Fifth Grade Course Descriptions
Biblical Foundations
Goals for K-4 through Fifth Grade:
- Recognize God’s existence and character.
- Understand the Bible as God’s inspired word and absolute truth.
- Use the Bible consistently to locate and memorize selected verses.
- Pray daily.
- Acknowledge need for salvation and respond to Jesus as God’s provision.
- Know and practice Biblical principles in relationships and service to others.
Fifth Grade - 5th grade Biblical Foundations focuses on “Our Responsibility to the World.” To explore this theme the 5th graders read The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, as well as the life of Jesus through an in-depth reading of the gospel of Luke, and study of many of the patriarchs of the Old Testament. Time is spent teaching about and practicing how to have personal quiet times of prayer, worship and study. Students memorize scripture passages each week that correlate with what they are learning as put this into practice by volunteering at the food bank. Serving students at a local public school throughout the year is the keystone experience for 5th graders understanding that they do have a God-given purpose – to know, love and serve God by participating in His work in the world.
History-Social Studies
Students look at people, places, and events from a Biblical worldview, using timelines to develop chronological thinking. Four components are included: History, Geography, Civics, and Economics. Students gain knowledge and understanding of people’s lives, and discover causes and consequences of their actions. Students learn about the places people live, the rules and responsibilities they live by, and the ways in which they work to meet their needs.
Fifth Grade – History: United States History from Civil War to present, along with Arkansas History for this time period. Geography: Regions of the United States, major countries of North America, major bodies of water bordering the U.S., major river systems in North America, geographic terms (region, place, location), types of maps (physical, political, historical), major landforms, concepts of interstate, intrastate, infrastructure, globalization. Civics/Government: Branches of state and national government, roles and responsibilities, checks and balances, terms and qualifications, succession of leadership, two-party system, American documents. Economics: Wants and needs, economic choices, resources and scarcity, types of economies, Free Enterprise System, factors of production, global trade and currency.
Mathematics
Focus Areas for K-4 through Fifth Grade:
- Number (Properties, Operations, Computation)
- Algebra (Patterns, Relations, Functions)
- Geometry (Spatial Sense)
- Measurement (Units, Systems, Processes)
- Data Analysis and Probability
Fifth Grade – Number: fractions, ratios, percents, decimal place value, equivalent fractions, decimals and percents, round/compare decimals to hundredths, square numbers, commutative, associative and distributive properties, use parentheses, multiply 3-digit by 2-digit numbers, divide with 2-digit divisor, use factors. Algebra: pattern/function tables, algebraic expressions, tables and graphs. Geometry: regular/irregular polygons, angles (types/parts), circles, predict transformations, coordinates, two-dimensional patterns for cubes. Measurement: elapsed time, angles/degrees, distance, customary unit conversions, prefixes: milli-, centi-, kilo-, linear, square and cubic units. Data: numerical/categorical, construct and interpret tables/graphs, find range, mean, median, mode.
Science
Students know and discern the world in which they live through observation, study, and experimentation, including the use of available equipment and technology. They question, observe, compare, use tools, describe, explain, predict, use data to solve problems, and use appropriate scientific language in these areas: Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth Science. Student exploration leads to greater explanation and appreciation of God’s creation and encourages responsible stewardship.
Fifth Grade - Populations and Ecosystems (including dissection of owl pellets) * Matter (atoms and elements) * Motion and Forces (simple machines, potential and kinetic energy, Newton’s Laws) * Light and Color * Animal Cells and Body Systems * Solar System (including Egg Drop Project) * Plant Cells and Growth * Rocks and Soil * Ocean Waves and Currents
Language Arts
Children grow tremendously during these years as God’s gifts of language, thought, and imagination are put to work in listening, speaking, writing, and reading. They are challenged to think deeply, read widely, and write purposefully in all subjects. They develop extensive vocabularies and understand how language carries beliefs and ideas that shape the world. They read a variety of books and recognize quality literature. They write clearly in various forms as they share their thinking with others. They ask questions to move their learning forward. They use language skills to know God, to understand themselves and others, and to make sense of the world in which they live.
Fifth Grade – Listen to evaluate message and participate in various presentations. Read and write words fluently, including sight words and content words, at grade level. Combine sentences and vary sentence order in written work, using correct capitalization and punctuation. Identify parts of speech and use correctly in writing. Use idioms, similes, and metaphors. Summarize and paraphrase information, and write unified paragraphs fluently in all subject areas. Write, revise, and edit various forms of writing, including poetry and research reports. Use reading strategies effectively, analyze literary elements, distinguish fact and opinion in text, and evaluate character and issues using cause and effect. Determine essential information using text features and structures. Read grade level text fluently: fiction and nonfiction, including poetry and biography. Locate information from print and electronic resources; develop notes and outline, and present research using available technology.
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