Fifth grade at Overlook Elementary School is definitely a year to
remember. From overnight trips to turtle releases, fifth graders are
active and busy studying nature, the environment and, of course,
enhancing their skills in reading, writing and arithmetic.
One of the first experiences to look forward to in fifth grade - other
than Back to School Night in early September - is our Arlington Echo
Outdoor Educational Experience. This overnight trip takes place at the
end of October. In January the fifth graders go Drownproofing, a
program emphasizing the importance of being safe in and around water.
In the spring, along with testing, the fifth graders look forward to
releasing the baby terrapins and planting bay grasses in the Severn
River. We also visit our country’s birthplace Philadelphia and visit
key historical sights we’ve learned about all year long.
Organization and communication are critical in fifth grade. During the
summer, students receive a list of supplies they will need throughout
the school year. Parents are invited to attend our Back to School Night
in September and Pastries for Parents in November. In order to improve
communication, all graded papers are sent home weekly in a take home
folder signed by parents. Hard work, dedication and perseverance are
the keys to success at Overlook.
Please read below a brief synopsis of the fifth grade countywide
curriculum.
Language
Arts:
Students refine
the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing to learn content
in other disciplines such as science, social studies, mathematics, and
the arts. They learn to write more effectively and understand what they
read at increasingly difficult levels. They learn to vary their reading
strategies according to the purposes for reading and the nature of the
text. They strive to construct meaning and monitor or check their own
understanding and engage in literary discussions to extend their
understanding of reading selections. Students gain in their abilities to
learn new words, expand their vocabularies, read accurately with
expression, comprehend both oral and written language and develop their
oral and written expression. Students make the connections between
reading and writing as they write for a variety of purposes and
participate in the writing process through teacher-directed mini-lessons
and guided practice. Students expand their writing process skills. They
compose using a variety of formal sentence structures and select
explicit word choice. Students produce various types of compositions,
including friendly and business letters, essays, poems, personal and
imaginative narratives, reports, summaries, news articles, journal
entries, editorials and responses to text.
Mathematics:
The Anne
Arundel County Public Schools Mathematics PreK-12 Program is focused on
providing the opportunity for every child to learn rigorous
mathematics. The Scott Foresman Mathematics Series was purchased for
each student in Kindergarten through the Fifth grade. Each child will
receive a high quality text, and each classroom teacher was provided
numerous instructional materials. Students will acquire mathematical
concepts and be able to apply them to real life situations. Periodic
tests will be given on the mastery of these skills, which will be
available for the student to take home. Parents may assist in their
child’s success in our mathematics program by checking homework nightly
and communicating regularly with the classroom teacher. Additional
materials and activities to be used at home may be found on the Scott
Foresman website at www.scottforesman.com
Science:
Students build
on their knowledge of chemistry and physics from grade 3, and expand
their investigation of the earth and the environment. Students have the
opportunity to engage in full scientific inquiry. They begin with
questions, design an investigation, gather data, formulate answers to
the original questions, and share their findings with their peers.
Students develop explanations based on scientific information and
evidence presented through a classroom activity. They recognize and
analyze alternative explanations for science concepts presented in
teacher-led demonstrations. Students use their scientific knowledge and
available scientific equipment to solve practical problems. Students use
models to simulate how real objects act. Students demonstrate that and
explain how tools enable scientists and others to measure, collect, and
communicate scientific data such as size, distance, and motion.
Social
Studies:
Students
explore the answer to the question “What does it mean to be an
American?” by studying the history, government and geography of the
United States. They investigate the historical events leading to the
founding of our country and learn about exploration, colonization and
the American Revolution. They study the principles of democracy and our
form of government. Students conclude their elementary social studies
program by learning about the geography and demography of the United
States today. Students complete a 5-hour service learning activity in
the U.S. Government unit by participating in a class campaign. Students
continue to practice the skills of social studies by sequencing events,
analyzing cause and effect, and analyzing perspective. They read primary
sources and complete writing assignments and research projects. They are
expected to read and write independently. They also read and construct
maps, charts, tables and graphs. The units studied are:
· U.S.
History (Exploration-1790) American Revolution
· Exploration U.S.
Government
· Colonization Regions of the
United States
Technology:
Students
increase their creativity, communicate and collaborate with others and
gather, evaluate and analyze information and data using computers. They
solve problems and make decisions in a manner that demonstrates their
understanding of the social, ethical, and human issues related to
technology. |
