Centennial  Academy    

Parent’s  Guide  to  Learning   in  Fifth  Grade    

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Middle  Ac ademy   Learning   @  CA  

 

At  Centennial  Academy,  we  are  committed  to  providing  your  scholar  with  an  experience  that  builds  academic   and  21st  century  success  skills  to  support  their  life-­‐long  learning.      O ur  teaching  is  aligned  with  Georgia  and   national  content  standards  and  our  educators  bring  those  standards  to  life  through  hands-­‐on  learning   experiences  designed  to  meet  your  scholar’s  learning  needs.    

In  a  Centennial  Academy  classroom,  scholars  are  active  participants  in  the  learning  process  ~  exploring,   thinking  critically,  asking  questions,  and  solving  problems  in  real  world  experiences.       Below  is  an  overview  of  what  your  Fifth  Grade  scholar  is  in  store  for  this  year.   ENGLISH  LANGUAGE  ARTS  

Centennial  Academy  2016-­‐2017  

 

  Fifth  grade  scholars  are   immersed  in  reading,   writing,  listening  and   speaking  throughout  the   day.    Scholars  delve  deeply   into  a  variety  of  literary  and   informational  texts.    They   explore  themes,  ideas,  and   make  connections  to  real-­‐ life  and  other  texts.     Scholars  read  to   comprehend  grade-­‐level   appropriate  vocabulary,   context,  accuracy  and   fluency.    Scholars  express   opinions  about  that  they  are   reading  and  writing  through   thoughtful  discussions  with   peers  and  adults.      

MATHEMATICS    

SCIENCE    

SOCIAL  S TUDIES    

  Critical  thinking,   mathematical  reasoning,   algebraic  thinking  and   problem  solving  using   numbers  help  the  fifth  grade   scholars  deepen   mathematical   understanding.    Scholars   will  be  able  to  apply   understanding  of,  and   explain  strategies  for,  using   multiplication  and  division   with  fractions.    Concepts  of   volume  are  related  to   multiplication  and  f ractions.     Scholars  engage  in  real-­‐ world  problem  solving   using  coordinate  graphing,   Geometry,  operations,  and   number  sense.      

  Science  in  fifth  grade   focuses  on  a  hands-­‐on,   student-­‐centered   exploration  of  our  world.     Scholars  learn  through  the   three  disciplines  of  science  – Earth,  Life  and  Physical.     Through  investigation  and   observation,  scholars  will   explore  the  surface  of  the   earth,  both  constructive  and   destructive.    In  addition,   scholars  learn  about  cells,   microbes,  and  the   classification  of  living   things.    The  exploration  of   chemical  changes  and  the   nature  of  electricity  and   magnetism  rounds  out  the   learning  of  the  fifth  grade   school.    

  Scholars  become  aware  of   the  cause  and  effects  of   conflict,  including  the  Civil   War.  The  fifth  grade   curriculum  examines  the  US   Bill  of  Rights,  Constitution   to  understand  how  laws  are   made  and  influence  the   nation.    Economic  concepts   and  major  economic  events   throughout  history  give  fifth   grade  scholars  perspective   on  current  events.    Scholars   learn  about  key  events,   places  and  people  in  the  US.     Maps  and  globes  are  used  to   connect  standards  about   geography  with  a  focus  on   generalization.  

LITERACY  is  Important  

CONNECTIONS  CLASSES  

 

We  strongly  encourage  creating  a  literacy  focus  in  your  home.   Read  daily  to  your  child  and  make  it  as  f un  and  enjoyable  as   possible.    Create  a  time  to  read  during  breakfast  or  in  the   evening.    Visit  the  local  library  and  select  books  that  are   interesting.    Make  sure  to  ask  questions  as  you  read  and   encourage  your  child  to  make  mental  images  of  the  text  as   they  listen  or  read.    Sharing  your  love  for  reading  will   encourage  your  child  to  make  l iteracy  an  important  part  of   learning.    

 

 

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PERFORMING  ARTS   ORCHESTRA   BAND   GUITAR   ART  

Development  in  Middle  Academy    

The  Middle  Academy  educators  work  in  teams  on  each  grade  level;  math/science  and  humanities   (ELA/social  studies).    These  two  person  teams  provide  a  concentrated  approach  to  support  the   rigorous  standards  while  emphasizing  the  importance  of  integration  and  collaboration.    In  addition,   the  Middle  Grades  scholars  use  1:1  technology  in  all  areas  of  learning.    Scholars  are  also  a  part  of  the   planning  and  execution  of  a  N ational  Science  Foundation  grant  with  Georgia  State  University  and   Georgia  Tech  entitled  the  iCS  -­‐  Integrated  Computer  Science  project.    This  project  works  with   educators  and  scholars  on  the  authentic  integration  of  computer  science  in  the  curriculum.  

The  Importance  of  Continued  Practice  a t  Home…Homework    

At  Centennial  Academy,  we  believe  scholars  begin  refining  work  ethic  and  study  habits  in  the  middle  academy.    Educators   at  Centennial  Academy  will  carefully  design  homework  that  is  purposeful,  age  -­‐appropriate,  in  terms  of  quantity  and   content.    With  the  appropriate  amount  of  parent  support  your  scholar’s  homework  should  accelerate  learning  and  will  be   reviewed  by  the  teacher  and  recorded  in  the  Work  Ethic  portion  of  your  scholars’  report  card.  

Project-­‐Based  Learning  (PBL)  @  CA    

Success  Skills    

Collaboration   Works  well  with  teammates   Respects  ideas,  opinions  and  feelings  of  teammates   Shares  ideas  with  teammates  

During  the  2016-­‐2017  school  year,  your  fifth  grade   scholar  w ill  learn  about  the  Project-­‐Based  Learning   principles  within  a  STEAM  (Science,  Technology,   Engineering,  Arts,  Mathematics)  focus.       Scholars  will  be  engaged  in  a  minimum  of  two  major   PBL  projects,  one  per  semester.    Each  project  will  be   integrated  across  multiple  content  areas,  include  a   real-­‐world  problem  worth  researching  &  solving  and   require  scholars  to  w ork  collaboratively  w ith  a   product  that  will  be  publically  shared  during  our   Applied  Learning  Demonstrations.    

 

Communication   Uses  effective  oral  and  written  presentation  skills   Answers  questions  clearly  and  completely    

Work  Ethic   Makes  and  Follows  Agreements   Organizes  Work   Participates  in  class  and  discussions     Completes  assigned  homework   Seeks  out  and  uses  feedback  and  critique   Asks  Questions   Gathers  Information  

PBL  Principles       Identifying  Key  Knowledge  &  Success  Skills    

Understanding  a  Challenging  Problem  or  Question  

Top  Ten  Things  Your   Fifth  Grader  Should  Know  

 

Using  Sustained  Inquiring    

Including  S tudent  Voice  &  Choice    

Reinforcing  Reflection  

Centennial  Academy  2016-­‐2017  

 

Seeking  Critique  &  Revising  

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1.  How  to  effectively  use  time    

2.  The  importance  of  completing  assignments  and  adhering  to   due  dates.  

 

 

Preparing  for  Public  Demonstration  

 

   

3.  How  to  write  a  simple,  compound  and  complex  sentence   4.  Identifying  Parts  of  speech  in  a  sentence  (Nouns,  verbs,   adjectives,  adverbs,  pronouns,  prepositions,  conjunctions,  and   interjections)    

5.  Multiplication  and  division  Facts  

 

 

6.  Basic  understanding  of  fractions  and  equivalent  fractions    

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7.  Fluently  Multiply  &  Divide  (2  digit  by  2  Digit)    

8.  Maintaining  an  organized  book  bag/binder    

9.  Knowing  how  to  access  the  internet  outside  of  school  and   navigate  online  resources  (Google  applications)    

10.  Read  and  Analyze  word  problems