MATH:
Fifth Grade math is a busy subject which builds upon previously learned concepts and mastering new ones including division, fractions, decimals, order of operations, volume, and algebriac thinking. Students in 5th grade will explore these concepts through the use of manipulatives, technology, and group work. They will become "surgeons" as they take apart and put back together equations. Students learn mathematics best when they have opportunities to "do math" and are able to relate math to real-life. Students will work on challenging problems, share their thinking with others, and use their thinking to build and deepen understanding of the concepts throughout the year.
SCIENCE:
In fifth grade science, students explore many interesting and exciting topics on life, Earth, and physical science that will help students gain a better understanding of the world around them. We focus on many topics of life science such as classification, cells, body systems, biomes, interactions in ecosystems, plants, and crayfish. In addition, students use many skills such as creating hypotheses, working cooperatively, making inferences and observations, and forming conclusions. Students participate in hands-on projects and investigations to better help them understand concepts. This also allows them to understand the work that scientists do through our school wide STEM program, as well as our after school STEM Club. Students use Chromebooks to take notes, research, watch science tutorials, complete virtual labs, and collect and analyze data in different Google Drive apps. Students are also able to explore other scientific topics through educational field trips such as the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center, Cradle of Aviation Musem, and in-school learning activities such as Crayfish in the Classroom.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS:
Fifth grade is a year when students are building on the critical and higher order thinking skills they learned in fourth grade. Students build on all the skills learned in prior grades and dive deeper into inferencing, main idea, summarizing, theme, and much more in English Language Arts. The students love our comprehensive novel studies that are incorporated throughout the school year. Some favorites include Frindle, Save Me A Seat, and Esperanza Rising! The students continue to build on their writing skills, including narrative, informational, and persuasive writing while also supporting their knowledge of proper sentence structure and paragraph formation. Students use Chromebooks to take notes, research, write papers, complete projects, and read and analyze literature sources in different Google Drive apps.
SOCIAL STUDIES:
This year's studies are based on the history and geography of the Western Hemisphere, including the development of cultures, civilizations, and empires; interaction between societies; and the comparison of the government and economic systems of modern nations. It also incorporates elements of archeology. The course is divided into seven Key Ideas that cover a time span from prehistory into modern times. Students are encouraged to make and learn local connections throughout the course, especially in the examination of citizenship related to modern political and economic issues. The students in fifth grade will be able to relay the information that they learn through different projects and writing assignments.
RELIGION:
The goal of the fifth grade religion program is to challenge the students to begin thinking about their Catholic faith, and through that process to develop their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We study the bible and what the bible can tell us about Jesus Christ. Fifth graders will also study the Sacraments to develop a deeper understanding of how they bring us closer to Jesus. We pray together in class, as well as attend monthly liturgies with grades 3 and 4. Family life is taught in the spring of fifth grade. This unit is taught in both religion and science. In religion, the objectives of this unit align with our unit on the Sacrament of Marriage. In science, the students are presented with general information on human reproduction.