Fifth Grade
Students in Fifth Grade will experience many opportunities for personal, social, and academic growth during the school year. All of these opportunities will prepare them for a successful transition to junior high. The emphasis at this level is on organization and independence. They will be expected to utilize the skills and concepts that they have been taught thus far.
ENGLISH
Text: English, Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
The Fifth Grade program is designed to improve student’s oral and written language through daily lessons in the processes and techniques of reading, writing, listening, speaking, thinking, and language study.
READING/SPELLING
Text: Reading Street, Publisher: Scott Foresman
The Fifth Grade program is designed to foster a love of reading and to develop the skills essential to students becoming effective, lifelong readers. The program provides opportunities for learning experiences in listening, vocabulary development, and comprehension strategies. Students read a variety of genre in both the fiction and non-fiction categories. They will learn reading strategies to optimize their comprehension including previewing and predicting, using prior knowledge, visualizing, using graphic clues, and re-reading.
SCIENCE
Text: Science, Publisher: MacMillan McGraw Hill
Fifth Grade will explore many areas of science including Environmental Science, Biology, Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry and Life Science as they research Properties of matter, Weather Patterns, Cell Structures, Plant life and Ecosystems.
MATH
Text: Math, Publisher: Macmillan/McGraw-Hill
Fifth Grade starts off the year with a review of the previous grade’s key concepts. Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing whole numbers and fractions are emphasized. The students continue the year with collecting, organizing, and displaying data, and having to read and make pictographs, bar graphs, and line graphs. Geometric concepts-naming and measuring angles, quadrilaterals and circles, finding the perimeter and area of polygons, finding the area and circumference of circles-are explained. Problem solving strategies are learned and presented in real life contexts that are relevant to students. The students’ understanding of mathematics can be built if they actively engage in tasks and real life experiences designed to deepen and connect their knowledge. Students are continually asked to read, write, and talk about math.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Text: United States Adventure In Time and Place, Publisher: MacMillan/McGraw-Hill
The Fifth Grade program focuses on an overview of U.S. History. The five fundamental themes of geography are used to support the ties among past and present people, places, and events. Geographic literacy is developed throughout the year.
RELIGION
Text: We Believe, Publisher: Sadlier
Fifth Grade students will gather to learn about beliefs of the Catholic religion and how to respond to those beliefs as a Christian through the six tasks of Catechesis: learn, celebrate, choose, pray, share, and live. The Fifth Grade program focuses on the seven sacraments. The curriculum also includes human sexuality and development, taught from a Catholic perspective. The Benziger text FAMILY LIFE is used as an aid for this part of the curriculum.
ART
Teacher Resources are utilized
Fifth Grade students will produce a variety of seasonal art projects.
Appreciation for art is fostered.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Please see Other Areas of Study for more information regarding the gym curriculum.
MUSIC
Please see Other Areas of Study for more information regarding the music curriculum.
The Fifth Grade program includes an in-depth study of the elements of music-those things, which make up all music-and how, they combine to create different kinds of music.
COMPUTER
Please see Other Areas of Study for more information regarding the computer curriculum.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGIES
The Fifth Grade classroom teacher will use a variety of instructional methodologies including whole group discussions, small group cooperative learning, individual work, and one-on-one support.
Teacher Biography
Mrs. Jane Liquin who has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre and English Literature from Drake University and did post graduate work at Dominican University where she received her teaching certificate. She has been teaching for four years. Mrs. Liquin has taught 5th grade at Saint Zachary School for one year. Previously, Mrs. Liquin taught 5th grade at St. Domitilla’s school for two years and 4th and 5th grade at Glen Grove School for one year. Mrs. Liquin specializes in Music and Math for 5th grade and has the following certificates or other teaching credentials:
• K-9 self contained classroom with middle school endorsements in Language Arts and Drama.
Mrs. Liquin’s fifth grade page coming soon!