FIFTH GRADE

Language Arts

Objective:

In Grade 5, the students apply previously learned knowledge and skills through refinement and mastery in written compositions, reading selections, and oral expression.  They read and discuss selected topics from classic literature to contemporary text.  They interpret highly complex dynamics of literature, such as authors’ choice of words, story character, plot, and make conclusive inferences.  The students vary sentence structure and use coordinating conjunctions to connect ideas congruent to the text or topic of discovery.  They use literary devices in their own writing, which is a daily practice, for a variety of purposes, such as to persuade, inform, classify, or to explain.  They edit their own work to produce error-free final texts, and research multiple topics to gain library skills insight.

 

English:

Instructional Content

Grade 5 Language Arts requires the students to learn and discuss a given number of units from the text, World of Language.  Every assigned unit must be read independently for homework.  Long units are divided into two parts, a two-day homework assignment.  All units are discussed through lecture.  Students work on in-class assignments for guided practice, both orally as class and independently.  Homework is assigned on a regular basis, except on days that literature is the topic of the class objective.  Students are consistently assessed, formally and informally, in a variety of forms-quizzes, unit tests, oral examination, writing assignments, and other daily activities.

_Syntax

_ Types of sentences

_ Compound sentences

_ Run-on sentences and sentence fragments

_ Diagramming sentences

_ Parts of speech/semantics

_ Punctuation

_ Capitalization

 

Vocabulary:

Instructional Content:

The fifth grade students expand their vocabulary and identify word meaning and etymology through the use of a variety of texts.  Wordly Wise, McGraw-Hill, and The Merriam-Webster Dictionary & Thesaurus.  The dictionary & Thesaurus is a daily use, and the students learn to spell by looking up words, focusing on the sound of phonemes.   Vocabulary expansion is derived through reading and articulation and is morphologically studies.  The students use context clues and other reference aids to understand connotative words and language through idioms.  Students are formatively assessed through quizzes and conversations.

_ Prefixes and suffixes

_ Synonyms and antonyms

_ Reading and language usage and comprehension and interpretation

_ Latin Derivatives

 

  

Writing:

Instructional Content:

Students in the fifth grade write for a variety of purposes and for specific audiences.  Each nine-week session, the students will be exposed to a new form and function of writing.  Writing compositions are only done in class.  Students proofread and revise writing assignments in class only.  All this is done through guided practice and teacher revisions.  For homework, students are assigned composition “rewrites” and creative writing, such as writing story endings, character sketches, and story summaries.  Assessment is continual and is weighted by context and content.  Students are assessed until mastery of form and function of a given composition is met.

_ Journal entry

_ Narrative composition

_ Expository composition

_ Persuasive composition

_ Classificatory composition

_ Literary analysis

 

Reading:

Instructional Content:

In Grade 5, the students read a variety of stories, fiction and non-fiction.  The reading text is HBJ Light Up the Sky.  They read independently and orally in class and are exposed to various genres of literature.  They apply higher-order thinking skills, such as understanding the purpose of poetic element usage in literature, identifying word usage in stores, making inferences, and applying personal experience to understand and critique reading selections.  Assessment is done formally and informally.

_ Poetry

_ Myths and tales

_ Short story

_ Reading comprehension and response

_ Elements of fiction

_ Elements of poetry

_ Interpretation

_ Plays

_ Biography and Autobiography

_ Novels

 

Research:

Instructional Content:

Students visit the school library to practice library skills and become familiar to research processes.  The class holds discussions about the basic features of books as an essential tool for research.  Students also learn to pre-write and generate ideas and questions as aids towards successful researching.

_ Library skills

_ Book reports

_ Pre-writing, drafting, and revising skills

_ Oral presentations

 

 

American History:

In Grade 5 students learn about the history and geography of the United States form its’ early beginnings to the present.  The national origins of the American people will be explores to show how other cultures have influenced American society.  The historical content will include the colonial and revolutionary periods, the establishment of the United Stares, and the issues that led to the Civil War.  In addition, major events and significant individuals of the 19^th and 20^th centuries will be studied.  Textbook: United States Adventures in Time and Place by MacMillan/McGraw-Hill

 

Topics of Study:

_ Geography of the United States

_ Native Americans of North America

_ The Maya, the Aztecs, and the Anasazi

_ The age of exploration - Columbus and the Columbian exchange

_ The colonization and settlements of North America

_ The establishment of and life in the thirteen Colonies

_ The American Revolution

_ The founding documents

_ United States expansion and the Industrial Revolution

_ The Civil War and Reconstruction

_ Immigration and industrial growth

_ World War I and World War II

_ The Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression

_ The Civil Rights movement

_ The new century - the impact of technology and communications

_Current events-A global picture

 

General Social Studies Skills:

Geography Skills:

_ Understanding latitude and longitude

_ Reading historical maps

_ Elevation and relief maps

_ Comparing maps at different scales

_ Time zone maps

 

Thinking Skills:

_ Reading time lines, line graphs, and circle graphs

_ Reading climagraphs

_ Reading political cartoons

_ Writing an outline

_ Using reference sources

_ Reading a newspaper

_ Using primary and secondary sources

 

Science

Evolution

_ Observing

_ Organizing data

_ Recording, analyzing data

 

Plant response and development

_ Observation

_ Measurement

_ Graphing

 

World biomes and ecosystems

_ Predicting

_ Communicating

_ Classifying

_ Measuring

 

Matter (structure)

_ Observing

_ Predicting

_ Classifying

_ Organizing data

_ Analyzing data

_ Graphing

 

Compounds

_ Modeling

_ Inferring

_ Observing

_ Classifying

_ Predicting

_ Observing

 

Electrical energy

_ Observing

_ Measuring

_ Communications        

_ Organizing data

 

Light and Sound

_ Observing

_ Collecting data

_ Modeling

_ Graphing

 

Plate tectonics

_ Modeling

_ Predicting

_ Inferring

Science Project

_ Forming a hypothesis

_ Experimental design

_ Measurement

_ Data collections

_ Data Analysis

_ Communicating

Space exploration

_ Graphing

_ Measuring

_ Calculating

_ Modeling

Human Health

_ Measuring

_ Inferring

 

Human respiration and excretion

_ Measuring

_ Modeling

 

Text: Science, Harcourt 2000, Texas Edition, Grade 5

 

Religious Studies

Faith

The fourth grade program shows the children how God reveals himself and then invites them to trust and follow God’s rules for living as demonstrated by Jesus.  The students will discover the life and actions of Jesus by reading the Gospels, reflecting on what they discovered, and keeping a written journal of their thoughts about how they an live as Jesus did.  Through reading the Hebrew Scriptures the children will learn of the great faithfulness and trust the earliest believers had in God and how God faithfully kept his promise and led them to the Promised Land.

 

Prayer:

The fourth grade program not only teaches the children why and how to pray but helps them experience prayer in many different forms. They are led to listen to God and to respond to God personally and as members of a praying community.  The children will learn a formal Act of Contrition and be encouraged to:

† Acquire the habit of daily personal prayer

† Become more familiar with traditional Catholic Prayers

† Use the Bible, especially the Gospels and psalms, as a source of prayer

† Meditate in a form appropriate for their age

† Participate in spontaneous and share prayer

 

 

Liturgical Life:

The program prepares young Catholic Christians for fuller participation in the liturgy according to the guidelines form the directory for Masses with Children.  The children’s understanding of how they share in the story of Christ and his Church is deepened as they study to:

† Develop a deeper relationship with God and with the community of believers, especially  within the school community participate actively in the celebration of the Eucharist in union       with Christ

† Accept sickness, suffering, and death as mysteries demanding a Christian faith and response  grow in the devotional life, including those devotions associates with the major feasts of our       Lord, his Blessed Mother and the saints

† Celebrate the liturgical year in ways that strengthen their Christian life and deepen their personal awareness of the Paschal Mystery

† Become leaders in liturgical prayer by becoming acquainted with the foundations and  structure of each prayer and have a deeper appreciation of Christian ritual and symbolism.

 

Morality:

The fourth grade program helps young Christians establish a value system based on the teachings of Jesus.  The students grow in awareness that God has given them the freedom to choose well and avoid evil.  Never forcing them God calls them to continual conversion.  The lessons:

† Teach the basic implications of each of the Ten Commandments

† Increase awareness of the need to forgive and to receive forgiveness help the children realize how their personal choices affect their relationships with God and others

† Teach the value of prayer and the regular reception of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation as means to a deeper relationship with God

† Encourage daily examination of conscience

† Present the Beatitudes in the context of the lives of Mary, Jesus, and the saints

† Use lives of saints for discussion, sharing of personal faith experiences.

† Use role-playing, music and art to help the children experience and appreciate God’s presence in their lives and to nurture Christian values

† Lead the children to take personal responsibility for peace

† Provide positive sex education that promotes each child’s understanding and acceptance of his or her uniqueness and sexuality

 

Social Responsibility

The program leads children to realize and assume responsibility for building God’s kingdom on Earth.  In the faith message and related activities, the children discover their roles as members of a family, parish, and community, and of a global village.  The children are guided to:

† Cultivate attitudes of cooperation, compassion, concern, and respect for the rights of all  people

† Develop the unselfish love that is needed for a happy family life and that leads to concern  for the global community

† Have a special care and respect for the weak, the suffering, the disabled, and the elderly and work to alleviate suffering and injustice in their communities and other parts of the world.

  

  

Spanish:

Students will develop cultural awareness of Mexican/Latin traditional events and holidays.

The class will:

·         Learn pronouns.  Development of singular and plural personal pronouns

·         Proper names in Spanish

·         Feminine and masculine objects and adjectives

·         Spanish nouns

·         Numbers 30 to 1000

·         Simple Spanish phrases development

·         Proper use of basic Spanish grammar

 

LIBRARY/MEDIA SKILLS

Overview

Library/media skills are taught to all students from Pre-K through eighth grade with the goal they will become life-long readers with the ability to enter any library equipped with the knowledge to locate and use all available resources.

 

The care and location of materials, browsing and checkout procedures and notable authors and illustrators are introduced in the primary grades.

 

Library use skills are reinforced in the upper grades with particular emphasis on the arrangement of fiction and non-fiction materials.  With the completion of automation, students will be taught to use the computerized card catalog, electronic resources and traditional print materials to enhance classroom instruction and reading enjoyment.

 

Philosophy

Students are encouraged to read recreational books including fiction and non-fiction.  Picture books are read to all students and teachers to encourage interest in favorite authors and illustrators.

 

Objectives:

_ Library Orientation - students will learn library procedures

_ Browsing and book checkout

_ Location of materials and other resources

_ Proper care for all materials and return policy

_ Be courteous and exhibit good conduct

_ Utilization of resources - students will learn to identify materials

_ Alphabetical order-fiction materials are arranged by the first three letters of the author’s last

                name

_ Locate periodicals in ABC order by title

_ Dewey Decimal System - Non-fiction materials are arranged in ten main subject groupings      000-900

_ Determine how books are classified and where they will be shelved

_ On-line card catalog - Look up books on specific subjects, titles or authors

 

Research and Study Skills

_ Identify parts of a book

_ Use reference tools such as an encyclopedia, atlas, dictionary, almanac, etc.

_ Use the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature for magazine articles on specific subjects

_ Use newspaper for current events

_ Special activities

 

 

Our library has weekly activities to include all students.  The librarian reads to all classes and uses book talks to interest students in checking out books for class assignments such as book reports, summaries or research projects.  Materials are made available in the library to support classroom curriculum and teaches may request library use at any time.

 

Books on the Bluebonnet and Texas Lone Star reading lists are available and our library also subscribes to the Junior Library Guild as a source for good reading material.

 

Book fairs are scheduled during the school year and are an excellent source for books and fun.

 

Authors are invited to our school to share their time and talent ans are welcomed by all students and faculty with great enthusiasm         

 

Physical Education:

Overview:

In this physical education class students will gain knowledge in several different sports.  We will also be learning rules, skills and technique of these games.  The overall objective of the physical education courses at both the primary and middle school level is to teach activities, which will form the basis for a lifetime of physical fitness.

 

Instructional Content:

~ Be able to apply physical education to life

~ Be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills, which better enable participation in group and      team sports

~ Assess physical fitness levels and participate in activities that improve fitness, wellness, and      cardiovascular capacity

~ Be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills, which will better enable participation in              individual and dual sports and recreational activities.

 

Health:

The students recognize ways to enhance and maintain health throughout their life span.  The student recognizes the basic structure and functions of the human body.  The student understands and engages in behaviors that reduce health risks.  The student explains healthy ways to communicate, and demonstrates critical thinking and problem solving for promoting healthy decisions.

Instructional content:

_ Six major nutrients contained in food

_ Identify information on menus and food labels

_ Exercise

_ Physical, mental and social fitness

_ Structure and function of the human body

_ Identify the use of prescription and non-prescription medications

_ Describe short and long term harmful effects of tobacco and alcohol

_ Peer pressure influences, social and emotional health

_ Qualities of a good friend

 

 

Specials/Extracurricular:

Art

Objective:

Fifth grade art students will understand perception, creative expression, historical and cultural heritage and critical evaluation.  Students will be provided broad, unifying structures for organizing the knowledge and skills they are expected to acquire.  Students will be guided and will  learn to rely on their perception of the environment and to become increasing their visual awareness and sensitivity to their surroundings, memory, imagination and life experiences, and how to use them as a source for creating artworks.  Students will express their thoughts and ideas creatively, while challenging their imagination, fostering reflective thinking, and developing disciplined effort and problem solving skills.  Students will develop a respect for the traditions and contributions of diverse cultures by analyzing artistic styles and historical periods.  Students will be able to respond to and analyze artworks, thus contributing to the development of lifelong skills of making informed judgments and evaluations.

 

Instructional Content:

Communicating through art:

_ Students will be aware of the elements and principles of art.

_ Sketching as a means of recording observations or ideas

_ Drawing from verbal descriptions

_ Shapes and structure, major shapes and designs using lines

_ Textures; drawing textures to distinguish tactile, visual, invented

_ Drawing remembered images, landscapes using pencil

_ Positive and negative shapes; make puzzle like positive and negative shapes

_ Planning for artwork: students will plan and execute a still life in pencil and watercolor

_ Color relationships; identify primary, secondary, and intermediate colors

_ Know how to mix colors to make new colors

_ Using color to express mood and perception

_ Crayon resist showing visual elements that create action, energy and excitement

_ Studying the lives and works of the expressionist painters and creating a block print

_ Discovering proportions by studying what makes a person different form another

_ Drawings or portraits using proportions of front view and profiles

Art to See and Use:

_ Studying the community and it’s people and how some people have art careers  (commercial artist, designers, architects, product designers, photographers, etc.)

_ Use of architecture to communicate: students will make a paper stained glass window

_ Art genres, Pop art and artists, impressionist art and artists, 20^th century art history and artists

Cultures and their art

_ Students will study the ways a culture speaks through its art

_ Study folk art of Africa, Japan, and Mexico