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Overview of Fifth Grade Curriculum:

Science: Investigates relationships between plants and animals in a variety of ecosystems; investigates forms and sources of energy; investigates breakdown, movement, disposition, and cycling of water and other earth materials; investigates the weather and different climates of earth.

Social Studies: Explores the people and geography of the Western Hemisphere; compare and contrast the educational structure, the role the family plays in society, and the ways that the people of North America govern themselves; explore the roles of various ethnic groups in the major religions, beliefs, and values that have influenced life in the Western Hemisphere; trace the history of the United States and describe how these events impacted the Western Hemisphere; evaluate the economic relationships of the countries of North America to other nations to world affairs; recognize how technology has influenced change within the United States and other North American countries.

Healthful Living: Exhibits self-discipline and respect for others; identifies the importance of a healthy lifestyle; discusses patterns of physical, social, and emotional development at puberty; identifies health risks of environmental choices; recognizes stereotyping and discrimination; identifies alternatives to fighting; describes means of adapting to change; states the health-promoting roles of various vitamins and selects foods that contribute to dental health; discusses use of tobacco/drug use and healthful alternatives; identifies peer pressure and stress and ways to deal with these situations; demonstrates flexibility through physical fitness; identifies body parts and functions of various body systems.

Reading: Word Recognition ~ Uses knowledge of sound-letter relationships to read unknown words; applies meaning of prefixes and suffixes to decode words; uses prior reading experiences when reading silently or orally; increases vocabulary through reading, listening, and discussing; uses reference materials for spelling, reading, and decoding; reads and understands different types of stories appropriate for grade five.

Writing: Fifth grade students are introduced to clarification writing. this type of writing consists of writing to a prompt that asks the writer to explain why they would make a particular decision.

Mathematics: Numbers and Operations ~ demonstrates number sense, numeration, and numerical operations; reads, writes, estimates and compares numbers through millions place; multiplies numbers by a 2-or 3-digit factor and estimates product; recognizes repeated multiplication and writes as an exponent; estimates and solves division problems with 2-and 3-digit divisors; finds multiples, common multiples, and least common multiple of numbers; finds factors, common factors, and greatest common factor of numbers; identifies prime and composite numbers; identifies and explains equivalent fractions and decimals; compares, orders, and multiplies decimals and fractions; adds and subtracts fractions with like and unlike denominators; solves multi-step problems. Geometry ~ Compares, classifies, and makes models of shapes; uses a compass to draw circles; identifies radius, chord, diameter, center, and circumference; identifies and labels the vertex, rays, interior and exterior of an angle; identifies and labels parallel and perpendicular sides; draws conclusions about the sum of the measures of angles of a triangle and quadrilateral; enlarges or reduces drawings using grids. Measurement ~ Uses and makes models to demonstrate formulas for area and perimeter of squares and rectangles, and investigates and compares units of volume; uses a protractor to draw and measure angles; calculates area and perimeter of shapes; solves multi-step problems which include estimations and measures mass, length, capacity and temperature in both customary and metric units. Algebra ~ describes extends, and generalizes numeric and geometric patterns using tables, graphs, words, and symbols; use algebraic expressions, patterns, and one-step equations and inequalities to solve problems; identifies, describes, and analyzes situations with constant or varying rates of change. Data Analysis and Probability ~ explains the process used to select and construct graphs, including pictograph and bar, line plot, circle, and line graphs; collects, organizes, analyzes and displays data orally and in writing; compares complex displays of data, including multiple sets of data on the same graph, computer, and Venn diagrams; uses the range, median, and mode to describe a set of data; uses an organized approach and appropriate strategies to solve multi-step problems involving graphing; uses calculators and computers as appropriate.

Focus Areas in Technology:
• Using search strategies
• Responsible and safe use of online resources
• Awareness of Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines
• Exploring the need for protection against viruses and vandalism
• Participating in curriculum-based telecommunication projects
• Developing word processing document using proper keyboarding techniques
• Developing multimedia presentation citing sources
• Developing a product using a database
• Evaluating resources and information for accuracy and usefulness
• Selecting and using a variety of technology tools.
Taken from 2004 - North Carolina Computer/Technology Skills Standard Course of Study
 

•Focus: may fail to establish focus on topic/subject, confusing
•Organization: lack of organizational structure and/or ideas presented in a random fashion that is confusing
•Support/Elaboration: sparse details which are unrelated to the topic or confusing
•Style: lacks use of vocabulary that is precise and purposeful
 

•Focus: attempts to focus on the prompt but may lose focus or exhibit major relapses
•Organization: may have interruptions in the progression of ideas and/or events and is minimally complete •Support/Elaboration: consists of undeveloped details which may be presented in a list-like fashion
•Style: minimal use of vocabulary that is precise and purposeful
 

•Focus: clearly focused on the topic/subject with minor lapses
•Organization: logical progression of idea and/or events that is reasonably complete
•Support/Elaboration: some specific details with some minor weaknesses with relatedness to the topic/subject •Style: exhibits reasonable use of vocabulary that is precise and purposeful
 

•Focus: clear focus is maintained throughout the response
•Organization: consists of a logical progression of ideas and/or events which are unified and complete
•Support/Elaboration: specific developed details which are related to the topic
•Style: exhibits skillful use of vocabulary that is precise and purposeful