RIDGEWOOD
AVENUE SCHOOL
Glen Ridge
School District
FIFTH
GRADE CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK PARENT BULLETIN
Dear Parents and Guardians,
At
Our students not only receive instruction
in the core academic subjects, Mathematics, Language Arts, Science and Social
Studies, but they also experience an extensive related arts curriculum that
includes Art, Music, Physical Education, Media Skills, World Languages,
Synergistics, Technology, Guidance and Health.
Each subject area curriculum is reviewed and revised on a five year
rotation plan.
Our dedicated highly qualified staff is
committed to the goal of academic success and student personal growth. Instruction is delivered with consideration
of the various learning styles amongst the students. Technology and character education are
integrated in the lessons. We offer
numerous enrichment opportunities through assemblies, field trips, clubs, band,
chorus and after school courses.
We will continue to work hard to provide a safe and supportive environment that enhances a joy of
learning for all of our students.
Sincerely,
Dirk
Phillips, Principal
LANGUAGE ARTS
The fifth grade Language Arts curriculum gives the students
the opportunity to explore a broad array of language skills. The students embark on a year-long journey
where they learn many skills such as analyzing novels and their anthology. The students also learn to expand their essay
and letter writing techniques. The
curriculum provides the opportunity for the students to learn the proper uses
for nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases in their
writing. The fifth grade curriculum also
allows for the students to become immersed in research report skills, including
creating note cards, an outline, rough and final drafts, works cited page, and
a presentation, which encompasses technology.
Novels presented to the fifth grade include The Big Wave,
My Side of the Mountain, From the Mixed Up Files
of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, In the Year of the Boar and Jackie
Robinson. The novels offer the
opportunity for rich classroom discussion.
The students read the novels and then they are asked to use higher level
thinking skills to analyze and synthesize the notions put forth in the story.
Fifth grade brings new focus to essay writing. Students learn to expand their thoughts and
skills in many different types of writing.
Students are now held accountable for spelling and grammar rules, which
have been taught in class. The essays
are expected to flow in a logical coherent fashion that demonstrates one’s
ability to use transitions between paragraphs as well as the proper usage of
opening and closing paragraphs. The
students also learn to apply these skills across the content areas. Study
skills appropriate to each grade are integrated into the curriculum.
MATHEMATICS
The Everyday
Mathematics 2008 series recognizes and builds on student capabilities. Through the student’s own experience, he or
she will develop an understanding of mathematics and acquire knowledge and
skill.
The fifth grade program highlights
problem solving, basic number facts, arithmetic, fractions, decimals, percents,
early geometry skills and early algebra skills.
The students develop links between their past, present, and future
knowledge. Students are given the
opportunity to develop their skills through cooperative learning, individual
learning, and incorporating manipulatives for hands-on experience, which
presents the individual with the opportunity for a deeper understanding of all
concepts taught.
Additional practice with long division, multiplication facts, adding,
subtracting, dividing, and multiplying with decimals are supplemented by the
classroom teacher.
SCIENCE
Fifth grade science is an inquiry-based program. It involves the study of five units: Systems in Living Things introduces students
to the life processes of living things, as well as both plant and animal
cycles, Matter and Energy concentrates on the various forms that matter and
energy take, Populations and Ecosystems examines the nature of an ecosystem, as
well as the biodiversity in earth’s biomes and aquatic environments, The Solid
Earth is an earth science unit comprised of rock/mineral classification,
fossils, and the structure of the earth, Light and Sound is a unit that focuses
on the properties of light and sound through experimentation, and students will
be engaged in real-world investigations to foster their scientific
curiosity. They will learn to conduct
experiments and draw reasonable conclusions.
SOCIAL STUDIES
In the fifth grade social studies
curriculum, children study the phenomena and effects of the first explorers,
the settlement of the colonies, the American Revolution, western movement, the
Civil War, and our nation’s reconstruction.
Students will use an appropriate
text, which follows the curriculum, and will complete projects, trips, and
activities that supplement the curriculum.
MUSIC
The curriculum for music in fifth grade is divided into
three sections. The first section,
general music, is taken by all fifth grade students. In this class, students learn the basics of
listening to, performing, writing, and appreciating music. The second section of music offered to fifth
graders is the choral program. This is a performing ensemble that meets twice a
week before school. The chorus consists
of students of all ages, grades and abilities.
The main focus of this ensemble is reading music and performing. The last section of music available to the
fifth grade is the instrumental program.
There are two bands at this school currently, an advanced band and a
beginner band. The beginner band is for
all first year instrumental students.
They perform one concert a year in the spring with the advanced
band. The Advanced Band is available for
anyone wishing to audition during the year.
There are currently students in fourth, fifth and sixth grades in this
ensemble. The advanced band performs two concerts, one in the winter and the
other in the spring. All
instrumentalists receive one music lesson a week during the school year.
SYNERGISTICS
With an ever-increasing demand for and usage of technology
today, the Synergistics Lab offers students a hands-on experience utilizing
technology tools to explore topics in physical and life science. Appropriate yet high tech gear, computers,
videotapes and hands-on lab experiences guide students learning. Problem solving strategies are an integral
part of all eleven modules and apply to other classroom activities.
The Synergistics Lab was donated to
the school through the generosity of the Glen Ridge Educational Foundation.
PHYSICAL
EDUCATION AND HEALTH
Physical education is part of a school-based program that
promotes social, emotional, and physical well-being. The purpose of physical education is to
develop and enhance gross motor skills, social and life skills, and the
learner’s thinking and problem solving skills.
Fifth grade physical education encompasses teaching students
the skills that foster participation in physical activities throughout
life. Students will learn and apply
movement concepts; health related fitness concepts, as well as social
concepts. These skills and concepts are
taught through a variety of activities and units including dance and movement,
individual and team sports, and integration of other discipline areas.
The three domains of physical education include psychomotor,
cognitive, and affective. Psychomotor
skills include all physical movements from traveling to throwing and
catching. Cognitive skills may include
decision-making, learning rules of a sport, and/or creating strategies to
become more successful. The affective domain encompasses teamwork, being
prepared, respect for self and others, and good sportsmanship.
Health education is part of a school-based program that
provides information to foster student skills, attitudes, and behaviors that
will result in lifelong healthful decision-making. Health education promotes student physical,
mental, emotional, and social well-being.
WORLD LANGUAGES
Students in grade five receive world
language instruction two periods in a six-day cycle, with a teacher who comes
into their classroom. Students are
assessed and a grade for world languages appears on their report card.
Effective communication in Spanish is the primary goal. Students are asked to use all four components
of language; listening, speaking, reading, and writing in order to be able to
communicate in an effective manner.
Spanish is often used in the classroom to teach language concepts. Pictures, stuffed animals, gestures, acting,
and music help to convey meaning and reduce or even eliminate the necessity for
direct translation. Homework is a
written reinforcement of concepts taught in class. Periodic assessments are given to determine
the students’ level of comprehension. All four language components are assessed
during the marking period.
In addition to language, the world
languages program includes the instruction of different cultural
practices. Projects to be worked on
outside of the classroom focus on cultural activities; and specific cultural
lessons are taught in class. The goal is
to instill a life-long appreciation for language and culture.
LIBRARY
Appreciation for the printed word is a priority
at the
Additionally, the librarian provides instruction for all
grades in research skills and computer skills.
It is also an “open library” in that teachers
and students may use the resources within whenever necessary. Students are scheduled for library at least
one period every six-day cycle.
Starting in the third grade, students
begin developing their research skills.
They use dictionaries, almanacs, encyclopedias, and atlases. Gradually, they become more comfortable with
finding answers on their own. By the
time they are sixth graders, students should be quite comfortable using print
sources as well as databases and the Internet.
At all levels, emphasis is placed on the
accuracy and reliability of information sources. Information literacy grows significantly
during their years at
ART
Fifth graders will cycle through art
for a 14-week period. The grade level
curriculum focuses on acquiring knowledge of skills that will increase an
aesthetic awareness in the visual arts. This includes demonstrating a knowledge of the process of critiquing, developing and
defining design, identifying and describing various art forms from different
historical and contemporary periods and cultures, and recognizing the impact of
the visual arts in daily life.
GLEN RIDGE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Ms. Betsy
Ginsburg, President
Ms. Karen Eisen,
First Vice President
Ms. Julie Raskin,
Second Vice President
Mr. Thomas Agnew
Ms.
Mr. Jeffrey
Kobernick
Ms. Suzanne
O’Connor
Ms. Gwen
Schoenfeld
GLEN RIDGE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
Mr. Kenneth Rota
Interim
Superintendent of Schools
Mr.
Principal,
Mr. Michael
Donovan
Assistant
Principal,