5th Grade
Course Description
Fifth grade instruction includes reading, writing, speaking and listening. Fifth graders will become more fluent readers while using word analysis skills. They will apply comprehension strategies to develop a deeper understanding of fiction and informational text. Students will write opinion, narrative, and informative pieces using appropriate grammar and spelling skills. Instruction may be in small groups, whole group, and/or individually, depending on the needs of the students.
Expected Course Outcomes
- Applies Word Analysis Skills When Solving Words
- Reads Grade Appropriate Text Fluently
- Comprehends Grade Appropriate Fiction Text
- Comprehends Grade Appropriate Informational Text
- Reads Independently
- Organizes Writing to Communicate Ideas for Appropriate Task and Purpose
- Develops Topic with Facts and/or Details through Revision
- Applies Grade Appropriate Grammar in Writing through Editing
- Applies Grade Appropriate Spelling in Writing
- Writes Independently
- Participates in Collaborative Conversations
- Reports on a Topic or Tells a Story
Course Description
Fifth grade students will explore United States history from the 1800s to the present day. Students will use inquiry to question, gather evidence, analyze sources, develop claims, and construct arguments through the lenses of geography, politics, history, culture, and economics.
Expected Course Outcomes
- Explain historical periods and how the past impacts the present
- Use geography to analyze the past and present
- Develop arguments in response to social studies inquiries using sources
Course Description
Fifth grade instruction includes numbers in base ten, numbers and operations in fractions, relationships and algebraic thinking, geometry and measurement, and data and statistics.
Expected Course Outcomes
- Understand the Place Value System
- Perform Operations with Multi-Digit Whole Numbers to Billions
- Understand the Relationship Between Fractions and Decimals (denominators that are factors of 100)
- Performs Operations and Solve Problems with Fractions and Decimals
- Classify Two- and Three-Dimensional Geometric Shapes
- Understand and Compute Volume
- Graph Points on the Cartesian Coordinate Plane Within the First Quadrant to Solve Problems
- Represent and Analyze Patterns and Relationships
- Write and Interpret Numerical Expressions. Use the Four Operations to Represent and Solve Problems.
- Solve Problems Involving Measurement and Conversions Within a Measurement System
- Represent and Analyze Data
Course Description
This physical science unit What’s Consistent about Matter is about the states and properties of matter and different changes and interactions of matter. This unit prominently features the Crosscutting Concepts of Scale, Proportion, and Quantity, Matter and Energy, and Cause and Effect. The unit begins with a discussion of matter and the common states of matter, including exploration of whether or not air is matter. Then students describe and classify matter based on common physical properties. Students also learn how to measure matter. Understanding matter is conserved is important. During Our Place in the Universe, students explore various parts of our solar system and universe and discover how these parts work together to create patterns we observe and experience on Earth. The Crosscutting Concepts of Patterns, Systems and System Models, and Scale, Proportion, and Quantity are emphasized in this unit. In the unit of Using Our Resources Wisely, students will learn about Earth’s systems (hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere) and natural resources, ways that humans use natural resources, human impacts on Earth systems, and how humans can change behaviors to reduce impacts on the environment. This unit prominently features the Crosscutting Concepts of System and System Models and Scale, Proportion, and Quantity. The Unit From Sun to Food, students try to figure out why we eat food, yet do not look like the food we eat. To try to explain this phenomenon, students will develop and refine a farm model throughout each lesson. Students will see how matter is cycled through ecosystems and how energy flows from the sun to the consumers in a food chain. As students engage in the activities in this unit, the Crosscutting Concepts of Energy and Matter and Systems and System Models will be emphasized.
Expected Course Outcomes
- Explains, with evidence, conservation of matter
- Evaluates properties of materials and models that matter is made of particles
- Investigates changes in matter, including separating mixtures and solutions
- Evaluates the relationship between stars and their brightness
- Analyzes data about earth’s rotation and revolution to identify patterns of daylight hours, and seasonal times of year.
- Explains with evidence that gravity pulls objects toward the center of the earth
- Models how earth’s four spheres are interdependent, using research to communicate various ways to protect earth’s resources
- Applies mathematical strategies by graphing water distribution on earth
- Explores how energy and fuel use affects our environment
- Models how energy flows through a food chain beginning with factors influencing plant growth
- Demonstrates through modeling, the movement of matter in environments
- Generates solutions to natural resource problems
Course Description
Fifth Grade Art focuses on thinking creatively and critically through exploratory investigation and collaboration. Students will engage in the artistic processes of planning, creating, and reflecting through practicing the Studio Habits of Mind. A variety of skills, techniques, and media will be refined, including but not limited to: drawing, painting, mixed media, collage, fibers, printmaking, sculpture, and ceramics, Students will apply visual literacy strategies by relating to the arts of other times, places, and cultures and will communicate about their work throughout the artmaking process. Students will develop their personal voice (or exhibit curiosity) by exploring their interests and/or backgrounds while creating original ideas. As a result, students will continue the process of forming personal identity and learn how to empathize with others globally as 21st century learners.
Expected Course Outcomes
- CREATING: Play & Ideation - Combine ideas to generate an innovative idea for artmaking. VA:Cr1A.5
- CREATING: Investigation - Identify and demonstrate diverse methods of artistic investigation to choose an approach for beginning a work of art. VA:Cr1B.5
- CREATING: Skill Acquisition - Experiment and develop skills in multiple artmaking techniques and approaches through practice. VA:Cr2A.5
- CREATING: Reflect-Refine-Continue - Create artist statements using art vocabulary to describe personal choices in artmaking. VA:Cr3A.5
- RESPONDING: Interpret - Interpret art by analyzing characteristics of form and structure, contextual information, subject matter, visual elements, and use of media to identify ideas and mood conveyed. VA:Re8A.5
- RESPONDING: Evaluate - Recognize differences in criteria used to evaluate works of art depending on styles, genres, and media as well as historical and cultural contexts. VA:Re9A.5
Course Description
This course will focus on exploring the musical processes of creating, performing, and responding, while forming connections within arts and non-arts disciplines. Students will develop the skills necessary to experience music as a performer and consumer, thus encouraging a lifelong appreciation of music.
Expected Course Outcomes
- Demonstrates knowledge of concepts through the creation of original music.
- Sings, plays instruments and moves to music.
- Evaluates and responds to music.
Course Description
This is an elective course offered to all fifth grade students who participated in fourth grade orchestra. Students meet for 30 minutes twice a week in heterogeneous groups and will continue instruction on the violin, viola, and cello from fourth grade. This will be the first year of instruction on bass for students. Students will perform more advanced music by increasing their knowledge of technique and note-reading skills. Students are responsible for providing their own instrument and supplies. A limited number of instruments are available for students based on financial need.
Expected Course Outcomes
- Left Hand:Demonstrates correct placement of the left hand.
- Bow Technique: Performs bowing techniques.
- Practice Skills: Applies concepts in independent practice.
- Ensemble Skills: Displays ensemble skills.
- Music Literacy:Identifies and performs music notation.
Course Description
The Fifth Grade Health/Physical Education curriculum is based on student’s participation in sequential and developmentally appropriate activities selected by the teachers from the suggested facilitating activities. The teachers will focus on and are not limited to, locomotor (combining two or more) and non-locomotor skills, body in space, manipulative skills (passing, throwing, catching), health and skill-related fitness, aerobic and anaerobic, parts of a workout, benefits of being fit, heart rate, decision making, problem-solving, risk-taking, goal setting, sportsmanship, safety, personal health, nutrition, growth and development, and DARE.
Expected Course Outcomes
- Participate in health-enhancing physical activities
- Participate in a variety of activities that will increase and/or enhance their level of physical activity
- Demonstrate and apply locomotor and non-locomotor skills.
- Demonstrate and apply personal and social responsibilities.
- Demonstrate rhythmic and dance activities.
- Demonstrate and apply manipulative skills.
- Identify and analyze the structure, functions, and interrelations of human body systems.
- Analyze and identify the food groups, food labels, the six essential nutrients, and the factors that influence food choices.
Course Description
The Library Media program for grades 4-5 will continue to develop students’ abilities to navigate and access a variety of current library resources while refining library and research skills. The program will emphasize growth as lifelong readers, ethical, digital citizens, and productive researchers in a collaborative environment.
Expected Course Outcomes
- In order to become lifelong learners and readers, students will be able to find, filter, and apply digital and print resources ethically and responsibly.
Course Description
The goal of our program is to have students spend as much time in their regular classroom as possible. Each English Learner (EL) receives support from a certified ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Teacher. The ESOL teacher provides academic support in all content areas, and partners with classroom teachers and other education professionals to ensure that ELs’ needs (academic, social, personal) are met. Rockwood employs a variety of instructional models to support students’ needs. Students may receive services in class, in a small group, or one-on-one depending on their level of proficiency. All ELs also work on developing portfolios as another way to track their academic growth and their English language development.
Expected Course Outcomes
- English language learners communicate for social and instructional purposes within the school setting.
- English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of language arts.
- English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of mathematics.
- English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of science.