What’s Happening in Fifth Grade?

Winter term has officially begun, and fifth grade is “soaring” through new units in language arts and STEAM. There are cross-curricular connections found in these two subjects as we study the science of flight and rocketry and read about the four mathematicians who greatly contributed to America’s aeronautic successes.

In language arts, the students are reading Hidden Figures, a narrative nonfiction book written by Margot Lee Shetterly. Using this book, they are learning how to organize information and support ideas with text evidence.

In STEAM, the students are learning the science of how human-made objects fly. Students are exploring answers to that question by researching terms like air resistance, lift, and fuselage. At the end of this week, students will be assigned a specific aircraft to research and eventually build a model of.

In math, we are continuing the fraction unit. This week, students were given a choice board to practice comparing, adding, and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. This activity has allowed students to work at their own pace, especially during hybrid learning.

In Spanish, they are reading a challenging book called, El Ekeko: un misterio boliviano. Students are gaining literacy skills that allow them to independently write questions and statements at the sentence level. The class book serves to scaffold writing and provides challenging vocabulary.

In music, students are preparing songs related to the MLK celebration.

In PE, students are doing a combination of things including volleyball.

And last but not least, in art, fifth grade will create entries for The Graceful Envelope Contest. Before we begin brainstorming ideas around the new theme, Greetings and Salutations, students have looked at past winning entries. Our lesson goal came from the Visual Arts Standards, “Recognize differences in criteria used to evaluate works of art depending on styles, genres, and media as well as historical and cultural contexts.”