A fifth-grade child is often experiencing the early stages of adolescence complete with growth spurts and emotional changes. The fifth-grade program recognizes these changes and strives to help focus each child with interesting and challenging material aimed at problem solving and critical thinking.
The English Language Arts program focuses on the study of novels with oral reading and a continued focus on fluency. The novels for our fifth grade program are selected from classic, award-winning literature that discusses themes that are close to the hearts of our growing students. Along with these novels, activities designed to develop vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills are included. To meet individual needs in the development of reading and comprehension skills, students are placed in the Accelerated Reader Program. This computer program tests and tracks each student’s independent reading. Fifth grade also focuses on grammar and continues the grammar lessons from previous years to ensure continued learning. Our students apply this grammar through writing essays, journals, and independent writing assignments.
The fifth-grade Math program provides many opportunities for each child to master specific skill objectives. Multiplication facts from 2 - 12 should be mastered before 5th grade. Using the Sadlier curriculum, students will continue to master place value and rounding from thousandths to billions. Basic facts of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are covered with whole numbers, decimals, and fractions. Geometric applications of polygons, area, perimeter, and volume are introduced. Students will also be introduced to graphing and data. This is an important concept that is utilized in both science and math. Learning how to read and interpret constructed response questions is taught at the beginning of each section of notes. Collaborative games and activities will be used to engage and reinforce previous material covered. Students will also work in a math program called ALEKS. This program allows advanced students to work ahead, and it can help fill in gaps for any student that may struggle with mathematics.
In the fifth-grade Science curriculum, the foundational aspects of Physical Science, Life Science, & Earth Science are presented to students over the course of the school year. Students learn about matter and properties of matter, lab safety, an introduction into the periodic table and chemical reactions, gravity, distance of objects in space, the rotation & revolution of the Earth, an introduction into energy progressing through a cycle, and how different things effect plant growth. To further build skills and concepts, students participate in lab activities and projects to build and further processing/problem solving skills. The following labs are just a few of the labs we conduct during the year: Handwashing Lab, Lab/Science Instruments & Measurements Labs, Properties of Matter Lab, Physical Phase Changes Lab, Chemical Properties & Reactions Labs, Germs in our School Lab, What is in our water labs, and Plant Growth Labs.
The fifth grade Social Studies curriculum follows the development of civilization through Medieval Times to the origins of the Early Modern World. In addition, this curriculum allows students to have critical experience in the four core disciplines of social studies (geography, civics, economics, and history). The approach to instruction is student-centered and revolves around inquiry and tactile experience. The content and skills imparted to students through the social studies curriculum helps to prepare their foundational understanding to better serve them later on in their academic careers. Students in fifth grade are sure to grow in their knowledge of the world around them and how impactful the study of social studies can be!
In addition, fifth grade students go to class in: • Spanish • Technology • Art • Music (Choir or Band) • Physical Education • Library Field trips
Special Events may include: • Visiting the Houston Aquarium with lab and ecosystem study •Creative book reports (creating games based on your book, dioramas, video presentations, etc.) • Many exciting social studies class projects • Epiphany Pageant • Basketball, Track, and Cross-Country teams for boys and girls • Library Club • Special labs in science • D.A.R.E.