List of 5 items.

• Mathematics

  The fifth grade investigates the following mathematical concepts: applying operations to fractions, decimals, and percentages; ratio, proportion, and scale; and integers and pre-algebraic equations (one-step and inverse operations). Students also investigate area and perimeter. The curriculum uses hands-on activities, games, problem solving, independent and group projects, and class homework review as teaching tools.

• English

  In fifth grade, students continue to build on the work they have done in the Lower School to hone their writing skills, focusing on writing clear paragraphs and cogent essays, with a comprehensive editing and rewriting effort. This writing includes traditional essay composition, as well as letters, fiction, and poetry. Students analyze fiction by reading and discussing novels as a class and connecting what they read with the social studies curriculum through an investigation of ancient artifacts. Concentrated study of English grammar is also a focus of the fifth grade English curriculum, as students continue to develop punctuation and sentence structure skills. Finally, the students develop their vocabulary using words from shared reading.

• Science

  Students develop and apply scientific inquiry, measurement skills, and the scientific method to experimentation. They also develop and use age-appropriate design-thinking skills through problem solving and STEAM-oriented activities. The fifth grade curriculum includes The Study of Matter: phases, atomic and molecular structures, chemical reactions, introduction to chemistry; Characteristics of Life: kingdoms and classifications; Anthropod Study: grasshopper dissection and independent anthropod research; and Life Science topics: viruses, bacteria, protozoa, fungi, plants, and ecology. In the Upper School Science Lab, students learn the fundamentals of lab work, including maintaining a lab notebook and proper scientific report writing.

• Social Studies

  The fifth grade social studies curriculum explores the concept of geography as destiny. Students read and create maps, developing imaginary cultures using the vocabulary and principles of geography. In doing so, the students examine how their own experiences shape our understanding of other cultures, traditions, and beliefs.

• World Languages

  In the fifth grade, students continue their study of French or Spanish. They use listening activities, pronunciation practice, and beginning reading and writing to increase their proficiency. French or Spanish instruction includes basic grammar study: articles, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, regular and irregular verb conjugation in present tense, and forming simple sentences. Vocabulary continues to be built by exploring French- or Spanish-speaking cultures and by encouraging beginning conversational skills.