Fifth Grade

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Mrs. Nancy Rivenbark .	Mrs. Lisa Hood .
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Mrs. Laura Jackson

The fifth grade language arts and social studies curriculums are integrated in many ways. Reading, writing, and speaking skills are enhanced when reinforced in social studies. Many genres of literature are explored, as well as skills such as chart, graph, timeline, and map reading. Related trade books are also incorporated into the language arts and social studies curriculums that stress reading skills and content areas of social studies.

Writing skills are stressed in letters, reports, and journal writing, as well as discussion questions. Personal narratives are written along with descriptive writing. Clarification writing is also developed. Original poetry is created and shared. Individual hurricane awareness and preparation projects are developed. Vocabulary development in reading and in the social studies, health, and science curriculums is stressed. Listening skills are reinforced with discussions of current events, trade books, reports, newspaper articles, and television programs. By integrating the two content areas, language arts and social studies, students understand that neither stands alone.

The fifth grade math curriculum continues the study of the basic operations with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals. The new skills presented are dividing whole numbers with multi-digits, recognizing common multiples and factors for use with fractions, and dividing fractions to get decimals. Finding percentages is also introduced and estimation is emphasized. The study includes English and metric measurements of weight, volume, and length, as well as standard time. It introduces reading a thermometer and the conversion of measurements from Fahrenheit to Celsius scale.

Students also work with geometry using all basic shapes and formulas after studying simple algebraic equations and the order of operations. They are encouraged to use key terms and good thinking skills in order to solve word problems and to make and read line and bar graphs. Students are given the opportunity for interactive group activities, “hands on” use of measurement, and limited use of calculators. The A BEKA curriculum provides continued daily review and practice to help students retain all that has been presented.

The study of science in fifth grade begins with the introduction of the scientific method. This presents the basic idea of approaching problem solving in an organized way and prepares the students for research and experimenting. The first teaching unit is Weather and Climate and is a correlation with a social studies and language arts study on hurricane awareness and preparedness. This is taught during the season which provides real life experience to enrich the academic material.

The year’s study continues with several units on classification of living organisms from the simplest to the most complex plants and animals. There is also emphasis on the interdependence of plants and animals, communities of life, the food chain, and reaction to the environment. This series of studies in life science is culminated with an “Earth Mass,” a creative presentation of scientific and Biblical expression of all that has been presented in class.

Finally, time permitting, students participate in a study of simple machines and motion. This includes Laws of Motion, use of formulas for solving problems and “hands on” experiences. Overall, fifth graders learn lessons beyond the science textbook by participating in research projects, group reports and presentations, and related fields trips.

LANGUAGE ARTS
Spelling and vocabulary development strategies:

• Consonant variants and letter combinations
• Syllabication
• Vowel pairs, diphthongs, and digraphs
• Compound words
• Homophones
• Strategies for troublesome spellings
• Word reference materials
• Root words, prefixes, and suffixes
• Plurals
• Alphabetizing
• Multiple meanings
• Context clues for appropriate meanings
• Word derivations and etymologies
• Synonyms, anonyms, and homonyms
• Increasing reading and writing vocabularies

Strategies for comprehension of written, spoken and viewed text:

• Skim, scan, and reread text
• Predicting outcomes, formulating questions, and integrating previous knowledge
• Read and respond to various genres of literature
• Identify elements of fiction and nonfiction
• Evaluate inferences, conclusions, and generalizations by referring to text
• Analyze choice of reading materials congruent with reading purpose
• Explain and evaluate relationships
• Listen actively and critically
• Identify strategies used by speakers to entertain, inform, and persuade
• Read critically to facilitate testing

Make connections through the use of oral and written language, and media & technology:

• Respond to various genres using interpretive, critical, & evaluative processes
• Recognize similarities and differences based on common lessons, themes, or messages
• Make informed judgments
• Expand understanding of texts by integrating main idea and supporting details from several sources
• Conduct research from many sources
• Make informed judgments about bias, propaganda, stereotyping, and media techniques
• Respond with written projects and oral presentations
• Read a variety of texts, including:
  • Poetry Folktales Science Fiction
  • Plays Tall tales Realistic Fiction
  • Fantasy Fables Historical Fiction
  • Biographies How to Expositions Area-Content Selections
  • Factual Narratives Reference Materials Human-Interest Stories

Internet
Apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual text:

• Read aloud grade-appropriate written and visual text
• Effectively use oral and written language
• Effectively make oral and written presentations
• Compose a variety of genres using correct conventions
• Focus on revision skills
• Use technology as a tool to create, enhance, and publish a product
• Write to inform, entertain, or persuade

Apply and use language conventions and grammar:

• Capitalization and punctuation
• Correct verb tenses
• Subject/verb agreement
• Conjunctions
• Nouns (common, proper, singular, plural, and possessive)
• Prepositions and prepositional phrases
• Correct sentence type and structure
• Proofreading and editing skills when writing
• Legible, cursive handwriting and word processing

MATH

• Four basic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division on whole numbers, fractions, and decimals
• Recognizing, reading, and writing large numbers
• Simple algebraic equations
• Order of operations
• Multiples and factors
• Word problems and strategies for solving them
• Geometry - area and perimeter of basic shapes
• Rules of divisibility
• Graphs - line, picture, bar, etc.
• Measurement - English & metric
• Converting measurements and solving measurement equations
• Factoring
• Squares and square roots
• Estimation

SOCIAL STUDIES
Social studies skills:

• Acquire information from a variety of sources
• Use information for problem solving, decision making, and planning
• Develop constructive interpersonal relationships and social participation skills
• Participate effectively in civic affairs
• Understand and use map and globe skills

Study of United States history:

• Identify, locate, and describe major groups of people, past and present, in the US
• Analyze economic, social, and political situations which involve ethical and moral dilemmas
• Locate major physical features and their influence on life in the US
• Understand the importance of the discovery of and exploration of the Western hemisphere, particularly the US
• Summarize the colonization of the US
• Analyze the events leading to and the results of the American Revolution
• Examine how the people of the US govern themselves
• Analyze the western expansion of the US and its effect on groups of people in America
• Examine the events leading to and the results of the Civil War
• Understand the causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution

SCIENCE

• Scientific method
• Classification of organisms
• Plants
• Animals
• Communities, food chain, reaction to environment
• Weather and climate
• Simple machines and motion

HEALTH

• Personal health and fitness
• Nutrition

Textbook List

READING
Grand Tour – Riverside Reading by Stoodt et. al.
Publisher/Copyright Date: Riverside Reading © 1995

Dream Chasers by Pearson et. al.
Publisher/Copyright Date: Silver Burdett and Ginn © 1995

Novels:
Dahl Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Speare The Sign of the Beaver
Speare The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Spinelli Maniac McGee

VOCABULARY
Vocabulary Workshop, Level B by Shostak
Publisher/Copyright Date: Sadlier Oxford © 1999

LANGUAGE
A BEKA
God’s Gift of Language, B by Rand
Publisher/Copyright Date: Pensacola Christian College © 1999

English by Haley-James et. al.
Publisher/Copyright Date: Houghton Mifflin © 1988

SPELLING
Spelling Connections by Gentry
Publisher/Copyright Date: Zaner-Bloser © 2000

MATH
A BEKA
Arithmetic 5 by Howe
© 1999

SCIENCE
Discover Science by Cohen et. al.
Publisher/Copyright Date: Scott, Foresman © 1993

Science (NC edition) by Baptists et. al.
Publisher/Copyright Date: McGraw- Hill © 2000

SOCIAL STUDIES
Our Nation by Banks et. al.
Publisher/Copyright Date: Macmillan/McGraw-Hill © 2003

United States and Its Neighbors by Banks, et. al.
Publisher/Copyright Date: Macmillan/McGraw-Hill © 1993

Latin America and Canada by Banks et. al.
Publisher/Copyright Date: Macmillan/McGraw-Hill © 1993