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    Even School Years
    Leanne’s 4th and 5th Grade Class

    First Semester: August - December 

    Science: Invertebrates: animals that neither possess nor develop a backbone.
    Overview: In this unit, we will take a close-up look at the 6 groups of invertebrates. Students will learn about Worms, Arthropods, Cnidarians, Echinoderms, Mollusks, and Sponges.

    Unit Objectives:

    1. Students will be able to list a variety of different species under each

      category of Invertebrates.

    2. Students will describe the differences and similarities between the

      categories. When given an invertebrate, students will be able to

      identify which group they belong to.

    3. Students will learn why each species is important and how it interacts

      with its environment.

    4. Students will understand how each animal affects the “circle of life”.

    Field Trip: The May Natural History Museum (710 Rock Creek Canyon Road CS, CO 80926)
    When: Mid - September
    Cost: Adults $6.00, Children $3.00, under 5 are free.

    Parent Support: I will need 3-5 drivers per day and drivers will need to be able to stay and chaperon. Other family members are welcome, just understand it is a museum and there are very few things there to touch.

    Social Studies: Geography and Explorers:
    Overview: We will start this unit off with basic geographical skills: naming continents and oceans. We will review different regions of the world and discuss topics like resources and the economy. Then we will dive into exploration. Students will learn why people were explorers, what things they were looking for, and look at successful and unsuccessful adventures. We will look at past, present and future explorers.

    Unit Objectives:
    1. Students will design globes and correctly identify the continents and

    oceans
    2. Students will use appropriate resources to gather, analyze and interpret information about an explorer. They will then do an oral presentation for the class.
    3. Students will analyze and evaluate explorers’ adventures and be able to identify the benefits and consequences of the “trips”.
    4. Students will develop an understanding of how many explorers had to improvise on their journeys and how this improvising led to new inventions and creations. They will take particular note of how explorers use problem- solving skills and how they persevered.

    Second Semester: January – May 2022

    Science: Vertebrates: animals that possess a backbone or spinal column. Overview: This unit will focus on learning about mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and birds. Students will learn about the relationship between predator and prey. We will also study how animals adapt to their environments both physically and behaviorally, in order to survive.

    Unit Objectives:

    1. Students will be able to list a variety of different species under each

      category of vertebrates.

    2. Students will describe the differences and similarities between the

      categories. When given a vertebrate, students will be able to identify

      which group it belongs to.

    3. Students will learn why each species is important and how it interacts

      with its environment.

    4. Students will understand how each animal affects the “circle of life”.

    In house field trip:

    Raptor Protection Presentation (Colorado Springs Utilities Company) will come to our building for a 45 minute presentation sometime in May. It will be offered only one day, but all classes will be invited. The time is yet to be determined.

    Social Studies: American Revolution
    Overview: In this unit, students will engage in an in-depth study of the causes and effects of the Revolutionary War. We will actively learn and produce hands-on projects about the major causes of the war, major leaders of the war, major battles, the daily life of a soldier, the Declaration of Independence and heroes and heroines of the war.

    Unit Objectives:

    1. The student will identify the causes of the American Revolution.

    2. Students will be able to create a sequence of important events that

      occurred during the Revolutionary War on a timeline.

    3. The student will demonstrate the ability to describe the daily life of a

      Revolutionary War soldier

    4. Students will be able to discuss the effects of major battles that took

      place during the Revolutionary War.

    5. The student will be able to explain the meaning and impact of the

      Declaration 
of Independence.

    6. Students will critique the short and long term effects of the war.

    Additional Field Trip: (401 S Pierce St, Lakewood, CO 80226)
    AmeriTowne: Kids will run a town for a day. Students will learn about supply and demand, job skills, work habits, banking procedures and career awareness. It is a life-like simulation that all our 4th -7th graders will take part in. Ms Katrina’s classes and our classes will work together learning about AmeriTowne and all the jobs starting in October, and we will go to AmeriTowne in Lakewood on April. It is critical that all students attend. Each student will be given a job to do in the town. Students will spend months learning and preparing for their job. In order for our town to run efficiently, it's imperative all students attend, so please plan accordingly.

    When: April 
    Cost: $20.00 per student
    Parent Support: We will need parent drivers that can drive to Denver and chaperone small groups. Due to the nature of this field trip, no siblings are allowed. The number of chaperones will be determined by how many shops will be opened: a chaperone will be assigned to each of the shops. There will be an online video for all parents to watch prior to chaperoning.