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Q4 · 2025–2026

Quarter 4: Early Summer - World Explorers

Quarter Overview

This quarter takes you on a journey around the world, exploring different ecosystems and learning how people navigate and understand our planet. You'll read Island of the Blue Dolphins, a story about a girl who survives alone on an island with animals, and you'll create your own illustrated Explorer's Guide to a place you care about. Each week combines language arts, math, science, and social studies into projects that build toward a final year-end celebration.

Oregon State Standards - Quarter 4

This quarter builds toward the following Oregon educational standards across all subjects. Each week integrates multiple standards through our project-based learning approach.

Language Arts

  • RI.6.1Cite textual evidence from informational text to support analysis
  • RI.6.2Determine central idea of a text; provide summary
  • RI.6.7Integrate information presented in different media or formats
  • RL.6.10Read and comprehend literature grades 6-8
  • W.6.2Write informational and explanatory texts to examine a topic
  • W.6.4Produce clear and coherent writing appropriate to task and audience
  • W.6.5Develop and strengthen writing through planning, drafting, and revision
  • W.6.7Conduct short research projects to answer a question
  • W.6.8Gather relevant information from multiple sources; assess credibility
  • W.6.9Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis
  • SL.6.4Present claims and findings clearly

Math

  • 6.SP.A.1Recognize a statistical question as one that anticipates variability
  • 6.SP.A.2Understand that data has a distribution described by center, spread, and shape
  • 6.SP.A.3Recognize that a measure of center summarizes data with a single number
  • 6.SP.B.4Display numerical data in plots on a number line
  • 6.SP.B.5Summarize numerical data sets in relation to their context
  • 6.EE.A.2Write, read, and evaluate expressions in which letters stand for numbers
  • 6.EE.B.7Solve real-world problems by writing and solving equations

Science

  • MS-ESS1-1Model the Earth-Sun-Moon system to describe lunar phases, eclipses, seasons
  • MS-ESS1-2Model the role of gravity in the solar system and galaxies
  • MS-ESS2-2Explain how geoscience processes have changed Earth's surface
  • MS-ESS2-3Analyze fossil and rock data to provide evidence of plate tectonics
  • MS-ESS3-3Design a method for monitoring and minimizing human impact on the environment
  • MS-LS2-4Argue that changes to physical or biological components affect ecosystem populations

Social Studies

  • SS.6.H.1Analyze chronological reasoning and historical cause/effect
  • SS.6.H.2Gather, evaluate, and use multiple historical sources
  • SS.6.GEO.1Use geographic tools and spatial thinking including maps and coordinates
  • SS.6.GEO.2Analyze human-environment interaction during Age of Exploration
  • SS.6.EC.1Analyze economic systems and trade routes
  • SS.6.CV.1Analyze how power and authority functioned during the Age of Exploration

Weekly Schedule

Week 1 Mar 23-26

Setting Sail

Language Arts Begin Island of the Blue Dolphins ch. 1-4. Reading journal. Introduce research writing: what makes a good research question?
Standards: RI.6.1W.6.2
Math Intro to statistics: mean, median, mode, range using animal population data.
Standards: 6.SP.A.16.SP.A.2
Science Earth science overview: layers of the Earth, plate tectonics basics. Why do continents look like puzzle pieces?
Standards: MS-ESS2-2
Social Studies Age of Exploration overview: why did Europeans explore? Key explorers. Map major voyages.
Standards: SS.6.H.1SS.6.GEO.1
Thursday Project Choose your Explorer's Guide topic (one ecosystem, biome, or region). Options: ocean, rainforest, arctic tundra, Pacific islands, African savanna. Begin cover design.
Week 2 Mar 30-Apr 2

The Natural World of Islands

Language Arts Island of the Blue Dolphins ch. 5-10. Research writing: finding and evaluating sources, taking notes.
Standards: RI.6.1W.6.7
Math Data displays: bar graphs, line graphs, histograms. Create a graph using animal population data.
Standards: 6.SP.B.4
Science Plate tectonics continued: earthquakes, volcanoes, how islands form.
Standards: MS-ESS2-2MS-ESS2-3
Social Studies The explorers' maps: latitude and longitude, reading coordinates, finding locations on a world map.
Standards: SS.6.GEO.1SS.6.H.1
Thursday Project Explorer's Guide: Table of Contents and Chapter 1 outline. Begin first illustration (map of your region/ecosystem).
Week 3 Apr 6-9

Oceans and Coasts

Language Arts Island of the Blue Dolphins ch. 11-16. Organize research notes into categories.
Standards: W.6.7W.6.8
Math Probability: what is probability? Simple experiments (coin flips, card draws). Connect to weather forecasting.
Standards: 6.SP.A.16.SP.A.2
Science Ocean science: ocean zones (sunlight, twilight, midnight), ocean animals by zone, tides and currents.
Standards: MS-ESS1-1MS-ESS2-3
Social Studies Navigation tools: how did explorers navigate without GPS? Compass, stars, sextant. Make a simple compass or star map.
Standards: SS.6.GEO.1SS.6.H.2
Thursday Project Explorer's Guide Chapter 1: The Geography. Write about where your place is, what it looks like. Include your illustrated map.
Week 4 Apr 13-16

Animals of the Region

Language Arts Island of the Blue Dolphins ch. 17-22. Write first draft of one research section.
Standards: RI.6.1W.6.2
Math Probability continued: compound events, probability trees. Connect to genetics (probability of traits).
Standards: 6.SP.A.1
Science Geology: rock cycle, types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic). How to identify rocks.
Standards: MS-ESS2-3
Social Studies What did explorers find? Native peoples and cultures of explored regions. The impact of exploration (not all positive).
Standards: SS.6.H.1SS.6.GEO.2
Thursday Project Explorer's Guide Chapter 2: The Animals. Create illustrated profiles of 3 key animals of your ecosystem with adaptations.
Week 5 Apr 22-25

Plants and Climate

Language Arts Finish Island of the Blue Dolphins. Book quiz prep.
Standards: RL.6.10W.6.2
Math Expressions and equations review: multi-step equations, real-world problems.
Standards: 6.EE.A.26.EE.B.7
Science Solar system: the planets, moons, distances. Scale model of the solar system using toilet paper.
Standards: MS-ESS1-1MS-ESS1-2
Social Studies Columbian Exchange: what plants, animals, and diseases were exchanged between hemispheres? Corn, potatoes, horses, smallpox. How this changed diets and ecosystems worldwide.
Standards: SS.6.EC.1SS.6.GEO.2
Thursday Project Explorer's Guide Chapter 3: The Plants. Create illustrated profiles of 3-4 key plants of your ecosystem.
Week 6 Apr 28-May 1

Earth from Space

Language Arts Island of the Blue Dolphins book quiz and reading journal completion. Research writing continues.
Standards: RI.6.1W.6.9
Math Algebra review: variables, expressions, solving equations. Connect to formulas in science.
Standards: 6.EE.A.26.EE.B.7
Science Earth from space: time zones, seasons and Earth's tilt, the moon and tides.
Standards: MS-ESS1-1
Social Studies World geography review: all civilizations studied this year on one big timeline. Mark key inventions and events.
Standards: SS.6.H.1SS.6.EC.1
Thursday Project Explorer's Guide Chapter 4: The Climate and Seasons. Create charts, graphs, and illustrations of seasonal changes.
Week 7 May 5-8

Putting It All Together

Language Arts Research report: full draft. Practice citations (where did you learn this?).
Standards: W.6.2W.6.8
Math Q4 math review: statistics, probability, expressions and equations.
Standards: 6.SP.A.36.SP.B.5
Science Environmental science intro: human impact on ecosystems, endangered species, conservation. Are any animals you studied endangered?
Standards: MS-ESS3-3MS-LS2-4
Social Studies Modern explorers: scientists, naturalists, oceanographers, conservationists. Jane Goodall, Jacques Cousteau, David Attenborough.
Standards: SS.6.H.1SS.6.H.2
Thursday Project Explorer's Guide Chapter 5: Human Impact and Conservation. Write the introduction and conclusion of the whole book.
Week 8 May 12-15

Final Polish

Language Arts Research report: final copy.
Standards: W.6.2W.6.4W.6.5
Math Final math review and fun applied problems. Calculate distances of explorer voyages. Graph historical data.
Standards: 6.SP.B.46.SP.B.5
Science Year-in-review science quiz: you write the questions and quiz your parent. Cover topics from all 4 quarters.
Standards: MS-ESS1-1MS-ESS3-3
Social Studies Year-in-review social studies: create one final entry on the illustrated timeline scroll.
Standards: SS.6.H.1SS.6.GEO.1
Thursday Project Explorer's Guide: final illustrations, table of contents, cover. Bind the book (staple, string binding, or report cover).
Week 9 May 19-21

Year-End Celebration

Language Arts Present research report OR read a favorite passage from your fantasy story from Q3.
Standards: W.6.2SL.6.4
Math Celebrate! Review the year's math portfolio.
Standards: 6.SP.A.36.SP.B.5
Science Final animal quiz celebration: hardest questions from all year.
Standards: MS-ESS1-1MS-ESS3-3
Social Studies Present the illustrated timeline: walk through the whole year of history.
Standards: SS.6.H.1SS.6.GEO.1
Thursday - Final Day EXPLORER'S GUIDE PRESENTATION and full year portfolio review. What was your favorite project? What was hardest? What do you want to learn next year?

The Explorer's Guide: Capstone Project

This is a multi-chapter illustrated research book that you'll build across Weeks 1-8. Choose one ecosystem, biome, or region that you really care about and become an expert on it. You'll combine all four subjects (writing, math, science, and social studies) into this beautiful final book.

Chapter 1: The Geography
Where is this place? Create an illustrated and labeled map showing where in the world your ecosystem is located, what it looks like, and what climate zone it's in.
Chapter 2: The Animals
Create illustrated profiles of 3 key animals that live in your ecosystem. For each animal, describe its adaptations, diet, and current conservation status. Why are these animals special?
Chapter 3: The Plants
Create illustrated profiles of 3-4 key plants found in your ecosystem. Describe what they look like, where they grow in the habitat, and how they're used by animals or people.
Chapter 4: Climate and Seasons
What is it like to live there throughout the year? Use charts and graphs (math connection!) to show temperature, rainfall, and seasonal changes. Illustrate how the place looks in different seasons.
Chapter 5: Human Impact and Conservation
What threats does this ecosystem face? Who is working to protect it? Research a real conservation project or scientist working in your region.
Introduction and Conclusion
Write these last! Introduction: Why did you choose this place? Why does it matter? Conclusion: What surprised you most? What would you most want to see or do there?
Cover
Design an original illustrated cover with your title and your name as author. Make it beautiful and inviting so someone will want to open your book.

Binding Options

Choose one way to bind your finished book:

The Final Expedition: Year-End Escape Room

Design a final escape room using content from all 4 quarters of homeschool this year. Below are sample puzzles you can solve or use as inspiration to create your own. The final unlock reveals a year-end certificate or special message celebrating everything you've learned.

Puzzle 1: Hieroglyphics Code (from Q2) - Decode a message using hieroglyphics symbols you learned in Q2 Ancient Egypt.
Puzzle 2: Biome Match (from Q1 + Q4) - Match animals to their biome, then describe one key adaptation that helps each animal survive.
Puzzle 3: Plant Biology Equation (from Q3) - Solve a photosynthesis or plant biology equation or word problem from Q3 life science.
Puzzle 4: Navigate the World (from Q4) - Use coordinates on a world map to locate landmarks or destinations from this quarter's exploration studies.
Puzzle 5: Timeline Challenge (All Quarters) - Place key historical events, inventions, and discoveries in chronological order from the whole year.
Puzzle 6: The Final Key - Answer a "big thinking" question that brings together your favorite learning moments from the year. What was your most exciting discovery?

Resources and Supplies

Books

  • Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell (core novel)
  • National Geographic World Atlas (or online equivalent)
  • The Ocean Book by Emily Newell

Videos and Websites

  • Crash Course Kids: Plate Tectonics, Rock Cycle, Solar System
  • Khan Academy: statistics and probability lessons
  • Blue Planet II (BBC): ocean science exploration
  • Jane Goodall Institute website: conservation and modern explorers

Supplies Needed This Quarter

  • Report covers or binding materials for Explorer's Guide
  • World map for annotation and coordinate practice
  • Colored pencils for final illustrations and cover design
  • Sketchbook pages for chapter illustrations
  • Ruler for making maps and charts
  • Optional: compass (for navigation activity)
  • Optional: string or ribbon for book binding