Grade 5

Grade Five is an eventful year. It is a year of growth and maturity for the students as they settle into their role as intermediate students.

Teacher's Notes

Religion: The students reflect on worship. They see Jesus as a model for worship, someone to follow in prayer, loving service and sacrifice.  They learn how the Sacraments of Initiation draw us into worship by making us children of God and members of God’s holy people.  Then, a study of the principal rites of the mass, with their signs, symbols, and prayers help the students prepare for active, conscious, and authentic participation in the Eucharistic Sacrifice.  Then the students deepen their understanding of God’s strengthening grace and reconciling love through a study of the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick and the Eucharist.  Then the students, through a study on vocations, deepen their awareness that God calls all Christians to holiness and leads them to it through special ways of life.  Finally, the students learn Jesus’ teachings on the fifth through tenth commandments and how they can serve others by performing the works of mercy. 

Math:  The students will first learn about number patterns. They will learn how a number pattern grows, and how to predict and justify number pattern extensions.  Then, the students will be learning how to read, write and estimate whole numbers up to 999,999.  They will also learn how to read, write, and then add and subtract decimal tenths and hundredths.  Then they will learn how to add and subtract four-digit and five-digit numbers, and estimate sums by rounding to the nearest hundred, thousand, or ten thousand.  Then the students will learn how to multiply two-digit and three-digit numbers, estimate products, and find averages.  They will learn how to regroup tens and hundreds when dividing, and to divide thousands.  Then the students will learn about measurement.  They will be able to measure the length of an object and find the perimeter, area, and volume of shapes.  They will become familiar with the measurement of mass and capacity.  Then they will work on a geometry unit, and be able to identify lines, line segments,   

Science:  Students are introduced to renewable and non-renewable resources in British Columbia. They classify living and non-living resources as renewable or non-renewable resources.    The students will also learn about, and begin to understand the relationship between forces and simple machines.  By exploring and experimenting with a variety of objects, the students develop understanding of the relationship between the mass and motion of an object and the forces acting on it.  Also, the students identify and understand the characteristics and uses of the six simple machines.  Then the students will complete a study of the human body.  They learn the structures and functions of the basic body systems, with particular emphasis on the study of the function of four organs: the heart, the lungs, the brain, and the skin.  They discover ways that our bodies’ systems work together. If possible, the students will participate in a field trip to Science World to learn more about the human body.

Social Studies:  First of all, the students will learn about natural resources, particularly the forest resource.  They will also learn about the diverse distribution of natural resources within Canada.  Then, the students will locate and describe major physical features of Canada using topographic and thematic maps. Then the students will complete a unit on “citizenship” and “government”.  They will learn about citizenship in terms of participation in the community, province, and country.  They will demonstrate an understanding of equality and fairness in Canada with respect to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  They will learn about the three levels of government in Canada (municipal, provincial, federal) and be able to explain some of the services provided by them.  Also, they will learn about the Canadian Constitution. They will also learn about the election process in Canada, and participate in a class election. Finally, the students will develop an understanding of Canadian culture, and be able to explain ways that people preserve and transmit culture.  They will learn why immigrants come to Canada, the challenges they face, and their contributions to Canada. If possible, the students will go on a field trip to Fort Langley to learn more about the gold rush (natural resources).

Language Arts:  The students will be reading novels of their choice throughout the year during D.E.A.R. time.  When they have finished reading a novel silently, they will complete various book-sharing activities.  Also, the students will be reading many short stories and poems from the "Literacy Place" program, and completing a variety of response activities.  The activities involve reading, listening, speaking, and writing letters and stories.  Later on in the year, the students will be reading a novel entitled “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" to further improve their reading comprehension skills. Also, the students will complete many writing activities this year, including stories, poems, letters, newspaper articles, reports, and journal entries.