William and Mary Overview Curriculum

William and Mary Curriculum ANCIENT CHINA: The Middle Kingdom (2 grade) • This unit is designed around the idea that human civilizations develop and sustain themselves as a collection of interdependent systems. Systems of language, leadership, economics, and education are examined in the historical context of ancient China, with opportunities for students to compare this ancient society with their own community systems. It can be taught in conjunction with the Ancient Egypt unit, or as a separate curriculum focus. ANCIENT EGYPT: Gift of the Nile (2 grade) • This unit is designed around the idea that human civilizations develop and sustain themselves as a collection of interdependent systems. The civilization of ancient Egypt forms the central content of the unit, with exploration of systems of agriculture, economics, language, and leadership in this ancient culture. The unit also provides opportunities for students to broaden their understanding by comparing the ancient Egyptian civilization with aspects of their own lives and communities. BEYOND WORDS (1st grade) • This unit explores the idea that language can change the way we think about the world by creating new images and connections in our minds. The unit uses poetry and picture books as the basis for analyzing different types of figurative language, including simile, metaphor, and personification, and gives opportunities for students to create their own literary images. JOURNEYS AND DESTINATIONS (2nd grade) • This unit uses an inquiry-based approach to investigate literature in an interdisciplinary, multicultural curriculum. The guiding theme of the unit is the recognition of change as a concept that affects people and their relationships to the world around them. An open-ended approach to the discussion process is emphasized in the search for meaning in literature selections such as Aesop’s fables, The Green Book, Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain, and “The Ugly Duckling.” Vocabulary development, writing activities, oral communication, research, and reasoning are integrated into the unit. BUILDING A NEW SYSTEM: Colonial America, 1607-1763 (3rd grade) • This unit begins with an in-depth study of the interrelationships between the Chesapeake Bay System and both the Native Americans and the early English colonists in Virginia. The unit then turns to an exploration of the economic, social and political systems of early America across the colonies, comparing and contrasting lifestyles of different groups in different regions. Frameworks for reasoning and document analysis support students in their explorations of this period of history. THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN: The American Revolution (4th grade) • Intensive document analysis and exploration of the concept of cause and effect form the foundation of this unit on the Revolutionary period in American history. The unit explores the chronology and major events leading up to and during the Revolutionary War and uses primary sources to demonstrate the social and political context. The contributions of particular individuals and groups to the history of the time are also highlighted. LITERARY REFLECTIONS (4th grade) • While all four language arts strands of literature, writing, language study, and oral communication are integrated into this unit, the core of the unit involves students’ interacting with literature while enhancing reading comprehension and textural analysis skills. By reading the literature and engaging in shared inquiry, students should develop an awareness about the nature and importance of change, particularly as it affects people in various circumstances, times, and cultures. The literature selections, including The Secret Garden and world class short stories by such authors as Tolstoy and Singer, serve as a basis for discussion. Students engage in literary response and persuasive writing activities. Grammar, vocabulary, reasoning, and research are also embedded in unit activities. A HOUSE DIVIDED? THE CIVIL WAR: Its Causes and Effects (5th grade) • The concept of cause and effect serves as a central organizing theme of this unit, which explores the events and perspectives leading to the American Civil War and the chronology and context of the war itself. Using Primary source documents as a major resource, students investigate the social, political, and economic influences that were significant in this period of history. In addition, the unit focuses on particular individuals and groups and their contributions and responses to the events of the times. AUTOBIOGRAPHIES (5Th grade) • By reading autobiographies of writers, students develop the concept of change. As they examine life stories and self-portraits, they study literature and examine works of art from different cultures. Short stories and poetry that focus of issues of identity encourage students to gain insights into their own identities. Elements of linguistic competency are supported throughout the unit. THE 1920S IN AMERICA: A Decade of Tensions (6th grade) • Centered on a variety of primary sources including music and advertisements as well as more traditional documents, this unit provides insight into not only the events, but also the values, lifestyles, and experiences of the period of the 1920s. Students explore the concept of cause and effect and how it relates to the events of the time, gaining a deeper level of appreciation and understanding as they look at the ways different aspects of the era interact with and influence one another. THE 1930S IN AMERICA: Facing Depression (6th grade) • This unit explores Depression-era America from the perspective of many different groups of people, utilizing a variety of primary sources to illustrate events and the social-political context. The concept of cause and effect is employed to support student understanding of the complexity of history. The unit emphasizes the interplay of changes in geography, government, and the economy, as well as the influence of particular individuals and groups, to deepen student understanding of the period. PERSUASION (6th grades) • This unit highlights elements of persuasion, especially as they relate to oral communication. Students must cite passages from literature to defend their points of view in discussion as well as in written arguments. Literature such as The Valient, “The Pied Piper of Hamelin,” and “The Declaration of Independence” frame the basis for exploring the reasoning process through analysis and interpretation. Opportunities are presented for impromptu, informative and persuasive speeches, debate, small and large group discussion, and critical listening skills.

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