Donna Tyrell, Teacher Assistant
Fifth grade is a very exciting time for the students here at Bishop Dunn. We focus on creating a positive learning environment. The children consider their role as a student and their right to learn in a classroom that is safe, respectful, and caring. This leads them to think about their responsibility in helping to foster such an atmosphere.
Our studies are full of interesting, short term and long term projects that involve artwork, writing, and drama. The students will be performing in different Readers Theatre.
Social Studies: Document Based Questions
You can check out The Primary Source and Document Based Questions web site @ http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listdocumentpa.html to see a list of many different web sites for Primary Sources and Document Based Questions. Have fun exploring!
Try visiting the Scott Foresman web site as well @ http://www.sfsocialstudies.com/index2.html for some fun social studies activities.
Religion: This year we study the Holy Days of Obligation, the Mysteries of the Rosary, and the Seven Sacraments. We act out our sacramental celebrations when we finish studying them. Our religion text is Sadlier We Believe and the web site is http://www.webelieveweb.com/index.cfm.
Writing: The traits of effective writing, choosing a subject, and narrative and expository writing establish the basis for an end of the year portfolio anyone would be proud to show off.
Reading: The reading series we use provides interesting stories with opportunities for the children to strengthen previously learned skills and foster the growth of new skills. You can find information about our reading series @ http://www.sfreading.com/5/index.html
Vocabulary: In the fifth grade, our vocabulary series is Vocabulary Workshop Blue Level from Sadlier Oxford. You can find fun and exciting ways to study at the web site @ http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/vocabulary/index.cfm. Vocabulary is also studied in connection with our reading series.
Science: We explore topics that are part of the fifth grade curriculum through discussion, lab experiments, and hands-on activities. Focus is placed on thinking like a scientist by hypothesizing and questioning how natural occurrences happen.
Topics that we cover (in order) throughout the year are:
- Changes to the Earth's Surface
- The Solar System
- Building Blocks of Matter
- Energy and Motion
- Processes of Living Things
- Systems and Interactions in Nature
Textbooks:
Harcourt Science text and workbook
Scott Foresman Addison-Wesley Math text and workbook
Scott Foresman Addison-Wesley Reading text and workbook
Scott Foresman Addison-Wesley Social Studies text and workbook
Sadlier We Believe Religion text
Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop
Animation: Betty Brainy www.bettybrainy.com/education_animations.htm
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Donna Tyrell, Teacher Assistant