Secondary Class Template

Highlights-

Hawaii- A unit on Hawaii culminates with a luau in the fall.

Pioneers- Students travel the Hacker Trail, a simulation of pioneer travel. They learn to work together as they make decisions with their wagon train. A field trip to Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa is included.

Program-Students present a musical program reflecting various cultures around the world. This program is in the spring.

*Students receive letter grades for the first time.

Curriculum-

Language Arts- Students experience a variety of reading strategies using the Rigby Literacy and trade books. Six Traits of Reading skills are used with these materials. Kansas Writing strategies are taught to students to develop sentence writing skills. Traits of Writing are used to teach and assess students in their writing. The Rebecca Sitton spelling program is used to teach students to correctly spell and use the most frequently used words in writing.

Accelerated Reader Students read books independently at their own reading level and are assessed with a computerized quiz.
STAR-A computerized program used to assess student's reading levels
CCC-A computerized program in which students work on reading, math and spelling skills at their own level.

Math-The Everyday Mathematics series is used. This program builds on the basic training and begins to make the transition to mathematics concepts and ways of using math. Fourth graders strengthen and increase their "number sense", "measure sense", and estimation skills. They review and extend their skills in the basics of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Students learn about "variables" and other topics in algebra. They develop their geometry concepts and skills. They take a World Tour and along the way consider many kinds of data about various countries and how to locate various locations on world globes and flat maps. Students do many projects involving numerical data. Student progress is monitored using beginning, developing, and secured goals. In addition, students are assessed on their mathematical skills using Math Exemplars as a district wide assessment.

Science- The Harcourt Science series is used. This series provides opportunities for students to develop and maintain skills that form the basis for lifelong learning. The science process skills that the students learn are important inquiry tools and are essential for investigating the natural world. The areas of Life Science include plant and animal growth, and adaptation and the human body systems; Earth Science includes: earthquakes and volcanoes, weather, planets, and other objects in space; Physical Science which includes physical properties of matter, heat, electricity and magnetism, forces and motion, and simple machines are incorporated into the curriculum.

Social Studies- the Harcourt Brace series is used. The units are organized around five regions of the United States. Students study the geography and history of the areas. Throughout the year units are integrated with other curricular areas. Learning centers, small groups, and projects are used to teach the content and essential learnings of the school district.

Protecting You/Protecting Me- This curriculum was developed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The curriculum includes eight lessons covering the growth and development of the human brain, health and safety, friends, how to say "no" and keep our friends, what the media doesn't tell us that we need to know, and how children can talk to grown-ups about difficult subjects and can help protect themselves when grown-ups don't.