• follow directions
• establish, maintain, and enhance relationships
• listen to peers and teachers when they are speaking

Science

• plants and their environment
• weather and climate
• living and non-living
• solid, liquid, gas
• hot and cold
• floating and sinking
• engineering

Math

• Can count to 100 by ones, fives, and tens
• Can write numbers from 0 to 50
• Can write a number for a group of 0 to 20 objects
• Can put numbers in order to 50
• Can identify missing numbers before, after, and in between numbers 1-50
• Can understand that the last object counted tells the number of objects in a group
• Can understand that adding an object to a group will make the total number one bigger (and taking away will make the total number one smaller)
• Can count to tell how many
• Can count out a number of objects between 1 and 20
• Can tell if a group of objects in one group is greater than, less than or equal to a group of objects in another group
• Can compare two written numbers between 1 and 10
• Can use objects, fingers and pictures to help me show addition
• Can use objects, fingers and pictures to help me show subtraction
• Can add and subtract and know math facts from 0-5 with a goal of 20 facts per minute
• Can tell how an object can be measured using non-standard units (length, weight)
• Can compare how two objects are similar or different (more of, less of, taller, shorter)
• Can place objects into categories
• Can count the number of objects in categories
• Can sort the categories by the number of objects
• Can find shapes around me
• Can tell where shapes are (above, below, beside, in front of, behind, next to)
• Can tell about shapes
• Can compare shapes
• Can name 2D shapes (square, rectangle, triangle, circle, rhombus, oval, trapezoid, hexagon)
• Can identify money – penny, nickel, dime, quarter (name, value)
• Can count groups of pennies, groups of nickels, and groups of dimes
• Can tell time to the hour
• Can copy patterns, extend patterns, and identify AB, ABB, AAB, ABC

Financial Literacy

• Understanding needs vs. wants
  • Define wants and needs
  • Know the importance of needs and wants
• Understand financial instruments
  • Distinguish different types of money (bills, coins)
  • Identify the values of each type of money
• Understand rights and responsibilities as borrowers
  • Explain that a borrowed item needs to be returned
  • Demonstrate that if loaned, an item should be returned
• Recognize different types of insurance
  • Recognize ways people can lose possessions
  • Demonstrate ways to protect possessions
  • Recognize the consequences of loss
• Recognize different types of non-insurance protection
  • Explain how written notes, emails, or phone calls between school and home can help prevent misinformation
  • Recognize the role of adults in providing safety

Spelling/Vocabulary

• color words
• sight words (approximately 36)
• number words to 10

Grammar

• exclamation point
• question mark
• quotation marks
• period

Handwriting

• pencil grip
• top/middle/bottom lines
• uppercase/lowercase letters
• constructing basic sentences
• writing name using title case
• writing simple CVC words
• writing sight words

Writing

• Launching the Writing Workshop 
• Writing for Readers 
• How-To Books: Writing to Teach Others 
• Persuasive Writing of All Kinds: Using Words to Make a Change

Social Studies

• all about me (God made me special)
• life at school (rules, etc)
• holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, President’s Day)
• seasons
• community helpers (fire department, police department)
• map skills (where they live in God’s world)
• money (understand the role of money in our society and use it responsibly)
• apples (how they grow - farm to factory, field trip to Country Apple Orchard, Harrisburg, SD)

Art

• apple art (torn paper technique)
• water color painting (seasonal topics)
• leaf man (using real leaves to create images)
• Thanksgiving mural (pilgrim/Mayflower art)
• parent/child project (Tom the Turkey - dress him in disguise so he is not eaten for Thanksgiving dinner!)
• candy cane tissue paper art
• parent/child project (snowman collage art)
• paper snowflake
• symmetry art (tempera paint - heart)
• kite painting
• Easter art (paper stained glass watercolor with cross)
• beginning/end of the year self portrait

Bible

• little children come to Jesus
• a new world and a new start (creation)
• the patriarchs
• from Egypt to Canaan
• Israel in Canaan
• kings and prophets
• exile and return
• Jesus on earth
• parables of Jesus
• Christmas
• Jesus’ death and resurrection
• Ascension and Pentecost
• school-wide theme

Bible Memory Verses

• Genesis 8:22
• Proverbs 3:5-6
• Luke 2:7
• Philippians 4:13
• Mark 12:30
• John 14:6

Faith Formation Journal Questions/Prompts

• I can show God’s love by....

Reading

• alphabet letters/sounds/sight words are in order based upon our reading curriculum  
• topics correlate with science/social studies themes for the month

Reading Read-Alouds

• trade books that correlate with the alphabet letters for the week
• trade books that correlate with science/social studies units

Music

• steady beat
• singing in tune
• loud/soft volume
• call and response
• body percussion
• listening skills (Musicmap series)
• TK-4th grade musical

PE

• developing positive relationships through interacting with others while participating in physical education
• life-long fitness skills
• team sports
• skills
  • dribbling
  • rolling a ball
  • catching
  • throwing
  • kicking
  • passing
  • trapping
  • fielding
  • striking
  • batting

Health Literacy

• My Body
  • How do I keep my body healthy?
  • What are my senses and how do they help me?

Techonology Standards

• DISCERN IT:  Apply discernment in technology use
• MAKE IT:  Use technology to create projects, identify patterns, and make predictions
• SHARE IT:  Use a variety of technology tools and media-rich resources to work collaboratively with others
• FIND IT:  Utilize predetermined digital resources and tools to answer questions or solve problems
• SOLVE IT:  Use technological resources to investigate given questions or problems
• PROTECT IT:  Understand and practice appropriate and safe uses of technology
• USE IT:  Understand basic technology hardware and software and their application

Library

The teacher librarian will work with students in meeting the standards below during library class:

• utilize circulation procedures efficiently and effectively
• identify, locate, select appropriate level, assess, and access materials
• identify, locate, and utilize parts of a book and other materials
• identify different types of books and resources and their use
• demonstrate care of materials
• demonstrate proper use of the library and materials

Science

• space systems
• structure function, information processing in animals
• pushes and pulls
• engineering

Math

• Can count to help me add and subtract
• Know what an equal sign means
• Can count to 120 by 1s, 5s, 10s, and 100s
• Can write numbers to 120
• Can tell whether a group of objects is odd or even
• Can tell how many tens and how many ones are in a number
• Can put three objects in order from longest to shortest
• Can tell the length of an object using whole numbers
• Can tell and write time in hours and half-hours using an analog and digital clock
• Can tell about shapes (square, rectangle, triangle, circle, rhombus, oval, trapezoid, hexagon)

Financial Literacy

• Understanding needs vs. wants
  • Define wants and needs
  • Know the importance of needs and wants
• Practice and understand spending money
  • Describe the exchange of goods and services as part of the monetary system
  • Identify the outcome of spending money
• Understand the distribution of resources
  • Explain spending versus savings
  • Recognize that items cost money
• Understand financial instruments
  • Distinguish different types of money (bills, coins)
  • Identify the values of each type of money
• Understand rights and responsibilities as borrowers
  • Explain that a borrowed item needs to be returned
  • Demonstrate that if loaned, an item should be returned
• Establish strategies for protection of identity
  • Describe what an identity is
  • Recognize that everyone has an identity
• Recognize different types of insurance
  • Recognize ways people can lose possessions
  • Demonstrate ways to protect possessions
  • Recognize the consequences of loss
• Recognize different types of non-insurance protection
  • Explain how written notes, emails, or phone calls between school and home can help prevent misinformation
  • Recognize the role of adults in providing safety
• Recognize investment options
  • Identify the value of saving
• Distinguish investment options
  • Explain the difference between a piggy bank and financial institutions
• Understand the relationship between investment risk and return
  • Explain that something loaned may or may not be returned

Spelling/Vocabulary

• sight words
• high frequency words
• vocabulary words
• words from the Rebecca Sitton curriculum

Grammar

• use of 'I'
• beginning and ending sentences
• types of sentences
• inflectional endings
• parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives)
• contractions
• possessives
• compound words
• pronoun usage

Handwriting

• correct pencil grip
• correct letter formation including shape, size, and slant
• appropriate spacing between letters and words
• appropriate use of the top, middle and bottom lines

Writing

• Small Moments: Writing with Focus, Detail, and Dialogue
• Nonfiction Chapter Books
• Writing Reviews
• From Scenes to Series: Writing Fiction

Phonics

• letters and sounds
• blending sounds to create words
• types of syllables (open, closed, VCVE, R controlled, _le endings, vowel teams)
• syllable division
• sight word memorization
• phonetic awareness

Social Studies

• Native Americans
• countries
• landforms
• current events
• map skills

Art

• line
• color
• shape
• texture
• value
• form
• space
• seasonal art projects

Bible

• God's promises
• the life of the Israelites from creation
• Abraham
• Isaac
• Jacob
• the Judges
• the Kings
• the Prophets
• Christ's birth
• living the life of discipleship
• school-wide theme

Bible Memory Verses

• Psalm 23
• Ruth 1:16
• Proverbs 3:3-6
• 1 Peter 4:10
• Luke 2:4-14
• Matthew 28:1-8

Faith Formation Journal Questions/Prompts

• "This year, I discovered God in big and little things through…."

Reading

• "Authors of the Month" Books:
  • Dr. Seuss
  • Leo Lionni
  • Kevin Henkes
  • Mercer Mayer
  • Arnold Lobel
  • Stan & Jan Berenstain
  • Norman Bridwell
  • Helen Lester
  • James Marshall
• Multiple Copies Sets:
  • Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
  • Leo the Late Bloomer by R. Kraus
  • The Bear’s Toothache by D. McPhail
  • Miss Nelson is Missing by J. Marshall and H.G. Allard, Jr.
  • Nate the Great (Book 1) by M.W. Sharmat and M. Simont
  • The Magic Treehouse (Book 1) by M. Pope Osborne
  • The New Baby by M. Mayer
  • Just Me and My Puppy by M. Mayer
  • Frog and Toad All Year by A. Lobel
  • Frog and Toad Are Friends by A. Lobel
  • Jigsaw Jones #1-Case of Hermie the Missing Hamster by J. Preller and R.W. Alley
  • Henry and Mudge #1- The First Book by C. Rylant and S. Stevenson
  • Mr. Putter & Tabby Bake the Cake by Cynthia Rylant
  • The Poppleton Series by Cynthia Rylant
  • Minnie and Moo Go to the Moon by Denys Cazet
  • Cam Jansen Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds by David A. Adler
• Read-Alouds:
  • The Mouse and the Motorcycle by B. Cleary
  • Runaway Ralph by B. Cleary
  • Ralph S. Mouse by B. Cleary
  • Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket by B. Park
  • Junie B. Jones First Grader (At Last) by B. Park
  • Clementine by S. Pennypacker
  • The Talented Clementine by S. Pennypacker
  • The Puppy Place books by E. Miles
  • Ready Freddy Tooth Trouble by A. Klein
  • Stink the Incredible Shrinking Kid by M. McDonald
  • Stink Solar System Superhero by M. McDonald
  • The Wishbone Wish by M. McDonald
  • The Magic School Bus #7: The Great Shark Escape by J. Johnston
  • The Berenstain Bears Chapter Books by S. and J. Berenstain
  • Ivy and Bean by A. Barrows
  • Ivy and Bean Make the Rules by A. Barrows
  • Magic Tree House books by M. Pope Osborne and S. Murdocca
  • Akimbo and the Lions by Alexander McCall Smith
  • Henry Higgins by Beverly Cleary

 Music

• strong and weak beats
• 2/4 and 4/4 meter
• reading notation
• tempo markings
• largo, andante, allegro, presto
• dynamics
• long and short phrases
• orchestra instruments and families
• listening skills (Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev)
• TK-4th grade musical

PE

• developing positive relationships through interacting with others while participating in physical education
• life-long fitness skills
• team sports
• skills
  • dribbling
  • rolling a ball
  • catching
  • throwing
  • kicking
  • passing
  • trapping
  • fielding
  • striking
  • batting

Health Literacy

• All About Me
  • How can I be safe?
  • How can I keep clean?
  • How can I keep my body healthy?
  • How am I feeling?

Techonology Standards

• DISCERN IT:  Apply discernment in technology use
• MAKE IT:  Use technology to create projects, identify patterns, and make predictions
• SHARE IT:  Use a variety of technology tools and media-rich resources to work collaboratively with others
• FIND IT:  Utilize predetermined digital resources and tools to answer questions or solve problems
• SOLVE IT:  Use technological resources to investigate given questions or problems
• PROTECT IT:  Understand and practice appropriate and safe uses of technology
• USE IT:  Understand basic technology hardware and software and their application

Library

The teacher librarian will work with students in meeting the standards below during library class:

• utilize circulation procedures efficiently and effectively
• identify, locate, select appropriate level, assess, and access materials
• identify, locate, and utilize parts of a book and other materials
• identify different types of books and materials and their use
• demonstrate care of materials
• demonstrate proper use of the library and materials

Science

• waves: light and sound
• inheritance and variation of traits
• interdependent relationships in ecosystems
• structure and properties of matter
• engineering

Math

• Can use strategies to solve addition word problems to 100
• Can use strategies to solve subtraction word problems to 100
• Know my addition facts to 20 with a goal of 20 facts per minute
• Know subtraction facts to 20 with a goal of 20 facts per minute
• Can understand and use hundreds, tens, and ones
• Can read numbers to 1,000 in different ways
• Can compare three-digit numbers using >, =, and <
• Can add and subtract with regrouping
• Can explain why I need to use addition or subtraction to help me solve problems
• Can use different tools to measure objects
• Can compare the length of an object using two different units of measurement
• Can compare the length of two different objects
• Can use addition and subtraction to 100 to solve measurement problems
• Can make and use a number line
• Can tell time to five minutes on an analog and digital clock
• Can understand a.m. and p.m.
• Can count dollars, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies to help me solve word problems
• Can make a picture and bar graph

Financial Literacy

• Understanding needs vs. wants
  • Define wants and needs
  • Know the importance of needs and wants
• Understand various sources of compensation
  • Recognize sources of income for children such as allowances and gifts
• Understand the distribution of resources
  • Explain spending versus savings
  • Recognize that items cost money
• Understand financial instruments
  • Distinguish different types of money (bills, coins)
  • Identify the values of each type of money
• Understand rights and responsibilities as borrowers
  • Explain that a borrowed item needs to be returned
  • Demonstrate that if loaned, an item should be returned
• Recognize different types of insurance
  • Recognize ways people can lose possessions
  • Demonstrate ways to protect possessions
  • Recognize the consequences of loss
• Recognize different types of non-insurance protection
  • Explain how written notes, emails, or phone calls between school and home can help prevent misinformation
  • Recognize the role of adults in providing safety

Spelling/Vocabulary

• short vowels
• prefixes
• suffixes
• contractions
• consonant digraphs
• antonyms
• visual skills
• irregular spellings
• homophones
• possessive pronouns
• long vowels
• compound words
• diphthongs
• spelling patterns
• r-controlled vowels
• silent letters
• plurals
• vocabulary development
• homographs
• irregular spellings
• s and k spellings
• ABC order
• possessives
• double letters

Grammar

• statements and questions
• commands
• exclamations
• subjects
• predicates
• sentence combining with subjects and predicates
• nouns
• plural nouns
• proper nouns
• possessive nouns
• action verbs
• present tense verbs
• subject-verb agreement
• past-tense verbs
• linking verbs
• helping verbs
• irregular verbs
• contractions
• pronouns
• pronoun-verb agreement
• adjectives
• articles
• adjectives that compare
• adverbs

Handwriting

• keys to legibility (shape, size, spacing, slant, writing numerals, writing letters and words)

Writing

• Lessons from the Masters: Improving Narrative Writing
• Lab Reports and Science Books
• Writing about Reading
• Poetry: Big Thoughts in Small Packages

Phonics

• open and closed syllables
• silent e syllables
• vowel team syllables
• r-controlled syllables
• consonant-le syllables
• ss, ll, ff, zz, c, k, and ck, ch and tch
• y as a vowel
• soft c and g
• hard c and g
• syllable division vc/v
• irregular vowel teams

Social Studies

• maps, charts, graphs
• Constitution Day
• Martin Luther
• Johnny Appleseed
• elections
• Thanksgiving
• Veteran’s Day
• famous African Americans
• presidents
• China
• Netherlands
• current events
• Scholastic Weekly Reader
• field trips
• special visitors

Art

• line
• color
• shape
• texture
• value
• form
• space

Bible

• the Christian life
• Old Testament review/overview
• intertestamentary times
• a Savior is born
• Jesus begins his ministry
• Jesus preaches
• prayer
• miracles of Jesus
• parables of Jesus
• the beginning of Passion week
• Easter
• early church
• Paul’s missionary journeys
• Paul’s trip to Rome
• Christ’s promised return
• school-wide theme

Bible Memory Verses

• I John 4:7-12
• Psalm 105:1-5
• Matthew 11:28-30
• James 1:19-20
• Matthew 16:24-25
• Psalm 8

Faith Formation Journal Questions/Prompts

• Our classroom Deep Hope is to identify, imitate, and celebrate Christ's characteristics together.  Throughout the year what throughline have you lived out and how?
• We are imitators of Christ.  What does it mean to imitate someone?  How are you an imitator of Christ?
• Our Bible stories this year are about God’s promises. Which of God’s promises comforts you? How?
• Write about a talent that God has given you. How do you use it to serve others?

Reading

• Multiple Copies Sets:
  • Amelia Bedelia and the Baby by P. Parish
  • Three Pigs, One Wolf, & Seven Magic Shapes by G. Maccarone
  • Curious George Takes a Job by H. Rey
  • Through Grandpa’s Eyes by P. MacLachlan
  • Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by J. Barrett
  • Gregory, the Terrible Eater by M. Sharmat
  • Boy Who Held Back the Sea by L. Hort
  • A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln by D. Adler
  • A Picture Book of George Washington by D. Adler
  • Big Al by A. Yoshi
  • When I was Young in the Mountains by C. Rylant
  • No Jumping on the Bed! by T. Arnold
  • Gingerbread Baby by J. Brett
  • Best Friends For Frances by R. Hoban
  • Grandpa Gets Grumpy by A. Hines
  • Now One Foot, Now the Other by T. de Paola
  • Miss Rumphius by B. Cooney
  • Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs by T. de Paola
  • China by H. Pluckrose
  • From Seed to Plant by G. Gibbons
  • Balto, the Bravest Dog Ever by N. Standiford
  • Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares by F. Murphy
  • Escape North by M. Kullilng
  • Giant Pandas by G. Gibbons
  • Hungry Plants by M. Batten
  • Story of Johnny Appleseed by Aliki
  • Lon Po Po by E. Young
  • Netherlands by S. De Capua
  • Ruby Bridges by R. Coles
  • Spiders by G. Gibbons
  • The First Thanksgiving by L. Hayward
  • The Five Chinese Brothers by C. Huchet Bishop
  • The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds by J. Cole
  • The Missing Mitten Mystery by S. Kellogg
  • The Whingdingdilly by B. Peet
  • Tikki Tikki Tembo by A. Mosel
  • Trouble in the Barkers’ Class by T. de Paolo
  • The Spooky Tail of Prewitt Peacock by B. Peet
  • Beauty and the Beast by J. Brett
  • Mr. Putter and Tabby Bake the Cake by C. Rylant
  • Hidden Army:  Clay Soldiers of Ancient China by J. O’Connor
  • Henry and Mudge the First Book by C. Rylant and S. Stevenson
  • Just Plain Fancy by P. Polacco
• Read-Alouds:
  • Cam Jansen and the First Day of School Mystery by D. Adler and S. Natti
  • Tornado by B. Byars
  • Johnny Appleseed Biography
  • Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
  • My Dog, My Hero by B. Byars, L. Myers, B. Duffey, and L. Long
  • The Lucky Baseball Bat by M. Christopher and R. Henneberger
  • Mayflower Treasure Hunt by R. Roy and J. Steven Gurney
  • The Trouble with Chickens by D. Cronin and K. Cornell
  • The Case of the Snowboarding Superstar by J. Preller and J. Smith
  • Grace’s Letter to Lincoln by P. and C. Roop and S. Schuett
  • The Magic Tree House Abe Lincoln at Last by M. Pope Osborne and S. Murdocca
  • Esio Trot by R. Dahl and Q. Blake
  • Because of Winn Dixie by K. DiCamillo
  • Piper Reed by K. Willis Holt and C. Davenier
  • My Father's Dragon by R. Stiles Gannett and R. Chrisman Gannett
  • Kenny and the Dragon by T. DiTerlizzi
  • Flat Stanley by J. Brown and M. Pamintuan
  • A-Z Mysteries: The New Year Dragon Dilema by R. Roy
  • The Magic School Bus and the Giant Germ by J. Cole and B. Degan
• Authors of the Month:
  • Cynthia Rylant
  • Robert Munsch
  • Peggy Parrish
  • Marc Brown
  • Jan Brett
  • Patricia Pollaco
  • Tomie DePaolo
  • H.A. Rey
  • Bill Peet

Music

• tied notes
• dynamics
• crescendo, decrescendo
• introduction, interlude, ending
• rondo
• recorders
• listening skills (The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky, Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens)
• TK-4th grade musical

PE

• developing positive relationships through interacting with others while participating in physical education
• life-long fitness skills
• team sports
• skills
  • dribbling
  • rolling a ball
  • catching
  • throwing
  • kicking
  • passing
  • trapping
  • fielding
  • striking
  • batting
  • swimming

Health Literacy

• Health and Nutrition
  • What should I eat to stay healthy?
  • What should I do to keep clean?
  • Why are exercise and rest important?
  • Who can help keep me healthy?

Techonology Standards

• DISCERN IT:  Apply discernment in technology use
• MAKE IT:  Use technology to create projects, identify patterns, and make predictions
• SHARE IT:  Use a variety of technology tools and media-rich resources to work collaboratively with others
• FIND IT:  Utilize predetermined digital resources and tools to answer questions or solve problems
• SOLVE IT:  Use technological resources to investigate given questions or problems
• PROTECT IT:  Understand and practice appropriate and safe uses of technology
• USE IT:  Understand basic technology hardware and software and their application

Library

The teacher librarian will work with students in meeting the standards below during library class:

• utilize circulation procedures efficiently and effectively
• identify, locate, select appropriate level, assess, and access materials
• identify, locate, and utilize parts of a book and other materials
• identify different types of books and materials and their use
• demonstrate care of materials
• demonstrate proper use of the library and materials
• understand plagiarism and be able to cite sources

Science

• weather and climate
• earth's systems: processes that shape the earth
• forces and interactions
• earth's systems - water
• space systems
• engineering

Math

• Can understand multiplication by thinking about groups of objects
• Can understand division by thinking about how one group can be divided into smaller groups
• Can add and subtract numbers within 1000
• Can multiply any one digit whole number by 10
• Can show and understand that fractions are equal parts of a whole
• Can tell and write time
• Can measure time in minutes
• Can create a picture or bar graph to show data and solve problems using the information from the graphs
• Can memorize multiplication and their related division facts from 0-10 with a goal of 20 facts per minute
• Can measure to the nearest half inch
• Can review addition and subtraction facts from 0-12 with a goal of 20 facts per minute
• Can determine place value to the millions
• Can use strategies to solve word problems

Financial Literacy

• Understanding needs vs. wants
  • Explain difference between wants and needs
  • Explain prioritization factors to consider when determining expense-related decisions
• Understand various sources of compensation
  • Recognize multiple sources of income as well as alternative sources (family members, neighbors, friends for jobs or gifts)
  • Recognize other types of compensation (bartering, trading)
• Establish strategies for protection of identity
  • Explain what it means to have a personal financial identity stolen
  • Identify ways of protecting their identity

Spelling/Vocabulary

• related to phonetic concepts in our reading
• prefixes and suffixes
• context clues
• vocabulary in the content areas
• multiple-meaning words
• dictionary skills

Grammar

• types of sentences
• subjects and predicates
• mechanics
• proofreading
• sentence combination
• nouns
• verbs
• adjectives
• pronouns
• parts of speech
• contractions
• compound words

Handwriting

• review

Writing

• Crafting True Stories
• The Art of Information Writing
• Changing the World: Persuasive Speeches, Petitions, and Editorials
• Once Upon a Time: Adapting and Writing Fairy Tales

Social Studies

• communities (attend Heritage Days)
• physical geography
• human geography
• countries
• citizens and government
• American culture
• jobs
• economics

Art

• related to social studies, holidays, and reading themes
• line
• color
• 3-D
• texture
• pottery
• using different mediums

Bible

• Ephesians
• Becoming a Bible Explorer
• In the Beginning
• Fall of Babel
• Abraham and Isaac
• Jacob
• Joseph
• Moses
• Wilderness through Joshua
• Promised Land
• school-wide theme

Bible Memory Verses

• Psalm 135:1-7
• Joshua 1:7-9
• Ephesians 4:29, 32
• Psalm 119:9-12
• Genesis 1:27-28
• summary of the Ten Commandments

• In reflecting on my third grade year, 
  • I learned ...
  • I loved ...
  • I lived ...

Reading

• Multiple Copies Sets:
  • Jumanji by C. Van Allsburg
  • The White Stallion by E. Shub
  • Stargazing by G. Gibbons
  • Dakota Dugout by A. Turner and R. Himler
  • Little House in the Big Woods by L. Ingalls Wilder
  • The Boxcar Children by G. Chandler Warner
  • Helen Keller by S. & P. Graff
  • The Magic Tree House Fact Tracker #18:  Penguins and Antarctica  by M. Pope Osborne
  • Freckle Juice by J. Blume
  • The World According to Humphrey by B. Birney
  • Let’s Go Rock Collecting by R. Gans
  • Babe: the Gallant Pig by D. King-Smith
• Read-Alouds:
  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by R. Dahl
  • The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
  • One of the Third Grade Thonkers by P. Reynolds Naylor
  • Treasure in an Oatmeal Box by K. Gire
  • The BFG by R. Dahl
  • The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by K. DiCamillo and B. Ibatouilline
  • A Long Walk to Water by L.S. Park
  • I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg by L. Tarshis

Music

• eighth notes
• tied notes
• ¾ meter
• sight reading
• dynamics
• staccato vs. legato
• accent
• theme and variation
• recorders
• listening skills (Heroic Symphony by Beethoven, The Farewell Symphony by Haydn, Peer Gynt Suite by Edward Greig)
• orchestra
• TK-4th grade musical

PE

• developing positive relationships through interacting with others while participating in physical education
• life-long fitness skills
• team sports
• skills
  • dribbling
  • rolling a ball
  • catching
  • throwing
  • kicking
  • passing
  • trapping
  • fielding
  • striking
  • batting
  • swimming

Health Literacy

• Safety:  Myself and Others
  • How can I live safely?
  • How can I help others in emergencies and when they are injured?
  • How can I stay healthy?
  • How can I resolve conflicts?
  • How can I make good decisions?

Technology Standards

• DISCERN IT:  Apply discernment in technology use
• MAKE IT:  Use technology resources to create original products, identify patterns and problems, make predictions, and propose solutions
• SHARE IT:  Use interactive technologies in a collaborative group to produce digital presentations or products in a curricular area
• FIND IT:  Utilize digital tools and resources to investigate real-world issues, answer questions, or solve problems
• SOLVE IT:  Use technological resources to develop and refine questions for investigation
• PROTECT IT:  Understand and practice appropriate, legal, and safe uses of technology for lifelong learning
• USE IT:  Understand technology hardware and software system operations and their application

Library

The teacher librarian will work with students in meeting the standards below during library class:

• utilize circulation procedures efficiently and effectively
• identify, locate, select appropriate level, assess, and access materials
• identify, locate, and utilize parts of a book and other materials
• identify different types of books and materials and their use
• demonstrate care of materials
• demonstrate proper use of the library and materials
• understand plagiarism and be able to cite sources

• interdependent relationships in ecosystems
• animal and human structure, information processing
• energy
• waves and information
• engineering

• Can review multiplication and division facts from 0-12
• Can review subtraction and addition facts from 0-12
• Can understand that multiplication fact problems can be seen as comparisons of groups (e.g., 24 = 4 x 6 can be thought of as 4 groups of 6 or 6 groups of 4)
• Can multiply or divide to solve word problems by using drawings or writing equations and solving for a missing number
• Can use what I know about addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to solve multi-step word problems involving whole numbers
• Can create a number or shape pattern that follows a given rule
• Can notice different features of a pattern once it is created by a rule
• Can read and write larger whole numbers using numerals, words and in expanded form
• Can compare two large numbers using symbols to show the comparison
• Can round large whole numbers to any place
• Can add and subtract large numbers
• Can multiply a whole number up to four digits by a one-digit whole number
• Can multiply two two-digit numbers
• Can find whole-number quotients and remainders with up to four-digit dividends and one-digit divisors
• Can understand that improper fractions have a greater numerator than denominator
• Can understand addition and subtraction of fractions as joining and separating parts referring to the same whole
• Can multiply a fraction by a whole number
• Can show that I know the relative size of measurement units within a single system
• Can use the four operations (+, -, x, /) to solve word problems involving measurement
• Can use what I know about area and perimeter to solve real world problems involving rectangles
• Can recognize angles as geometric shapes where two rays share a common endpoint

Financial Literacy

• Develop a realistic spending plan for financial independence
  • Illustrate that education and skills, and economic conditions affect income
  • Determine own attitudes and behaviors toward spending, saving, and investing
  • Recognize sources of money (earned or gifted)
• Identify responsible credit management
  • Recognize the uses of credit
  • Identify appropriate times to use credit
• Understand different types of debt
  • Recognize that borrowing is a debt to be repaid
  • Explain the role of interest regarding debt
• Understand rights and responsibilities as borrowers
  • Recognize the importance of repaying a debt
  • Explain potential consequences for not returning a borrowed item
  • Explain the positive consequences of repaying debt on time
• Understand the relationship between investment risk and return
  • Explain how an investment can grow in value
  • Explain how an investment might decrease in value

Spelling/Vocabulary

• weekly lists based on different skill areas
• daily spelling
• enrichment words provided from other curricular areas

Grammar

• prepositions
• nouns
• adjectives
• verbs
• adverbs
• mechanics
• pronouns
• types of sentences
• punctuation
• capitalization

Handwriting

• keyboarding skills

Writing

• The Arc of Story: Writing Realistic Fiction
• Boxes and Bullets: Personal and Persuasive Essays
• Bringing History to Life
• The Literary Essay: Writing about Fiction

Social Studies

• regions of the United States (state locations and capitals)
• Native Americans

Art

• positive/negative space
• color
• texture
• shape
• form (totem poles and masks)
• line
• value

Bible

• Judges
• Kings
• exile
• writing of the Bible
• Psalms and Proverbs
• school-wide theme

Bible Memory Verses

• Old Testament books
• 1 Samuel 15:22
• Psalm 27:1-3
• Psalm 51:10-12
• Proverbs 2:6-8
• Psalm 103:1-5

• What does it mean to Fully Rely on God? How can we do this each day?

• Multiple Copies Sets:
  • The War With Grandpa by R. Kimmel Smith
  • Chester Cricket’s Pigeon Ride by G. Selden
  • The Chocolate Touch by P. Skene Catling
  • Anna, Grandpa, and the Big Storm by C. Stevens
  • Stone Fox by J. Reynolds Gardiner
  • The Sign of the Beaver by E. George Speare
  • Teammates by P. Golenbock
  • Shiloh by P. Reynolds Naylor
• Read-Alouds:
  • Out of My Mind by S. Draper
  • Cricket in Times Square by G. Williams
  • Owls in the Family by F. Mowat
  • Lawn Boy by G. Paulsen
  • Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Christ Grabenstein
  • Insignificant Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
  • Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
• Literature Circle Books:
  • When the Soldiers Were Gone by V. Propp
  • The Hundred Dresses by E. Estes
  • The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by A. Dalgliesh
  • Call Me Francis Tucket by G. Paulsen

• eighth notes
• syncopation
• major scale
• treble clef pitch names
• ritardando
• slurs
• fugue
• recorders
• listening skills (Goldberg Variations by Bach, Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin)
• orchestra
• TK-4th grade musical

PE

• developing positive relationships through interacting with others while participating in physical education
• life-long fitness skills
• team sports
• skills
  • dribbling
  • rolling a ball
  • catching
  • throwing
  • kicking
  • passing
  • trapping
  • fielding
  • striking
  • batting
  • swimming

Health Literacy

• Healthy Choices
  • What are the effects of illegal drugs, tobacco, and alcohol on human bodies?
  • What are responsible and irresponsible uses for medications and other substances?
  • How can we make wise choices for healthy living?

Technology Standards

• DISCERN IT:  Apply discernment in technology use
• MAKE IT:  Use technology resources to create original products, identify patterns and problems, make predictions, and propose solutions
• SHARE IT:  Use interactive technologies in a collaborative group to produce digital presentations or products in a curricular area
• FIND IT:  Utilize digital tools and resources to investigate real-world issues, answer questions, or solve problems
• SOLVE IT:  Use technological resources to develop and refine questions for investigation
• PROTECT IT:  Understand and practice appropriate, legal, and safe uses of technology for lifelong learning
• USE IT:  Understand technology hardware and software system operations and their application

Theme Days

• team
• F.R.O.G.
• Native American
• ROYGBIV (color)
• hat
• USA

Science

• human impacts
• matter structures and properties
• human body, cells
• electricity
• engineering 

Math

• Can review multiplication and division facts from 0-12
• Can review addition and subtraction facts from 0-12
• Can understand and explain the value of digits
• Can explain patterns when multiplying a number by powers of 10
• Can explain patterns when a decimal is multiplied or divided by a power of 10
• Can read, write, and compare decimals to thousandths
• Can use place value understanding to round decimals to any place
• Can multiply multi-digit whole numbers
• Can add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths. I can use concrete models or drawings to explain the method used
• Can add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators and mixed numbers
• Can solve word problems that involve fractions
• Can convert measurements within the same measuring system
• Can understand volume
• Can measure volume by counting unit cubes
• Can understand how to graph ordered pairs on a coordinate plane
• Can graph and interpret points in the first quadrant of a coordinate plane
• Can classify shapes into categories
• Can classify shapes based on properties

Financial Literacy

• Develop short-term and long-term financial goals
  • Distinguish between short- and long-term goals
  • Explain the importance of goal setting, how to prioritize those goals, and the need for both short- and long-term goals
  • Create a timely, attainable goal
• Understand the distribution of resources
  • Explain the benefits of savings versus spending
  • Describe the impact of spending on savings
• Understand financial instruments
  • Identify the different ways to pay for items (cash, check, credit, and debit)
  • Explain how non-cash methods of payment still require adequate funds
• Recognize investment options
  • Identify various ways to save
  • Explain the importance of saving in relation to future needs
• Recognize the local, state, national, and international impact of personal financial habits and actions
  • Recognize that different people have different needs, wants, and financial priorities
  • Explain how one’s actions impact others
• Demonstrate responsible financial behaviors, at the personal, local, state, national, and international levels
  • Recognize consequences for both good and bad decisions
  • Recognize that an individual’s behavior impacts the decisions and consequences of the broader community

Spelling/Vocabulary

• vowel sounds
• homophones
• compound words
• word endings
• prefixes
• suffixes
• word roots
• vocabulary pulled from novels

Grammar

• prepositions
• verbs
• nouns
• adjectives
• adverbs
• pronouns
• interjections
• conjunctions
• sentence types
• capitalization
• punctuation

Writing

• Narrative Craft
• The Lens of History: Research Reports
• Shaping Texts: from Essay and Narrative to Memoir
• The Reserach-Based Argument Essay

Social Studies

• Iowa (history and geography)
• Latin America (history, geography, and culture of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean)
• United States (the history of the United States from the colonization through the western expansion/turn of the century)

Art

• symmetry
• shape project
• calendar picture project
• texture project
• vegetable shape project
• students relate art to God’s creation

Bible

• God’s Covenant people
• last days of Judah
• Daniel
• Esther
• Judah’s return
• gospel writers
• Jesus birth, early life, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension
• the Sermon on the Mount
• growing popularity
• parables of the Kingdom
• the ministry around Galilee
• school-wide theme

Bible Memory Verses

• John 3:16-21
• Psalm 103:8-12
• Matthew 6:25-34
• Isaiah 41:10
• Matthew 5:3-12
• books of the New Testament

Faith Formation Journal Questions/Prompts

• In what ways have you shown growth in Seeking God as a part of His Story?  Give specific examples.
• In what ways have you shown growth in Shining for God as part of His story?  Give specific examples.

Reading

• Multiple Copies Sets:
  • The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
  • Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by R. O’Brien
  • Deltora Quest: The Forest of Silence by Emily Rodda
  • Tuck Everlasting by N. Babbitt
• Read-Aloud
  • Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid by Ralph Fletcher
• Informational Literature Circle Books:
  • Tracking Trash:  Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion by L. G. Burns
  • Hurricane Force:  In the Path of America’s Deadliest Storms by J.  B. Treaster
  • Battle Heroes:  Voice for Afghanistan by A. Zullo
  • Magic Tree House Fact Tracker #8: Twisters and Other Terrible Storms by W. and M.P. Osborne
  • Friend Me:  600 Years of Social Networking in America by F. D. Dipiazza
  • Non-fiction unit - various text options used
• Independent Reading:
  • 30 Book Challenge (self selection, reading response, discussion, genre, comprehension)

Music

• sixteenth notes
• 6/8 meter
• sight singing
• tenuto
• phrasing
• sonata
• Orff arrangements
• listening skills (pictures at an exhibition by Mussorgsky, study music to be played at the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra concert)
• OPUS honor choir
• band
• orchestra

PE

• developing positive relationships through interacting with others while participating in physical education
• life-long fitness skills
• team sports
• skills
  • dribbling
  • rolling a ball
  • catching
  • throwing
  • kicking
  • passing
  • trapping
  • fielding
  • striking
  • batting

Health Literacy

• Body Systems
  • What are the major systems of the human body?
  • What are the structures and functions of the major body systems?
  • How should we care for our bodies?
  • How did God make female and male bodies unique?

Technology Standards

• DISCERN IT:  Apply discernment in technology use
• MAKE IT:  Use technology resources to create original products, identify patterns and problems, make predictions, and propose solutions
• SHARE IT:  Use interactive technologies in a collaborative group to produce digital presentations or products in a curricular area
• FIND IT:  Utilize digital tools and resources to investigate real-world issues, answer questions, or solve problems
• SOLVE IT:  Use technological resources to develop and refine questions for investigation
• PROTECT IT:  Understand and practice appropriate, legal, and safe uses of technology for lifelong learning
• USE IT:  Understand technology hardware and software system operations and their application

Science

• space systems
• weather and climate
• microbiology
• matter and energy in organisms and ecosystems
• forces and interactions
• engineering

Math

• Can review multiplication and division facts from 0-12
• Can solve unit rate problems. (Ex: If it took 7 hours to mow 4 lawns, then at that rate, how many lawns could be mowed in 35 hours? At what rate were the lawns being mowed?)
• Can find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100. (Ex: 30% of a quantity means 30/100 times the quantity)
• Can understand that positive and negative numbers are used to describe amounts having opposite values
• Can extend number line diagrams to show positive and negative numbers on the line and in the plane
• Can recognize opposite signs of numbers as indicating places on opposite sides of 0 on the number line.)
• Can place integers and other numbers on a number line diagram
• Can place ordered pairs on a coordinate plane
• Can order positive and negative numbers
• Can understand the distance between two numbers (positive or negative) on a number line
• Can write, read and figure out expressions in which letters stand for numbers
• Can write expressions using numbers and letters (with the letters standing for numbers.)
• Can determine the answer to expressions when given the specific value of a variable
• Can use my knowledge of the order of operations to evaluate expressions
• Can apply what I know about taking apart and putting together shapes to find the area in real world situations
• Can use the mathematical formulas V=l w h or V= b h to determine the volume of real world objects
• Can draw polygons in the coordinate plane when I am given the coordinates for the vertices
• Understand that a set of numerical data has a measure of center (median and/or mean) that summarizes all of its values with a single number
• Can show numerical data on a number line

Financial Literacy

• Understanding needs vs. wants
  • Describe persuasive strategies used by peers, media, and businesses to influence society (in decision making)
  • Explain difference between wants and needs
• Develop a realistic spending plan for financial independence
  • Explain the advantage of spending less than you have
• Recognize the local, state, national, and international impact of personal financial habits and actions
  • Realize that financial habits and actions have broad impact beyond the local community

Spelling/Vocabulary

• Latin roots (95 roots learned- definition and usage)
• spelling patterns and commonly misspelled words
• strategies for determining correct spelling in writing

Grammar

• 6 traits of writing/writing process
• sentence structure/word choice
• effective paragraphs
• all parts of speech (nouns, pronouns, verbs, modifiers)
• conventions

Handwriting

• use of complete sentences
• legible penmanship
• mastery of typing skills

Writing

• menus (word choice)
• personal narratives
• modern-day myths (movies)
• speaking and listening-speeches (Interscholastics)
• elevator essays
• faith commercials
• research paper (The Renaissance)
• newspapers (survival theme)
• children’s stories (collaborating with first grade)

Social Studies

• Fertile Crescent/Mesopotamia
• brief study of Egyptian religion
• Greece
• Rome (Ben Hur)
• France and Germany
• Feudal Europe (including a medieval project and feast)
• Islam
• Crusades
• early Western European towns and cities
• Renaissance (writing project)
• Reformation
• geography of Western Europe, including a project (scrapbook or slideshow)
• Russia

Art

• artists have style                    
• assignments include focus on art element, artistic style, art form
• art elements/parts of God’s design
• line/realism/oil pastel
• color/ pointillism/marker                        
• shape/abstract/tempera paint
• value/landscape/watercolor
• form/construction/ceramics
• texture/surrealism/collage
• space/optical art/drawing
• form/soft sculpture/weaving

Bible

• The setting of God’s word
• Jesus’ resurrection
• Pentecost
• Paul’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd missionary journeys
• Book of Colossians
• letters to the church
• Revelation
• school-wide theme

Bible Memory Verses

• Romans 12:9-21
• Philippians 4:4-13
• Philippians 2:3-11
• John 14:1-6
• Psalm 47:1-7
• Isaiah 55:6-9

Faith Formation Journal Questions/Prompts

• Who is included in the body of Christ?

• What have you learned about the body of Christ and your role in it so far this year?
• What gifts has God given to you?
• In what ways have you used your gifts for God and others this year?
• Why is it important to use your gifts for God and others?

• Greek Mythology Unit (using Favorite Greek Myths by M. Pope Osborne)
• Survival Unit Books:
  • Call it Courage by A. Sperry
  • Chosen for Life by J. Schaap
• Survival Literature Circle Books:
  • Hatchet by G. Paulsen
  • Red Midnight by B. Mikaelsen
  • The Upside Down Ship by D. Wulffson
  • Island of the Blue Dolphins by S. O'Dell
  • Julie of the Wolves by J. Craighead George
  • Snow Treasure by M. McSwigan
  • Anna's Blizzard by A. Hart
• Multiple Copies Sets:
  • The Bronze Bow by E. George Speare
  • City of Ember by J. DuPrau
  • When You Reach Me by R. Stead
• Independent Reading:
  • 32 Book Challenge (self selection, reading response, discussion, genre, comprehension)

Music

• meters (2/8, 4/8, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8)
• rhythm
• sight singing
• minor scale
• phrasing
• binary and tenary
• symmetrical and asymmetrical rondo
• guitars
• listening skills (Messiah by Handel, study music to be played at the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra concert)
• OPUS honor choir
• band
• orchestra

PE

• developing positive relationships through interacting with others while participating in physical education
• life-long fitness skills
• team sports
• skills
  • dribbling
  • rolling a ball
  • catching
  • throwing
  • kicking
  • passing
  • trapping
  • fielding
  • striking
  • batting

Health Literacy

• Health
  • How do we live a healthy lifestyle? (nutrients, caffeine, stress, sleep)
  • What factors influence our body image?
  • What are the unique chracteristics of males and females?

Techonology Standards

• DISCERN IT:  Apply discernment in technology use
• MAKE IT:  Demonstrate creative thinking in the design and development of innovative technology products and problem solving
• SHARE IT:  Collaborate with peers, experts, and others using interactive technology
• FIND IT:  Plan strategies utilizing digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information
• SOLVE IT:  Use critical thinking skills to conduct research, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate technological tools and resources
• PROTECT IT:  Understand the legal and ethical issues of technology as related to individuals, cultures, and societies
• USE IT:  Understand the underlying structure and application of technology systems

Science

• the changing earth
• structure and properties of matter
• waves and electromagnetic radiation
• energy
• flight
• engineering

Math

• Can review multiplication and division facts from 0-12
• Can calculate the unit rate for real life situations by breaking down the ratio (fractions) by dividing to solve the problem to find the relationship between two units
• Can recognize and represent a proportion as a statement of equality between two ratios
• Can analyze two ratios to determine if they are proportional to one another with a variety of strategies (ex: using tables, graphs or pictures)
• Can analyze tables, graphs, equations, diagrams and verbal descriptions to identify unit rate
• Can apply what I have learned about addition and subtraction to add and subtract rational numbers
• Can show addition and subtraction on a horizontal or vertical number line diagram
• Can demonstrate and explain how when adding two numbers p + q: if q is positive, the sum of p and q will be |q| spaces to the right of p on a number line; and if q is negative, the sum of p and q will be |q| spaces to the right of p on a number line
• Can explain and justify why the sum of p + q is located a distance of |q| in the positive or negative direction from p on a number line
• Can represent how the distance between two rational numbers on a number line is the absolute value of their difference and apply this to real-world situations
• Can identify subtraction of rational numbers as adding the additive inverse property to subtract rational numbers, p-q=p+(-q)
• Can change a rational number to a decimal using long division and explain how the decimal form of a rational number stops in zeroes or repeats
• Can add, subtract, multiply and divide rational numbers
• Can apply properties of operations to add, subtract, factor and expand linear expressions with rational coefficients
• Can combine like terms to factor and expand linear expressions with rational coefficients using the distributive property
• Can use properties of operations to write equivalent expressions
• Can rewrite an expression in a different form if needed
• Can determine if an answer makes sense using mental computation and estimation strategies
• Can use variables to represent numbers in real-world or mathematical problems and make reasonable simple equations and inequalities to solve problems
• Can identify and fluently solve equations in the form px+q=r and p(x+q)=r (ex: The perimeter of a rectangle is 54 cm. Its length is 6 cm. What is its width?)
• Can recognize and draw a triangle when given three measurements: three side lengths, three angle measurements, or a combination of side lengths and angle measurements
• Can state the formulas for the area and circumference of a circle and use them to solve problems
• Can recognize and explain that the probability of a chance event is a number between 0 and 1 that expresses how likely an event is to occur (ex: When rolling a number cube 600 times, predict that a 3 or 6 would be rolled roughly 200 times, but probably not exactly 200 times.)
• Can use probability to predict the number of times an event will occur

Financial Literacy

• Understanding needs vs. wants
  • Identify expenditures as needs or wants
  • Explain difference between wants and needs
• Develop a realistic spending plan for financial independence
  • Explain the advantage of spending less than you have
• Understand various sources of compensation
  • Identify factors to consider when analyzing different methods of compensation
• Understand financial instruments
  • Identify possible financial accounts
  • Recognize the importance of keeping accurate records
• Demonstrate responsible financial behaviors, at the personal, local, state, national, and international levels
  • Explain the importance of ethical behavior in building trust

Spelling/Vocabulary

• abbreviations
• prefixes and suffixes
• irregular verbs
• homophones
• singular and plural
• contractions
• Greek and Latin roots
• grammar
• effective sentences and word choice
• sentence variety and structure
• effective paragraphs
• writing an essay
• parts of a sentence
• nouns and pronouns
• verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and other parts of speech
• subject-verb agreement
• punctuation
• capitalization
• spelling

Writing

• the writing process
• the writing traits
• about my paper
• autobiographical writing
• speech
• performing narrative speeches
• story
• descriptive paragraph
• compare-contrast essay
• summary
• persuasive essay
• book review
• research report

Social Studies

• geography (Africa, the Middle East, Canada, parts of Asia)
• American history (thirteen colonies to the presidency of Thomas Jefferson)
• a unit on the Consitution

Art

• artist at work                        
• assignments feature the work of an artist or artistic style, art form
• creation lies before like a beautiful book
• artists use art elements to communicate/non-representational art/Wassily Kandinsky
• all artists draw/pencil/sketchbook
• artists chooses a variety of subjects/printmaking
• artists have an artistic style all their own/pop artists
• career choice (artists/industrial engineer)
• artist and crafts/weaving                 

Bible

• Old Testament
• Bible as one story (creation, fall, redemption) and our role in that story
• feasts of the Lord
• Job
• Ecclesiastes
• Proverbs
• prophets
• prayer
• between the testaments
• school-wide theme

Bible Memory Verses

• Jeremiah 31:33-34
• Psalm 33:12-22
• Deuteronomy 26:17-18
• Jeremiah 29:11-13
• 1 Corinthians 13
• Lord's Day One from the Heidelberg Catechism

Faith Formation Journal Questions/Prompts

• How do the Old Testament and the New Testament fit together as one Big Story?
• How does God remind you of His faithfulness, even in your dark times?

Reading

• Multiple Copies Set:
  • The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
  • Wonder by R.J. Palacio
• Narrative Poetry Literature Circle Books:
  • Brown Girl Dreaming by J. Woodson
  • The Crossover by K. Alexander
  • Diamond Willow by H. Frost
  • Home of the Brave by K. Applegate
  • All the Broken Pieces by A.E. Burg
  • Inside Out and Back Again by T. Lai
  • Out of the Dust by K. Hesse
  • Shark Girl by K. Bingham
  • Booked by K. Alexander
  • Enchanted Air by M. Engle
  • Full Cicada Moon by M. Hilton
• Inquiry Project - Nonfiction Articles and Book-Individual Choice:
  • Various Books Chosen from the Public Library
• Books as Windows and Mirrors - Literature Circle Books:
  • All the Broken Pieces by A.E. Burg
  • Chains by L. Halse Anderson
  • Esperanza Rising by P. Munoz Ryan
  • Bud, Not Buddy by C. Paul Curtis
  • One Crazy Summer by R. Williams-Garcia
  • Piecing Me Together by R. Watson
  • Miracle's Boys by J. Woodson
  • Harbor Me by J. Woodson
  • Brown Girl Dreaming by J. Woodson
  • Flygirl by J. Woodson
  • Ghost Boys by J.P. Rhodes
  • Nowhere Boy by K. Marsh
  • Full Cicada Moon by M. Hilton
  • The Red Umbrella by C. Gonzalez
  • Elijah of Buxton by C.P. Curtis
  • Blended by S.M. Draper
  • Copper Sun by S.M. Draper
  • The Skin I'm In by S. Flake

Music

• choir
• band
• orchestra
• musical (every other year)
• interscholastic competition
• chapel praise team
• OPUS honor choir
• honor band
• honor orchestra
• jazz band

PE

• developing positive relationships through interacting with others while participating in physical education
• life-long fitness skills
• team sports
• skills
  • dribbling
  • rolling a ball
  • catching
  • throwing
  • kicking
  • passing
  • trapping
  • fielding
  • striking
  • batting

Health Literacy

• Health concepts and skills are not formally taught in 7th grade.

Techonology Standards

• DISCERN IT:  Apply discernment in technology use
• MAKE IT:  Demonstrate creative thinking in the design and development of innovative technology products and problem solving
• SHARE IT:  Collaborate with peers, experts, and others using interactive technology
• FIND IT:  Plan strategies utilizing digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information
• SOLVE IT:  Use critical thinking skills to conduct research, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate technological tools and resources
• PROTECT IT:  Understand the legal and ethical issues of technology as related to individuals, cultures, and societies
• USE IT:  Understand the underlying structure and application of technology systems

Science

• genetics and species
• growth, development, and reproduction
• earth's systems
• chemical reactions
• animal classification
• structure, function, and information processing
• engineering

Math

• Can review multiplication and division facts from 0-12
• Can show that every number has a decimal
• Can use rational approximations of irrational numbers to compare the size of irrational numbers, locate and plot them approximately on a number line diagram, and then estimate the value of the expressions
• Can use estimate values to compare two or more irrational numbers
• Can use the properties of integer exponents to simplify expressions
• Can use square and cube root symbols to represent solutions to equations of the form x^2=p and x^3=p, where p is a positive rational number
• Can evaluate the square root of a perfect square and the cube root of a perfect cube
• Can understand that the square root of 2 is irrational
• Can use scientific notation and choose units of appropriate size for very large or very small measurements
• Can explain that an equation in the form of y=mx + b represents the graph of a linear relationship with a slope of m and a y-intercept of b
• Can solve linear equations in one variable
• Can simplify a linear equation by using the distributive property and combining like terms
• Can explain solutions to a system of two linear equations in two variables as the point of intersection of their graph
• Can describe the point of intersection between two lines as the point that satisfies both equations at the same time
• Can define a function as a rule, where for each input there is exactly one output
• Can show the relationship between inputs and outputs of a function by graphing them as ordered pairs on a coordinate grid
• Can explain why the equation y=mx+b represents a linear function and then find the slope and y-intercept in relation to the function
• Can verify by measuring and comparing the properties of rotated, reflected or translated geometric figures
• Can verify that corresponding lines and line segments remain the same length
• Can verify that corresponding angles have the same measure
• Can verify that corresponding parallel lines remain parallel
• Can explain that a two-dimensional figure is congruent to another if the second figure can be made from the first by rotations, reflections and translations
• Can estimate the relationships and measurements of the angles created when two parallel lines are cut by a transversal
• Can use the Pythagorean Theorem to determine if a given triangle is a right triangle
• Can apply the Pythagorean Theorem to find an unknown side length of a right triangle
• Can apply the Pythagorean Theorem to find the distance between two points in a coordinate system
• Can plot ordered pairs on a coordinate grid representing the relationship between two data sets
• Can recognize if the data plotted on a scatter plot has a linear association
• Can draw a straight line to approximate the linear relationship between the plotted points of two data sets

Financial Literacy

• Develop short-term and long-term financial goals
  • Create goals according to a prioritization of wants and needs that are specific, realistic, and measurable
• Develop a realistic spending plan for financial independence
  • Explain the advantage of spending less than you have
  • Explain the short- and long-term consequences of over spending
• Understand various sources of compensation
  • Explain how income can affect goals
• Understand the distribution of resources
  • Explain factors that impact savings and spending plans
• Understand financial instruments
  • Identify possible financial accounts
  • Recognize that fees or charges may be attached to accounts
• Identify responsible credit management
  • Identify the various types of credit card companies available and the features of each (interest rates, annual fees, limits, reward system)
  • Explain appropriate and inappropriate use of credit cards
  • Explain how use of credit cards can help or hurt a budget
• Understand different types of debt
  • Identify the types of purchases that generally require a loan
  • Demonstrate the ability to calculate the cost of borrowing money
• Understand rights and responsibilities as borrowers
  • Explain that a borrower needs to have assets to use as security for a loan
  • Explain the concept of a credit rating
• Establish strategies for protection of identity
  • Recognize that a personal identity needs to be protected
• Recognize investment options
  • Explain how saving is needed for investing
  • Explain the difference between saving and investing
• Distinguish investment options
  • Explain various options for investing money
  • Understand the effect of interest and percentage rates on investments
• Understand the relationship between investment risk and return
  • Explain how an investment differs from a savings account in potential risks and return
  • Explain the importance of a personal budget and goals in the investing process
• Demonstrate responsible financial behaviors, at the personal, local, state, national, and international levels
  • Explain how unethical behavior negatively impacts the broader community
  • Explain the importance of ethical behavior in building trust
• Understanding needs vs. wants
  • Explain difference between wants and needs
  • Explain prioritization factors to consider when determining expense-related decisions

Grammar

• effective sentences and word choice
• sentence variety and structure
• effective paragraphs
• writing an essay
• parts of a sentence
• nouns and pronouns
• verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and other parts of speech
• subject-verb agreement
• punctuation
• capitalization
• spelling

Writing

• the writing process
• the writing traits
• informative paper
• personal narratives
• character sketches
• performing narrative speeches
• compare-contrast essay
• story
• summary
• persuasive essay
• literary analysis
• poem
• cause-effect essay
• review
• research report

Social Studies

• American history (John Adams to the 1960s and 1970's)

Art                        

• 8th art - express yourself
• assignments feature the work of an artist and personal choices they make
• personal symbols/scratch art
• take a close look/self-portrait
• my creative response/acrylic painting
• God’s animal creation/relief printmaking
• the beauty of God’s creation/watercolor
• using materials from God’s creation to create art/ceramics
• reuse and upcycle/sculpture

Bible

• the early church in the New Testament
• themes of the New Testament
• spiritual disciplines
• church history
• school-wide theme

Bible Memory Verses

• John 1:1-5, 10-14
• Psalm 46:8-11
• Galatians 5:13-18
• Hebrews 10:24-25
• The Apostles' Creed
• Mark 10:43-45

Faith Formation Journal Questions/Prompts

• “I read the four books of the Gospels. They don’t all say the same things about Christ. Why should I believe that the Bible is true?”
• “I became a Christian last year, but I still have struggles and problems. Why?”

• Multiple Copies Set:
  • The Giver by L. Lowry
• Dystopian Literature Circle Books:
  • The Eleventh Plague by J. Hirsch
  • A Wrinkle in Time by M. L’Engle
  • Uglies by S. Westerfeld
  • Michael Vey by R.P. Evans
  • The Roar by E. Clayton
  • Legend by M. Lu
  • Cinder by M. Meyer
  • When the Tripods Came by J. Christopher
  • Ender’s Game by O.S. Card
  • Variant by R. Wells
  • Darkest Path by J. Hirsch
  • The Eighth Day by D.K. Salerni and D. McClellan
• Inquiry Project - Nonfiction Aricles and Book - Individual Choice:
  • Various Books Chosen from teh Public Library
• World War II Literature Circle Books:
  • The Berlin Boxing Club by R. Sharenow
  • The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by J. Boyne
  • Prisoner B-3087 by R. and J. Gruener
  • The Devil's Arithmetic by J. Yolen
  • Behind the Bedroom Wall by L. Williams
  • Milkweed by J. Spinelli
  • Code Talkers by J. Bruchac
  • Soldier X by D. Wulffson
  • The Art of Keeping Cool by J. Taylor Lisle
  • The Boy Who Dared by S. Campbell Bartoletti
  • The Diary of Anne Frank by A. Frank
  • Number the Stars by L. Lowry
  • The Boy on the Wooden Box by L. Leyson and M.J. Harran
  • The Upstairs Room by J. Reiss

Music

• choir
• band
• orchestra
• musical (every other year)
• interscholastic competition
• chapel praise team
• OPUS honor choir
• honor band
• honor orchestra
• jazz band

PE

• developing positive relationships through interacting with others while participating in physical education
• life-long fitness skills
• team sports
• skills
  • dribbling
  • rolling a ball
  • catching
  • throwing
  • kicking
  • passing
  • trapping
  • fielding
  • striking
  • batting

Health Literacy

• Human Anatomy
  • How is the body organized?
  • What are the structures and functions of major organ systems?
  • How are the body systems interrelated?
  • What does it mean that human beings are created in God's image?

Techonology Standards

• DISCERN IT:  Apply discernment in technology use
• MAKE IT:  Demonstrate creative thinking in the design and development of innovative technology products and problem solving
• SHARE IT:  Collaborate with peers, experts, and others using interactive technology
• FIND IT:  Plan strategies utilizing digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information
• SOLVE IT:  Use critical thinking skills to conduct research, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate technological tools and resources
• PROTECT IT:  Understand the legal and ethical issues of technology as related to individuals, cultures, and societies
• USE IT:  Understand the underlying structure and application of technology systems