Teacher: Michele Floyd
Program Description
Fifth grade is a transitional year during which students apply what they have learned in prior grade levels to more complex concepts. OVS strives to provide the guidance and support fifth-graders need to become successful, independent students by providing tools to become organized, self-reliant, and active learners. In this way, they develop leadership and study skills in preparation for middle school.
From literature to social studies and science, the curriculum explores themes of liberty, justice, conflict, and power. As in all grades, the curriculum is differentiated to meet the needs of each student at his or her level of readiness. Co-curricular classes and Outdoor Education trips in the fall and spring complete the fifth grade experience.
Curriculum
English Language Arts
In fifth grade, students continue to build important reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. They read more challenging literature, articles, and other sources of information in all subject areas and continue to grow their vocabulary. Students also are expected to understand and clearly summarize what they have learned from readings and classroom discussions, referring to specific evidence and details from the text. Students write regularly and continue to develop their ability to gather, organize, interpret, and present information. Activities in these areas include:
- Determining the theme of a story, play, or poem, including how characters respond to challenges
- Comparing and contrasting stories that deal with similar themes or topics
- Explaining how authors use reasons and evidence to support their points or ideas
- Drawing on information from multiple books, articles, or online sources to locate an answer or to solve a problem quickly
- Learning the usage rules of spoken and written English
- Learning and using new words, including words related to specific subjects (such as science words)
- Understanding figurative language
- Participating in class discussions by listening, asking questions, sharing ideas, and building on the ideas of others
- Giving a class presentation on a topic or telling a story, introducing relevant facts and details in a clear, logical order
- Writing research or opinion papers over extended periods of time
Mathematics
The Mathematics curriculum includes:
- Operations and Algebraic Thinking: Write and interpret numerical expressions. Analyze patterns and relationships.
- Number and Operations in Base Ten: Understand the place value system. Perform operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with decimals to hundredths.
- Number and Operations, Fractions: Use equivalent fractions as a strategy to add and subtract fractions. Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to multiply and divide fractions.
- Measurement and Data: Convert like measurement units within a given measurement system. Represent and interpret data. Geometric measurement: understand concepts of volume and relate volume to multiplication and to addition.
- Geometry: Graph points on the coordinate plane to solve real-world and mathematical problems. Classify two-dimensional figures into categories based on their properties.
- Mathematical Practices: Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. Reason abstractly and quantitatively. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others. Model with mathematics. Use appropriate tools strategically. Attend to precision. Look for and make use of structure. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
Science
The Science curriculum includes:
- Physical: Properties of common atoms, molecules, elements; periodic table. Mixtures and compounds.
- Life: Organisms and ecosystems.
- Earth: Renewable and non-renewable energy resources. Impact on the planet of human activity.
- Engineering: Ask questions and define problems. Develop and use models. Plan and carry out investigations. Analyze and interpret data. Use mathematics and computational thinking. Construct explanations and design solutions. Engage in argument from evidence. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information.
Social Studies
The Social Studies curriculum includes:
- U.S.: Political, religious, social, and economic development of the thirteen colonies. People and events associated with the development of the U.S. Constitution and its significance as the foundation of the American republic. Causes and consequences of conflict in the American Revolution and Civil War. Underground Railroad. Lewis and Clark expedition and Westward Expansion. Development and impact of rail transportation.
- World: Immigration to the U.S.
- Economics: Economic impact of war. Inventions and entrepreneurship of the Industrial Revolution; development and progression of new ideas.
- Geography: U.S. political and physical boundaries. Natural landforms of North America. Secure memorization of all state locations and their capitals.
Co-Curricular Classes
Music
Spanish
Art
Woodshop
Library
Technology
Physical Education
Equestrian
Spanish
Art
Woodshop
Library
Technology
Physical Education
Equestrian
