Course Catalog

Students in grade two explore the lives of actual people who make a difference in their everyday lives and learn the stories of extraordinary people from history whose achievements have touched them, directly or indirectly. The study of contemporary people who supply goods and services aids in understanding the complex interdependence in our free-market system.

In Grade 2 Science, students understand that the motion of objects can be observed and measured; plants and animals have predictable life cycles; and the Earth is made of materials that have distinct properties and provide resources for human activities. Students will continue to develop the scientific process by making predictions based on observed patterns, using appropriate tools to make measurements and record data, comparing and sorting common objects, and writing or drawing descriptions of a sequence of steps, events, and observations.

In Grade 3 Language Arts, students continue building upon the foundations laid in earlier grades. Students will select letter patterns and know how to translate them into spoken language by using phonics, syllabication, and word parts. They will employ comprehension strategies when reading grade-level-appropriate narrative and expository text, such as classic and contemporary literature, magazines, newspapers, and online information. Students will distinguish between the structural features of the text and literary terms and elements. Students will write compositions that describe and explain familiar objects, events, and experiences; this writing will demonstrate a command of standard American English, as well as drafting, research, and organizational strategies.

In Grade 3 Math, students will develop an understanding of the meanings of multiplication and division of whole numbers through activities and problems involving equal-sized groups, arrays, and area models; develop an understanding of fractions, beginning with unit fraction; recognize and calculate area as an attribute of two-dimensional regions; measure and interpret liquid volume and mass; and describe, analyze, and compare properties of two-dimensional shapes through examining sides and angles.

Students in grade three learn more about our connections to the past and the ways in which particularly local, but also regional and national, government and traditions have developed and left their marks on current society, providing common memories. Emphasis is on the physical and cultural landscape of the United States, including the study of American Indians, the subsequent arrival of immigrants, and the impact they have had in forming the character of our contemporary society.

In Grade 3 Science, students learn that energy and matter have multiple forms and can be changed from one form to another; light has a source and travels in a direction; adaptations in physical structure or behavior may improve an organism’s chance for survival; and objects in the sky move in regular and predictable patterns. Students also repeat observations to improve accuracy, differentiate evidence from opinion, and collect and analyze data to develop a logical conclusion.

In Grade 4 Language Arts, students will select letter patterns and know how to translate them into spoken language by using phonics, syllabication, and word parts. They will employ comprehension strategies when reading grade-level-appropriate narrative and expository text, such as classic and contemporary literature, magazines, newspapers, and online information. Students will distinguish between the structural features of the text and literary terms and elements. Students will write compositions that describe and explain familiar objects, events, and experiences; this writing will demonstrate a command of standard American English, as well as drafting, research, and organizational strategies. Additionally, students will deliver brief recitations and oral presentations about familiar experiences or interests that are organized around a coherent thesis statement.

Grade 4 math focuses on three critical areas: (1) developing understanding and fluency with multi-digit multiplication, and developing understanding of dividing to find quotients involving multi-digit dividends; (2) developing an understanding of fraction equivalence, addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators, and multiplication of fractions by whole numbers; and (3) understanding that geometric figures can be analyzed and classified based on their properties, such as having parallel sides, perpendicular sides, particular angle measures, and symmetry.

Students learn American history in terms of its vast and varied geography, its many waves of immigration beginning with preColumbian societies, its continuous diversity, economic energy, and rapid growth. Students examine the state in the context of the rest of the nation, with an emphasis on the U.S. Constitution and the relationship between state and federal government.

Computer Science Fundamentals I is adapted from code.org CS Fundamentals Level E course. The course begins with an introduction to the Sprite Lab programming tool. Students will learn to make fun, interactive projects that reinforce what they will learn about online safety. Following these lessons, students will engage in more complex coding. Students will learn about nested loops, functions, and conditionals. By the end of the course, students will combine these concepts to solve challenging puzzles. The course ends with an open-ended project where students create a game or drawing.