5th Grade Curriculum

5th Grade Curriculum

Religion

The main study in 5th grade religion is the sacraments and liturgical year. In addition to these two main topics, scripture references for each sacrament are noted.
First Semester topics include:
• Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
o Signs and symbols
• Liturgical Year
• Review of the Mass
• Advent/Christmas
• Prayer: personal and communal
• Sacramentals
• Saints
Second Semester topics include:
• Sacraments of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony and Holy Orders including signs and symbols
• Lent/Easter/Pentecost
• Stations of the Cross

Mathematics

Mathematics skills are important tools that your child will use throughout his or her life. These skills encompass more than just the computation of numbers. To build student’s strength in the use of mathematical processes, instruction in these areas will be incorporated.
• The use of mathematics to solve problems
• An application to logical reasoning to justify procedures and solutions
• An involvement in the design analysis of multiple representations to learn, make connections among and communicate about the ideas within and outside of mathematics.
The student will:
• Develop an understanding of and fluency with division of whole numbers
• Develop an understanding of and fluency with addition and subtraction of fractions and decimals
• Describe three dimensional shapes and analyze their properties including volume and surface area
Social Studies
Each quarter is divided into two units from textbooks, with five chapters per unit. Therefore, the year is balanced to completecomplete the entire textbook. If we come up short, students will miss the most recent American history covered in the textbook. They will understand the foundations and basics of U.S. Social Studies.

Language Arts

• Review parts of speech with emphasis on nouns, pronouns and verbs
• Review grammar with emphasis on sentences, sentence punctuation, capitalization, commas, semi-colons, and conversational writing
• Short journal jottings 2-3 times a week
• One major essays (descriptive, narrative) with 3-4 minor essays during quarter
• Letter writing
• Review of basic comprehension skills with emphasis on predicting, purpose, character development, cause and effect, fact and opinion
• Oral presentations
• Text stories as well as novel studies (3-4 per year)
• Book reports: reported in written, dramatic, and artistic form (3 per quarter)
• Poetry Unit (every other year)
• Fables, Folk Heroes

Science

In fifth grade science, students embark on the first of a two-year journey of exploring the areas of life, earth and physical sciences. Major concepts in all three areas are introduced and students have the opportunity to understand the world they live in from a hands-on scientific approach. Topics include:
• Classification of living things
• Plant structures and functions
• Interactions of living things
• Air, water, and energy
• Weather
• Landforms, rocks, and minerals
• Properties and structures of matter
• Newton’s laws of motion
• Sound and light energy