Fifth Grade Curriculum
Reading
The Macmillan McGraw-Hill reading series is used to instruct the 5th grade students. The curriculum provides a balanced instructional program with explicit and systematic instruction in phonics skills, vocabulary skills, comprehension skills, and study skills. The students learn to read fluently through the implementation of repeated reading and guided oral reading and are exposed to a variety of literary genres through student-centered lessons. Vocabulary is developed through the use of direct teaching of specific words, multiple exposures to words, and explicit instruction in vocabulary strategies focusing on structural or context clues. Comprehension skills help the students to identify cause and effect, make judgments and decisions, identify problems and solutions, compare and contrast, utilize context clues, and develop higher level thinking skills. Reading for pleasure is encouraged through our Reading Counts program. Weekly projects are assigned to link reading across the curriculum to science and social studies topics.
Spelling
Spelling words are related to the current story. Spelling instruction uses definition, context, and phonetic patterns to help students develop spelling skills.
Grammar
Grammar lessons are included as a part of the MacMillan McGraw-Hill reading series. Through the grammar program and additional “Daily Oral Language” activities students study usage, mechanics, sentences structure, paragraph development, knowledge of parts of speech, diagramming, analogies, and use of graphic organizers to develop advanced grammar skills.
Writing
Students are instructed in the stages of the writing process: pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing/proofreading, and publishing. The students learn different forms of writing including: expository writing, narrative writing, descriptive writing, persuasive writing, journal writing, letter writing, and poetry. They learn to use graphic organizers as planning tools for effective writing.
Social Studies
The social studies program, utilizing the MacMillan McGraw-Hill series, strives to develop citizens who are capable of full participation in a democracy. The students learn active citizenship though skill lessons, interactive activities, and concrete examples. They learn geography literacy through the co-authorship of the National Geographic Society, through the presentation and development of the “Five Themes of Geography, and the development of map skills. A survey of history begins with the colonization and conflict in the 13 English Colonies and continues with a discussion of independence, new government, expansion, and change. They learn to link the past and present of history lesson in ways that make sense for the students. The goal of the social studies program is to help students see the history of our country by studying its lands and regions. The students also study current events which are integrated into the curriculum to help them apply social studies to their real lives.
Science
The focus of the 5th grade science curriculum is self-discovery, cooperative learning, communication, and life-long learning. Hands-on, student-centered, and inquiry based approaches are the emphases of instruction. Emphasis is on developing the ability to ask questions, to observe, to measure, to experiment, to problem solve/reason, to use computers, to use tools of science, to gather data, and to communicate findings. Each of these components is designed to meet the unique needs of students. Students explore and investigate matter, energy, structure and function of living systems, structure of the earth, and history of the earth. The Harcourt Science series is used to instruct the students.
Mathematics
The Saxon math series, specifically Course 1, is used to instruct the 5th grade students. The math program develops higher-order thinking skills. They learn to think critically in a mathematical way. Students become more confident problem solvers and understand that there are different ways to solve a problem. Manipulatives are used for hands-on learning experiences. Students have a math journal where they learn to communicate mathematically.