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Math
We will be using the “Everyday Mathematics” program in 5th grade. Everyday
Math emphasizes many content strands: numeration (place value, fractions, negative
numbers, decimals, powers of 10), operations and computation (fractions, decimals,
percents), data and chance (probability, data manipulation), geometry, measurement,
and algebra. Students will build on topics from 4th grade, using a problem-solving
approach based on everyday situations that help develop critical thinking.
Language Arts
This year in 5th grade language arts, we will read a variety of texts, including novels, historical fiction, short stories, plays, articles, etc., and explore the different characteristics of each. The Language Arts curriculum is integrated with social studies and science, and much of the reading in class will support the content in these areas. Some grade-level standards will be addressed in isolation, such as independent grammar practice, reading strategy instruction, spelling, and writing skills, while other group activities and assignments will concentrate on the class as a whole. In writing, we will focus on the process of pre-writing, drafting, revising, and editing. We will also examine the differences between and how to compose narratives, informational, expository, and persuasive writing, and well as study and compose different types of poetry. The color-coded “stop-light” approach to writing organization, which is used across the middle school, will be implemented throughout the year, particularly in writing paragraphs.
Reading and Writing Activities:
Literature Circle Discussions
Shared/Guided/Independent Reading
Journaling/Reflecting
Independent and Partner Reading
Individual and Group Projects
Book Reports (There will be one book report each
trimester.)
Shared/Guided/Independent Writing
Writing Portfolios
Texts and workbooks to be used:
Grades 5-6 Houghton Mifflin Anthology
Grades 5-8 Language Exercise (Steck Vaughn)
Special Grade Level Activities:
Grade 5-Mother's Day Tea including poetry and a party
Social Studies
This year, the fifth graders will be exploring the early years of the United States. We will start by examining some of the events that preceded the Revolutionary War, such as the French and Indian War. We will also learn about some of the important documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, and principles that helped shape the United States government. States and capitals will be studied as well. Later in the year we will focus on Westward expansion, the gold rush, and finally some of the differences between the North and South that ultimately led to the Civil War. Throughout the year, we will work on integrated projects, including a map project, which will focus on the topography and rivers in the US, a case study on global warming issues, and poetry reflecting on the stories and events of American wars.
Science
At Green Woods Charter School the focus for 5th Grade is on Earth Science. We begin the year by learning about mapping Earth's topography. As we discover how water shapes the Earth's surface we shift our focus to the Earth's water systems, both fresh and salt. Next the 5th grade explores Meteorology, learning how to measure, track and predict weather and climate. We wrap up the year by studying Geology, learning about the Earth from core to crust. |
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Language Arts
Fifth-grade language arts will start off with a review of writing mechanics and the components of a short story. From there we will read historical novels and short historical nonfiction about the French and Indian and Revolutionary wars, as well as biographies on the “founding fathers” of the United States, in conjunction with the study of the birth of our nation in social studies. For writing projects, we will explore and practice the differences between narrative, information, expository, and persuasive writing, and the students will compose poetry reflecting on the events we read about the early American wars. We will also work on creative grammar projects for which the students will have to invent objects that can teach children particular rules of grammar.
Math
Students will start off the year reviewing their multiplication tables, a skill essential for any developing math student. The first unit of Everyday Math is Number Theory. In this chapter, students will focus on factors, divisibility, prime and composite numbers, square numbers and prime factorization. In Unit 2, Estimation and Computation, students will review place value, and practice addition, subtraction, and multiplication, before adding decimals to the mix.
Social Studies
We will begin the year by looking at the different European nations that occupied America during the 17th century, and for what imperial and economic reasons they occupied it. From there we will examine the reasons for the fighting that took place between these nations, how the Native Americans got involved, and how it all led to what came to be known in the United States as the French and Indian War. From there we will look at the events that led first to political unrest among the British colonists and ultimately to the Revolutionary War. An integrated map topography project during this unit will allow students to study the land and waterways of the U.S., as well as visualize the locations of national colonies and forts in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Earth Science
5th Grade begins the year by becoming cartographers We’ll discover the difficulties of mapping the globe onto a flat paper, and how those flat maps show a distorted image. We’ll try our hands at creating our own maps, with appropriate keys and scales. We’ll use the newest detailed topographic map of SCEE to navigate the grounds. Next we’ll explore how the power of wind and water to shape and change landforms. This leads us into the first major “sphere” of Earth Science: the Hydrosphere: Earth’s fresh & salt water systems. By wintertime we’ll be discovering how Earth’s water is linked to the next “sphere,” our Atmosphere, and be budding meteorologists.
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