Fifth grade is an exciting year intellectually and spiritually.  Throughout the year, students continue developing independence, responsibility, and the necessary skills needed for middle school.  The classroom is always exciting as students continually build knowledge through meaningful discussions, hands on activities, research projects, and more. Students will experience learning as fun and challenging as they step beyond their comfort level and learn new things. Students leave the fifth grade viewing learning as fun, interesting, fulfilling, and a life long process. 

Our school year begins with a reinforcement of materials learned in fourth grade.  From there, each subject area offers:

English Language Arts

Consists of Spelling, Grammar, Reading, and Writing Workshop from our Scotts Foresman Reading series. Students work on building their reading, grammar, writing and speaking skills through writing workshop, shared reading, guided reading, independent reading, and public speaking. Our students write short stories, poems, plays, informative essays, and biographies.

Math

Our Math curriculum is based on the NYS Math Standards and correlated to the NCTM: National Council for Teaching Mathematics.  We begin the year reviewing material learned in fourth grade, and continually build upon that knowledge throughout the year.  Students learn Multiplication, Division, Probability, Geometry, Algebra, Fractions, Measurement, and Problem solving.

Science 

Our Science curriculum is based on the New York State Standards and grounded in scientific and educational research. It supports an inquiry approach to learning, through hands-on lab activities and independent research projects.  These rich experiences intrigue the scientist in all students.  Students will use the thinking, collaboration skills, tools, and materials of a scientist.   It is divided into four Units:  Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and Space and Technology. 

Life Science: Classifying Organisms, The Human Body System, Plants, and Ecosystems

Earth Science:  Water, Weather Patterns, Earth’s structure and changes, Protecting Earth’s resources

Physical Science:  Matter. Forces in Motion, Energy Forms, and

Electricity

Space and Technology:  Exploring Stars, the Moon, and Galaxies.  We learn about how technology affects how lives.

Health:  Mental, Emotional, Family, and Social Health, Growth and Development, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Diseases, and Injury and Safety Prevention.

DARE:  This 20-week course is taught by a Lewiston Police officer.  He teaches the students the skills needed to recognize and resist the subtle and overt pressures that cause them to experiment with drugs or become involved in gangs or violent activities.  At the conclusion, students participate in a DARE graduation

Social Studies

We begin the year reviewing for the NYS Social Studies Exam, which takes place in November.  We study the history, geography, economy, and social/cultural understandings related to the Western Hemisphere- Canada, the United States, and the nations in Latin America.

Religion

The Religion Curriculum consists of daily prayer, weekly mass, scripture readings, song, Saints, liturgical year and participation in community service.  Though this curriculum students are taught the gospel values of love, forgiveness, honesty, compassion, and service, as well as the difference between right and wrong.