Our Learning Guide for Cycle 2 provides comprehensive information about developmental milestones, common core standards, and course overviews for students in 3rd-5th grades.
Cycle 2 Teachers

Theme: Culture

In Cycle Two, inclusive of grades 3, 4 and 5, students begin to explore human culture and environments through a three year study of American History and the developing scientific world. We consider the word culture to refer to the larger context of a child’s social experience — the child’s extended family, state, region, and ethnic group. This is when students are more likely to form cliques, join clubs and teams, and create social identities that extend beyond their families. Taking this stage of child development into consideration, students learn to approach history as a narrative of which they are a part.

Students are encouraged to place themselves in different time periods to appreciate the tri-cultural perspectives that created our nation – the Native American, the European American, and the African-American perspectives. As students themselves begin to become more independent, they’ll begin to realize that humans all crave freedom and independence – a theme that runs deep in the birth and development of America. Likewise, students will discover the concept of independence is not unique to the human race, but is characteristic to the natural world as well. Throughout the study of American history, students will be asked to compare times of conflict and cooperation in our emerging and growing nation, as well as how our nation’s growth fueled geographic, economic, political and technological/scientific power.

Big Ideas Connect the Dots…

In 3rd grade, each unit of study is related to the Big Ideas of “Independence and Perspectives.” For example: A Unit centered around “Adaptation” explores the perspectives of Native American, European American, and African Americans perspectives on settlement in Colonial America, as well as plant and animal adaptations to different environments.

In 4th grade, each unit of study is related to the Big Ideas of “Conflict and Cooperation.” For example: A unit on the birth of our nation links the conflict of the American Revolution with the cooperation between colonies and foreign countries.

In 5th grade, each unit is related to the Big Ideas of “Growth and Power.” For example: A unit centered around Westward Expansion explores the concept of how independence and interdependence between cultures and nature had to exist in order for our nation to grow and develop.

Capstone Trip

Because of the heavy emphasis on American history during this cycle, students in Fifth Grade will visit a site of national importance – Washington, D.C. – to investigate the larger context of national identity, history and power.

Visiting the halls of federal government will help students learn about the nested hierarchy of political and legal structures at the foundation of American history and the American experience. Lessons in history will come to life as students relive our nation’s greatest moments and tragedies and pay tribute to our great leaders. Students will experience first hand how America is a reflection of the cultures that helped create it.