5th Grade General Studies Curriculum

5^th Grade Curriculum 2013-2014

Math

We will be learning the following math skills this year:

• Review of multiplication and division facts  (Quick Recall)
• Long division
• Place value, including tenths, hundredths and thousandths
• Algebraic expressions
• Order of operations 
• Factors and multiples of numbers
• Range, median, mode and mean
• Adding and subtracting fractions
• Geometry 
• Area and perimeter of shapes
• Circumference of a circle (if time allows)
• Volume of three dimensional figures (if time allows)
• Customary measurement and conversions

Please see the SHA 5^th grade blog page, “Websites for Kids” for links to online practice for each unit of study.

Reading

I'm excited to challenge the 5th graders to read 30 books this year!  This challenge is completely doable.  I never challenge my students to something I don't believe they can do!  Here is how the challenge works:

Students will select the following number of books within each genre to read:

Classics.................................... 2 

Realistic Fiction........................2 

Historical Fiction..................... 4 

Fantasy/Science Fiction............. 2 

Poetry....................................... 2

Informational............................ 2

Biography................................ .2

Traditional Literature............... 2

                                       Subtotal: 18

In addition, students will complete 12 additional titles within any genre

for a total of 30 by June.  

*In addition to the 30 book challenge, students must read at least two books by the same author.  This will allow us to learn about and evaluate author's craft towards the end of the year.

Students will write letters to me about their reading.  They will write about their thinking, using reading skills and strategies, supporting their ideas with evidence from the text.  I do my best to respond to every letter written to me.

We will be studying elements of plot, characterization and author's craft.  We will also be studying non-fiction text features and note-taking skills and strategies in our science and social studies units.  We do this mainly through shared read-aloud.

Writing

I am excited that the school has adopted the Traits Writing Program.  It is based on the seven traits of good writing.  This program is organized to focus instruction on key qualities of each of the following writing traits:

• Ideas – the piece’s content, central message and details that support that message
• Organization – the internal structure of the piece-the thread  of logic and pattern of meaning
• Voice – the tone and tenor of the piece-the personal stamp of the writer which is achieved through a strong understanding of purpose and audience
• Word Choice – the vocabulary the writer uses to convey meaning and enlighten the reader
• Sentence Fluency – the way words and phrases flow through the piece
• Conventions – the mechanical correctness of the piece (spelling, capitalization, punctuation, paragraphing, and grammar and usage)
• Presentation – the physical appearance of the piece

We will be using these writing traits as we study about and write expository (informational) text, short fiction, memoirs, responses to prompts and book reviews.  Writing units are generally integrated with Science and Social Studies units of study.

Social Studies

Fifth graders will be studying early U.S. history from 1492 – 1791.  We will be examining the encounter between the native and non-natives peoples of North America, European colonization of America, the American Revolution and the founding of a new nation.

Science

Lower school students typically have Science once a week in the Science Lab. I am teaming up with our Science teacher, Mr. Dightman, to create a rich Science experience for our 5th graders this fall.  We will be studying ecosystems. In this unit, students will understand the web of relationships that links organism to one another and to their natural environments.  By experimenting, observing, discussing and reading about ecosystems in this unit, students will develop a growing sensitivity to the inter-connectedness of living and non-living elements of an ecosystem.  Students will learn that organisms in ecosystems have dependent and independent relationships and that natural and human-made events can disturb an ecosystem.  They also learn that people bring different perspectives to environmental issues and that they can work together to develop solutions.  In this unit students will use technology to transform their learning and to share their understanding and ideas with a wider audience.

Homework

Homework packets will go home on Fridays and will be due the following Friday.  Homework packets will usually contain extra practice or extension activities based on what we are learning in class.  As the year progresses, some homework will be required to be done online.  Please expect to see regular homework packets coming home starting in October. 

Project SHAlom

Finally, here at SHA, we are continuing our focus on being ready, respectful and responsible.  We will be referring to these 3 R’s on a regular basis and the students will become familiar with a myriad of ways they can demonstrate these qualities.  We are hopeful that they will become second nature!  We expect the students to come to class ready with supplies and homework.  We respect our students greatly and are honored to be charged with guiding their learning this year.  In return, we expect students to respect their peers and to respect teachers and staff at school by speaking kindly and always being willing to help.  Finally, students are expected to take responsibility for their actions and learning.  This includes taking care of our classroom supplies, fulfilling their class job and following other classroom and school-wide procedures.