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CURRICULUM - 5th GRADE
   
Language Arts
The
goal of the fifth grade language arts program is to help all
students develop skills that will lead to successful reading
and comprehension at grade level, to develop legible
penmanship, and to use reading, writing, and speaking as
effective communication tools.
Reading Notes
The
students will be reading in the fifth grade book from the
Harcourt Brace Company. Our goal is to produce independent
readers who enjoy reading. Practical applications for using
reading skills in everyday life are also stressed, with an
emphasis on increased vocabulary and greater comprehension.
English Notes
The
English program will provide continued opportunities to
develop a competent foundation in the conventions of grammar
and mechanics. It will provide continued opportunities to
develop observing, listening, speaking, writing, and
dramatic skills.
Spelling Notes
In
order to help your child reach the written English goals,
correct spelling is essential. We will have a required
weekly list of words to learn for trial and final tests, and
will encourage correct spelling in all written work.
Handwriting Notes
Legibility is the goal. Individual differences are
respected, but the students are required to use consistent
size, formation, and spacing of letters. Neatness is a
must.
Math
Our
goal is to teach basic math skills and how to use them in
problem-solving situations. The skills stressed in fifth
grade are as follows:
1.
fractional value
2.
adding and subtracting fractions
3.
decimal place value
4.
multiplication and division of whole numbers and
decimals
5.
perimeter, area, and volume
The tools
that will be used to reach our goals include the District’s
adopted math series, manipulatives, and calculators where
appropriate.
Science
Our
program goal in science is to prepare students in the
following strands:
1.
earth, life, and physical science
2.
scientific ways of knowing
3.
scientific inquiry
We encourage our students
to think creatively in problem-solving while using the
scientific method. We try to stimulate a curiosity for
science according to the abilities of the individual
students by using “hands-on” methods.
Science
class also incorporates health covering such topics as
first-aid, nutrition, and effects of alcohol, tobacco, and
drugs on the human body.
Social Studies
Fifth grade social studies takes a look at North America.
Students learn all about the geography of the United States.
Then the focus turns to the Native American people who have
spread their culture throughout North America. Next,
explorers are discussed and how their roles have impacted
North American history. Colonization of the New World
leads us into discussing the different cultures we have.
Our final topic is the Revolutionary War period, which leads
us into examining how our form of government was
established. We also do a unit on basic economic
concepts at the end of the year.
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