Knowing what types of curriculum, how much curriculum and in what subject matter can be difficult. Of course the details of curriculum will vary widely between teachers and geographical areas, but we can discuss the basics of this school year. Whether you are a homeschool mom or just a mom that is involved in your child’s education you may be wondering what types of things a fifth grader should be studying.
This intermediate age is crucial as students should have the basics down and begin building on that with more difficult concepts. This time is a time of growth, and can be really fun. It’s like when you are learning to play an instrument and it’s not fun because you can’t yet play the songs that you want to be able to play. Once basic skills are mastered, the student can move on to the more challenging and more rewarding songs. The same is true for schooling. Learning the basics of math, reading, science and social studies doesn’t seem very fun, but as students approach this age the curriculum gets more involved and therefore more interesting.
As the curriculum gets harder, these students should be stimulated with more hands-on activities so they do not feel overwhelmed by the increase in difficulty. These projects should be relative and productive. Solar system projects are a great way to combine science, reading, and art all together. Maybe even some math!
Curriculum Overview
- Math
- Reading
- Science
- Social Studies
These are the fundamentals of schooling. They always have been and always will be. There are many homeschool parents that take a more practical approach to their child’s education, and while that is fine and dandy, there are a few things that a child this age needs to know.
Math
At this age the mathematician is no longer working simply with whole numbers. At this age the student should learn how to add, multiply, etc with decimals and fractions. There should also be a greater presence of word problems for real life application and understanding.
Every school must have a program for students, even home school, and the right approach is a winner. This is why the complete Montessori homeschooling curriculum is filled with useful and important math skills that students should learn at this age. This curriculum not only teaches these skills but also includes practical applications, hands-on activities, and fun games to keep the child engaged and motivated in their learning. Children at this age should be able to understand basic algebraic concepts such as solving for an unknown variable. Geometry and measurement should also be included in the curriculum, with a focus on problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
Reading
At this age there should start to be an understanding of figurative language as books at this level start to have a more complex writing style. Reading comprehension should also be expected and evaluated. Along with reading, writing longer pieces such as essays, and something that requires research is also assigned.
Science
Science this year is all about the planets! This can also include curriculum such as weight, comparing and identifying different matter, ecosystems and space which go hand in hand with a study of our solar system. This is also known as life sciences.
Social Studies
Geography is a huge part of social studies for fifth graders. This is around the time that map skills should be developed. Although maps have become almost obsolete, there still may come a time when technology fails and we will need a generation that knows how to read maps. Creation of our nation’s government and early explorers such as Lewis and Clark are also covered.
Hands-on Learning
Even though students this age have a longer attention span than that of a Kindergartener, they still will bore easily and possibly become overwhelmed with more difficult curriculum if there are no projects that are fun and applicable to what they are learning. The following are a few ideas to consider.
Solar System Project– the site linked above in the first paragraph offers multiple ideas of fun ways to incorporate solar system curriculum into a hands-on project.
Road Trip Project– Great for social studies and map reading skills.
Lap Book Report- This reading based project helps evaluate reading comprehension
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