5th Grade

Mathematics

Students in fifth grade continue their study of multiplication and division, but with an emphasis on getting away from the rote, and beginning to truly think steps through, to see the logic and beauty of each process, and come to realize that “math thinking” is not an isolated skill, but one that translates equally well to their other core subjects.

We complete the entire math text, beginning with 5A during the 1st half of the school year.  This will include whole numbers, fractions, multiplying and dividing fractions, some geometry including perimeter, area and surface area and ratio.  The 2nd half of the school year will focus on 5B which includes decimals, volume, percentages, angles, average and ratio, data analysis and algebra.

We place no restrictions on how far we may progress; once we complete our fifth grade curriculum requirements, class interest dictates all supplemental learning. Areas may include logic problems—a challenging and enjoyable skill, and a standard feature of the SAT additional word problems, co-ordinate picture mapping, and supplemental exercises by student request.

Prerequisite skills: Students should have instant recall of all of their multiplication tables through twelve times twelve, and have mastery of four digit times four digit multiplication and long division exercises.

Language Arts

 

Writing

 

Reading

 

American History 

 

Spanish

Students in fifth grade, especially those who have had previous experiences with the Spanish program at Hale Academy, will continue to work with four basic Spanish skills. Grammar concepts become more complex and demanding, and students are exposed to even more subtle aspects of the Hispanic culture. Students have bi-weekly tests and weekly written assignments, as well as a major geography project and advanced composition sessions. The fifth grade tests contain a listening portion, which reflect learning of Spanish words, letters of the Spanish alphabet, numbers 0 – 1000, prices of items, identifying who is doing or saying what in short dialogues, recognizing specific vocabulary words when sentences/questions are given to them. They also listen to daily commands/directions given in Spanish, lyrics from the songs, recorded teaching materials, and reading comprehension from short stories

Speaking: Students ask/answer personal questions, as well as those based on the topics being studied, speaking about the reading comprehension from the stories, use of courtesy/farewell expressions, repeating words, sentences, from the songs, and so on.

Reading: Read all numbers 0 – 1000+, dates, short stories, daily materials from several sources, such as textbooks, magazines, advertisements, their own compositions, and so on.

Writing: Most students in 5th grade learn how to spell numbers 0 -1,000+, dates, words from all the topics being studied, greetings, and farewell. They learn to write more cohesive and correct sentences and paragraphs. During the year, they also write several guided compositions. In their geography project, they write all the names of the Spanish speaking countries, as well their capitals, study about currencies, some main rivers, mountains, and other cultural aspects of several countries.

ART…

Lessons on the visual arts illustrate important elements of making and appreciating art, and emphasize well-known artists, works of art, and artistic concepts. Topics in art are often linked to different disciplines. Students experiment with a variety of media and study works from various cultures. In the lower school, students study art of the cavemen, Egyptians, Greeks and Aborigines. Mediums include crayons, markers, clay, colored pencils, paper mache’, tempera, paints and inks. Artists including Matisse, Seurat, Miro’, Da vinci, Escher, Picasso and Van Gogh are introduced.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION…

Receiving regular exercise is an integral component of growing up healthy. Fifth grade students receive year-long instruction and practice opportunities in a variety of age appropriate sports including kickball, soccer, flag footballtee-ball, badminton, jump rope, jogging, volleyball Active participation, teamwork, and good sportsmanship are modeled and encouraged.

MUSIC…

The purpose of the music education program at Hale Academy is to develop life-long musical understanding, skill, and sensitivity. As education develops the intellect, music education develops musical ability. As musical understanding, skill and sensitivity grow, aesthetic response increases.

Hale Academy music students learn that music has duration, pitch, form, timbre and expressive qualities. They feel the emotional content that music expresses. They possess adequate understanding of their own musical heritage and that of other cultures and continually grow in their ability to listen to, respond to, and create music with understanding, skill, and sensitivity.

LIBRARY…

The media center at Hale Academy exists to stimulate our students’ love of reading and to foster their desire for life-long learning.

Lower School Competencies:

1. Understands and follows rules for appropriate use of the media center

2. Handles books and other media center materials with appropriate care

3. Gives a broad explanation of the Dewey decimal system, and locates books by category in the media center

4. Chooses age-appropriate books for personal enjoyment and to meet curriculum requirements