Fifth grade students prepare for the rigors of middle school by honing their skills in critical reading, textual interpretation and persuasive writing. Through novels, short stories, writing and discussion, students:

Read fifth grade level text with fluency and comprehension

Examine the characters and events in a story to show a pattern or overarching theme

Describe and give examples for how a narrator’s point of view influences how events are described

Plan and write paragraphs and essays that clearly state and back up an opinion using quotes and textual evidence

Include sensory details, dialogue, creative word choice and a variety of sentence structures to engage the reader

Engage in the complete writing process including planning, drafting, editing, revising and publishing

Fifth grade math students prepare for the rigors of middle school math by working towards mastery of all foundational math skills and concepts and strengthening their ability to explain their mathematical thinking processes. Using a hands-on approach through the Singapore Math curriculum, students:

Write and interpret numerical expressions

Analyze patterns and relationship between numbers

Perform operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with decimals to hundredths

Apply previous understandings of multiplication and division to fractions

Convert like measurement units within a given measurement system

Represent and interpret data

Graph points on the coordinate plane to solve real-world and mathematical problems

Fifth graders explore the interdisciplinary field of geography, exploring critical aspects of the relationship between humans and the natural world. Through hands-on experiments, projects, field trips, reading, writing and discussion, students:

Learn about the atmosphere, the sun, clouds, weather instruments, air pressure, extreme weather and more

Name, describe and explain the factors that impact Earth’s weather system

Collect, graph and interpret scientific data

Explain the relationship between scientific concepts based on textual information – for example, how planetary movement is connected to Earth’s weather systems

Conduct independent research to learn-in depth about a specific form of extreme weather

Read scientific text to collect information, learn processes and understand new concepts

Write about scientific processes, observations and information using precise vocabulary and specific evidence to support conclusions

From early European contact with Native Americans to the development of American colonies, fifth graders delve deeply into the many facets of early American history. Through reading, writing, simulations, hands-on activities, discussions and field trips, students:

Study the people, cultures and events leading up to the formation of the American colonies

Learn about early colonial life

Read and discuss current events related to American history or government

Demonstrate a solid grasp of U.S geography

Take effective notes from informational text

Analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic using primary source material