Trinity Lutheran School
Fifth Grade
Teacher: Mrs. Joan Quiram
For more information about Trinity's fifth grade class, please call the school office at 507-231-6646 or email Mrs. Quiram.
Curriculum Overview
Religion and Memory Work
The CPH Voyages curriculum is used for religion instruction. Within the context of each lesson, students are taught key concepts of faith such as Law, Gospel, confession, repentance, forgiveness, and grace and are encouraged to put these concepts into action in their daily lives. The course includes lessons on the Word of God, the life and work of Martin Luther, and sequential study of selected Bible stories that span biblical history from the Exodus through the life of Christ. Thru a planning memory program students learn Scripture verses, hymns, and portions of Luther's Small Catechism.
Reading
In the fifth grade reading program, students read literature which includes realism, fantasy, poetry biographies, historical fiction, folktales, and more. Selections are grouped according to themes. During the school year, students will work to improve their vocabulary, comprehension, word study, study skills, and appreciation of literature. Skills such as recalling analyzing, summarizing.
In the fifth grade reading program, students read literature which includes realism, fantasy, poetry, biographies, historical fiction, folktales, and more. Selections are grouped according to themes. During the school year, students will work to improve their vocabulary, comprehension, word study skills, and appreciation of literature. Skills such as recalling, analyzing, summarizing, inferring, cause and effect, drawing conclusions, story elements, sequencing, and evaluating are taught and practiced. Effort is made to help students improve their reading sills and to develop a lifelong love of reading
English
English curriculum in the fifth grade includes grammar, sentence and paragraph structure, punctuation, mechanics, and vocabulary building. Creative writing is explored, as well as the research, outline, and the writing process of a formal report.
Spelling
The spelling curriculum uses word lists based on sound and syllable patterns. The lists include word which are educationally appropriate and commonly used. Activities build around these lists help the students use prefixes, suffixes, roots, and word relationships to spell new words. A weekly test together with a review every few weeks helps to ensure that students retain and apply knowledge of the spelling patterns they are learning.
Handwriting
Cursive style writing is emphasized throughout all subjects in the fifth grade. A formal handwriting workbook is used to help the students develop the skill of correct letter size, slant, spacing, and smoothness of upper and lower case letters.
Math
Math in fifth grade involves learning new skills daily and building upon them. Saxon Math uses an incremental approach to math with the concepts building upon each other. It is a curriculum that offers repetition of previously learned skills for better retention. Topics include, but are not limited to: computation, measurement, place value, geometry; fractions, decimals, and percents; long and short division; two and three step problems, estimating, equivalents, rations, and factorization. Emphasis is placed on showing each stop of a problem to prepare students for algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
Science
The fifth grade science curriculum enables students to explore scientific facts and theories from a Christian perspective. Students will experience a wide variety of hands-on activities in and out of the classroom. The Holy Bible is used as a second textbook to help students gain a better understanding of God's creation and their effect upon it. Areas of study include: plant and animal processes, the solar system, populations and ecosystems; light and sound; energy, work and machines; and earth science. Students are guided through the process of choosing a topic for a science fair project, forming a hypothesis, researching and organizing data, reaching a conclusion, drafting a bibliography, and presenting their project in written, display and oral fashion for the school science fair.
Social Science
The basis of fifth grade social studies is the study of American history. Skills are developed in reading and using maps, understanding charts and graphs, and in reading timelines. Emphasis is placed on the time of exploration and settlement of North American through the Cold War and as far as time allow.
Map, Globes, and Graphs
Students in fifth grade will improve the skill of map reading and understanding through the use of a structured maps, globes, and graphs curriculum. Fifth graders will become familiar with map terminology through the use of legends, scales, cardinal and intermediate directions; latitude and longitude; and grid reading. Time zones, regions, hemispheres and map projections are also explored. This useful skill helps students experience success in other subjects such as social studies, geography and math.
Art
Artistic ability is either a natural gift or a learned ability. The students will have the opportunity to learn different techniques in a variety of mediums. They will be able to work with watercolors, acrylics, colored pencil, chalks, and charcoal.
Choir
The main purpose of choir is to provide glory to God through singing together while providing musical enjoyment and growth in vocal technique. The choir sings at scheduled church services, the Christmas service, and at the spring choral festival.
Band
Students in fifth through eighth grade are able to be in band. Fifth grade band begins sometime after the beginning of the school year. The students are shown the various instruments to help them choose wisely. A meeting with the band director and parents is held to make final choices. Once a fifth grade student completes the introductory book, they are then placed in the band. Not all fifth grade students progress at the same rate. The band class and lessons are provided by the JWP band director. Band students gain deeper musical understanding through the study of theory and performance. Emphasis is placed on tone quality, scale memorization, rhythm recognition, and musical interpretation. The students are exposed to increasingly challenging music as they progress through band. Generally, two concerts are offered each year, one in the fall and one in the spring.
Physical Education
Physical education in fifth grade focuses on developing and refining locomoter skills and object control. A variety of individual and team sports are taught. Emphasis is on learning and developing specific skill for specific sports. The concepts of team and team sports, sportsmanship, fair play, cooperation, respect dealing with winning and losing, as well as lifelong physical fitness are some of the areas that are stressed. A healthy self image and attitude are discussed though the use of current health journals aimed at the preteen level. Students are given the opportunity to qualify for the Presidential and National fitness awards and are encouraged to view fitness in terms of lifelong activities and fun.