Explorations, a book in the Multiage Differentiated Curriculum Kit for Grades 4-6, gives students the opportunity to explore our world. The books in Prufrock's new Differentiated Curriculum Kits employ a differentiated, integrated curriculum based on broad themes. This all-in-one curriculum helps teachers save planning time, ensure compliance with national standards, and most importantly, pique their students' natural excitement and interest in discovery.

    By participating in the wide variety of activities in the Multiage Differentiated Curriculum Kit for Grades 4-6, students will explore the world around them and gain a lifelong desire to learn. From the mysterious depths of the ocean, to the craters of Mars, students will be challenged to go a step beyond the explorers who came before them. In one activity, students will act as explorers and examine the culture they live in. Students then will take characteristics from their discoveries and try to adapt them to another civilization. Social inequality and the effects of nutritional habits on the heart will be examined. Students also will explore winter survival tactics and retrace the steps of some famous explorers, such as Marco Polo.

    Explorations, along with the other books in the Multiage Differentiated Curriculum Kit for Grades 4-6 (Balances, Choices, Questions, and Viewpoints), makes teaching advanced learners easier!

    Grades 4-6

    This curriculum unit makes use of the following great children's literature books:

    • Marco Polo: A Journey Through China by Fiona MacDonald;
    • Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen;
    • How Do You Lift a Lion? by Robert E. Walls (optional) and;
    • The Magic of M.C. Escher by M.C. Escher et al. (optional).

    Planning Materials Page Unit Planner and Overview Enduring Understandings and Generalizations Guiding Questions Activities 1. Pre-Assessment 2. The Path of Marco Polo 3. Civilized or Not? 4. Cultural Borrowing 5. Space Exploration 6. Puzzles of the World 7. Exploring the Ocean Floor 8. Explore Your Nutritional Habits 9. Hunger in America 10. When Did It Happen? 11. Ancient Inventions 12. Exploring the Impossible 13. The Greatest Explorers 14. Winter Survival 15. Exploring Energy 16. Geometric Explorations 17. Post-Assessment Attachments 1. Journal Assembly 2. Time Traveling Logic Problem 3. Blank Evaluation Rubric 4. Guessing Game Words 5. Cultural Borrowing 6. Learning Loop 7. Generalization Rubric 8. Evaluation Rubric 9. Scientific Method 10. Pangaea Jigsaw 11. World Map 12. News Flash! 13. Brochure Evaluation 14. Explorer Tic-Tac-Toe

    Biography

    Debbie Keiser is author or coauthor of more than two dozen books, including Solving the Research Puzzle, Earth Central, Ph.D.: Doctor of Sciences, and several titles in the popular Differentiated Curriculum series. She was the cofounder of former publishing house, McGee-Keiser Academic Enrichment Programs, based in Plano, TX.

    Brenda McGee is an experienced, award-winning teacher and published writer. She has taught in public and private schools in kindergarten through eighth grade. She was the cofounder of former publishing house, McGee-Keiser Academic Enrichment Programs, based in Plano, TX. She is the author of several previous books, two of which have won awards for outstanding curricula for gifted and talented students from the National Association for Gifted Children.