Fifth Grade . Grade by Grade Learning Guide

The BasicsFifth graders work hard on projects and tasks that require them to draw on the skills and strategies they have been learning in elementaryschool. School work gets more difficult, as students may have separate teachers for each subject for the first time. Teachers challenge

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students with longterm projects that require planning and organization.

The social life of fifth graders often overshadows what they learn — at least for them. Who their friends are and what they think is moreimportant than ever as puberty begins to bloom. At the same time, fifth graders may experience excitement about what they are learning andable to do, as well as new anxiety. In many schools, fifth graders will soon be moving on to middle school, and children may feel boththrilled and overwhelmed by the transition. Parents, guardians and teachers can play a critical role in listening, reassuring and supporting thenew individual that is starting to emerge.

Language & LiteracyFifth graders are asked to read a lot in a variety of subject areas. They’ll learn to analyze characters, plot, and settings, as well as torecognize an author’s purpose for writing and his organizational strategies. By reading all the time in their classrooms, in libraries, and athome, they’ll be able to find what they like to read. Reading for pleasure helps students build their vocabulary and fosters a lifelong love ofliterature. (Soon, their opportunities for independent reading will be swallowed up by the wealth of middle and high school readingassignments and peer activities.)

Fifth graders have become skillful writers with their own individual styles. They produce and present research projects, and write morecomplex narratives and creative fiction. They are asked to edit their writing, using what they have learned about the rules of grammar,spelling and punctuation. As in reading, they should be encouraged to explore writing for personal expression, putting their often intensefeelings onto paper through poetry, stories, and song writing.

MathFifth graders learn to solve complex problems with complex numbers. They divide whole numbers, with and without remainders. Theymake connections between decimals, fractions, and percentages. They learn to multiply and divide fractions and to do the same operationsusing the powers of time. They apply these skills to the real world by solving problems about time, measurement, and money.

ScienceFifth graders are now accomplished scientists who can observe and experiment to gather data and draw conclusions. They have expandedtheir knowledge of the physical world and can apply the basic math and science skills they’ve acquired to their observations. They learnabout the processes of living things, like photosynthesis and digestion. They look at the Earth and its resources, and how people use andaffect those resources. Some might experiment with simple chemical reactions. Topics may include Earth’s atmosphere and weather, thesolar system, and classifying matter.

Social StudiesFifth graders learn about the people and events of early American history. They compare Native American and colonial experiences withpresentday life, focusing on the differing cultures of each original colony. They learn why people moved to the United States and explorethe routes and consequences of those movements.

They also have to work, in and out of school, on the social issues that arise within their peer groups. They learn about the many changes thatpuberty brings to their bodies. The social arena dominates fifth grade life, and they need help figuring it all out, from coping with rejection,to resolving conflicts, to handling bullying and violence. Many fifth graders have a growing awareness of the opposite sex, and this may beaddressed by fifthgrade teachers as part of a health awareness or sex education program.

How Kids Learn in Fifth Grade

The Big DistractionsFifth graders are flipfloppers. They think of themselves as mature and independent but can revert to immature behavior when they want thecomfort they are often afraid to ask for. They spend much of their day learning the complex and everchanging social rules for interactingwith their peers. This can make it tough for teachers, who have to steer them back to the academic tasks of the classroom. It can also make ittough for some fifth graders, who may need to switch their focus from classroom social dramas to good study skills and time management.

Fortunately, by this stage, fifth graders have developed the ability to think logically about concrete problems. This means that when theylook at a problem, they can pull out the necessary facts and strategies needed to solve it, and then move those thoughts around in differentways until they are able to figure it out.

Hitting PubertyPuberty can create a classroom that contains a broad mix of maturity levels, both physical and emotional. Some girls are interested in boyswhile others haven’t noticed their charms yet. Some girls have begun to develop physically, while others may still have a few years to go.And boys often still have a year or two before they even begin to mature.

Both girls and boys pay more attention to their appearance and to the ways their bodies are changing. The hormones of puberty can createmood swings that range from open conflict to giggling playfulness all in a few minutes. This can distract some from schoolwork and thecomplicated tasks of fifth grade.

The Pressures of the GroupBeing part of a group, what their friends think of them, and what they think of their friends are very important issues for fifth graders,particularly (but not exclusively) girls. Both sexes become more selfconscious and somewhat insecure about how they appear and whetherthey “fit in.” Struggles with schoolwork can often cause children to feel isolated from their peers, and embarrassed. Occasionally, studentswho excel in certain subjects try to downplay their intelligence in order fit in. “It’s important for parents to build upon children’s strengths tohelp them with their weaker areas,” says Susan Becker, M. Ed., teacher at the Rand Family School. “It’s also a good time to look atchildren’s passions to find extracurricular activities in areas in which they can excel. This can give them a sense of pride of accomplishment,and can broaden their peer group to include friends who have common interests.”

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elizabeth • a year ago

what i have to do

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Dr. Long • 2 years ago

You should add "how to cite this article" in these fabulous pieces of literature. I often read them and want to include them in myreferences, but I am lacking some of the basic parts like: year of publication, author, etc. Just a thought! Keep it up.

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Amber • 3 years ago

This is very good for me, so, I can learn more fast

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Cory • 7 months ago

Thanks for the information!

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RAHMAN • a year ago

HI

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Chris G. • a year ago

You should add everything u learn in math in fifth grade because im about to go to sixth tomorrow i need to study

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