READING
Expanded reading comprehension strategies (examples: increased and better use of prior knowledge, using prediction), chapter books, oral and written text response, engaging in “book talk”, author studies, introduction to parts of speech, introduction to conventions of print, exploration of a variety of genre, sustained silent reading at least 30 minutes a day, reading for research and other non-fiction text, introduction to dictionary skills, thesaurus, spellers, vocabulary development

 

WRITING

Content. Writers’ notebooks, emphasis on a higher level of editing (craft, content, mechanics, for examples: good lead, storyline, commas), introduction to paragraph structure, introduction to use of dialogue, introduction of literary elements, introduction to bibliographies

Spelling. Spelling strategies, rules, guidelines, generalizations, patterns, increase knowledge of frequently used words, move from invented spelling to more conventional spelling

Handwriting. Neat and legible printing, introduction and mastery of cursive, conventional formation of letters

Publishing. Magic Pencil, Pencil Press, class books, individual pieces, school newsletter, professional publications

Measurement: non-standard area and perimeter, standard linear metric and English. Probability and statistics: data collection, sampling, organizing and representing data (graphs, tables, and charts), interpreting data, assigning probabilities, making inferences. Geometry: shapes, lines, angles, symmetry, congruence, similarity, spatial awareness. Logic: comparison and deduction. Patterns and Functions. Numbers: place value to 1000, regrouping, multiplication, division, basic fractional parts

Colorado study, community service, mediation, cooperative group skills, foreign culture study (a historical and present day culture), current events, map skills

Environmental science: conservation, recycling, composting. Life science: plant and animal life, conservation, habitats. Earth science: land forms, soils, geology, weather. Physical science: magnetism, structures, sink and float. Scientific process: hypothesis, observation, experimentation, data collection, comparing, analyzing, synthesizing

Increased development of basic skills: drawing (pencil, charcoal, pastels, etc.), painting (watercolor, tempera, acrylics), sculpting (clay, play dough, sculpey), textured art (sewing, weaving, embroidery, applique), design, composition & technique, space, light, still life, landscapes, portraiture, introduction to basic art history, study of artists and styles, dramatic production, set design, costuming, oral presentations

Nationalities and geographic locations, culture and history, time, special occasions and holidays, favorite sports, seasons of the year, professions, sentence structure: verbs, prepositions, adjectives, introduction to written and oral language skills, legends, fables, traditions introduced, songs, poems and verse, games and drama activities

Songs with wider notational range, sing simple rounds, longer rhythm patterns, building a repertoire of folk songs and singing games, introduction to written notation: the staff, rhythmic note values, meter, relative pitch, relationships, rhythmic dictation, improvisation and accompaniment