Writing workshop emphasizes the use and development of the Six Traits of writing– ideas, organization, voice, sentence fluency, word choice, and conventions. In addition to practicing these skills in isolation, students will produce narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive pieces by effectively completing all steps of the writing process.

The word study program addresses word recognition, vocabulary, and phonics as well as spelling. Students are provided with varying word lists to instruct particular patterns in words. Students are assessed not only on their knowledge of the proper spelling but also their understanding of the appropriate patterns.

The Fifth-Grade Reading and Writing Standards of Learning Tests are administered.

Fifth grade implements a balanced literacy program to address reading, writing, and word study. Through both guided and shared reading experiences students have the opportunity to develop appreciation and critical comprehension strategies to understand both fiction and nonfiction selections across content areas. Guided reading allows students to read appropriate texts in a small group setting to focus on specific comprehension skills and fluency. During shared reading, a single text is presented to the entire class while the teacher models specific before-, during-, and after- reading comprehension and word attack skills.

Fifth graders continue to explore and develop problem-solving strategies, logical reasoning skills, and algebraic thinking. Using hands-on activities and techniques, students practice computation skills with whole numbers, decimals, and fractions, as well as explore topics such as measurement, geometry, data analysis, and probability.

The Fifth Grade Mathematics Standards of Learning Test is administered.

The accelerated mathematics curriculum covers some fifth grade material and all sixth-grade Mathematics Standards of Learning. Already acquired skills such as elementary number theory, geometry, measurement, statistics, probability, patterns and functions are further investigated and developed using hands-on concrete strategies. In addition, students are introduced to algebraic symbolism and order of operations to prepare students for pre-algebra.

The Sixth-Grade Mathematics Standards of Learning Test is administered.

The fifth-grade science curriculum is a continuation of material previously learned in earlier grades. The scientific method and experimental design is emphasized with selecting appropriate instruments and units for recording measurements, data, and observations. Accurately interpreting data and drawing conclusions is a key focus as well. Students experience key concepts with hands-on experimentation along with frequent instructor modeling and demonstration. Students are introduced to more detailed concepts of sound and light and the tools used for studying them. Matter, including atoms, molecules, elements, and compounds, is revisited, along with the properties of matter in greater detail. Students will investigate the basic composition of plant and animal cells along with distinguishing characteristics of all organisms. Students learn about the characteristics of the oceans and Earth’s changing surface through units of oceanography and geology.

The Fifth-Grade Science Standards of Learning Test is administered to cover both fourth and fifth grade science curriculum.

The World Studies curriculum builds on the study of the ancients in second and third grades and provides an introduction to the world history courses students will complete in high school. Students will study the geography, history, and culture of regions such as Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The World Studies curriculum is designed to be a hands-on project based experience.

NO Social Studies Standards of Learning Test is administered in fifth grade.