This is an explanation of what specific main topics are taught in each grade level.

1. PAT Curriculum Night
October 2010
Grade Specific
Curriculum

2. 11stst
Grade PATGrade PAT
RELATIONSHIPSRELATIONSHIPS
• Everything is related in some way
• All relationships are purposeful
• Relationships change over time

3. We will be introducing and working with manyWe will be introducing and working with many
skills and strategies this year, such as:skills and strategies this year, such as:
•Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking
•SCAMPERSCAMPER
•Creative and Spontaneous Problem SolvingCreative and Spontaneous Problem Solving
•Logic ProblemsLogic Problems
•DeductionDeduction
•Ocean Creature ResearchOcean Creature Research
First Grade is theFirst Grade is the beginning ofof
our PAT Program.our PAT Program.

4. Ocean CreatureOcean Creature
ResearchResearch
Ocean Creature Research will be conducted in
the Spring.
Students will research Ocean Creatures in small groups
of two or three.
Skills we will be working on during our research unit are:
• Brainstorming
• Note-taking
• Evaluation
• Creativity
• Presentation Skills

5. 22ndnd
GradeGrade
 All connections have relationships.
 Connections can be natural or forced.
 Connections can lead to new discoveries.

6. 2nd Grade Research:
Dinosaurs
Through second grade dinosaur research, the students will investigate the
appearance of their dinosaur; discover the environment in which their
dinosaur lived; examine its behavior; and uncover many interesting facts
about a particular dinosaur. Next, they will research the different land
biomes of the world and explore how these environments impact the
plants and animals that live there. Then, they will create a biome scene
and a dinosaur they have made adaptations to so it would be able to
survive in its new environment. Finally, the students will present their
information to an audience.

7. 2nd Grade Research - Dinosaurs
Coelophysis Interesting Facts
The Coelophysis was one of the earliest
meat- eating dinosaurs. The name
Coelophysis means “hollow form”. The
Coelophysis was built for speed. It may
have traveled in groups.

8. Incline Plane
Wedge
Lever
Screw
Wheel
Pulley
22ndnd
Grade Simple Machines ResearchGrade Simple Machines Research
Focus on
6 simple Machines
• Each student will work with a group and become an
“expert” on their assigned simple machine.
• They will take notes from articles and present their
findings to the class in the form of a verbal presentation
and a hands-on demonstration.
• Students will participate in a Digital Photo Scavenger
Hunt.
• Spontaneous/Creative Problem Solving Activity: Using
knowledge gained from their research, students will
design a Wolf Trap that incorporates simple machines.
This complex machine will capture the Scientific Wolf
and save the 3 Pigs. They will present their Wolf Trap to
class demonstrating and pointing out how each Simple
Machine was used.
Simple Machines allow man to do more work with
less effort. In our research, we will discover what
simple machines look like and what they are used
for, determine how they work, and identify examples
of simple machines in the real world.

9. 33rdrd
GradeGrade
• Discovery requires taking risks
• Discovery can lead to new solutions
• Discovery requires a combination of
flexibility and stubbornness
• Discovery often leads to new discoveries

10. National Park Research
Teams of 3 will present
information about a
National Park from the
points of view of a
Park Ranger,
Conservationist, and
Tourist.

11. Spy Sch l
Third grade students work in small
groups as they participate in “Spy
School”.
During the simulation, they investigate
the structure of language, learn
about types of ciphers and codes,
and encode and decode secret
messages to find
Dr. Fonee and save the world.

12. 44thth
GradeGrade
• All structures have a purpose or function
• Structures have parts that interrelate
• A structure is no stronger than its weakest
component
• Structures can be natural or manmade

13. 4th
Graders take a look at….
Forensics-looking at the
science and the thinking
behind solving mysteries
Creative Minds-exploring
traits of creative thinkers
such as Rube Goldberg
and how they reinvent the
world around them.

14. Structure Research
• Researching
• Planning
• Building
• Testing for strength
• Sharing
• Comparing
• Evaluating

15. 55thth
GradeGrade
• Systems are composed of two or more
related components
• A system may be influenced by other
systems
• Parts of systems are interdependent upon
one another and form a relationship of
mutual interdependence
• Systems follow rules

16. Service Learning
Students actively participate in
the process of understanding,
integrating and applying
knowledge in various subject
areas as they work to improve
their communities. Service
learning differs from
volunteerism or community
service because the education
of students and young people
is always at its core.
Each of us makes a difference.
Together we can make a change.

17. Marketplace
Market Place Grand Prairie is a real
world simulation in which
students run the city for the day.
Students participate in an
engaging, challenging curriculum
in which they learn the principles
of economics, personal and
business finance, budgeting and
much more. Cooperative learning
and decision-making are
imbedded in the day as young
entrepreneurs take out bank loans,
create advertising for their
business, make bank deposits, and
become consumers.