Fifth Grade Click on the computer to go to Curriculum Links

    In Social Studies we start the year by jumping into an exploration of the New World.  We discover what attracted settlers to the 13 colonies.  Students take part in a field trip to the Miller Cory Museum, where they discover the daily life of a colonist. Do you know where the phrase " Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!" comes from?   Students research a colony and prepare a presentation that relates many aspects of their colony.  Students then move down the timeline to study the American Revolution and the founding of our country. During an intense study of the Constitution of the United States, students recognize the significance of our basic rights, responsibilities, and governmental design.  As students continue their studies, they examine such controversial issues as the cause of the Civil War,  the impact of the Industrial Revolution and immigration, and the social effects of the Holocaust.  Students use a field trip to Ellis Island to expand their understanding of immigration. 
    In Science, students study major units such as Plants and Ecosystems, Space, and Simple Machines.  Each unit grabs students by the "intellectual horns" and take them for a ride they could never imagine.  Students delve into the cells of plants as they explore plant parts, respiration, and transpiration.  How does the type of food produced by plants affect our bodies?  Do you know how stomata are similar to balloons?  Students discover that plants are the basis for all ecosystems on earth.  They explore the relationships between living and non-living factors in ecosystems. In their study of space, students travel from earth to the far reaches of the galaxy. They investigate constellations, nebulas, and other multidimensional phenomenon.  The students become employees of the fabulous company, Galaxy Gadgets, and explore the exciting relationships between the history of machines and the scientific aspects of energy, work and force.     
    In Language Arts, students use the Dream Chasers anthology as a springboard to developing essential reading and writing skills.  They also participate in literature circles, small group reading, buddy reading, and other techniques to experience various chapter books that link to the curriculum.  Various reporting techniques are learned and used to respond to the books that they choose to read independently.  Writing workshops keep their minds active as they develop literary works of art in the forms of persuasive, expository, and narrative pieces, as well as poetry of all forms.     
    Mathematics poses problems for students to solve.  Students explore geometric and algebraic concepts, estimation, and probability as they solve authentic problems.  As they solve these problems they use mathematics tools such as a geometry template, compass, and calculators; along with some other non-mathematics tools like paper, string, and paperclips.  Students investigate what a million dollars can purchase for them as they have fun planning to spend that amount of money in the Million Dollar Project using skills of rounding, estimation, graphing, and research.     
    As you can see, grade five is a year packed with interesting opportunities for learning.  To find out the answers to the questions in each section, ask one of our fifth graders!