Welcome to Fifth Grade

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I am looking forward to a wonderful and productive year in which your child grows in both responsibility and independence.  The final year in the Middle Division presents a great opportunity to continue developing an individual organizational system that works best to achieve academic success. 

Curriculum Overview

Integrated Language Arts 

Last year we introduced a wonderful new Integrated Language Arts program.  The Middle Division was very pleased with the way the new ILA series was received last year with our students.  We continue to be excited about the variety of features this series offers.  Scott Foresman, Fantastic Voyage, is a fully integrated reading and language arts program.  The stories we read serve as a facilitator to many skills such as writing assignments, grammar usage, spelling, phonics, and vocabulary.

 Math

Mrs. Maria LaGrutta and I will be piloting the Scott Foresman Math program in the fifth grade this year.  This is an integral part of our Math Curriculum Review and series selection process.  We are very excited to have this opportunity to explore this series with the fifth grade class.  The concepts that will be covered this year include: using whole numbers, multiplication and division, meaning and use of fractions and decimals, probability, ratios and percents, metric measurements.  Grades will be based on chapter tests, homework, and class participation.

 Social Studies

We learn about the age of exploration, colonization, the events leading up to the American Revolution, The American Revolution, and America as a newly independent country.  Grades are based upon chapter tests, homework, projects correlating to different topics of study, and class participation. 

The students will also read the Bucks County Courier Times newspaper once a week and discuss current events.  At some point in the year, your child will be responsible for a brief current event report and presentation. 

 Science

In Science we focus on plants and their importance, as well as plant reproduction and responses. After plants we move onto the energy involved in sound and light.  Our third area of study focuses on Earth Science.  We study the Earth’s air, water, energy and crust.  Our last unit deals with the human body.  We touch on the circulatory and respiratory systems. 

We do approximately one lab a month, either in the classroom or the science lab.  Our laboratory lessons coincide with the unit in which we are working.    

 Religion

Religion in fifth grade focuses on The Church, how we are important members of the Church Community, and The Sacraments.  We also do a project on a book titled, The Twelve Gifts of Birth by: Charlene Costanzo.  We discuss and do individual projects involving how each child is blessed with these gifts.  The third element of our Religion curriculum is the Steps to Respect Program.  This is our third year working on a bullying prevention program, and the children are responding positively to this course.

Homework

Homework is given Monday through Thursday and occasionally on Friday.  Homework is to be completed at home and brought back to school the next day. If a homework assignment is not completed, the student must complete the assignment during recess.  If a student continues to have missed assignments, a home communication notice will be sent home to be signed by a parent. 

Tests and Class Work

Tests and class work will be sent home at the end of each week.  Please review these papers with your child and return the folder and cover sheet with your signature.  Major tests need to be returned to school.  Students will be keeping written compositions in their Writing Portfolios. 

Special Schedule