FIFTH GRADE CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

2007 - 2008

LANGUAGE ARTS:

The main goal and purpose of the language arts program is to enable each child to increase his/her communication skills through grammar, creative writing, literature, research, composition, spelling and vocabulary. Students will be challenged through regular instruction to develop processes for critical and creative thinking skills. The five areas of concentration include productive thinking, decision-making, planning, forecasting and communication.

READING

Our reading program introduces students to literary works of fiction and non-fiction. Our focus will be on comprehension and enjoyment of fine literature.  We will use the Houghton Mifflin Reading Series and several novel studies. Skills will be strengthened through extended activities, class discussions, predicting and problem solving, questions and answers, and vocabulary development.  Students will have opportunities to respond creatively to novels, short stories, and poems through oral interpretation.

SPELLING/VOCABULARY

Effective communication requires accurate spelling. We will take spelling from our reading experiences and Wordly Wise. Students will have experiences with study skills such as using dictionaries and thesauruses, alphabetizing, base words and affixes, and homonyms, synonyms and antonyms.  Wordly Wise workbooks will be used for vocabulary enrichment.

SPEAKING

 Students will enhance speaking skills by participating in class discussions, expressing opinions and ideas, and by giving oral presentations. Students will have opportunities to lead participate in chapel readings. Emphasis is on developing fluent, organized, and meaningful oral expression

GRAMMAR

 Our instruction materials include Practice Exercises in Basic English, Daily Oral Language, Houghton Mifflin Writing materials, and supplemental materials.   We will be working on the eight parts of speech: nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, conjunctions, adverbs, interjections, and prepositions.  Students will use a variety of writing skills: creating complete sentences, forming paragraphs, using correct capitalization and punctuation, and proper usage of verb forms.

COMPOSITION

 Students will be involved with writing to stimulate their imagination and thought processes. They will be writing from their own experiences and from extended literature activities. Projects, book reports, stories, and poetry writing will be used.  Students will follow these steps as they write: prewriting, writing, revising, and proofreading. Students will work on the five-paragraph essay structure.

MATH:

The fifth grade math program uses the Middle School Math book by Scott Foresman. Daily Oral Math, and Dyna-Math, a monthly math magazine, supplement this. The fifth grade math program contains a thorough review of the basic math operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.  Continual practice with word problems, fractions, and decimals provides the opportunity for students to learn and remember the foundation skills and concepts of mathematics.  Students are also exposed to working with percentages, basic geometry, and the number line. Students are introduced to negative numbers and probability. Fifth graders will participate in a Hands-On Algebra Program.

SOCIAL STUDIES/GEOGRAPHY/HISTORY:

Using the Scott Foresman textbook, The United States, fifth grade students will study the history of the United States chronologically through the Civil War with a strong and consistent integration of geography, the humanities, and citizenship.  An introduction to European explorers will introduce the U.S. history study.  A thorough review of map and globe skills will be included using Daily Oral Geography and National Geographic’s Map Essentials.  A social studies newspaper, which correlates to the subject area being discussed, will be used.  We will also have a special election study focus every four years.

SCIENCE:

St. Mary’s science curriculum is a hands-on approach to learning the fundamental processes of science. Through direct laboratory, classroom and outdoor experiences, students will be exposed to observing, measuring, recording, classifying, interpreting, analyzing, inferring, predicting, and investigating. The fifth grade science curriculum will focus on the earth/space, life and physical sciences and has been developed with the National Science Education Standards as its foundation. Hands on Elementary Science, Science Studies Weekly and Delta Science Modules have been used in the development of activities and learning experiences.  The topics covered include: solar system, rocks and minerals, classification of organisms, cell structure, and chemistry. Students will be responsible for participation in outdoor education, conducting lab investigations, keeping lab notebooks and completing various assessments throughout the year.  Fifth grade students will also participate in a week long outdoor education experience at Camp Goddard, located in the Arbuckle Mountains.

FIFTH GRADE SPECIALS

SPANISH:

Welcome to the world of foreign-language learning at St. Mary’s School! Fifth-graders attend Spanish class three times a week to build upon reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Our core curriculum follows themes and exercises from the textbook Teach Them Spanish by Winnie Waltzer-Hackett. Games, creative dialogues, songs, and poems are fun ways that we build upon and reinforce new vocabulary and grammar points.

At least once a month, we highlight regions and/or celebrations of special importance to the Spanish-speaking world. Supplementary readings, documentary videos, traditional music, and guest speakers are all “windows” through which our students expand their worldview in Spanish class. Through foreign language education at the elementary level, our students grow in their awareness of and respect for other people, cultures, and traditions.

PE AND HEALTH:

 Our PE program provides the learner with unique fundamental knowledge, interaction, and physical skills appropriate for each age level.  Our units consist of drills, exercise, physical activities and games. Units are as follows: President’s fitness challenge, dance & movement, archery, relays, volleyball, jogging and cross country.  Our goal is to equip the students with knowledge and a desire for lifelong physical activity.  Students are encouraged to engage in physical activity outside of the classroom through various forms of team sports and exercise.

 Our health program provides the learner with knowledge and behaviors that enhance a high level of wellness and positive lifestyle.  At the fifth grade level a main focus is on body systems.   Students will explore the health risks of cigarette smoking as well as chemical dependencies. Special sections dealing with puberty education, bullying prevention and aids education.   A responsibility for ones own health and wise decision making will be stressed.

RELIGION:

 The students will attend Chapel twice weekly and actively participate in the service. A time each day will include prayer and devotional. The Chapel curriculum is derived from the BIBLE and the Book of Common Prayer.  The Wednesday elementary chapel will use The Book of Common Prayer and the focus will be on the Lectionary Readings.  The Monday morning chapel services are taken from The Book of Common Prayer Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families.  This devotion follows the basic structure of the Daily Office of the Church.  Portions of Psalms, scripture readings and collects (prayers) are read at this service in addition to The Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' Creed. A time for prayer is provided as well as a time for singing.

 Religious education classes will use resources from the Episcopal Children's Curriculum, The Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education and the Bible, and will include a study of what we believe as Christians and basic Bible knowledge. Core value traits are used to develop positive, healthy and spiritual students. 

ENRICHMENTS: FINE ARTS:

• Students will experience rhythm, pitch, Orff instruments, elements of basic music theory and a number of participatory musical activities using the Orff Schulwerk approach.  Students will study orchestral families, composers and their music, explore cultural music, experience performance opportunities, and have hands-on instrument experience.  Students will be able to produce music with voice (singing skills) and instruments and read basic music notations.  Students will be exposed to a wide variety of music and musical styles and will perform in front of others.

• Regular art classes include experiences in drawing and painting, basic art techniques, imagery and guided art and 3-dimensional art (clay).  Various arts activities will be incorporated into the regular classroom curriculum as well.

COMPUTER EDUCATION:

Students will have the opportunities to work in the computer lab and experience a variety of age appropriate software and internet sites to enrich and compliment classroom learning.  The primary objectives and goals for the computer education at this level will be: review and continued work in Microsoft Word, Print Shop and PowerPoint, Internet Unit, introduction to Microsoft Excel, database concepts, Internet Search Skills and file and directory management.

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