Dear Families,

This week in Social Studies, we will be learning all about Rocky Mountain National Park! Students will explore the park’s location, geography, wildlife, and its importance as a protected natural area. We’ll also discuss why national parks like this one are important to our country and how they help preserve natural beauty and wildlife for future generations.

This unit helps students connect with real-world geography and understand how we can care for the environment.

Ask your child:

• Where is Rocky Mountain National Park located?

• What animals and plants live there?

• Why do people visit national parks?

We encourage you to talk with your child about the beauty of our national parks. If you’ve ever visited one, feel free to share your experiences with them!

Thank you for your continued support in your child’s learning journey!

Dear Families,

Next week in Social Studies, we’ll continue our exciting journey through the geography of Colorado as we study the state's four main landforms:

• Great Plains

• Rocky Mountains

• Colorado Plateau

• Wyoming Basin

Students will explore the unique characteristics of each region, including the animals and plants that call these landforms home. We will also be completing a graphic organizer to help us compare and contrast the different regions and better understand how geography shapes life in Colorado.

🌄 Focus on the Mountains

We will also take a closer look at the Colorado Mountains, with a special spotlight on two of our tallest and most well-known peaks:

• Mount Elbert (the highest peak in Colorado)

• Mount Massive (the second-highest peak)

Students will learn key facts about these mountains, including their elevation, location, and what makes them significant to our state’s geography and history.

🏡 How You Can Help at Home

• Ask your child to share what they learned about each landform or mountain

• Look at a map of Colorado together and locate the four landform regions and mountain ranges

• Watch a short documentary or video clip about Colorado’s natural features

• Visit a local library or website to explore books or articles about Colorado geography

Thank you for supporting your child’s learning at home! We are excited to continue exploring our beautiful state and its diverse landscapes.

This week in Social Studies, we have an exciting mix of activities planned as we continue exploring our community and the state of Colorado.

Here’s what we’ll be working on:

• On Monday, we will focus on service learning, including a discussion about our classroom co-op and why it is important to our Westgate community.

• Students will also be presenting their Colorado city projects, which they worked on last week. Cities include Durango, Denver, Burlington, Fort Collins, and Grand Junction. We’re excited to see what each student has discovered about their chosen city!

• Later in the week, we will begin a new unit on the Colorado River, exploring its history, geography, and importance to our state and the region.

It’s going to be a great week of connection, presentation, and new learning!

As always, thank you for your support in helping bring these lessons to life for your child.

Hello Parents!

This week in Social Studies, we’ll be learning about four cities in Colorado: Denver, Burlington, Fort Collins, and Durango. Students will explore each city’s location, population, landmarks, and other key characteristics. We’ll also discuss different geographic tools that can help us understand these cities better.

It’s a great opportunity for students to connect with the geography of our state!