Cascade Canyon

5th and 6th Grade

Together, our fifth and sixth grade class will explore the subject areas of Reading, Writing, Word Study, Mathematics, and Social Studies.  As a community of learners, our goal  is to work cooperatively in order to deepen our understanding of the many concepts presented. LANGUAGE ARTS Reading: This year, we will continue to develop literacy skills that increase both our fluency and comprehension of the texts we read.  Throughout the course of the year, we will read a variety of texts for a variety of purposes.  Students will keep records of what they are reading through the use of detailed reading logs and journal responses, and through daily discussions.  In addition, students will continually explore the reading/writing connection as they study the craft of each author’s writing.  Using these writers as mentors, students will, in turn, incorporate these strategies into their own writing.     We will complete three novel studies throughout the course of the school year.  Each book has been carefully selected to fit into the larger, integrated curriculum.  One of the novels will also serve to flesh-out our social studies curriculum.  They are: •    Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit •    The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare •    The Giver by Lois Lowry Students will engage in many cross-curricular activities throughout the novel studies that will incorporate critical thinking, reading, social studies, and writing.  Two of the larger projects students will engage in this year will include researching and writing a biography of a historical figure and researching and writing a historical fiction piece (both assignments to be formalized later). Writing: In addition to daily journal writing and literature response activities, students will participate in an ongoing Writer’s Workshop.  Through the workshop format, students will be exposed to many types of writing and encouraged to hone their skills in each area.  Throughout the course of the year, students will create narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive texts.  Using real authors as mentors, we will explore the craft of various forms of writing.  Students will proceed through the writing process (planning, drafting, revising/editing, publishing, celebrating) during each writing unit.  The following is a list of our writing units for the year: •    Personal Narrative •    Note-taking skills & Nonfiction Writing •    Historical Fiction •    Poetry •    Folktales In addition to focusing on the craft of writing, students will also have numerous opportunities to improve their command of English grammar and spelling.  Each week, students will work with word sorts from the Words Their Way spelling curriculum.  These sorts explore many different facets of the English language, including spelling patterns, prefixes, suffixes, and Latin root words.  As a class, we will also sharpen our grammatical skills through weekly proofreading exercises. Speaking & Listening: Students will have regular opportunities to both engage in class discussion and make oral presentations.  For example, each time a student finishes a good book he or she is encouraged to give a “book talk.”  A book talk is an opportunity to introduce the class to a new text and create excitement for others to read the text.  Once a book talk has been given, the book is placed on the “Class Picks” shelf for other students to enjoy.  Students will also have other opportunities for public speaking as the year progresses, as they present their biography projects as well as during our weekly all-school meetings.     As a class, we practice active listening techniques on a daily basis.  It is a class expectation that every person in the community will listen respectfully and respond appropriately during class discussions. MATHEMATICS In-Class Textbook:  Mathematics:  Exploring Our World by Silver Burdett Ginn Fifth Grade: This year, fifth graders will continue to deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts through a variety of activities.  In class, students will work in their textbooks, participate in hands-on activities and math games, and progress at an individual pace through the supplementary “Key To Math” workbook series.  The following is a list of topics to be covered by the fifth grade curriculum: •    Place value •    Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing whole numbers •    Dividing by two-digit divisors •    Time •    Data and Graphing •    Geometry •    Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing decimals •    Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions •    Relating fractions and decimals •    Measurement •    Perimeter and Area •    Pre-Algebra Sixth Grade: This year, sixth graders will continue to deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts through a variety of activities.  In class, students will work in their textbooks, participate in hands-on activities and math games, and progress at an individual pace through the supplementary “Key To Math” workbook series.  The following is a list of topics to be covered by the sixth grade curriculum: •    Place value •    Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing whole numbers and decimals •    Number theory •    Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions •    Geometry •    Graphing and Statistics •    Perimeter, Area, and Volume •    Ratio, proportion, and percent •    Probability and Pre-Algebra SOCIAL STUDIES This year, our focus will be on United States History from the Pre-Columbian era through the westward expansion of the country until 1850.  We will be primarily concerned with the people of this period, their motives for coming to this country and their contributions to its beginnings.  The curriculum will be divided into six major units of study: •    Pre-Columbian Native American Cultures •    European Exploration of the New World •    The Colonial Period •    The American Revolution •    The U.S. Constitution •    Early Expansion into the Western Territories During each of these units, students will have the opportunity to participate in collaborative projects that will put history at their fingertips.  In addition to the study of our nation’s history, students will also become familiar with the geography of the United States, including the location of all fifty states and their capital cities. SCIENCE Our 5th-6th grade science program at Cascade Canyon is taught by our Science Specialist who is an expert in her field. For more information on the 5th-6th grade science curriculum, click here.