This unit addresses standards established by the Massachusetts Curriculum
Frameworks across the following content areas: Mathematics, English/Language
Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Information Technology.

 

Massachusetts English/Language Arts Curriculum Frameworks – June2001

Language Strand

·       Standard 1:  Discussion

·       Standard 2: Questioning, Listening, Contributing

·       Standard 4:  Vocabulary and Concept Development

Reading and Literature Strand

·       Standard 8:  Understanding a Text

Composition Strand

·       Standard 19:  Students will write with clear focus, coherent organization, and

                                   sufficient detail

·       Standard 22:  Standard English Conventions

·       Standard 23:  Organize Ideas in Writing

·       Standard 24:  Research

·       Standard 25:  Evaluating Writing / Presentations

 

 

Massachusetts Science, Technology, and Engineering Curriculum Framework – May2001

 

Life Science

·       Classify plants and animals according to the physical characteristics they share

·       Describe how organisms meet some of the needs in their environment by using

       behaviors (patterns of activities) in response to information (stimuli) received

       from the environment.  Recognize that some animal behaviors are instinctive

       (e.g. turtles burying their eggs), and others are learned (e.g. humans building

       fires for warmth, chimpanzees learning how to use tools)

·       Recognize that many plants and animals can survive harsh environments because

       of seasonal behaviors.

 

 

Technology/Engineering

·       Identify a problem which reflects the need for shelter, storage, or convenience

·       Describe different ways in which a problem can be represented

     (e.g., sketches, diagrams, graphic organizers, and lists)

 

 

Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework  - November 2000

Number Sense and Operations

6.N.9

Select and use appropriate operations to solve problems involving addition, subtraction,  multiplication, division, and positive integer exponents with whole numbers, and with  positive fractions, mixed numbers, decimals, and percents.

 

 Patterns Relations and Algebra

6.P.4

Represent real situations and mathematical relationships with concrete models, tables, graphs, and rules in words and with symbols, e.g., input-output tables.

 

 

Measurement

6.M.3

Solve problems involving proportional relationships and units of measurement, e.g., same system unit conversions, scale models, maps, and speed.

 

Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability

6.D.1	Describe and compare data sets using the concepts of median, mean, mode, maximum and minimum, and range.
6.D.2	Construct and interpret stem-and-leaf plots, line plots, and circle graphs.
6.D.4	Predict the probability of outcomes of simple experiments (e.g., tossing a coin, rolling a die) and test the predictions. Use appropriate ratios between 0 and 1 to represent the probability of the outcome and associate the probability with the likelihood of the event.

 Massachusetts Social Studies Curriculum Framework

History and Geography

4. Use maps and globes to identify absolute locations (latitude and longitude). (G)

 

Massachusetts Instructional Technology Standards – November 2001

1.13 – Save a file to the desktop, hard drive, and external storage spaces

1.14 – Select a printer and print a document with appropriate page setup and orientation

1.17 – Identity and use editing features of a word processing program

1.18 – Insert images from other files into a word processed document

1.25 – Identify and use navigation features of a browser

1.26 – Using a browser, bookmark a website for future reference

1.27- Identify basic elements of a website (URL, hyperlinks, site map)

1.32 – Create a slide presentation using appropriate applications

1.33 – Identify and use drawing and painting applications as appropriate for class projects