Eastern Elementary Curriculum Chart 

Content  Kindergarten  Grade 1  Grade 2  Grade 3  Grade 4  Grade 5 

Fiction  Narrative & Realistic  Classic Literature  Fiction & Adventure  Realistic Fiction  Historical Fiction & 
Storyteller Culture  Fiction  Descriptive Language  Fiction  Complex Plot  Fantasy 
Story Structure  (Kevin Henkes, Eric Carle,  (Patricia Polacco, John  Voice  Characters  Complex Plot 
Judith Viorst, Tomie dePaola)  Peterson, E.B. White, Astrid 
Character Examination  Event Sequence  Setting  Foreshadowing 
Series Fiction  Lindgren, Chris Van Allsburg, 
Author’s Craft  Janell Cannon)  Character Actions  Point Of View  Flashbacks  
(Flat Stanley, Junie B. Jones, A 
Illustrator’s Craft   Story Arcs  (E.L. Konigsburg, Gary  Character Tension 
to Z Mysteries)  Nonfiction 
(Fairy Tales, Folk Tales,  Paulsen, Jean Craighead 
Nonfiction  Read Like a Scientist  Archetypes  Diaries, Journals, & 
Picture Books, Caldecott  George, R.J. Palacio) 
Reading  (Communities, Leaders,  (Plants, Erosion, Natural  Life Lessons  Memoirs 
Awardees)  Nonfiction (History) 
Cultures)  Disasters, Water, Matter)  (Robert O’Brien, Beverly  (C.S. Lewis, Brian Jacques, 
Nonfiction  Cleary, Patricia MacLachlan,  Points Of View  Lois Lowry, AVI, Brian 
(Communities, Leaders, 
  Read Like a Historian 
(Geography, Communities,  Kate DiCamillo)  Firsthand &  Selznick, Christopher Paul 
Cultures)    Curtis) 
Cultures, Historical Events)  Nonfiction  Secondhand Accounts  
    Nonfiction 
Point Of View  Lesson Interpretation 
(Chesapeake Bay, Space,  (Maryland, Chesapeake Bay,  Social Issues 
Ecosystems, Energy)  Space, Ecosystems, Energy)  (Natural Resources, 
  Ecosystems) 

Opinion   Narrative  Lab Reports & Science  Personal Narrative  Realistic Fiction  Narrative Craft 
Narrative   Writing a Review  Books  Information Writing -  Persuasive Essay  History Research 
How-to & Informational   Series & Realistic  Narrative Craft  (Animals)  Historical Writing  Reports ​(Explorers) 
Writing  Persuasive Speeches &  (Westward Expansion) 
Fiction  Opinion Writing  Research-Based 
Nonfiction​ ​Chapter  Poetry  Editorials  Literary Essay  Argument Essay 
Book  Writing Fairy Tales  Memoir Writing 

Count To 100  Count To 120   Add & Subtract  Add & Subtract   Computation   Volume 
Count By Tens  Place Value  Place Value   Elapsed Time   Area & Perimeter   Measurement  
Compare Numbers  Add & Subtract   Graphing  Multiply & Divide  Fractions & Decimals  Fractions  
Add & Subtract   Data  Measurement  Area & Perimeter   Measurement   Decimals  
Math  
Shape Recognition  Geometry  Fractions  Picture & Bar Graphs  Line Plots  Line Plots  
Relative Position  Telling Time  Geometry  Fractions  Geometry  Geometry 
Measurement  Money Computation  Measurement  Angle Measurement  Algebra 
Measurement  
Data  Multiply & Divide  Geometry 

Weather & Climate  Patterns & Cycles Of  Structure & Properties  Weather & Climate  Processes that Shape a  Natural Resources 
Basic Needs Of Plants &  Space Systems   Of Matter  Forces & Interactions  Planet  Motion, Energy, & Light 
Animals  Waves: Light & Sound  Processes That Shape  Ecosystems  Astronomy  Chemistry Of Matter 
Plants, Animals, & Their  Structures of Plants &  Earth’s Water & Land  Life Cycles  Living Things  Living Organisms 
Science  Environments  Animals   Forms of Water  Matter, Energy, & 
Forces & Interactions  Processes that Shape  Electricity 
Earth Quickly & Slowly   
Plants, Seed Dispersal 
& Pollination 
 Member Of a  Member Of a Larger  Citizen  Engaged & Informed  Maryland  Colonial America 
Community  Community  Rights &  Citizens  Geography  Geography 
Importance of Rules  Rules  Responsibilities  Laws  Native Americans  Population Growth, 
Roles, Rights,  United States  Historic Events Within  Rights &  Colonists & Founders  Migration, and 
Responsibilities  Famous Americans  American Political  Responsibilities  History  Settlement Patterns 
United States  Within American  System  Democratic Principles &  Political Structure  Native Americans  
Symbols & Practices  Political System  Geography  Political Systems  Civil War & Slavery  Explorers 
Famous Americans   MultiCultural  Tools   Geography  Economics  Settlers 
Social  Geography  Exploration  Global Transportation &  Relative Location  Cultures  Economics Systems 
Studies  Globes & Maps  Geography  Communication  Regional Geographic    Government 
  Physical & Human  Locations  MultiCultural  Characteristics  Independence 
Made Features  Transportation  Exploration  Cultures  American Government 
Economics  Communication  Economics  Elements Of  Foundations  
Resources  Economics  Goods & Services  Multicultural Setting  Functions 
Technology Impacts  Goods & Services  Production  Economics  Due Process 
Local Markets  Production  Technology Impacts  Needs & Wants 
Goods  Technology Impacts  Types of Markets  Government Provided 
Acquiring Goods &  Goods & Services  
Services   
Chart compiled by Kelly Houpt on March 20th, 2016 

Sources: 
Baumgardner, Elizabeth. Personal interview. 18 March 2016. 
Jones, Stephanie. Personal interview. 21 March 2016. 
Mouer, Katie. Personal interview. 21 March 2016. 
Tarkanick, Nichole. Personal interview. 21 March 2016. 
https://sites.google.com/a/wcps.k12.md.us/wcps-employee-resources/curriculum-portal/kindergarten 
https://sites.google.com/a/wcps.k12.md.us/wcps-employee-resources/curriculum-portal/grade-1 
https://sites.google.com/a/wcps.k12.md.us/wcps-employee-resources/curriculum-portal/grade-2 
https://sites.google.com/a/wcps.k12.md.us/wcps-employee-resources/curriculum-portal/grade-3 
https://sites.google.com/a/wcps.k12.md.us/wcps-employee-resources/curriculum-portal/grade-4 
https://sites.google.com/a/wcps.k12.md.us/wcps-employee-resources/curriculum-portal/grade5 
http://www.mensaforkids.org/MFK2/assets/File/Achieve/Excellence_in_Reading_k-3.pdf 
http://www.mensaforkids.org/MFK2/assets/File/Achieve/Excellence_in_Reading_4-6.pdf 

 
Reflection 

This chart was created for Eastern Elementary, a grades 3 through 5 building, where I am the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) teacher. I 
attempted to capture the big ideas addressed by the learning experiences developed within my school. The learning experiences are built 
upon the curriculum provided by the county. I used the county provided curriculum guides to compile my chart. I also spoke with several 
grade level teachers within my building including Nichole Tarkanick (fifth grade), Stephanie Jones (fourth grade), and Katie Mouer (third 
grade). I relied on fellow GATE teacher, Libby Baumgardner, who works across the street at Ruth Ann Monroe Primary School, for the primary 
grade topics. I also consulted mensaforkids.org to identify mentor texts and recommended authors.   

I’m uncertain about the usefulness of this chart for my librarian as we were informed at our county-wide professional development on March 
22nd that our curriculum isn’t changing however the structure will be changing and a scope and sequence will be provided for the 2016-17 
school year. When I began creating the chart, I struggled with adding more specific topics or themes to my chart. As of the 2015-16 school 
year, WCPS provided suggested curriculum maps with core standards grouped in a way to make instruction cohesive and complete however 
they did not provide topics or unifying themes. Those decisions were left up to school-based, grade level teams as they developed their units 
of instruction around those core and priority standards. This means that within a grade level, 2-3 very different units of instruction can be 
occurring around the same set of standards. While I think the new structure may be a positive change, my chart will look very different after 
the new scope and sequence is released.   

The chart addresses ALA/AASL Element 1.1 by documenting my understanding of the curriculum used to develop learning experiences for the 
learners of Eastern Elementary and Ruth Ann Monroe Primary. This chart can be used by other teachers in my learning community to see the 
big picture at a glance. As my school does not include the primary grades, many of the teachers I work with do not have an understanding 
what happens prior to third grade. This chart can be used as a reference this year to continue planning the remaining units of instruction. 
And, it can be used again next year to deepen teachers’ understandings of the prior knowledge their incoming students should have gained 
the previous year.