Language Arts: Reading
During Reading Workshop, the class receives both whole group and small group instruction.
Throughout the school year, students work on nonfiction comprehension strategies. This instruction takes place during our reading block and also during content area subjects in science and social studies. We use an interactive vocabulary program that allows the students to "own" the words they use in class. The program called Elements of Reading: Vocabulary, "utilizes the strength of students' oral competence to enhance their literacy competence."
Language Arts: Writing
We use the Lucy Calkins units of writing. In fifth grade, students focus on narrative, informational and argumentative writing. Spelling lessons also take place during our writing blocks. Each weekly lesson begins with a sort based on individual levels.
Check out dictionary.com at home to help with meanings of vocabulary and spelling words.
Mathematics: Multiplication and division fact fluency is very important in fifth grade. These facts are the foundation to many objectives we work on this year.
Mathematics Common Core Standards
FIFTH GRADE OVERVIEW
Operations and Algebraic Thinking
*Write and interpret numerical expressions.
*Analyze patterns and relationships.
Number and Operations in Base Ten
*Understand the place value system.
*Perform operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with decimals to hundredths.
Number and Operations—Fractions
*Use equivalent fractions as a strategy to add and subtract fractions.
*Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to multiply and divide fractions.
Measurement and Data
*Convert like measurement units within a given measurement system.
*Represent and interpret data.
*Geometric measurement: understand concepts of volume and relate volume to multiplication and to addition.
Geometry
*Graph points on the coordinate plane to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
*Classify two-dimensional figures into categories based on their properties.
Mathematical Practices
A free math website to explore is mathABC.com .
Science:
Our year begins with a review of the scientific method. We discuss the steps, what makes a fair test, and conduct several experiments to follow the process.
Fifth Grade Science Framework
5.1 — Sound and light are forms of energy.
5.2 —Perceiving and responding to information about the environment is critical to the survival of organisms.
5.3 — Most objects in the solar system are in a regular and predictable motion.
5.4 — Humans have the capacity to build and use tools to advance the quality of their lives.
We are excited this year to have a classroom subscription to Super Science magazine.
A great website to explore is kids.nationalgeographic.com .
Social Studies:
Fifth grade begins with a discussion of The French and Indian War. Many of our discussions revolve around cause and effect relationships throughout American history. The class reads about American History throughout the school year. We specifically focus on The American Revolution, Westward Expansion, and by the end of the school year, The Civil War. Lessons require the students to utilize nonfiction reading strategies and compose written responses to text. We explore readers' theaters and debate about the issues presented to Americans during this time.
To learn more about current events go to: www.timeforkids.com .
For more information, please visit: http://www.torrington.org/page.cfm?p=1678 for blueprint outlines of grade level curriculum and expectations.
During Reading Workshop, the class receives both whole group and small group instruction.
Throughout the school year, students work on nonfiction comprehension strategies. This instruction takes place during our reading block and also during content area subjects in science and social studies. We use an interactive vocabulary program that allows the students to "own" the words they use in class. The program called Elements of Reading: Vocabulary, "utilizes the strength of students' oral competence to enhance their literacy competence."
Language Arts: Writing
We use the Lucy Calkins units of writing. In fifth grade, students focus on narrative, informational and argumentative writing. Spelling lessons also take place during our writing blocks. Each weekly lesson begins with a sort based on individual levels.
Check out dictionary.com at home to help with meanings of vocabulary and spelling words.
Mathematics: Multiplication and division fact fluency is very important in fifth grade. These facts are the foundation to many objectives we work on this year.
Mathematics Common Core Standards
FIFTH GRADE OVERVIEW
Operations and Algebraic Thinking
*Write and interpret numerical expressions.
*Analyze patterns and relationships.
Number and Operations in Base Ten
*Understand the place value system.
*Perform operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with decimals to hundredths.
Number and Operations—Fractions
*Use equivalent fractions as a strategy to add and subtract fractions.
*Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to multiply and divide fractions.
Measurement and Data
*Convert like measurement units within a given measurement system.
*Represent and interpret data.
*Geometric measurement: understand concepts of volume and relate volume to multiplication and to addition.
Geometry
*Graph points on the coordinate plane to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
*Classify two-dimensional figures into categories based on their properties.
Mathematical Practices
- Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
- Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
- Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
- Model with mathematics.
- Use appropriate tools strategically.
- Attend to precision.
- Look for and make use of structure.
- Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
A free math website to explore is mathABC.com .
Science:
Our year begins with a review of the scientific method. We discuss the steps, what makes a fair test, and conduct several experiments to follow the process.
Fifth Grade Science Framework
5.1 — Sound and light are forms of energy.
5.2 —Perceiving and responding to information about the environment is critical to the survival of organisms.
5.3 — Most objects in the solar system are in a regular and predictable motion.
5.4 — Humans have the capacity to build and use tools to advance the quality of their lives.
We are excited this year to have a classroom subscription to Super Science magazine.
A great website to explore is kids.nationalgeographic.com .
Social Studies:
Fifth grade begins with a discussion of The French and Indian War. Many of our discussions revolve around cause and effect relationships throughout American history. The class reads about American History throughout the school year. We specifically focus on The American Revolution, Westward Expansion, and by the end of the school year, The Civil War. Lessons require the students to utilize nonfiction reading strategies and compose written responses to text. We explore readers' theaters and debate about the issues presented to Americans during this time.
To learn more about current events go to: www.timeforkids.com .
For more information, please visit: http://www.torrington.org/page.cfm?p=1678 for blueprint outlines of grade level curriculum and expectations.