Fifth and Sixth Grade Curriculum
English
The English program in fifth and sixth grade focuses on strengthening the writing and thinking skills of each student. The goals are to encourage students to think and write clearly, use words responsibly, write creatively, listen imaginatively, speak effectively, and use grammar and mechanics accurately. Students explore a variety of writing forms (narrative, expository, descriptive, and fiction) using a writing workshop format. Writing workshops are designed to give students opportunities to write and conference with both their peers and their teacher. Editing skills are developed using not only students’ writing but also through explicit instruction and practice from workbooks and editing sentences weekly.
Grammar is taught with an emphasis on how our language is “put together” in addition to addressing correct usage. This strong grammar base is important as students continue their study of foreign languages. At Riverside, writing is emphasized at all grade levels; therefore, students leave Riverside as confident, enthusiastic writers.
Reading
The reading program at the fifth and sixth grade levels provides creative approaches to encourage reading not only functionally and developmentally, but also for pleasure. It is a primary goal to awaken a love of reading in the students, thereby utilizing and further developing the reading skills previously learned.
Fifth and sixth grade reading students are exposed to award winning children’s literature- using novels and an anthology of literature. This exposure provides a closer look at a variety of genre and builds a strong foundation in their literary heritage.
The fifth grade program strives to develop a deeper understanding of literature and encourages the students to go past the written word to build literal, textural and interpretive reading skills. The students experience literature individually, in small groups and as a whole class. A spelling curriculum is also taught in fifth grade. Study skills are an integral part of the learning process and are taught within the academic classrooms as applicable.
The sixth grade reading program is designed to create a more formal study of literature. Building on skills learned in fifth grade, students take a deeper look into how a story or novel is developed, how an author builds a character, comparing/contrasting in detail one character to another, critical thinking skills, verbal reasoning and abstract thinking. A formal study skills program is also taught in sixth grade. The curriculum encompasses organizational techniques, study behavior and environment, test taking skills, note taking, skimming/scanning techniques and more.
Both grade levels work extensively with comprehension, main idea, and vocabulary, summarizing stories and condensing them in written, oral and other creative forms.
Social Studies
In social studies, fifth grade students are immersed in the events that shaped the United States of America and the contributing factors that helped determine our country’s rich history. Major units of study include the American Revolution, the original colonies, American Government, and the Civil War. Integrated into these units are specific skill sets involving aspects of maps, geography, current events, critical thinking, and quotation analysis. Interactive SMART board lessons and web activities on the computer are specific areas where technology is used cohesively with the Social Studies curriculum.
Sixth grade social studies students expand their knowledge of the world by studying the earliest civilizations in recorded history that include: Egypt, China, India, and Mesopotamia. A major objective is to create culturally literate students. Students analyze and determine the different aspects of culture and what is needed to create a successful civilization. World geography skills and critical thinking skills are also highly emphasized. Debates in sixth grade allow students to develop reasoning skills and polish their public speaking skills. In addition, technology is integrated throughout the units we study. Interactive SMART board lessons and challenging web quests engage the students with new, easy-to-use, technology.
Science
The fifth and sixth grade program balances life science, physical science, and earth science. The program is hands-on and inquiry based. The science lab houses a large variety of animals, plants, equipment, and supplies to enhance the students’ science experience. The National Science Standards are met and often exceeded in all areas. Science process skills are emphasized along with reading, writing, math, research and study skills. Technology is integrated into daily lessons.
Mathematics
Fifth grade math cements all whole number processes, and progresses to decimals and fractions, probability, measurement, problem solving strategies and graphs. Basic geometry in the form of shapes and simple areas and perimeters is explored. Equations and writing number sentences introduce pre-algebra concepts.
The sixth grade math program reviews and extends the fifth grade program in the first trimester. Students continue to work on problem solving skills, measurement, geometry, probability and statistics. The balance of the year focuses on pre-algebra concepts. Simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division equations are mastered in algebraic form. Basic formulas on distance, temperatures and geometry are learned. The manipulation of positive and negative integers concludes the years’ study.
