Curriculum

Language Arts

The McGraw-Hill Reading series introduces a rich blend of notable fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and artwork with meaningful skill and strategy instruction. Writing, grammar, and spelling skills are integrated throughout this reading program.

Students will focus on the following New York State English Language Arts Standards to prepare them for the New York State ELA test.

Standard 1 Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.
Standard 2 Students will read, write, listen, and speak for literary response and expression.
Standard 3 Students will read, write, listen, and speak for critical analysis and evaluation.
Standard 4 Students will read, write, listen, and speak for social interaction.

1. Reading/Literature
A variety of literary sources are used to implement the language arts curriculum.

2. Reading to children
Reading to children is an important daily part of the class reading program. This is a time for the teacher and children to enjoy stories and expand their reading interests.

3. Shared Reading
The purpose of shared reading is to learn about different genres, different book formats, and different styles and literacy qualities, and to explore more sophisticated reading skills. The children will extend their understanding of the materials and reading processes through discussion with peers and the teacher.

4. Independent Reading

• DEAR/SSR
• Daily Reading at home - 15-20 minutes

5. Reading/Comprehension Strategies

• Identification of story elements
• Inferences
• Drawing conclusions
• Main idea
• Cause/effect
• Sequencing
• Context clues

6. NYS Standards require all children read at least 25 books per year. These books will be logged in their portfolio, which is passed on to the next grade.

WRITING

1. Shared Writing
In shared writing, teachers and children in partnership share the creating and writing process. Sharing with others gives children feedback on whether their ideas have worked out.

2. Guided Writing
In guided writing, a group of children write together with the teacher or child recording.

3. Independent Writing
In independent writing, children are responsible for the drafting and editing of their written work.

4. Handwriting - Reinforced

5. The Writing Process
Teachers facilitate writing using a process approach

• Pre-writing
• Writing
• Drafting
• Editing/revising
• Proofreading
• Publishing

6. New York Standards require all students to write at least 1,000 words per month.

7. Spelling - Weekly Units based on weekly literature selection. Pre-tests and final test, as per teacher.

8. Vocabulary - Based on weekly literature selection.

9. Grammar Usage and Writing Mechanics

10. New York State ELA in January - This is a pupil evaluation test

11. Listening/Speaking - A variety of listening and speaking opportunities are woven into the language arts curriculum.

Science

1. Ecology

• Ecosystems
• Endangered animals
• Pollution

2. Variables

• Scientific methods
• Constants and variables
• Motion

3. Geology

• Rocks and minerals
• Fossils
• Owl pellet dissection

4. Microscopic System and Embryology

• Lenses
• Microscopes
• Embryology
• Cells

Social Studies

TEST PREP FOR THE NYS SOCIAL STUDIES ASSESSMENT AND THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE

The fifth grade Social Studies curriculum will begin with a review of the third and fourth grade curriculum in order to help prepare students for the NYS Social Studies Assessment they will be taking in November. The program will then focus on the geographic, economic, and social/cultural understandings related to the United States, Canada, and Latin America.

The following essential questions will focus the study of the Western hemisphere:

• How does the geography of the Western hemisphere affect how people live?
• How are the nations of the Western Hemisphere interdependent?
• How have key turning points in the history of the Western Hemisphere affected the people who live there?
• How are the governments of the Western Hemisphere similar and different?
• How do the people of the Western Hemisphere meet their needs and wants?
• How have different groups contributed to the cultural diversity of the Western Hemisphere?

Math

"PRE-MARCH"

Place Value, Adding, and Subtracting

• Place value through millions
• Compare and order whole numbers and decimals
• Rounding whole numbers and decimals
• Estimating sums and differences
• Adding and subtracting whole numbers and decimals

Multiplying Whole Numbers and Decimals

• Multiplication patterns
• Estimating products of whole numbers and decimals
• Multiplying whole numbers and decimals

Dividing with One and Two Digit Divisors

• Estimating quotients
• Dividing whole numbers and decimals
• Factors and divisibility
• Prime and composite numbers

Data, Graphs, and Probability

• Collect and record data from a variety of sources including line and circle graphs

Geometry

• Measuring and classifying angles
• Classifying triangles
• Classifying quadrilaterals
• Congruency and similarity
• Symmetry

Fractions

• Mixed numbers
• Equivalent fractions
• Greatest common factor
• Simplest form
• Comparing and ordering fractions and mixed numbers
• Adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators
• Least common denominator
• Adding and subtracting mixed numbers

Measurement

• Customary units of length
• Measuring with fractions of an inch
• Metric units of length
• Converting metric units using decimals
• Perimeter and Area
• Time and elapsed time

Ratio, Proportion, and Percents

• Understanding ratios
• Finding the percent of a number

"POST-MARCH"

Multiplying Whole Numbers and Decimals

• Variables and expressions
• Solving equations

Dividing with One-Digit and Two-Digit Divisors

• Dividing larger dividends
• Graphing ordered pairs
• Rules, tables, and graphs
• Dividing with zeros in the quotient

Data, Graphs, and Probablility

• Bar graphs
• Predicting and listing outcomes
• Expressing proability as a fraction

Fractions

• Understanding adding and subtracting with unlike denominators
• Estimating sums and differences of fractions with unlike denominators
• Adding and subtracting mixed numbers

Measurement

• Areas of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, and triangles

Ratio, Proportion, and Percents

• Graphs of equal ratios
• Estimating percents

Algebra: Integers, Equations, and Graphing

• Properties of equality
• Solving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division equations
• Write an equation
• The coordinate plane

NYS Math Assessment in March