5th Grade Curriculum Overview
This is an outline of the basic academic content each child will be taught during the fifth grade. It is not a set of long-term goals, but rather is a brief summary of what is happening in the classrooms of the Fort Zumwalt School District.
In addition to Communication Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science and Health presented here, there are curricula for other subjects (Art, Music, Physical Education, and Gifted Education). Each child also has experience in library skills, assemblies, seasonal school-wide functions, cafeteria, and on the playground. Some students may also participate in special education programs, counseling programs, and/or remedial programs to help them develop appropriate skills.
Each teacher approaches the curriculum in a unique way. This capitalizes on the individual strengths and interests of the professional staff. In the final analysis, even though all classes use the same materials and the same curricula, the professional staff is what elementary education is all about - learning with enthusiasm and purpose from a skillful, trained, and conscientious teacher.
COMMUNICATION ARTS
MATHEMATICS
1. Number Sense and Properties
2. Geometry and Spatial Sense
3. Data Analysis/Statistics/Probability
4. Patterns/Relationships/Functions
SOCIAL STUDIES
SCIENCE-HEALTH
The focus of the fifth grade science curriculum is on the development and application of the process skills in teaching concepts in the area of life, earth, and physical sciences. Through scientific inquiry, the areas of general health, ecosystems, weather and climate, oceans, matter, and sound and light energy will be explored. The scientific method will be an essential part of the instruction in these areas and students will be asked to relate scientific knowledge from these studies to daily life experiences. Learners will be prompted to generate questions, to investigate, and to hypothesize. Activities may include the construction of models and/or the use of manipulative, interactive, and physical materials. In addition, experimentation will be an integral part of science instruction and process skills will be stressed using this method.
In addition to Communication Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science and Health presented here, there are curricula for other subjects (Art, Music, Physical Education, and Gifted Education). Each child also has experience in library skills, assemblies, seasonal school-wide functions, cafeteria, and on the playground. Some students may also participate in special education programs, counseling programs, and/or remedial programs to help them develop appropriate skills.
Each teacher approaches the curriculum in a unique way. This capitalizes on the individual strengths and interests of the professional staff. In the final analysis, even though all classes use the same materials and the same curricula, the professional staff is what elementary education is all about - learning with enthusiasm and purpose from a skillful, trained, and conscientious teacher.
COMMUNICATION ARTS
- Apply Phonetic Strategies: Apply phonetic elements; apply vowel sounds; analyze and apply base words, prefixes and suffixes for word identification.
- Word Recognition and Meaning: Demonstrate understanding of new vocabulary, prefixes, and suffixes; understand synonyms, antonyms, homographs and homonyms; use context clues.
- Comprehension of Text: Apply prior knowledge; recall experiences; distinguish between fact and opinion; identify topic, main idea, and supporting details; identify and describe character traits; explain cause/effect; compare and contrast; make inferences; recall story details; compare problems and solutions of characters; identify new or unfamiliar viewpoints; identify and interpret exaggerations, similes, metaphors, idioms and personification.
- Write for a Variety of Purposes: Respond to literature in a variety of written forms; compose a variety of paragraphs including topic sentence, three supporting details, summarizing sentence; summarize material read with opinions and supporting statements; take brief notes and develop outlines apply research skills to written assignments; produce writing samples that demonstrate competency in the five step writing process.
- Develop and Apply Mechanics of Writing, Grammar and Usage: Compose meaningful complete sentences for designated purpose; produce written assignments indicating correct grammatical usage; develop sentences/paragraphs that sequence order of events and provide supporting details; demonstrate correct capitalization and punctuation in written communication.
- Apply Techniques in Handwriting in Written Communication: Write legibly using appropriate headings, spacing, and margins on written assignments.
- Demonstrate Ability to Spell and Use Words Correctly Across the Curriculum: Use a variety of integrated, curriculum-based resources to spell words and use them correctly in meaningful context; demonstrated the ability ot correctly spell a given list of high frequency words; apply phonetics/structural analysis strategies to spell words.
- Listening, Speaking and Viewing Skills: Read grade level materials with appropriate speed and inflection; respond to literature in variety of ways.
- Locating, Organizing, Test-Taking, and Study Skills: Follow multi-step written directions; use table of contents, index, copyright, title page and glossary; use reference materials to obtain information; understand and use basic guidelines for use of a dictionary; use key words to locate information; create, interpret and use graphic organizers.
MATHEMATICS
1. Number Sense and Properties
- Understand place value from whole numbers through hundreds.
- Use calculators to demonstrate understanding of math concepts, solve problems and check computation.
- Add and subtract whole numbers.
- Multiply two and three digit number by a one and two digit number.
- Divide by a one digit number.
- Estimate quotients with two-digit divisors.
- Recognize and create equivalent fractions.
- Simplify fractions.
- Compare and order fractions with like denominators.
- Rename mixed numerals and improper fractions.
- Add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers with like denominators.
- Recognize equivalence of fractions and decimals.
- Create and solve add and subtract problems with decimals, including money.
- Round decimals to whole numbers.
- Estimate sums, differences, products, and quotients to the appropriate place value.
- Use problem solving strategies.
2. Geometry and Spatial Sense
- Solve problems involving elapsed time.
- Draw, identify, measure and label a straight, acute, obtuse and right angle.
- Find area.
- Identify intersecting, vertical, horizontal, diagonal, parallel, and perpendicular lines.
- c Compare congruent, similar and symmetrical figures.
- Create and classify various geometric figures.
- Make change up to $1.00.
- Relate money situations to real-life experiences.
3. Data Analysis/Statistics/Probability
- Construct, compare and interpret a variety of graphs, charts and tables.
- Compute the mean from data.
- Write a simple ratio to describe data.
- Find probability of a simple event.
4. Patterns/Relationships/Functions
- Construct and investigate patterns as they relate to arithmetic and geometric progression.
- Identify functions in patterns and extend to tenth term.
- Use patterns and functions to solve problems.
- Mentally compute and apply combinations of numbers whose sum is 10, 100, 1000.
- Construct and solve number sentences with variable "n".
- Apply number properties to solve for variables.
- Solve numbers sentences for unknown variables.
- Use metric and customary units of measurement for volume, length, weight and mass.
- Calculate areas and perimeter of regular regions.
- Estimate an object's volume, length, weight and mass.
- Understand technology is used to understand and compute math operations.
- Recognize that many careers require and use math.
- Use calculator appropriately throughout curriculum.
- Determine when calculator is more efficient than mental or written computation.
SOCIAL STUDIES
- Map & Geographical Skills: Use map and globe skills to identify, locate and interpret information.
- Explorers: Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of explorers on native cultures; investigate the motive of early European explorers.
- Colonial Period: Compare and contrast colonial regions; describe the contributions of settlers.
- Revolutionary Period: Compare and contrast Loyalists and Patriots; analyze principles in the Declaration of Independence; explain why Americans were successful in achieving independence.
- Government/Political Science: Explain the Continental Congress; describe the three branches of government; analyze the Bill of Rights; define terms "democracy" and "republic"; analyze the election process.
- Westward Expansion: Explain the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis & Clark Expedition, pioneer life.
- Civil War: Explain the Emancipation Proclamation; Amendments 13, 14, and 15; issues leading to, and taking place throughout the Civil War; Reconstruction plans; social and economic aspects of slavery.
- Current Events/Citizenship: Develop and awareness of current events and community service options.
SCIENCE-HEALTH
The focus of the fifth grade science curriculum is on the development and application of the process skills in teaching concepts in the area of life, earth, and physical sciences. Through scientific inquiry, the areas of general health, ecosystems, weather and climate, oceans, matter, and sound and light energy will be explored. The scientific method will be an essential part of the instruction in these areas and students will be asked to relate scientific knowledge from these studies to daily life experiences. Learners will be prompted to generate questions, to investigate, and to hypothesize. Activities may include the construction of models and/or the use of manipulative, interactive, and physical materials. In addition, experimentation will be an integral part of science instruction and process skills will be stressed using this method.
