The Fifth Grade Program at St. Thomas More School

Curriculum Overview

The fifth grade curriculum is aligned with the Diocesan guidelines and Pennsylvania State Academic Standards.

Religion

The Mass and the sacraments are explored in depth so that students become more conscious and active participants in the Church’s sacramental life. Exposure to prayer experiences, Scripture, the lives of the saints, plays, and other activities enhance the curriculum.

Reading

Students explore vocabulary, read selections from the text, participate in small group guided lessons, create monthly book reports, and participate in literature circles relating to class novels.

Language Arts

The eight parts of speech, mechanics of writing, and writing across the curriculum is the focus of the language arts curriculum. Weekly spelling words are also taught and mastered.

Math

Place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division concepts are reviewed and expanded. Decimals, fractions, and geometry concepts are taught in depth, and all skills are applied to problem solving. Students in both fifth and sixth grade have an additional math program for two days a week. This additional program, Math II, provides and opportunity to develop greater skills and a deeper conceptual understanding of the fifth and sixth grade math topics.

Science

The fifth grade curriculum covers all three sciences, earth, physical, and life, using an inquiry approach. The primary focus includes the Earth and its atmosphere, physics of forces, motion and energy, chemistry of matter, and classification of living things.

Social Studies

The fifth grade social studies curriculum focuses on explorers, Native Americans, early settlements of North America, immigration through Ellis Island, the American Revolution, and the Constitution. The year ends with a discussion of Canada and its features.

Fifth Grade Highlights

At the end of the year, students participate in a Read-In where they enjoy a comfortable, relaxing afternoon reading and eating snacks. Students also visit historic Philadelphia, the Constitution Center, and other historical sites related to topics studied in class. A trip to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty ends the study of immigration and nationalities.

Technology Highlights, Projects, and Special Events

Teachers use electronic whiteboards and multimedia projectors to introduce concepts and involve students in the learning process. Students use technology to create projects that augment what is taught in the classroom. For example, students create Eucharistic newsletters, PowerPoint presentations, podcasts and WebQuests. In addition, teachers use online resources to enhance understanding in different curriculum areas. Finally, students use the Academy of Math program weekly to help enrich, remediate, and maintain math skills.