FIFTH GRADE OVERVIEW LANGUAGE ARTS
The Fifth Grade Language Arts curriculum focuses on developing a reading and writing community in the classroom. Through Writer’s Workshop, we delve into the craft of writing from spelling to grammar, and into many other characteristics of the writing process. Writing, sharing, and focusing on individual areas of growth for each student helps develop students’ writing proficiency. In reading, we continue to foster a reading community through class studies of novels as well as free choice selections. In our book studies, we build a common background to evolve our frame of reference and discussions for future reading endeavors. Also, we delve into the structural components of reading as well as explore the literary devices within the novels. Independently, students choose books to read and share through book talks, thereby, encouraging others to join our reading community. Our Language Arts curriculum embraces the use of technology to further expand our reading knowledge through nonfiction pieces, vocabulary development, and other technology that fosters a love and culture of reading and writing. SOCIAL STUDIES The Fifth Grade Social Studies curriculum is “World Cultures.” The curriculum begins with the study of basic geographic concepts and map skills. Then the students use a variety of resources to learn about the various continents on our globe, looking at specific countries in each one. Focus is on the geography, history, and culture of these countries, bringing a broader global awareness to the world around them. In addition to group discussions, students work individually, with partners, and in small group settings to solidify and enhance their learning. Supplementing this curriculum are ongoing current events lessons, using a variety of resources. MATHEMATICS Math in the Fifth GradeMiddle School program continues to use the familiarity of EverydayMathematics but also adds to the level of rigor by introducing more advanced concepts and techniques that further develop application and enhance students explanatory ability. Differentiation is built into the curriculum by incorporating reteaching, review and enrichment activities. Khan Academy is used to further advance practice and Mentoring Minds and Challenge Math are used to further challenge students. Weekly/Biweekly math labs are also introduced to the math curriculum to show the importance of math in the real world. STEM Fifth Grade student scientists, through utilization of the Engineering Design Process and whole-group discourse, are able to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen through the development of a model. Students develop an understanding of the idea that regardless of the type of change that matter undergoes, the total weight of matter is conserved. Students determine whether the mixing of two or more substances results in new substances. Through the development of a model
ANN & NATE LEVINE ACADEMY
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