Summary of Skills

Unit 1: Space [S]

Science

• Analyze a historic timeline of space exploration.
• Analyze the benefits generated by space exploration technology.
• Analyze the components and cycles of the solar system including the planets and ellipses.
• Analyze the cycles of the solar system including seasons, days, and years.
• Compare and contrast the Earth to other planets in terms of size, composition, and relative distance from the Sun.
• Describe how the Moon's appearance changes during the four-week lunar cycle.
• Describe the setting of the solar system in the universe.
• Develop a model of the cycles of the solar system including seasons, days, and years.
• Experience how telescopes magnify the appearance of some distant objects in the sky, including the Moon and the planets.
• Explain how the position of the Sun changes during the course of the day and from season to season.
• Explain space explorations and the understandings gained from them.
• Model the layers of the Earth's atmosphere.
• Model the Moon's changing appearance during the four-week lunar cycle.
• Name the components of the solar system, including planet Earth, the Moon, the Sun, seven other planets and their satellites, asteroids, and comets.
• Recognize NASA technologies used to explore space.
• Recognize that the position of the Sun in the sky changes during the course of a day and from season to season because the Earth is constantly rotating and revolving.
• Recognize the differences between comets, asteroids, and meteors.
• Recognize the solar system includes the planet Earth, the Moon, the Sun, seven other planets and their satellites, and smaller objects, such as asteroids and comets.
• Recognize the Sun as the central and largest body in the solar system, composed primarily of hydrogen and helium.
• Understand that Earth is one of several planets that orbit the Sun and that the Moon orbits Earth.
• Understand that the path of a planet around the Sun is due to the gravitational attraction between the Sun and the planet.

Unit 1: A Wrinkle in Time [LA]

Language Arts

• Analyze characters, including their traits, motivations, conflicts, relationships, and the changes they undergo.
• Analyze published examples as models for writing.
• Analyze the characteristics of various types of texts (genres).
• Combine short, related sentences.
• Demonstrate an understanding of verb tense consistency.
• Determine meanings of derivatives by applying knowledge of the meanings of root words such as like, pay, or happy and affixes such as dis-, pre-, and -un.
• Edit and revise selected drafts to improve coherence and progression by adding, deleting, consolidating, and rearranging text.
• Elaborate on ideas in writing by using regular and irregular verbs.
• Evaluate how well a writer's own writing achieves its purposes.
• Generate ideas and plans for writing by using such prewriting strategies as brainstorming, graphic organizers, notes, and logs.
• Identify and use regular and irregular verbs.
• Identify the theme of a story.
• Interpret text ideas through discussion.
• Judge the internal consistency or logic of stories and texts such as "Would this character do this?"; "Does this make sense here?"
• Locate the meanings, pronunciations, and derivations of unfamiliar words.
• Make and confirm predictions about text by using prior knowledge and ideas presented in the text itself.
• Offer observations, make connections, react, speculate, and interpret in response to text.
• Organize knowledge by producing graphic organizers.
• Produce visual images, messages, and meanings that communicate to others.
• Produce work that follows the conventions of particular genres.
• Provide a context to enable the reader to imagine the world of the event or experience.
• Read for varied purposes such as to be informed, to be entertained, to appreciate the writer's craft, and to discover models for one's own writing.
• Recognize that authors organize information in specific ways.
• Recognize the distinguishing features of genres.
• Represent text information in different ways such as in outline, timeline, or graphic organizer.
• Summarize major points from fiction and nonfiction text(s) to clarify and retain information and ideas.
• Understand and interpret visual images, messages, and meanings.
• Use adjectives (comparative and superlative forms) and adverbs appropriately to make writing vivid or precise.
• Use adjectives and adverbs appropriately to make writing vivid or precise.
• Use established criteria to edit for language conventions.
• Use regular and irregular plurals correctly.
• Use transition words effectively.
• Write summaries that contain the main ideas and most significant details of the reading selection.
• Write to entertain such as to compose humorous poems or short stories.
• Write to entertain.
• Write to express, discover, record, develop, and reflect on ideas.
• Write with increasing accuracy when using apostrophes.

Science

• Identify functions of various organs.
• Summarize major points from fiction and nonfiction text to clarify and retain information and ideas. (LA)

Unit 2: State Government and Economics [SS]

Social Studies

• Analyze how people in different parts of the United States earn a living, past and present.
• Analyze the effects of immigration, migration, and limited resources on the economic development and growth of the United States.
• Analyze the relationship between government services and taxes.
• Analyze the structure of state government.
• Assess how the state's natural resources are being used.
• Categorize resources as natural, human, or capital.
• Describe the impact of mass production, specialization, and division of labor on the economic growth of the United States.
• Describe the similarities and differences among the local, state, and national levels of government in the United States and explain their legislative, executive, and judicial functions.
• Describe the ways states specialize in economic activity and the relationship between specialization and interdependence.
• Distinguish between national and state governments and compare their responsibilities in the U.S. federal system.
• Evaluate the effects of supply and demand on business, industry, and agriculture, including the plantation system, in the United States.
• Evaluate the significance of economic relationships among other states.
• Examine ways the state is governed.
• Explain how supply and demand affects consumers in the United States.
• Explain the impact of American ideas about progress and equality of opportunity on the economic development and growth of the United States.
• Explain the importance of responsible citizenship and identify ways citizens can participate in civic affairs.
• Identify and explain how geographic factors influence the location of economic activities in the United States.
• Identify and explain the basic function of the state government system.
• Identify how geography has influenced the location of economic activities in the United States.
• Identify important state government offices.
• Identify people, symbols, and events associated with your state.
• Identify the role of government leaders in the state.
• Recognize that money can be used for spending, saving, and paying taxes.
• Understand the basic function of the three branches of government within a state government.

Unit 2: Lincoln [LA]

Language Arts

• Create readable documents through legible handwriting or word processing.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills in an interview.
• Describe the structural differences of various imaginative forms of writing.
• Distinguish between the speaker's opinion and verifiable fact.
• Identify and analyze a speaker's persuasive techniques such as promises, dares, and flattery.
• Identify and use appositives in writing.
• Identify structural patterns found in informational text.
• Interpret and evaluate the various ways visual image makers such as graphic artists, illustrators, and news photographers represent meanings.
• Interpret speakers' messages (both verbal and nonverbal), purposes, and perspectives.
• Locate the meanings, pronunciations, and derivations of unfamiliar words using dictionaries.
• Paraphrase and summarize text to recall, inform, and organize ideas.
• Present effective introductions and conclusions that guide and inform the listener's understanding of important ideas.
• Present information in various forms.
• Produce communications using technology or appropriate media such as developing a class newspaper.
• Produce research projects and reports in effective formats using visuals to support meaning, as appropriate.
• Raise questions in response to text.
• Read for varied purposes such as to be informed, to be entertained, to appreciate the writer's craft, and to discover models for the reader's own writing.
• Refine selected pieces frequently to "publish" for general and specific audiences.
• Represent information in text in a variety of formats.
• Represent text using a timeline.
• Support judgments through references to both the text and prior knowledge.
• Use available technology to support aspects of creating, revising, editing, and publishing texts.
• Use details, examples, anecdotes, or experiences to explain or clarify information.
• Use multiple reference aids - including a thesaurus, a synonym finder, a dictionary, and software - to clarify meanings and usage.
• Use oral and written language to interview a person.
• Use oral, written, and visual information to research and understand how individuals have had an impact on individuals, their community and their nation. (SS)
• Use participle phrases correctly in sentences.
• Use participle phrases to combine short sentences.
• Use volume, pitch, phrasing, pace, modulation, and gestures appropriately to enhance meaning.

Social Studies

• Describe the impact the Civil War had on the North and the South.
• Distinguish between national and state governments and compare their responsibilities in the U.S. federal system.
• Identify historical sites across the country.
• Identify leaders in government.
• Identify the function of government.
• Recognize the contributions of Americans throughout history.
• Recount the lives of individuals from the past.
• Summarize the sequence of key events in stories describing life from the past.
• Understand issues that lead to the Civil War.
• Use oral, written, and visual information to research and understand how individuals have had an impact on individuals, their community and their nation. (LA)

Unit 3: The Human Body [S]

Science

• Analyze how human body systems interact to provide for the needs of the human organism.
• Analyze how sense organs work with the nervous system and enable an organism to interact with its environment.
• Analyze information on food labels and ingredient lists.
• Apply information from a nutrition guide to making healthy food choices.
• Conduct investigations to build an understanding of the form and function of the skeletal and muscle systems of the human body.
• Create a model of the brain and describe the function of each part.
• Demonstrate and explain the process of digestion.
• Describe food combinations in a balanced diet.
• Describe how different kinds of joints allow movement.
• Describe how systems within the human body are defined by the functions they perform.
• Describe interactions that occur within a system.
• Describe the basic function of major body systems.
• Describe the functions of different types of joints.
• Evaluate how systems in the human body help regulate the internal environment.
• Explain how organs are adapted to perform specific functions within one or more systems.
• Explain how the structure of an organ is adapted to perform specific functions within one or more systems.
• Explain the body's defense systems and how they fight disease.
• Identify and model the parts of a cell.
• Identify information on menus and food labels.
• Identify the benefits of six major nutrients contained in foods.
• Identify the bones of the human body.
• Model the major sense organs and explain how they transmit information to the brain.
• Model the organs of the digestive system and describe their functions.
• Model the parts of the respiratory system.
• Model the parts of the skin.
• Model the spinal cord and nerves of the human body.
• Model the structure of bones.
• Observe how DNA affects the traits of an organism.
• Recognize how muscles cause the body to move.
• Recognize that cells, tissues, and organs, combine to form systems in the body.
• Recognize the parts of a cell.
• Recognize the role of the teeth and mouth in digestion.
• Simulate the movement of air in the lungs.
• Understand that many multi-cellular organisms have specialized structures to support the transport of materials.
• Understand the flow of blood through the heart.

Unit 3: Independent Study [LA]

Language Arts

• Adjust pitch, tone, and body language when making oral presentations.
• Analyze and integrate information from one or more sources to expand understanding of text including graphs, charts, and/or maps.
• Cite sources of information.
• Compose a draft that conveys major ideas and maintains focus on the topic with specific, relevant, supporting details.
• Conclude with a paragraph that summarizes the essay.
• Conduct research for assigned projects or self-selected projects.
• Draw from more than one source of information when writing a report (e.g., speakers, books, newspapers, other media sources).
• Establish and support a central idea with a thesis sentence at or near the conclusion of the first paragraph.
• Form and revise questions for investigations, including questions arising from interests.
• Frame central questions about an issue.
• Include facts and details for focus in report writing.
• Include supporting paragraphs with simple facts, details, and explanations.
• Locate relevant information on a topic.
• Make oral and written presentations using visual aids with an awareness of purpose and audience.
• Produce research projects and reports in effective formats using visuals to support meaning.
• Provide an introductory paragraph for a paper.
• Use planning strategies to generate topics and organize ideas.