A Parent’s Guide to the Fifth Grade Curriculum

This synopsis can be used by parents to better understand the breadth and depth of the curriculum a student will encounter during fifth grade.  Although curriculum is unique to each district, the objectives are created in alignment with the core content standards for the state of New Jersey.  The concepts presented enable the students to develop the skills necessary for today and prepare them to succeed in the future.  This brief overview may help you to guide your expectations for your child.

Reading and Language Arts

Students experience reading, writing, listening, and speaking in this Balanced Literacy Model.  Students will read a variety of materials at varying levels of difficulty.  Skills are expected to be applied throughout the other areas of curriculum. 

Literature Appreciation

• Critically respond to literature
• Identify author's techniques and styles
• Read variety of materials

Comprehension Skills

• Vary reading strategies based on purpose and materials
• Identify areas of need and use skills necessary to assist comprehension 
• Predict and modify predictions while reading text
• Use graphic organizers
• Make inferences
• Identify cause and effect
• Understand story elements such as characterization
• Identify authors’ literary devices
• Focus on theme  

Literacy/Language arts

• Writing process
• Word choice in writing
• Sentence fluency
• Conventions of writing
• Parts of speech
• Punctuation
• Voice in writing
• Organization of writing

Mathematics

Mathematics is taught using the standards-based curriculum of Everyday Mathematics.  The instruction is designed to capitalize on students’ interests in order to maximize student learning.  Students are given a daily opportunity to manipulate various teaching tools to formulate and understand mathematical concepts.  Students are encouraged to discover multiple ways to solve a problem. Class discussion and cooperative learning are integral components of the program.  Skills are evaluated daily through oral and written performances.  Written assessments are also administered at the completion of each unit.

Major concepts

• Numbers theory
• Estimation
• Computation: multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction
• Whole numbers
• Decimals, fractions, percentages
• Ratios, probability, rates
• Negative numbers
• Geometry
• Area, volume, capacity
• Coordinates
• Exponents
• Algebra concepts
• Problem solving

 Basic Skills as Supplement to Math and Reading Instruction

Each year, the BSI Program is tailored to meet the needs and number of students serviced. 

In the Pull-Out Setting, students leave their classroom to receive small group instruction.  Careful scheduling and planning between the BSI and regular education teachers ensure that the students do not miss direct, whole-group instruction.

The Team-Teaching Model allows the students to remain in their regular education classrooms. Both the classroom and basic skills teachers assume responsibility for all students and plan accordingly based on the needs of the students.  

Science

Life: Oceans

• Water properties: salinity, desalination, solid, liquid, gas
• Geology:                                                                 features                                                                                                                         
  natural resources                                                                                                      
  pollution/ environment
• Movement/ Forces:                                                                                                
   temperature, wind, gravity, waves, tides, water cycle

Earth: Space

• Stars:                                                                                                             
  cycles, magnitude, color/ temperature, galaxies
• Patterns:                                                                                                             
  sun shadows, seasons, constellations                                       
• Technology:                                                                                            
  telescope, satellites, space probes, astronauts, space stations
• Solar System:                                                                                                   asteroids, comets, meteors

Physical: Electricity

• Atom:                                                                                                                     
  charges, neutrons, protons, electrons
• Static electricity:                                                                                                
  grounding, lightning
• Electricity and Magnetism:                                                                                 magnets, poles, electromagnets, batteries
• Current electricity:                                                                                                             
  circuits: simple, series, and parallel                                                                         
  conductors/ insulators                                                    

Social Studies

Major Units of Study

• Many Worlds Meet (to 1620)                                                                                             
  Students learn about different  explorers
• Colonization & Settlement (1585-1763)                                                                  
  Students learn about early settlements in America.
• Revolution and the New Nation                                                                                  
   Students learn about the Revolutionary War.
• Expansion and Reform (1801-1861)                                                                                
  Students learn about Native American history:   Trail of Tears, Erie Canal, and Western Expansion.
• Civil War and Reconstruction                                                                                        
  Students learn causes of the Civil War.

Major Projects  

• Freedom Quilt - Students draw a patch for Freedom Quilt representing a scene from the Civil War
• Wax Museum - Students read biographies and write reports on famous people and present oral presentation (2 minutes) at Wax Museum at night.

Computers 

Skills taught in third and fourth grade are refined during fifth.  CD ROMs are used to extend the curriculum.  Students also become practiced in Power Point and drawing with the computer.

Music 

Students will continue to strengthen the skills learned in Grade 4 adding expression to the elements.  Students will be given the opportunity to participate in fifth grade chorus to help strengthen vocal skills.  Listening skills will be emphasized. 

Physical Education

The students will demonstrate appropriate form and the ability to adapt and modify skills.  They will analyze and discuss how energy, force, and motion affect performance.  They will demonstrate offensive, defensive and cooperative strategies.  They will demonstrate sportsmanship, safety, and a working knowledge of activity rules.  They will explain how age, heredity, gender, and training impact fitness.  They will explain and apply the principles of training in order to increase fitness levels.

Art

Students will learn about the neo-impressionist period through the works of French artist, Georges Seurat and his "pointillism” technique.  Students will also study American artist, Georgia O’Keeffe who specialized in flowers and the American West. Each student will abstract a flower into a design or drawing.  Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso and his Cubism period will inspire a student creation in “cubism”.  All students will have the opportunity to engage in each of the techniques studied during the year. 

Library Curriculum

Students utilize the Dewey Decimal System and advanced computer catalog searches to locate books.  They use print and electronic forms of reference sources.  They write a bibliography page for a variety of sources and know the terms plagiarism and copyright laws.  Students also recognize a variety of literary genres and literary elements and know the history and importance of the Newberry Award.