Language Arts
In fifth grade English, students will write personal narratives, essays, fiction, and memoir. They will read like writers, noticing elements of an author's language or craft, and incorporate aspects into their own writing. Grammar and mechanics are an important part of writing as well, and students are asked to apply their knowledge to their own writing to give it maximum effect. Emphasis is on reading comprehension, developing reading skills, and the literary elements of character, setting, plot, and theme.
Math
Fifth Grade Everyday Mathematics will cover a variety of concepts in the strands of number and numeration; operations and computation; data and chance; measurement and reference frames; geometry; and patterns, functions and algebra.
Science
Fifth Graders will understand the concepts of force, and motion as well as energy transformations. They will be introduced to the concepts of matter and associated chemical reactions; cells & how they are the foundations of both the plant and animal kingdoms, as well as a study of the human body.
Social Studies
Fifth grade social studies focus on Virginia state history and the state's role in events starting at end of the American Revolution and continuing through present day.
Spanish
Exploratory Spanish exposes students to the communicative language and the variation of Spanish customs in Spain and Latin American countries. Students learn the commonly asked questions and responses in Spanish while performing daily tasks. Students practice communication in Spanish while maintaining a conversation about sports, likes and dislikes, having breakfast, lunch and dinner. Students learn to differentiate lexical variation during a conversation. Students are capable of using the correct form of Spanish adjectives, nouns and verbs. Students experience the assimilations and differences of Spanish culture versus their own culture.
Music
The student is given a foundation for basic music literacy and appreciation. Students experience music sequentially through singing, moving, playing, listening and creating. Music concepts explored in fifth grade include rhythm, melody, harmony, tone color, form and expression. Exposure to a range of music opens us up to how we perceive and perform music.
Art
Fifth grade art is an opportunity for students to use the knowledge they have gained from kindergarten through fourth grade to enhance their works of art. Students will demonstrate this knowledge through their individual works of art. Fifth grade students work with all types of mediums such as oil pastels, pastels, wire, paint, watercolors, clay and various sculpting materials.
Computer
Students use up-to-date technology in all aspects of the academic program at all grade levels. Computers are used to reinforce and enrich skills in math, geography, science and language arts. Problem solving and logical thought skills are reinforced through the use of appropriate software. Digital cameras, word processing, graphic and desktop publishing programs are used to design and publish documents. Projects call for spreadsheets and databases to calculate and organize information.
Library
Students in fifth grade will be able to use the library public assess computers to locate books for both projects and recreational reading. We will complete book reviews for submission to the newspaper and to sharpen our writing skills. For research for the reference paper we will use both print and non-print resources and be able to evaluate information for veracity, bias, relevance and completeness. We will learn to use the Web to find information efficiently.
Physical Education
The students will demonstrate an understanding of movement that fosters cooperation and sportsmanship. The students will be encouraged to give their best effort at all times.