GRADE FIVE
COURSE OF STUDY

RELIGION – MRS. REARDON

In Grade 5, the Religion curriculum is divided into four main units of study. Students will explore what we believe as Catholics, how we worship as Catholics, how to live as Catholics, and many forms of Catholic prayer. The Church's liturgical season will be a common theme woven throughout the course.

Students are required to participate in class through whole class and small group discussions. In addition, they are asked to write in their religion journals throughout the year to reflect on topics discussed in class. Students will also engage in completing class projects to explore different areas of Catholic faith life.

Text: Faith First, Level 5. Resources for Christian Living, 2000.
Bible.
The Good News Weekly. Ligouri Publications.

Class meets 45 minutes four times per week.

LANGUAGE ARTS – MRS. HILL

Language Arts is an integrated program of reading, spelling, English, writing and vocabulary. This course promotes the development of reading skills, strategies and comprehension, literature appreciation, spelling skills and usage, grammar usage and mechanics, creative and factual writing, and study skills via the presentation and exploration of a wide variety of quality literature. The course goal seeks to develop independent, confident readers skilled in phonemic awareness and other word-identification skills and to develop writers who are organized and use well-constructed thoughts.

Grammar skills include parts of speech, prepositional phrases, modification and noun functions. The Winston Grammar Program gives students a set of color-coded clue cards and a book of exercises which together generate multi-sensory activities: moving; seeing; learning; speaking. The ultimate goal is the application of these grammar skills into the student writing.

Writing skills are explored using the Six Trait Writing method. Students will have opportunities to use the six traits, or characteristics (ideas, organization, word choice, sentence fluency, voice and conventions) throughout the year as they practice their creative writing skills. Writing mechanics such as sentence editing, punctuation, grammar and reference skills are practiced in Daily Oral Language Review. Daily journal prompts offer the opportunity to strengthen creative writing abilities.

Vocabulary Workshop focuses on exercises that allow students to see and use words in a variety of contexts: definitions; match the meaning; synonyms and antonyms; completing the sentence; word associations. The spelling list is generated from the vocabulary words and frequently used words.

English text: The Winston Grammar Program, Basic Level.
Precious Memories Educational Resources, 2005.
Daily Language Review/ Grade 5, Evan-Moor Educational
Publishers, 1998.

Vocabulary: Vocabulary Workshop. Sadlier-Oxford, 2006.

Class meets 90 minutes five times per week.

MATHEMATICS - MRS. HILL

Students study addition and subtraction of whole numbers and decimal numbers, multiplication and division of whole numbers and decimal numbers, geometry and measurement with customary units and metric units, fractions in depth, ratio, proportion, percent and probability, algebra, integers and coordinate graphing. Opportunities for critical thinking skills such as problem solving are demonstrated and practiced individually and in small groups within each chapter.

Homework from the text is given every evening following the teaching and practicing of concepts in class. Tests are given at the end of each chapter.

Text: Houghton Mifflin Math
Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007.

Class meets 45 minutes five times per week.

SOCIAL STUDIES - MS. DUGAN

In Grade 5, students study United States history and do a special economics unit in collaboration with Junior Achievement. We begin with an overview of what America means today in 2007, and then look at the history of man in North America. While we study the pre-Columbian Era and exploration, we also touch on the Eastern Hemisphere's history during that timeframe, as it applies to the eventual formation of the U.S. Our study includes looking at the exploration, conquest, colonization and settlement of North America. Our year rounds out with learning about the United States' foundation of democracy and development into a world power.

Emphasis is placed on note taking, scholarly discussion and map skills, as well as reading charts, diagrams, graphs and tables.

Tests are given approximately every two to three weeks, at the end of each chapter. Tests are based on the reading, vocabulary, classroom discussion and class notes. Workbook pages are assigned as homework to aid in comprehending the reading, which is also to be done for homework. Homework assignments are announced generally two school nights before they are due.

Tests will be sent home to be signed and returned within two school days. Signed tests will remain filed at school. Parents are welcome to review the tests at school once they have been signed and returned; please make an appointment with Ms. Dugan to do so via email.

Text: The United States. Scott Foresman, 2003.

Class meets 45 minutes five times per week

SCIENCE – MS. SWAYKUS

The Science curriculum has three units: Life Science, Earth Science and Physical Science. This program provides opportunities for the students to develop, maintain and utilize the basic science-process skills of observing, comparing, classifying, collecting and interpreting data, communicating, planning and conducting simple investigations, measuring, predicting, inferring, drawing conclusions, using models, hypothesizing, identifying and controlling variables, and experimenting. Emphasis on successful study-skill strategies is incorporated into the curriculum. Toward the end of the year, students work on independent projects of their own choosing. This experimentation culminates in the Grade 5 Science Fair.

Quizzes are given occasionally and tests are given at the end of each chapter. Careful note taking and completed assignments are necessary for successful quiz and test taking. A test study guide is given in class approximately two-three days in advance. Budget 20-25 minutes for science homework three times per week.

Text: Harcourt Science. Harcourt, 2000.

Class meets 45 minutes five times per week.

MUSIC – MRS. SCHWARTZ

The goal of the Music program is to help children see the value of music in their lives as an art form; as a source of enjoyment; as a part of their historical, cultural and social awareness; and as a source of beauty and creative expression in a world of technology.

In Grade 5, concepts and skills continue through the basic series used in Grade 4. The concepts of rhythm, melody, harmony, tone color, form, and vocal and instrumental ensembles are presented in increasing difficulty through singing, moving, playing instruments, listening and videos. The students continue to learn to read music and develop fine motor skills through soprano recorder. Liturgical music continues to be taught, some with harmony parts to prepare for middle school choir.

Students should practice their recorders at home for 10 minutes, five times per week. Class participation and good behavior is paramount. Students are expected to participate in the Christmas and Spring Concerts.

Text: Spotlight on Music. McGraw Hill, 2005.

Class meets 40 minutes two or three times per week.

FRENCH – MRS. ARATA

French is fifth grade continues the study of the language with work on pronunciation and oral activities. French culture and geography are reinforced through reading and holiday activities. Worksheets are done in class and class participation is important.

Text: Gerard et ses Copains, Book 2. Symtalk Language Systems, 2002.

Class meets 45 minutes two times per week.

SPANISH – MS. HARMON

The Spanish program in fifth grade is designed to continue developing understanding of the language and culture. Cultural awareness is reinforced through reading and holiday projects.

Review and study of the material covered in class may be beneficial to student success. Worksheets not finished in class may need to be completed at home. Assessment is based on a combination of daily class work and participation in class. Oral quizzes are given every two weeks and a basic test at the end of the month.

Text: Pablo y sus Amigos, Symtalk Spanish 2004.

Class meets 45 minutes two times per week.

ART – MRS. WALTHER

Students experience a variety of media. In the primary grades, students learned and used the various elements of art. These skills are further developed in Grades 4, 5 and 6 with an emphasis placed on art principles such as balance, contrast, repetition and emphasis. Students gain an appreciation for art through art history and a focus on artists' works. The student's confidence in her artistic ability is encouraged.

Class meets 45 minutes two times per week.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH - MRS. SITEK

The Physical Education units taught in Grades 4, 5 and 6 promote rhythmic movement, leadership skills, fair play, self-esteem, and to work as a team. The PE units include: volleyball, soccer, flag football, Frisbee golf, basketball, softball, floor tennis, dance and more. These activities strengthen muscular development, flexibility and endurance. The PE program stresses the values of responsibility, cooperation, self-acceptance and good sportsmanship.

The health curriculum consists of a comprehensive health, substance-abuse and violence-prevention program twice a month. The topics include nutrition, illness prevention, drug and alcohol prevention, safety, etc. This program, The Great Body Shop, contains information to help your child understand her body, the way it works and the best way to keep it healthy.

Students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 walk/run the mile in the fall and participate in the Presidential Physical Fitness testing in the spring.

Class meets for 40 minutes two or three times per week.

COMPUTER EDUCATION - MRS. WILEY

The curriculum begins with learning the PC desktop. Students choose from these applications: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, Power Point and Publisher), Inspiration, Kid Pix, Kidspiration, Kid Keys and Internet Explorer.

The focus is one of incorporating these applications into project-based learning in the various subjects of the academic curriculum, which gives students experience using paint and draw programs, word processing and multi-media.

All students are taught to save and retrieve their projects from their own folder on the server.

All students, closely monitored by teachers, are taught to use the Internet with a focus on safety, the value and quality of sources, and copyright issues.

Grades 1-6 meet for 45 minutes twice a week with both the homeroom and computer teacher present.

LIBRARY – MRS. BYRD

The purpose of the library is to excite the girls about reading, improve their research skills, and supply students and teachers with books. Students visit weekly to check out books and read. Visits to the library are also scheduled to learn more about research materials and methods in conjunction with classroom projects. In addition, enrichment materials are provided to classrooms to dovetail areas of study.

ACADEMIC POLICIES
GRADES 4, 5 and 6

A. Progress/Performance

Report cards each quarter

Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled after the fall grading period and are optional in the spring

Conferences and/or observations are available on request

CODE TO GRADING

A+	= 100 - 99	Consistently excellent work
A	=  98 - 95	demonstrating insight, initiative
A-	=  94 - 93	creativity and scholarship
B+	=  92 - 91	Consistently superior work
B	=  90 - 87	demonstrating above average
B-	=  86 - 85	comprehension and performance
C+	=  84 - 83	Consistently acceptable work
C	=  82 - 80	demonstrating satisfactory mastery of
C-	=  79 - 78	basic concepts and conscientious performance
D+	=  77 - 76	Fluctuating performance, inadequate
D	=  75 - 72	mastery, performance below average
D-	=  71 - 70

B. Homework Expectations

Students in Grades 4-6 may expect homework assignments most evenings to develop a habit of study and to reinforce concepts learned during the day. It is very important that homework be completed when assigned. Students are responsible for being prepared for class each day. This includes having homework, supplies and educational materials needed for class each day.

C. Standardized Testing

ERB (Educational Records Bureau) - Administered to Grades 4, 5 and 6 in fall.