5^th Grade Language Arts

Throughout Middle School, students take both a literature course and a composition course.

5^th Grade Composition stresses development of narrative, expository, and descriptive writing skills, with special emphasis on paragraphing and organizing ideas. Students also learn to identify basic parts of speech and to use each one intentionally. 

5^th Grade Literature develops the reading and thinking skills critical to the student’s understanding and appreciation of literary genres. Emphasis is on analyzing the fictional elements of setting, conflict, climax, characterization, and theme. Reading comprehension skills taught involve effective highlighting, note taking, and outlining along with test-taking strategies.

5^th Grade History builds profiles of past civilizations by examining geography; basic beliefs and values; government and economic systems; social structure, intellectual achievement and arts/architecture.  It addresses  Prehistory, comparing the Old and New Stone Ages; the beginnings of history at Sumer; Ancient Civilizations in the Mideast with a focus on Egypt; Minoans; Mycenaeans; the Classical Greeks; Romans, both Republic and Empire; Islam and the Medieval Arab Empire; and the first half of the Middle Ages in Europe.  This includes the beginnings and development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

The broad themes offer students patterns for making rational judgments. Students examine myth and fact; build listening and note-taking skills; learn to read and construct maps; and develop sequence out of facts.  They construct databases of information and conduct research, beginning to evaluate the validity of their sources.

5^th Grade Math stresses problem solving and mathematics reasoning in real life situations. It builds on fundamental mathematical strands such as numeration and counting, operations and relations, and problem solving. It explores more of the mathematical spectrum by investigating the basis of data gathering and analysis, probability, geometry, and algebra.

5^th Grade Science serves as a transition year between the initial exploration of science in lower school and the somewhat more formal investigations in the years that follow. Concepts studied include chemicals, health, and the environment. Students learn how to collect, process, and analyze information; and how to use scientific evidence in decision making. The course emphasizes basic laboratory skills.

In 5^th grade, a student chooses to take Spanish or French, a two-year commitment.

Modern and Classical Languages:
5^th grade Spanish and French each stresses aural comprehension and conversational skills, continually expanding the vocabulary base.  Students learn basic grammatical structures, such as agreement, regular verbs and selected irregular verbs in present tense.  This course provides the tools necessary to study a foreign language and cultural awareness.

Computers
5^th graders learn basic computer concepts that focus on word processing with Word, keyboarding, file management, Internet use, and security and privacy issues concerning internet use.

5^th Grade Fine Arts

5^th graders rotate through two visual art courses: 2D and 3D. Students explore the earliest forms of art through medieval art.

For music, students choose from: Choral/Orff Instrumentarium, 5^th grade Band, or 5^th grade Strings.

5^th Grade Physical Education provides students with various activities which aid students’ physical, mental, and social development.  The curriculum promotes safety, self-esteem, discipline, sportsmanship and positive attitudes about physical activity. Every student is introduced to the skills and basic strategies of team and individual sports, with an emphasis on physical fitness. Activities include swimming, football, volleyball, field hockey, basketball, soccer, track, tennis, lacrosse, and softball/baseball; lifetime activities of swimming, badminton, tennis; and a tumbling unit.

Myself and Others helps 5^th graders adapt to the changes encountered during middle school.  Students explore and learn about the intellectual, emotional, and social components of life at school.  Topics include:  friendship, bullying, and role modeling.  Students learn communication, decision making, and conflict resolution skills.  As an adjunct to this course, during first trimester students receive instruction about puberty.