Quarter-Specific Materials
These materials are organized by quarter to help you plan ahead. Many items can be found around your home or purchased inexpensively.
Quarter 1: Foundations of the Western Hemisphere: Land and People
The Geography of the Americas (Weeks 1-2)
- • Western Hemisphere wall map
- • World globe
- • Push pins or sticky notes
- • Salt, flour, water (for relief map)
- • Paint (various colors)
- • Paintbrushes
- • Base-ten blocks
- • Sample rocks and minerals
The Maya, Aztec, & Inca Civilizations (Weeks 3-6)
- • Historic maps (printable)
- • Poster board for comparison chart
- • LEGOs or sugar cubes (for pyramid models)
- • Cocoa powder, sugar, water
- • Graph paper
- • Craft sticks and cardboard
- • Purple and white crayons/markers
Deep Dive: Life in an Ancient Civilization (Weeks 7-8)
- • Materials for civilization model
- • Clay or playdough
- • Rulers and measuring tools
- • Balance scale or kitchen scale
- • Small containers for matter experiments
- • Material for costumes/props
Quarter 1 Review (Week 9)
- • Index cards for review games
- • Portfolio folder
- • Materials for displaying student work
- • Materials for timeline
Quarter 2: Collision of Worlds: Exploration and Exchange
The Age of Exploration (Weeks 10-13)
- • World map
- • String or yarn (to trace routes)
- • Compass
- • Bean seeds in pots
- • Potting soil
- • Base-ten blocks for decimal work
- • Notebook for explorer's journal
The Columbian Exchange (Weeks 14-16)
- • Pictures of New World/Old World foods
- • Fraction bars or circles
- • Materials for food web model
- • Construction paper
- • String or yarn
- • Clear plastic cups
- • Food coloring
- • Celery stalks (for transpiration experiment)
Mid-Year Review (Weeks 17-18)
- • Materials for ecosystem diorama
- • Shoe box
- • Clay or modeling dough
- • Portfolio materials
- • Assessment materials
Quarter 3: Systems of Our World: Earth and Its Inhabitants
Modeling Earth's Systems (Weeks 19-21)
- • Clear plastic container
- • Soil, sand, gravel
- • Small plants
- • Water
- • Plastic wrap
- • Materials for water cycle model
- • Decimal place value charts
Human-Environment Interaction (Weeks 22-24)
- • Materials for pollution experiment
- • Aluminum foil
- • Cooking oil
- • Feathers
- • Dawn dish soap
- • Fraction tiles for multiplication
- • Materials for research project
A Closer Look: Latin America (Weeks 25-27)
- • Biography research materials
- • Rainforest pictures
- • Ocean ecosystem pictures
- • Materials for habitat models
- • Fraction manipulatives for division
- • Play money for economic simulations
Quarter 3 Review (Week 28)
- • Portfolio materials
- • Assessment supplies
- • Review game materials
- • Materials for displaying work
Quarter 4: Beyond Our World: Astronomy and Modern Connections
Our Solar System (Weeks 29-30)
- • Styrofoam balls (various sizes)
- • Paint for planet models
- • String or fishing line
- • Flashlight
- • Telescope or binoculars (optional)
- • Research materials for planet report
- • Materials for volume problems
Earth, Moon, and Sun (Weeks 31-33)
- • Flashlight or lamp (for sun)
- • Tennis ball (for earth)
- • Smaller ball (for moon)
- • Graph paper
- • Protractor
- • Coordinate grid paper
- • Materials for moon phase diagram
Capstone Project & Year-End Review (Weeks 34-35)
- • Materials for rover model
- • Cardboard, plastic containers
- • Wheels (bottle caps, etc.)
- • Research materials
- • Letter writing supplies
- • Portfolio folder
- • Standardized test prep materials
Final Showcase & Assessment (Week 36)
- • Display materials for showcase
- • Standardized test materials
- • Certificate or award
- • Materials for celebration
- • Final portfolio materials
Science Experiment Supplies
These materials will be used for hands-on science experiments throughout the year. Many are common household items, while others may need to be purchased specifically for experiments.
Matter & Physical Science Supplies
- • Balance scale or kitchen scale
- • Magnifying glass
- • Magnets of different strengths
- • Small containers (clear plastic cups)
- • Graduated cylinder or measuring cups
- • Aluminum foil
- • Salt, sugar, baking soda
- • Food coloring
- • Vinegar
- • Balloons
- • Plastic bottles
- • Stopwatch or timer
Earth Science Supplies
- • Sand, soil, gravel
- • Plastic tray or aluminum foil pans
- • Water pitcher
- • Clay or modeling dough
- • Rocks of different types
- • Clear plastic container with lid
- • Spray bottle
- • Ice cube trays
- • Thermometer
- • Blue food coloring (for water)
Life Science & Ecosystem Supplies
- • Bean seeds
- • Small pots for planting
- • Potting soil
- • Clear plastic cups
- • Celery stalks
- • Plastic droppers or pipettes
- • Shoe box (for diorama)
- • Craft materials for models
- • Pictures of different ecosystems
- • Construction paper
- • String or yarn
Astronomy & Engineering Supplies
- • Flashlight or lamp
- • Styrofoam balls (various sizes)
- • Skewers or dowels
- • Tennis ball
- • Globe
- • Telescope or binoculars (optional)
- • Black construction paper
- • Cardboard boxes
- • Bottle caps (for wheels)
- • Straws
- • Rubber bands
- • Popsicle sticks
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