September · Week 1 of 4 · School week 1 of 36

Week 1: Mapping Our World

Skills this week

Word study

Greek roots geo (earth) and graph (write or draw); suffixes -ology and -er.

L.7.4b

Reading & writing

Set up reading workshop and logs, define theme versus topic, name character traits with evidence; write a personal narrative from a Map of Me.

RL.7.2, RL.7.3, W.7.3

Math

Write ratios three ways, find equivalent ratios, compute unit rates and compare them to find the better buy.

7.RP.1, 7.RP.3

Science

Matter is made of particles; atoms, molecules, elements, compounds and mixtures; build molecule models.

MS-PS1-1

Social studies

Map types and parts, scale, latitude and longitude, hemispheres.

C3 D2.Geo.1.6-8

Word study this week

Greek roots geo (earth) and graph (write or draw): geography is writing about the earth.

Words to read: geography, geology, geometry, geothermal, autograph, biography, photograph, paragraph, graphic, telegraph

Build it: graph → autograph → autobiography → biographer

Sentence: “The geologist drew a graphic of the rock layers.”

Spelling: geography, geology, geometry, geothermal, autograph, biography, photograph, paragraph, graphic, telegraph, geographer, geologist

Day plans

Centers this week

Root word sort: cut apart 12 geo/graph words and sort them by root, then write the meaning of each root on the sort mat
Ratio cards: draw two cards (for example 4 red, 6 blue) and write the ratio three ways plus two equivalent ratios
Map corner: using the classroom atlas, record the latitude and longitude of three cities and one landmark
Particle sketch: draw particles of a solid, a liquid and a gas in three boxes and label how each moves

Student games this week

Root Detectives Rate Race Grid the Globe Theme or Topic?

Week at a glance (printable)

Week 1 outline by day
Block	Day 1 Where in the World Are We?	Day 2 Reading the Map	Day 3 Elements, Compounds and Clues	Day 4 Better Buys and Grid Lines	Day 5 Week One Check-In
Question of the day	If you could travel anywhere on Earth for one week, where would you go and what would you need to know before you went?	What is one thing a map can show you that a photograph cannot?	Is air matter? How could you prove it?	When has knowing the price of one item helped you or a grown-up make a decision?	What is one routine from this week that already feels easy, and one that still feels new?
Word study	Greek roots geo and graph	Build and define geo/graph words	Suffixes -ology and -er with roots	Spelling and analogies with roots	Root and spelling check
Reading	Reading routines and theme introduction	Character traits with evidence	Context clues and academic vocabulary	Theme in the read-aloud with evidence	Review theme and summarize the week's reading
Math	Ratios three ways and equivalent ratios	Rates and unit rates	Unit prices and money rates	Comparing unit rates to find the better buy	Ratios and unit rates check
Science	Matter is made of particles	Social studies block today	Elements, compounds and mixtures	Social studies block today	Build molecule models and review
Social studies	Science block today	Parts of a map and map types	Science block today	Latitude, longitude and hemispheres	Science block today
Writing	Writing routines and brainstorm a Map of Me	Draft the Map of Me narrative	Revise for sentence variety	Reading response: a possible theme with evidence	Finish and share the Map of Me narrative
Game	Root Detectives	Rate Race	Rate Race	Grid the Globe	Theme or Topic?