Fifth Grade by page

Fifth Grade

Our
Teachers
Ginny Barry
gbarry@st-andrews.org
Jacqueline Guengerich
jguengerich@st-andrews.org
Welcome to Fifth Grade
In Fifth Grade, the students will build upon their capacity for critical thinking and
problem solving, while harnessing their emotional intelligence, which will continue
to impact their academic success. The development of resilience and perseverance
will allow them to continue to challenge themselves as they prepare to exceed grade
level standards to graduate to the Middle School Program. Fifth Grade students are
asked to explore the content at higher levels of thinking and reasoning as they work
collaboratively to analyze the content. This requires the utilization of the multiple
intelligences, which has been seamlessly integrated and incorporated into the Lower
School program. The program focuses on the development of the whole-child: spiritually,
academically, and socially, by building on prior knowledge and providing a nurturing
environment that fosters the development of a well-balanced child.
In fourth grade, the focus was on guiding the students to become independent and
confident learners. The classroom expectations and routines were intentionally
established and modeled to lay the groundwork for a positive learning environment. In
Fifth Grade, the students are familiar with the expectations and are given the opportunity
to design and create the class norms with guidance from their teacher. The students have
an understanding of who they are and who they want to be, so the class expectations
ensure a classroom culture that is joyful, respectful, and inclusive. The classroom and
the entire school community is a learning space where students can take risks, build
resilience, and learn from one another. As Fifth Graders, we encourage the students to be
role models and leaders.
In Fifth Grade, the focus is to actively prepare students for Middle School and to provide
an individualized program that provides opportunities to increase the student’s
proficiency in all core subjects. Foundational skills are reviewed, while core content
subjects are aligned to provide cross-curricular learning experiences. Technology
is incorporated throughout the program to provide opportunities for individualized
learning and for students to explore the digital world and the different forms of
technology they can use to create, explore, and discover. Fifth Grade students are
immersed in history utilizing various points of view as they engage in projects, debates,
and attend field trips to explore the colonization of the United States. They also utilize

to explore and solve complex real-world problems providing the opportunity for students to experience cross-curricular
thematic units that incorporate science and math concepts. As the students actively apply the knowledge they have
learned, they are challenged to deepen their understanding of each subject with a culminating study of the 50 states.
This long-term project includes learning the capital cities, the geography of each state, the landmarks, the population,
historical and current events, natural resources, and more. Language arts is also incorporated through the reading and
analysis of first and secondhand accounts, from an in-depth analysis of the novels the students read to explore American
History to the application of organization tools and study skills as they write essays, engage in discussions, and present
information. The curriculum ensures the students are prepared for the challenges they will face in the sixth grade.
In Fifth Grade, students are encouraged to reach their highest potential in an environment that also values the joy
of being a child! The program balances academics and project-based learning to continue to create authentic and
meaningful learning experiences which support the development of a confident student. Our teachers strive to create a
strong foundation for future growth and success. The Fifth Grade the program ensures the students:
• develop positive study habits and organizational skills.
• learn the foundational skills needed to be successful in subsequent grades in all core subjects.
• have opportunities to reinforce and extend their learning in specialty classes to increase retention of the skills
learned, promote the development of critical thinking skills, support and encourage the development of life-long
learning, and provide opportunities for advanced learning that extend beyond grade level standards.
• participate in class discussions, share resources, practice taking turns, and speaking in a group.
Language Arts • Students will create and learn to use interactive notebooks as a study tool not only
for the social studies curriculum, but also for the novels they read.
• Simultaneously, they will continue to expand their spelling, vocabulary, and
grammar expertise, with weekly assignments and other creative projects.
• Students will read three novels which are explored in depth for not only
comprehension, but also figurative language and literary elements.
• Fifth graders create monthly writing assignments exploring various genres
Mathematics • Students focus on increasingly complex operations with decimals and fractions,
incorporating pre-algebra and geometry concepts throughout the year.
• The curriculum is enriched with word problem exercises, and students are
encouraged to use manipulatives to solve the problems.
• The skills and concepts spiral reviews for retention and mastery.
Science • Students extend science understanding in the classroom through activities that are
aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards for fifth grade.
• Students employ science concepts and skills to learn to problem solve and develop
critical thinking skills.
• Units include: Earth Systems, Structures and Properties of Matter, Energy in
Organisms and Ecosystems, Science Expo Projects, and Engineering Design.
Social Studies • A thematic unit guides the students through the colonial days to the creation of a
new government for a young nation.
• They learn about social justice through the early centuries of the United States.
Character Education • Students work towards a more developed sense of accountability for their actions.
• They demonstrate motivation, perseverance, and a willingness to examine differing
opinions and perspectives.

Our collaborative team of teachers create, design, and implement lessons and learning experiences that not only
increase academic achievement, but also support the development of key traits and characteristics which impact
learning. These traits and characteristics include:
• creativity
• inquiry
• enthusiasm and intrinsic motivation
• perseverance
• willingness and eagerness to learn from others
• exploration and discovery
The knowledge the students gain in their core subjects is enhanced and reinforced when they work with our specialists in
Music, Spanish, Science and, Religion, Physical Education, and Art.
Art
Lessons are organized to allow for creative expression as the students develop an understanding of the different styles,
artists, and mediums. Project-based learning is an essential aspect of the program, and the classroom is structured to
model an artist’s studio. The teacher is more of a facilitator as they students explore the world of art.
Students will:
• create artwork that reflects their own creativity.
• study and recreate different art forms and styles as they explore the world of art.
• Connections will be made to all core subjects as the students sketch, measure, design, and construct pieces of art
using different mediums.
Music
Lessons establish a thorough understanding of the note reading and playing harmonica. To excel, students are
encouraged to practice outside of their classroom for fun and to play for their parents, friends, and family during
thanksgiving and Christmas. On top of learning harmonica, and singing, we also go on virtual Tours in the Mozart
Museum in Vienna, Austria, Jazz Museum in New Orlean, USA, etc.

Students will:
• Be able to read sheet music and figure out how to play the tune with the
harmonica.
• Attend virtual music museum to view the places where composers grew
up in Europe, how they wrote music, instruments that were used in the
past
Connections will be made to reading sheet music, playing harmonica in
classroom lectures as the students work together and/or individually in breakout
rooms where they play and help each other out in small groups.
Physical Education
Physical education class is designed to develop confident, skilled movers
who find enjoyment participating in physical activity. It emphasizes building
healthy, strong bodies and lifestyles.
Students will :
• develop basic motor skills
• improve balance skills
• increase flexibility
• gain increased muscular strength
• improve cardiovascual endurance
Fifth graders learn sport-specific skills, as well as participate in many small
team games and activities. Physical education classes are designed so that the
duration, intensity, and frequency of activities motivate students and meet
their individual needs. Physical education teachers encourage the children to
set and strive for personal and achievable goals.
Religion
Lessons encourage students to build an internal library of stories to use as
a resource for moral decision-making. Reflections, emotional intelligence,
and the development of a strong moral compass to give the students the
confidence to be who they are, is the goal. The students attend chapel twice
a week and participate in songs and in spoken prayers as they continue to
deepen their meditation practice.
Students will:
• explore the differences between the types of literature in the Old
Testament. (Hebrew Scriptures)
• discuss their experiences and understanding of religious customs and
traditions
• reflect on several of the Psalms scriptures and passages from the Torah
and the Prophets
• understand the basic definition and history of the Episcopal Church.
• be encouraged to grow spiritually in their own traditions.
• write reflections every week on topics connected spirituality and their
lives
Connections will be made to Social Studies content, Character Development,
and Language Arts as students demonstrate their learning through
discussions and projects demonstrating the compassion, empathy, and
acceptance of others.

Science Lab
Lessons establish a thorough understanding of the scientific method and
provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate mastery through the
successful application of the method, with each step used efficiently and
accurately. To excel, students are encouraged to utilize the process and the
method to solve problems, ask questions, make observations, and reflect on
their learning. We frequently revisit the steps of the scientific method and
engage in activities and project-based learning to provide opportunities to
apply the knowledge the students have acquired.
Students will:
• Examine each component of the scientific method to ensure mastery.
• Attend science camp.
• learn how humans impact and interact with the Earth
• Conduct cake and Mentos experiments.
• physical and chemical changes
• Complete Science Expo projects and presentations.
• Build models of energy flow.
• ecosystem project
• Examine how to reduce our carbon footprint and make the school green
as member of The Green Team.
Connections will be made to Reading, Math, and Character Development as
the students work together and individually to complete the different projects,
collect and record their data, have discussions, and write about their findings
and their observations.
Spanish
Lessons are fun and engaging to encourage the application of the vocabulary
words they are learning. Participation is encouraged to increase the students’
understanding and fluency. Students are immersed into a true cultural
experience as they focus on language development and increasingly become
more confident Spanish speakers.
Students will:
• be able to understand simple conversations.
• ask and respond to questions as they are challenged to participate in
classroom discussions and follow instructions that are increasingly more
complex and challenging.
• utilize technology to enhance their learning of grammar, including verb
conjugations
• develop an understanding of the culture and celebrate important
holidays. (Christmas, Day of the Dead, New year’s, Three Kings Day,
Carnivale)
Connections will be made to all core subjects as students learn Spanish
vocabulary, ask and respond to questions, and have simple conversations in
Spanish.

In-person Instructional Day
The In-person instructional day is filled with experiences that allow the
students to engage in independent learning opportunities and cooperative
learning experiences that increase the students’ confidence, their public
speaking skills, and their social development. The entire curriculum is
intentionally designed to fully prepare the students for Middle School. The
skills learned in each grade level are sequential and scaffold to increase in
complexity and exceed grade level standards, while still supporting the ageappropriate
development of each child.
The students will:
• use school-provided iPads daily, using new and already familiar
applications for various projects, as well as creating, editing, and
publishing assignments, taking tests online, and keeping track of their
assignments.
• have a combination of Language Arts, Reading, and Math homework,
fifty minutes per night, Monday - Thursday.
• go on numerous field trips that will enhance the learning experience.
• Science Camp in the Marin Headlands
• Shoreline Recycling Center
• Saratoga History Museum
• Japan-town in San Jose
• Roaring Camp Westward Expansion
Distance Learning and the Online Instructional Day
The online instructional day has been designed to maintain the rigor,
high-expectations, and standards we set for our in-person instruction. The
program is tailored to allow the students to progress through the content
at their own pace, while still having the opportunity to interact with their
teacher and their peers. Teachers will create and upload instructional videos
that reflect the needs of their students and provide for the individualized
education our students deserve. Distance learning in Fifth Grade prioritizes
consistent academic engagement, routine and predictability to encourage
independence, and regular connection with teachers and peers.
The students will:
• be provided with materials from school and if necessary, additional
resources will be mailed.
• novels, literature journals, and project components
• receive instruction and assignments online
• message their teacher in real-time every day through the use of email or
Zoom Chat
• submit assignments and completed projects by dropping them into
their own folder in Google Drive or in our LMS Schoology
• meet virtually as a class every day and include:
• Morning Meeting
• curriculum lessons: Math; Language Arts; Social Studies; Writing
• mini-lessons that may include literature circle discussions, direct
math instruction, a writing activity, and/or sharing work
• one-on-one individual meetings with their teacher weekly or as
needed
• check individual progress, reinforce concepts, and/or differentiate
instruction and enrich (tutor)