Curriculum Overview

5th Grade

Reading - Stories from all genres are used to refine comprehension skills: drawing conclusions, making inferences, author’s point-of-view, author’s purpose, sequencing, compare and contrast, main idea and details, classifying and categorizing, cause and effect, fact and opinion. Weekly Reader, Accelerated Reader, 120 minutes/week independent reading, Mystery of the Pirates’ Treasure tour of Charleston, Secret of the Telfair Inn tour of Aiken

Grammar - G.U.M: Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics; sentence structure, parts of speech.

Vocabulary - Wordly Wise, vocabulary from curriculum.

Writing Process - Figurative language, sensory descriptions, time and order words, research paper with bibliography, internet research, taking notes, organization, outlining, plot development, voice, purpose and audience, tone, letter writing, dialogue, effective presentation of student work, creative writing portfolio, Morris Museum of Art writing project, Lt. Governor’s Writing Award program.

Spelling - Weekly spelling assignments. Words are generated from Wordly Wise, curriculum, and reading assignments.

Mathematics - Number theory, estimation, computation, geometry, fractions, decimals, percents, data sets. “Spend $1,000,000” project. Math enrichment at Ruth Patrick Science Center.

Science - Life Science (structures of plants and animals, interactions of living things, populations, ecosystems), field trip to Carolina Bay at the Edisto Research and Education Center, Earth Science (Earth, resources, weather, climate), Physical Science (properties of matter, energy, motion), Science Fair projects

Social Studies - American History, 3-day field trip to 1840 Earthshine Mountain Lodge, Heritage Fair research paper and presentation, Industrial Revolution Inventors project, field trip to WWII Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, Savannah.

Weekly Enrichment Classes

Computer - Word processing with Microsoft Word. Word processing history, proofreading skills, document setup, toolbars, inserting objects, document formatting, unbound reports with references, personal letters, business letters, creative typing, President Report.

Spanish - Continue listening and speaking skills, begin basic reading and writing skills. Respond to basic questions, learn courtesy phrases, read familiar vocabulary words and common phrases, label pictures.

Library - Reading time; listening and viewing skills; literary genres; literature appreciation; library terminology; parts of a book; indexes; periodicals; biographies; reference collection; research and reports; Dewey Decimal System; care and organization of library materials; weekly book check-out; library skills reinforced with audiovisual materials, puppets, plays, and creative writing.

Music - Sing, move, dance, and play rhythm instruments to music; learn age-appropriate elements of music; read rhythms; learn to play the recorder; perform with resonator bells; learn Chapel songs and seasonal songs; prepare for performance on Mead Hall Sundays and at the Christmas program. Augusta Symphony field trip to the Etherredge Center. Optional: violin, auditions for the Trash Can Band.

Physical Education - Preparation for the Presidential Physical Fitness Test; weekly physical fitness logs; maintaining physical fitness habits (flexibility, strength training, aerobic exercise); refine sports skills; long distance running; sportsmanship, fair play, and effort.

Sacred Studies - Students study Bible stories to find relevance to their own lives. They are encouraged to seek life-application in small-group activities, individual activities, and creative writing.