Fifth Grade
Fifth Grade
English Language Arts
This course is designed to foster the development of effective communication skills. The primary focus of this course will be the development and mastery of effective reading strategies to increase fluency, and enhance both comprehension and appreciation of academic and real-life reading situations. The Communications program encompasses the areas of reading, writing, spelling, speaking and listening. Our Curriculum is based on the PA Core Standards and contains the reading of both fiction and nonfiction texts.
Mathematics
This course is designed to foster the development of effective numeracy skills. The primary focus of this course will be to expand the study of numbers to include the mastery of decimals and fractions and apply mathematical skills and concepts in real world situations. Our Curriculum is based on the PA Core Standards.
Science
This course is designed as an inquiry based course that builds on a child’s interest and desire to learn about the world around them. When possible, science and reading are linked through nonfiction texts. Our Curriculum is based on the PA Science Standards.
Fifth Grade Science includes the following areas of study:
Mixtures and Solutions
Chemistry is the study of the structure of matter and the changes or transformations that take place in it. Learning about the makeup of substances gives us knowledge about how things go together and how they can be taken apart. Learning about changes in substances is important for several reasons: changes can be controlled to produce new materials; changes can be used to give off energy to run machines. The Mixtures and
Solutions Module has four investigations that introduce students to these fundamental ideas in chemistry as suggested in the Pennsylvania State Standards.
Environments
All living things depend on the conditions in their environment. The study of the relationships between one organism and its environment builds knowledge of all organisms. With this knowledge comes an awareness of limits. Changes in an environment can be hard on organisms. Such knowledge is important because humans can change environments. To do so without awareness of possible consequences can lead to disasters. The Environments Module consists of six investigations that introduce students to these basic concepts in environmental biology as outlined in the Pennsylvania State Standards.
Energy
The Energy Module consists of five investigations that allow students to experience solar energy firsthand and to investigate the variables that affect solar-energy transfer. They are also introduced to other alternative energy resources as required in the Pennsylvania State Standards.
Variables
Some of the most important scientific concepts students learn are the result of their ability to see relationships between objects and events. Relationships always involve interactions, dependencies, and cause and effect. The Variables Module has four investigations that help students discover relationships through controlled experimentation. Students will fling, float, fly, and flip objects as they discover relationships in each investigation. These align with the Pennsylvania State Standards.
Social Studies
This course is designed to build a child’s understanding of the world and community around them. When possible, social studies and reading are linked through nonfiction texts. Our Curriculum is based on the PA History, Geography, Economics, and Civics and Government Standards.
All living things depend on the conditions in their environment. The study of the relationships between one organism and its environment builds knowledge of all organisms. With this knowledge comes an awareness of limits. Changes in an environment can be hard on organisms. Such knowledge is important because humans can change environments. To do so without awareness of possible consequences can lead to disasters. The Environments Module consists of six investigations that introduce students to these basic concepts in environmental biology as outlined in the Pennsylvania State Standards.
Energy
The Energy Module consists of five investigations that allow students to experience solar energy firsthand and to investigate the variables that affect solar-energy transfer. They are also introduced to other alternative energy resources as required in the Pennsylvania State Standards.
Variables
Some of the most important scientific concepts students learn are the result of their ability to see relationships between objects and events. Relationships always involve interactions, dependencies, and cause and effect. The Variables Module has four investigations that help students discover relationships through controlled experimentation. Students will fling, float, fly, and flip objects as they discover relationships in each investigation. These align with the Pennsylvania State Standards.
Social Studies
This course is designed to build a child’s understanding of the world and community around them. When possible, social studies and reading are linked through nonfiction texts. Our Curriculum is based on the PA History, Geography, Economics, and Civics and Government Standards.