Curriculum in Focus

Curriculum in Focus offers teachers an opportunity to highlight learning in action in their classroom. The goal is to provide parents and the community a window into classrooms and the material students are learning. Each month will include a new group of highlights. Please also see MUSD's social media for Curriculum in Focus posts on a more regular basis. 

 

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS (HOLIDAY EDITION!): The hottest new coffee shop in town—Starbooks—opened on Friday in Ms. Domanski’s classroom at Walnut Canyon Arts and Technology Magnet School, giving fifth graders the ultimate “book-tasting” experience. With a cozy coffee shop vibe, complete with soft jazz, hot chocolate, homemade treats, and a wide selection of books, students explored new literary options by reading a few pages and grading the books they’re excited to read after Winter Break. Creative events like Starbooks help foster a love of reading and show just how powerful it is for elementary school students. Reading builds vocabulary, strengthens comprehension and sparks creativity, all of which are essential for lifelong learning and success.

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: Study guides met strategy in Mr. Jenkins’ World History class as Moorpark High School sophomores tackled Jenkins’ Jenga! As part of their final exam prep, students pulled numbered blocks and asked their team to define terms from the study guide, covering topics like the rise of democratic ideas, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution and early 19th-century Europe. It was fun way to combine teamwork, strategy and history review!

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: What do peanut butter and jelly sandwiches have to do with great writing? Just ask Mr. Pollock’s sixth-grade class at Mesa Verde Middle School. Students worked in groups to tackle the challenge of writing step-by-step directions for making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Some groups nailed it, while others forgot a few critical steps (turns out, “put the peanut butter and jelly between two pieces of bread” isn’t quite enough direction). This tasty activity led students to brainstorm descriptive language for informational essays about their favorite activities. From sandwiches to storytelling, these students are learning how to inform and inspire with their words!

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: Lights, camera, collaboration! Today in Mountain Meadows 21st Century Learning Academy's STEAM Lab, fourth graders took on the challenge of creating stop-motion films under the guidance of teacher Angie Filer. The twist? Each team had to stay within a set budget while selecting items for their films, blending creativity with practical problem-solving. This hands-on lesson wasn’t just about filmmaking—it taught students important life skills, including budgeting (math), teamwork (collaboration), and using technology in innovative ways (creativity). Who knows? The next animation legend might be from Mountain Meadows!

 

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: Fourth and fifth graders in Ms. Daniels’ WIN (What I Need) enrichment class at Arroyo West Active Learning Academy turned creativity into engineering with the "Net Activity." Using only string and paper, students transformed 2D nets into 3D shapes, exploring geometry, engineering and even art as they decorated their creations. Students tackled complex challenges, from constructing intricate shapes like dodecahedrons (12-sided solids) to finding creative solutions through trial and error. Ms. Daniels provided minimal direction, encouraging critical thinking, persistence and teamwork. Along the way, students reflected on their successes and challenges, gaining valuable insights into problem-solving and self-discovery. This STEAM activity is more than a hands-on project—it builds skills in geometry, engineering and artistic expression while fostering independence and resilience. Plus, decorating their folders with crosswords featuring the names of their shapes added a fun, personalized twist!

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: In Mrs. Peters’ Honors Math 2 class at the High School at Moorpark College, freshmen recently took on a geometry-based challenge to determine the length of an arc in a circle. Working in groups, students collaborated to deepen their understanding and ensure everyone grasped the concept—an approach that promotes active learning over passive note-taking. This collaborative problem-solving helps students develop critical thinking skills, as they are encouraged to analyze and apply concepts rather than simply replicate examples. Next, they will extend this knowledge to a real-world scenario by calculating the grazing area available to a cow, linking classroom learning to practical applications. Lessons like this not only reinforce mathematical skills but also foster essential collaboration, analytical reasoning, and the ability to approach complex, real-world problems.  

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: In Mr. Wallace’s eighth-grade science class at Chaparral Middle School-Moorpark, students engaged in a hands-on laboratory experiment focused on solution mixing and color theory. Working collaboratively in small groups, they used test tubes to precisely measure and combine colored solutions to produce a “rainbow” of colors. Each group documented their precise “recipes” for replicable results, then extended the experiment by designing and naming a new color, requiring iterative testing and adjustments. This lab emphasized the importance of precision in measurement, experimental rigor and collaborative problem-solving. By engaging directly in the scientific process, students deepened their understanding of practical chemistry concepts foundational to advanced studies.

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: Students in Mrs. Sandoval’s Freshman Advisement class at the High School at Moorpark College participated in a Socratic seminar to discuss a UC Davis article about social media’s impact on mental health. Coming prepared with a Summary, Response, Questions and Answers (SRQA) written the night before, students dove into the discussion. Mrs. Sandoval set a respectful tone by emphasizing active listening, distinguishing between dialogue and debate and ensuring that everyone’s voice was heard. The lesson fostered not only critical thinking but also the skills for civil and respectful discourse.

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: How do the masses of Earth, Moon and Sun affect their orbitals paths? This was the intriguing question posed to sixth graders in Ms. Noble’s science class at Mesa Verde Middle School. Using computer-generated models, students explored the gravitational forces between the Earth, Moon and Sun, simulating their orbits. The lesson encouraged students to form hypotheses and record detailed observations based on the simulations. By diving into this astronomy-based activity, students engaged in critical thinking, applied physics principles and honed their observational skills, all while exploring the fascinating dynamics of our solar system. Who knows? Perhaps one of these budding scientists will become the next great theoretical physicist, making groundbreaking discoveries that reshape our understanding of the universe.

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: Students in Ms. Dennin’s Transitional Kindergarten (TK) class at Peach Hill Academy engaged in a variety of pumpkin-themed, hands-on activities Monday morning. At different learning stations, they molded clay to create pumpkin pies, tapped golf tees into pumpkins with small hammers, played with sand, and crafted unique pumpkin artwork with their hands. Each activity was designed to strengthen fine motor skills, spark creativity and introduce early literacy and math concepts. After a brief playtime, where students practiced sharing and using their imagination, they spent time counting pumpkin seeds—an engaging way to reinforce number recognition. It was then time for lunch!

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: Seventh graders in Mr. King’s Life Science class at Chaparral Middle School-Moorpark recently explored animal biology by using microscopes to examine cells from various animal body parts. Throughout the year, students will build on this foundational study, progressing from cellular biology to body systems and ultimately to ecosystems, deepening their understanding of the connections between humans and the environment.

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: Students in Ms. McNicol’s 4th-grade class at Walnut Canyon Arts and Technology Magnet School were hard at work crafting amazing personal narratives. From using words like “gazed” instead of “looked” to practicing dialogue with proper punctuation, they’re building strong writing skills and expanding their vocabulary. They also were challenged to add more detail to their stories by underlining nouns to make them more specific—changing 'dessert' to 'fudge brownies,' for example. After writing, students shared their stories with classmates to get valuable feedback. These assignments not only make writing fun but also help students express themselves clearly—a skill that’s important for life. Who knows? The next great author may be in this class! Plus, it’s a fantastic way to spark a love for reading.

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: In Mrs. Williams' 4th/5th combo class at Walnut Canyon Arts and Technology Magnet School, young writers are crafting their own stories. Today, they dove deeper into personal narratives, exploring how to create a cohesive story with a strong hook, vivid descriptions, action and dialogue. Inspired by examples from the book "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio, students added rich details and figurative language to bring their stories to life. They also shared their stories with one another for additional feedback. The lesson also helps boost writing stamina and strengthen students’ storytelling skills. The ability to write well will benefit them not only in middle and high school, but in every stage of their education and future careers, where strong communication is key.

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: Sixth graders in Mrs. King’s Earth Science class at Chaparral Middle School-Moorpark used pieces of clay to simulate tectonic plate movements and boundaries. The students documented three types of boundaries: divergent (where tectonic plates move apart, often forming mid-ocean ridges and volcanoes), transform (where plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes) and convergent (where plates collide, forming mountain ranges or volcanic arcs depending on the plates involved). Hands-on activities like simulating tectonic plate movements with clay allow students to visualize and engage with complex geological processes in a tangible way, making abstract concepts more relatable. By actively recreating divergent, transform, and convergent boundaries, students gain a deeper understanding of how these movements shape Earth’s surface, leading to natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanoes and mountain formation.

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: Students from Ms. Daringer's 2nd grade class at Flory Academy of Sciences & Technology dove into hands-on learning in the Science Lab on Wednesday morning, guided by Science Specialist Samantha Wright. Their mission? To uncover the properties of different types of rocks. In small groups, students examined various stones, investigating their weight, magnetic pull, buoyancy (did you know some rocks actually float?), colors, textures, and more! Just like real geologists, they carefully logged their findings, making discoveries that sparked excitement and curiosity throughout the lab.

 

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: In Mrs. Valencia’s third-grade class at Arroyo West Active Learning Academy, students are learning multiplication through hands-on centers. By grouping objects into equal sets, they can better understand the factors and products involved in multiplication. Using manipulatives gives students a visual way to grasp the concept, making it easier for them to solve problems. Mrs. Valencia said this method helps students explore multiplication in different ways, like using arrays, number lines and repeated addition, while also preparing them for division. The hands-on activities keep students engaged and make learning both fun and effective, which aligns with the academy’s focus on active, practical learning. 

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: In Mrs. Wagler’s fifth-grade class at Campus Canyon College Preparatory Academy, students presented their “Cultural Boxes” in front of the class, each one a unique reflection of their individual heritage. As part of this engaging activity, students shared details about their cultural backgrounds, such as the countries or regions where their families originated, the languages they speak at home, traditional foods they enjoy, and meaningful customs or traditions. These presentations fostered a deeper understanding and appreciation of diversity within the classroom.

Mrs. Wagler explained that the lesson integrates important educational concepts from multiple disciplines, including social studies, genealogy and public speaking. The social studies aspect encourages students to explore the broader world by understanding how different cultures contribute to society, promoting tolerance and inclusivity. Genealogy allows students to trace their family history, creating a personal connection to the past and helping them develop a stronger sense of identity. Public speaking, a critical skill for their future academic and professional lives, is also emphasized, as students build confidence while articulating their thoughts and stories in front of their peers.

This multidisciplinary approach not only strengthens students’ academic skills but also fosters an environment of mutual respect, encouraging them to celebrate the richness of cultural diversity in their community.

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: TK students in Ms. Heald’s class at Arroyo West Active Learning Academy were busy last week building, creating and learning in fun and engaging ways!

In one of their first activities, TK students got hands-on with a "Build a City" challenge. Using numbers 0-10, the class talked about how buildings in a city come in all different heights. The students then used unifix cubes to build their city, comparing the heights of their buildings based on the numbers in each box. This activity helped them develop fine motor skills and one-to-one counting skills.

In the next activity, students combined math with letter recognition. They used pattern blocks to form letters of the alphabet, choosing whichever letter they wanted to create. By matching up the pattern blocks to the shapes on the sheet, students practiced identifying letters while continuing to strengthen their fine motor skills.

Also last week, Ms. Heald’s students worked on a letter T book, first reading together in small groups, then coloring the book during center time. Along the way, they practiced the correct way to hold a pencil—a skill that will be reinforced in all small group work.

Finally, the class worked on "pokey-pin" activities, where students use a push pin to poke holes in an object drawn on paper. Because it’s September, the class did an apple this week! This activity helps build patience, stamina and those ever-important fine motor skills.

It was another exciting, skill-building week at Arroyo West, where every day is a new opportunity to grow and learn!

CURRICULUM IN FOCUS: Mesa Verde eighth graders in Mrs. Jones’ Physical Science class dove into the world of measurement! They’re mastering mass, length and volume through hands-on labs. In this experiment, accuracy is everything as students must follow exact lab procedures to create a vibrant rainbow of liquids in their test tubes. Students use graduated cylinders to measure the meniscus down to the milliliter to ensure the liquids were turned the proper color. Teamwork and safety are key as they discover the magic of science—one drop at a time!