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     All units incorporate:
    Gifted standard elements of Advanced Research Skills, Advanced Communication Skills, Higher Order Critical Thinking Skills, Creative Thinking and Problem Solving Skills. Georgia standards are infused throughout lessons. 
     
    1st Grade-
     
    Ocean Commotion- Students will study: Most of the earth is covered with water. The location of earth’s oceans: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, Southern. Oceans are comprised of salt water. The size of the various oceans. The climate and temperature of the various oceans. The zones of the ocean and the animals which live in the various oceans. Students will: Name the major oceans of the earth. Locate and identify the oceans on a map. Determine in which ocean various animals live. Create a three-dimensional ocean model. Research ocean life, compose a report and present information orally. Effectively use varied forms of media in presentations.
    Ancient Egypt/Egyptology- Students will study: Ancient cultures have developed many ways to use natural resources to make their lives easier and more comfortable. Necessity is often the mother of invention. Problem solvers throughout history have seen problems, learned about the problem, and solved the problem. Their solutions have changed the way we live today.The scientific community uses set standards to research, test, produce and communicate new inventions and products.
    Scientists are constantly researching ancient cultures to find clues about the past and how it relates to the present. Ancient Egypt was one of the greatest and most powerful civilizations in the history of the world. It lasted for over 3000 years from 3150 BC to 30 BC. The civilization of Ancient Egypt was located along the Nile River in northeast Africa. The Nile was the source of much of the Ancient Egypt's wealth. Great Egyptian cities grew up along the Nile as the Egyptian people became experts in irrigation and were able to use the water from the Nile to grow rich and profitable crops. The Nile provided food, soil, water, and transportation for the Egyptians. Great floods would come each year and would provide fertile soil for growing food. Historians usually group the history of Ancient Egypt into three major kingdoms called the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom. It was during these times that Ancient Egypt was at its strongest. The times between the Kingdoms are called intermediate periods. Ancient Egypt was rich in culture including government, religion, arts, and writing. The government and religion were tied together as the leader of the government, the Pharaoh, was also leader of the religion and considered a god. Writing was also important in keeping the government running. Only scribes could read and write and they were considered powerful people. Mummification was an important custom. The Pharaohs of Egypt were often buried in giant pyramids or in secret tombs. They believed that they needed treasure to be buried with them to help them in the afterlife. As a result, archeologists have a lot of well-preserved artifacts and tombs to examine in order to find out how the Ancient Egyptians lived. In order to solve a problem you must be able to recognize it.Learning all you can about a problem will help you find good solutions. Employ the rules of brainstorming to a variety of situations.Identify problems in the areas of social behavior, education, scientific research, governmental controls, medicine, or the environment.Apply the scientific process to individual experiments.Apply the steps of Creative Problem solving to find real solutions to a problem.Create a plan to implement a solution and follow through with the plan.
    Perform tasks related to the implementation of the solution which will include writing, researching, experiments and effectively communicating new ideas.
    My Big Backyard- a unit on ecosystems
     Migrations in Nature- Students will study: Complex animal migrations occur annually across the globe. Migration is a pattern. Animals migrate across the globe. The location of the Earth’s continents. Mammals, birds and insects migrate to survive. The distance traveled during migration.
     The climate and temperature various times per year in both hemispheres.  Name migrating animal species. Locate and identify migration locations on a map. Determine which animals migrate to survive. Create a migration model. Research animal migration, and compose a report and present information orally. Effectively use varied forms of media in presentations.
    Genre Study- Picture Books
     
     
    2nd Grade-
    Endangered Species- Students will study: Society has a responsibility to conserve and preserve our natural world.Various cultures have different beliefs when it comes to local wildlife.Traditions influence conservation efforts. The types of endangered species throughout the world.The ways species become endangered.The difference between endangered, threatened and vulnerable.Which species face what plight on different continents.The role of modern zoos. Facts about TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)The role humans have in conservation and habitat destruction and pollution. Compare and contrast types endangered species and the places they come from.Make predictions using facts and details. Analyze visual images.Read and listen critically.Engage in narrative, persuasive and informative writing. Analyze and evaluate political systems. Set criteria to make informed decisions. Engage in advanced research. Develop a research project about an endangered species.

    Human Body- Systems/Anatomy/Physiology

    -Skeletal system, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, etc. Activities include spine models, virtual surgery and x-ray examinations.
    -Cardiovascular system, heart, veins, arteries, blood, etc. Activities include heart dissection and virtual surgery. 
    -Respiratory system, lungs, oxygen, etc. Activities include asthma breathing test and lung model.
    Genre Study-Folk Literature
     
    3rd Grade-
    Caravans/Worlds Greatest Travel Agent
     
     
    Genre Study-Realistic Fiction
     
    4th Grade-
    All Systems Go- weather systems
     
    This science unit for fourth graders uses the science of meteorology as the vehicle to present the concept of systems.  Throughout All Systems Go! begin to work and think like scientists as they participate in inquiry lessons to uncover the concepts of cause and effect, relationships, balance, and interdependence. While students gain new understandings about the marvelous systems that allow Earth to sustain human life, they will learn about the tools that meteorologists use, they will create the tools, and use them to take measurements and predict the weather. Additionally, students will discover how the tilt of the Earth, its distance from the sun, the process of convection, and the rotation and revolution of the earth all work together to make the weather we experience every day.  Weather, whether we like it or not, is what makes life possible on planet Earth.  The ability to predict weather can help us protect ourselves and be better stewards of our planet.

     

     Genre Study-Mystery
     
    5th Grade- 
    Genre Study-Historical Fiction