Language Arts

What are we learning?

• We will start our unit on characters where we...
• Explore and predict character traits and feelings and how they change and develop over time
• Draw conclusions about characters based on what we read
• Write a personal essay; creating and developing a thesis.
• Using details in their personal essay to support a point of view.

Home/School Connection

• Ask your student to explain how a character changes over time in a story you are reading aloud
• Elaborate on a story they have written or read, create a new ending
• How would you describe the characters in your book?
• What is the author's message?
• What is the most interesting part of your book?
• What goals have you set for yourself for reading and writing?

Math

What are we learning?

• Rounding numbers through the millions
• Add and subtract to find sums and differences
• Identify, describe, create, and extend patterns
• Recognize equality
• Compare and order fractions
• Identifying fractions and decimals
• Comparing fractions and decimals

Home/School Connection

• Ask when rounding is helpful in everyday life
• Ask your child to estimate sums and differences for numbers
• Compare everyday numbers and discuss how to figure out which is greater and which is less
• Divide sets and areas into fractional parts, they can sort snacks into equal groups

Science

What are we learning?

• Virginia’s natural resources including minerals, watersheds, and how they have been used since the First Americans were here.

Home/School Connection

• Explore ecosystems and discuss issues that affect natural resources there.
• Discuss how minerals, ore, and rock are used in everyday life. 
• Ask where the water goes as it moves through our watershed

Social Studies

What are we learning?

We will 

• continue to discuss the Geography of Virginia throughout the year
• learn the three American Indian Language Groups their locations in VA.
• explore how American Indians interacted with their climate and environment.
• compare the lives of American Indians in the past  to life today.  
• Virginia’s Native tribes of today
  • Pamunkey
  • Chickahominy
  • Chickahominy Eastern Division
  • Monacan
  • Nansemond 
  • Rappahannock
• Upper Mattaponi

Home/School Connection

• What are the bordering states, rivers, and regions of Virginia? How can you remember them? 
• What details have you learned about the Native American tribes of VA?
• What was the population of VA like 500 years ago? How does this compare to the population now?
• Ask students how land and weather affected life for early Native people and how it affects our lives now.

Click here to see what students are learning in Specials!