Grade 5

Click here to see an overview of the curriculum of this grade.
Click here to view the School Handbook (general policies for grades K through 8)
Click here to see photos from 5th Grade
Click here to see the letter handed out at Curriculum Night
Click here to see the Classroom News for this year.

2010 Summer Reading List

Select and read at least three books from the following list:

• Bright Shadow by Avi
• The Fighting Ground by Avi
• Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
• From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsberg
• Rules by Cynthia Lord
• Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
• Lyddie by Katherine Paterson
• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
• Holes by Louis Sachar
• The Cay by Theodore Taylor
• Timothy of the Cay by Theodore Taylor
• Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
• Any of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books (only 1 may be used for this assignment)
• Any of the “Tucket” series by Gary Paulsen (only 1 may be used for this assignment)
• Any of the “Shiloh” stories by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (only 1 may be used for this assignment)

Parent Information

Opening Day Letter

September 2, 2009

Dear Parents and Fifth Graders,

Welcome back. I hope that you all had an exciting summer. I had a busy summer and am looking forward to being your homeroom teacher. I send a warm welcome to our new students: Emma and Addison. I am looking forward to teaching fifth grade math class with Mrs. MacDonough. Mr. Ferdella is the fifth grade physical education teacher and Mrs. Johnson is the fifth grade music teacher.

The school day for students in grades 5-8 begins at 8:00 a.m., with the prayer bell at 8:10 a.m. There will be a 10-minute homeroom period to start each day. Morning homeroom time is used for preparing for the day, organizing plan books, announcements, an opportunity for students to speak with teachers, taking care of homeroom business, and taking attendance. Students arriving after 8:05 a.m. will be marked tardy. Please make every effort to be on time, students will not want to miss homeroom period.

Grade 5 students make birthday cards, on a monthly basis, for the residents of Notre Dame Long Term Care Center. This is a wonderful opportunity for the students to share their talents with the elderly.

I have included a copy of the grade 5 weekly schedule. Please note that there is a double period of Literature, Science, Math, and Social Studies each week. This counts as two classes and means students will not have every class every day.

If you have any questions or concerns, please give me a call at (508) 842-1601 or email me at ethiere@stmarysparish.org and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

I wish you all a successful school year.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ethier

Some hints on how to help your child succeed in science

Science is perhaps the most dynamic subject that a middle school student will study. It is forever changing as new information and understanding displaces the outdated and unknown.

With this in mind, St. Mary School replaced all of the science texts with the most up to date middle school books that Prentice Hall offered. These texts are a system that will take the student from grade five to grade eight using a similar format. The texts not only provide current scientific information, but they also contain information on how to learn science.

Every chapter begins with a title page that includes the publishers web site (www.phschool.com) that has activities related to the material in the text, and a list of other activities that the students can do. Some of these I incorporate into the classes, others can be done at home. The Discover activities that begin each section are nice into to the subject being studied and can often be done out side of the class. Some of the “Try This” activities are specifically designed to be done at home and involve the family. These activities can be a great tool for understanding the important ideas of the section.

Each section begins with Guide for Reading which is two to three questions, that when answered, are the essence of the section. There are also checkpoint questions mixed into the text that the students should be able to answer before they move on.

Each chapter includes a study guide at the end of the chapter, as well as a practice test that has questions similar to the type that will be found on their quizzes and tests. I encourage the students to take these practices and correct them because it is better they discover what they don’t know before the quiz, then I discover what they don’t know during the quiz.

Every text has a skills handbook near the end. These are the science skills that the students will be developing as they study science. They are not a separate block of instruction in the curriculum; these skills are part of all the activities related to science. As such, they will be continually part of the curriculum. As their teacher I am continually assessing the students on their strengths in these skills and adjusting the curriculum when a greater emphasis is needed on a given topic. The individual students should be referring to these sections as needed.

Lastly, I strongly encourage all students to have an appropriate dictionary available in their study area at home. Although the text provides a glossary for the key vocabulary included in the book, there will be times when they will be presented with an unfamiliar term.

I will continually encourage students to understand the importance of critical thinking and understanding in science so they will be better positioned to deal with the new information as it arrives.

Thank you,
Michael T. Moakley

Curriculum Night Handout

Homeroom time: Our school day begins at 8:00am. Students arriving after 8:05 are marked tardy. The time from 8:00 to 8:10 is used for class meetings, community building, planning, and getting organized for the morning classes.

Prayer time: Every day we start and end our day with prayer and say Grace before lunch. Students are expected to stop whatever they are doing and participate.

Homework board and student planbook: All students are given a planner at the beginning of the school year and are expected to have it with them for every class. Students are to record their homework assignments in their planbook. A homework board is maintained in the classroom where assignments are recorded. At the end of the day students should check the homework board to verify that they have written all assignments in their planner.

Homework: Fifth Grade students can expect between 60-90 minutes of homework per night. Homework is given on Fridays.

Books and possessions: In addition to their desks each student has a cubby for storing books, notebooks, folders, etc. Students are expected to keep their desk and cubby neat.

Snacks and water bottles: Snack time for the upper grades is at 9:45am. This is a working snack. Students are asked to put their snack in their desk in the morning to avoid interruptions to their class. Students are encouraged to have a water bottle.

Bathroom breaks: One boy and one girl are allowed out of the classroom at a time. Students must sign-out in a log where they record the time they left the room and the time they returned. Students are encouraged to use the bathroom before class and at lunch time to avoid leaving the room during class time.

Jobs: Classroom jobs are assigned on a rotating basis. Students are expected to do their assigned jobs.

Service projects: Students make birthday cards on a monthly basis for the residents of Notre Dame Long term Care Center. Students should make an effort to do their best work on the cards as the residents cherish them. Fifth grade also maintains the garden sat the flag pole and at the entrance to the school. Small groups of students work with me after school weeding and planting in the fall and the spring. Students may be asked to “babysit” geraniums from the gardens over the winter months so we may replant them in the spring.

Classroom News - Summer 2010

Field Trip

Grade 5 students recently visited the Boott Cotton Mill, Lowell, MA to learn about the transition from farm life to factory worker in the “Change in the Making” program

Students participated in three hands-on activities as they learned about the changes in the landscape in the Lowell area, how to pick seeds from cotton and use a simple cotton gin and finally they dressed in costumes and made comparisons between farm life and working in a textile factory.

Students wrote about their experience at the Boott Mill in the form of journal entries or a letter home written in the 1830s.

Social Studies with Mrs. Ethier

Grade 5 students are currently learning about the American Revolution. We will support this topic through various Internet sites and use of books from our classroom library and videos set during this time. Students are also creating a Timeline of the years 1753-1783 which will be beneficial when the will study the American Revolution in more depth in grade 7.

We will wrap-up our social studies program with a Town Meeting, where students will debate a question from a warrant from the 1830s of local interest.

Math with Mrs. Ethier

Grade 5 students are working in Unit 5 Multiplication and Division of Fractions and Decimals. We will soon finish the chapter on multiplying decimal and will begin division of decimals. Students continue to develop their problem solving skills as well as their writing in math skills.

We will end the year making tetrahedron kites from straws, string, and tissue paper. Students will fly their kites on the last day of school.

Religion with Sr. Borzi

The Fifth Graders have been enjoying the Religion games on the LCD projector. Actually, the games proved to be not much of a challenge because they knew all the answers. I was very proud of them. It was comforting to see how well-versed the children are in their knowledge of Religion. In these final weeks of school the Fifth Graders will be examining the Sacraments of Service which are Matrimony and Holy Orders. They will then discuss the Theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love and review the four Marks of the Church. The class has worked arduously, and they will soon be rewarded with a well-deserved vacation, but first comes the final Religion exam! I hope that the Fourth and Fifth Graders will have a great summer.

Classroom News - Spring 2010

Social Studies with Mrs. Ethier

Grade 5 students are working in the unit on the American Colonies. We have completed the chapter on the New England Colonies and are learning about the Middle Colonies and then we will study the Southern Colonies. Students will learn about the difference and similarities in the New England, Middle and Southern Colonies. Students will gain further knowledge through additional activities on daily life, jobs, and schools.

In April, grade 5 students will be traveling to the Tsongas Industrial Education Center to experience farm life in the 1800's and to learn about the technological changes that are developing in the production of cloth.

Math with Mrs. Ethier

Grade 5 students are currently working in Unit 4, studying number theory and fraction concepts. Students have learned to use prime factorization to find the Least Common Multiple and Greatest Common Factor. They also learned to change fractions to decimals and decimals to fractions. Also in the unit is adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers with unlike denominators and adding and subtracting decimals. Unit 5 deals with multiplication and division of fractions and decimals. Problem Solving activities reflect the concepts that are presented in each chapter.

Students continue to practice basic facts through the use of Skills Drills. Writing in math is used to reinforce concepts through explanations of various concepts and describing steps used to solve a problem.

Religion with Sr. Borzi

The Fifth Graders are studying the Sacraments of Healing which are Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. They have explored some of the Sacraments by using the Discovery Education website, and will continue to do so in the future. Questions and answers abound, and the children engage in illustrations and songs that reinforce the particular lesson that is being taught. During the season of Lent the children are reminded to do something extra for Jesus. They have been given a paper on which they can color a flower that will help them to record their good deeds during this holy season.

On March 19th, they will be receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As we dwell on the unconditional love of Jesus for each of us, it is an appropriate time to confess our sins and revel in God’s forgiveness. The students learn to move beyond Good Friday into the dawn of Easter Sunday. We are a resurrection people. It is this event that gives credence to our belief in Jesus Christ. I wish all of you a joy-filled Easter.

Classroom News - Winter 2009

This fall, many students and faculty worked with plastic canvas to create needlepoint bookmarks and magnets that were sold at the St. Mary Holly Fair. Students helped sell these items, along with other donated items at the fair. $600 was raised to support students in Columbia continue their education.

Social Studies with Mrs. Ethier

Currently students are studying early explorations of North America. As we learn about explorers from Spain, France, and England students have been marking exploration routes on world maps in an effort to learn more about the world. Following this chapter we will be learning about the early settlements of Jamestown, Plymouth, and Boston. Students are encouraged to apply critical thinking skills as they answer questions on the material presented.

Math with Mrs. Ethier

Soon our math groups will be changing teachers, my students to Mrs. MacDonough in the math room and Mrs. MacDonough’s students to me in the grade 5 classroom. Students are currently working in Unit 4 Measurement, Data and Graphing. Students are learning how to collect, organize, and interpret data and how to choose the appropriate graph for a set of data. Next we will be using a line plot to find the mean, median, and mode of a set of data. Problem solving activities as well as opportunities for writing explanations occur in each chapter. Students should continue to practice basic facts as they work toward mastery of all the facts. Extra help in math is offered Tuesdays after school.

Religion with Sr. Borzi

The Fifth Graders embark on this New Year and new decade by continuing their study of the Sacraments. Currently, they are examining the Sacraments of Initiation which are Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. The students are uncovering concepts of how these Sacraments are our admission ticket into the Catholic Church. These Sacraments are encounters of grace with God.

The children will enjoy the learning games and activities available to them on the Discovery Education website. Various resources will be used in helping the children grasp the sacredness and value of each Sacrament. God invites us to deepen our relationship with Him. God eagerly awaits our response.

May 2010 be filled with God’s blessings in your lives.

Classroom News - Fall 2009

Grade 5 students have done a great job getting used to the routine of new teachers, changing classes, 45 minute class periods, and double block scheduling. Using the homework planner has been a benefit to students, parents, and teachers. Our homeroom period each morning is used for class business and for getting ready for the day’s activities.

Service projects in grade 5 include making birthday cards on a monthly for the residents of Notre Dame Long Term Care Center that are celebrating their birthday. The students’ cards are beautiful and are greatly appreciated by the residents and their families.

To celebrate our cultural heritage, students in grade 5 created a classroom museum containing family artifacts. The artifacts represented the countries of the Italy, Canada, Ireland, India, Vietnam, China, Persia, Phillipines, Sweden, Finland, Lebanon, Armenia, Germany, Poland, and Scotland to name a few. Some students even created their family tree!

Religion with Sr. Borzi

Welcome to our Fifth Grade Religion classes! The Fifth Graders are learning that the seven Sacraments are divided into three categories of Christian Initiation, Healing, and Service. Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation are Sacraments of Christian Initiation. Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation are Sacraments of Healing, and Matrimony and Holy Orders are Sacraments of Service. The children are realizing that Sacraments are effective signs that bring us closer to God’s life and love. They are instituted by Jesus and given to us as precious gifts to be respected and cherished throughout our lives.

Social Studies with Mrs. Ethier

Students will soon complete Unit 1, People of the Americas. This unit focuses on the land and the first Americans. Students have learned how to read various types of maps and time lines and how the land is divided into regions. The use of graphic organizers allow students to compare and contrast information presented. Students will then be involved in a project about Native American tribes using print and Internet resources. Students will research a Native American Tribe and must answer the question, How does the tribe provide for the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter for its members? Students will create a Power Point slide show as a way of sharing information with each other. Upon completion of this project, students will begin Unit 2, Different Worlds Meet. Topics to be covered include trading, exploration, and founding of European colonies.

Math with Mrs. Ethier

I share the fifth grade math teaching assignment with Mrs. MacDonough. Students are divided into two heterogenous groups. One group stays in the fifth grade homeroom for math with me, the other group has their class with Mrs. MacDonough in the math room. We have completed the first two chapters which deal with whole numbers and decimals and are currently working in chapter 3, multiplication of whole numbers. Problem solving activities occur frequently. Soon we will be studying division of whole numbers followed by collecting, organizing, and using data. Thursday’s math class is a bouble block, which allows for flexibility in our activities. Students are involved in a program we call Skills Drills. This is an opportunity for the students to practice their basic facts and to improve on their performance. Students that have not mastered the basic facts should continue to practice with their flashcards.

Music with Mrs. Johnson

The students in Grade Five are readying some more difficult musical choral selections for the Senior Citizen Luncheon. This class is working on part-singing. They also are learning to accompany singing on the resonator bells. Recently, during class, we rehearsed in church to have the option of using piano accompaniment. Mr. Richard Vacca, music director for the parish, was in the choir loft and took the time to come to the front of the church to praise the children. As I said to the students following his remarks, “When a musician complements you, you are doing something right!”