September · Week 1 of 4 · School week 1 of 36
Week 1: Mapping the Nation
Skills this week
Word study
Greek roots geo (earth), graph (write) and metr (measure) build words like geography, autograph and perimeter. Students break words into root plus affix and use them in sentences.
L.8.4b, L.8.6
Reading & writing
Set up a reading life: book choice, reading log, and discussion norms. Tell the difference between a topic and a theme, and find the first clues to theme in a short story.
RL.8.1, RL.8.2, SL.8.1, W.8.10
Math
Sort numbers into rational and irrational. Show that every rational number has a decimal expansion that ends or repeats, and convert repeating decimals back to fractions.
8.NS.1
Science
Atoms are the building blocks of matter. Read the periodic table for symbol, name and atomic number, and build models of simple atoms.
MS-PS1-1
Social studies
Name the five U.S. regions and their states, read latitude and longitude, and use scale and a compass rose to measure real distances.
C3 D2.Geo.1.6-8, D2.Geo.2.6-8
Word study this week
Greek roots geo (earth), graph (write or draw) and metr (measure).
Words to read: geography, geology, geothermal, autograph, paragraph, biography, perimeter, thermometer
Build it: graph → autograph → autobiography
Sentence: “The geologist measured the perimeter of the crater and wrote a paragraph about it.”
Spelling: geography, geology, geothermal, autograph, paragraph, biography, perimeter, thermometer, diameter, photograph
Day plans
- Day 1Where Are We on the Map?
The Call of the Wild by Jack London (or similar) - Day 2Five Regions, One Nation
The Call of the Wild by Jack London (or similar) - Day 3Numbers That Never Repeat
The Call of the Wild by Jack London (or similar) - Day 4Finding Our Place
The Call of the Wild by Jack London (or similar) - Day 5Week One Check and Share
The Call of the Wild by Jack London (or similar)
Centers this week
- Map station: label the 50 states on a blank map, five per day, and check with an atlas.
- Root word sort: cut apart 20 word cards and sort by root (geo, graph, metr), then write one sentence per group.
- Number line challenge: place 3/4, 0.666..., the square root of 2 and 1.5 on a number line taped to the table.
- Independent reading with a sticky note for every clue about what the author wants us to understand.
Student games this week
Rational Roundup Root Words: Geo U.S. Regions Map
Week at a glance (printable)
| Block | Day 1 Where Are We on the Map? | Day 2 Five Regions, One Nation | Day 3 Numbers That Never Repeat | Day 4 Finding Our Place | Day 5 Week One Check and Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question of the day | What makes a place feel like home? | Which U.S. region would you most like to visit, and why? | Is a number like 0.333... messy or neat? | What is the smallest thing you can imagine? | What did you learn this week that surprised you? |
| Word study | Meet the roots geo, graph, metr | Break apart geography, autograph, perimeter | Build new words with prefixes and suffixes | Roots in science and math texts | Spelling check and root quiz |
| Reading | Launch reading life, book choice | Topic vs theme with a short story | Theme clues: what characters learn | Objective summary of the story | Share theme statements with evidence |
| Math | Rational numbers: fractions and decimals | Terminating and repeating decimals | Irrational numbers and the square root of 2 | Repeating decimal to fraction | Sort and check: rational or irrational |
| Science | What is matter made of? | Reading the periodic table | Build an atom model | ||
| Social studies | Five regions of the United States | Latitude, longitude and scale | |||
| Writing | Writer's notebook: a place that matters | Write a theme statement with evidence | Summary paragraph (5 sentences) | Postcard from a region | Reflect on the week in a paragraph |
| Game | Rational Roundup | U.S. Regions Map | Root Words: Geo | Rational Roundup | U.S. Regions Map |