What are we learning in January?

Language Arts

We are

• finishing a unit on gathering and interpreting information from nonfiction texts.
• beginning a fiction unit on characters.
• exploring and discussing character traits, actions, and words to support understanding of theme in a variety of narrative texts.
• exploring and analyzing the impact of plot, setting, and character on the resolution of the story.
• writing narratives, free verse poetry, and responses to literature.
• studying prefixes, suffixes, and multi-meaning words.

Math

We are

• measuring length with nonstandard units.
• measuring length with inches, feet, centimeters, and meters.
• measuring perimeter of shapes.
• measuring capacity with cups, pints, quarts, and liters.
• measuring weight with ounces, pounds, grams, and kilograms.
• measuring temperature with a thermometer.

Science

We are

• studying a unit on physical science.
• learning the following physical science standards:
  • The motion of objects can be observed and measured. As a basis for understanding this concept:
1. Students know the position of an object can be described by locating it in relation to another object or to the background.
2. Students know an object's motion can be described by recording the change in position of the object over time.
3. Students know the way to change how something is moving is by giving it a push or a pull. The size of the change is related to the strength, or the amount of force, of the push or pull.
4. Students know tools and machines are used to apply pushes and pulls (forces) to make things move.
5. Students know objects fall to the ground unless something holds them up.
6. Students know magnets can be used to make some objects move without being touched.
7. Students know sound is made by vibrating objects and can be described by its pitch and volume.

Social Studies

We are

• differentiating between things that happened long ago and things that happened yesterday.
• Tracing the history of a family through the use of primary and secondary sources, including artifacts, photographs, interviews, and documents.
• Comparing and contrasting our daily lives with those of our parents, grandparents, and/or guardians.
• Placing important events in our lives in the order in which they occurred (e.g., on a time line or storyboard).