ENGLISH: small group classes focusing on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, analytical and creative writing, and spelling; guided reading strategies such as character mapping, self-questioning, note-taking and use of textual evidence to draw conclusions and summarizing; reading novels and poetry, including those which connect to History.
WRITING: small group classes focusing on expository writing, grammar, parts of speech, sentence structure, expanded paragraphs; strategies for planning, writing and editing.
MATHEMATICS: place value with numbers to 1,000,000; rounding and estimation; multi-digit addition and subtraction; multiples and factors; multi-digit multiplication and division; fractions and fraction operations; line graphs and line plots; standard measurement with fractions; area and perimeter; decimals and decimal operations; angles, lines, and shapes; solid shapes and nets.
SOCIAL STUDIES: a yearlong study of immigration and migration in the US; comparison of the major waves of migration from the 1840s to the present day. Topics include Chinese, Irish and German immigration in the 1800s, Angel and Ellis Islands, and The Great Black Migration. Students consider the pushes and pulls of migration, the enrichment of culture through the contributions of migrant communities and issues of social justice.
SCIENCE: factors affecting mold growth; mold structure, uses and prevention; properties of magnets; behavior, anatomical structure and ecology of selected insects; phases of the moon; simple machines and mechanical advantage.
MANDARIN: continued speaking, writing and listening with a focus on consolidation of previously learned materials; students perform a short play in Mandarin.
LIBRARY: further study of the Dewey Decimal System, collaborative research about insects with the Science department; using appeal terms to identify qualities of a book; developing a deeper understanding of personal reading interests.
RESPECT & RESPONSIBILITY: continuation of the program begun in Kindergarten.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS: topics include sexuality and values, images in popular culture, body image and the changes of puberty.
SERVICE LEARNING: partnership with All Souls Soup.
TECHNOLOGY: continued development of touch-typing skills and computer programming; creation of slideshow presentations; digital citizenship.
ART: students rotate through the following three courses, each of which takes place over ten weeks:
MEASURE CUT CODE: creation of designs based on traditional ruler and compass constructions and the translation of these designs into computer programs for 3D printing.
PHOTOSHOP: creation, editing and manipulation of images to produce digital artworks using graphics editing software.
PRINTMAKING: introduction to several printmaking techniques including stencil, paper intaglio and relief.
MUSIC: continued vocal and instrumental study of strings or the alto recorder; English handbells for performance at the Winter and Last Day Assemblies.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: functional movement exercises and fitness; the application of skill, strategy and sportsmanship in game play; student-developed dance performance.