5th Grade
Language Arts
Fifth grade Language Arts involves reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and vocabulary. Focus is given towards integrating spelling, grammar, and vocabulary into daily language use—both in reading and writing. The children are exposed to numerous genres of literature including nonfiction letters and biographies, realistic fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery. Each quarter, students are assigned a specific genre for a book of their choice and follow-up book project explorations and presentations. A life-time love of reading and good literature is at the heart of these studies. Writing involves daily journal entry free-writes, personal and descriptive narratives, creative prose and poetry, informative five-paragraph essays, research projects, and more.
Math
Fifth graders will grow in their number sense throughout the year as they delve into the following topics: Number Theory; Estimation and Computation; Geometry Explorations; Division; Fractions, Decimals, and Percents; and Using Data: Addition and Subtraction of Fractions. Our Everyday Mathematics curriculum provides numerous opportunities for solidifying key number concepts and critical mathematical thinking skills through collaboration and fun learning games.
Science
The students will spend the year in the life sciences. Reproduction and heredity, living systems, biomes, and environments will be major areas of study. Lab-based learning will focus on DNA, Environments, and Variables. Fifth graders will learn the scientific process through both in-class experiments and a spring science fair.
Social Studies
Fifth graders will study United States history spanning from the Civil War to current events. Learning will take place through readings, discussions, historical fiction read-aloud novels, projects, and field trips.
Field Trips
Frist Center, Carnton Plantation, Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Washington D.C.