Overview & Highlights

Curriculum Highlights

Religion 

The religion curriculum that the fifth grade uses is called “100 Bible Stories”, from Concordia Publishing House and is taught by Pastor McReynolds. During each class, students review a story from scripture, participate in discussion, and complete a related worksheet. Students also memorize scripture verses related to each week’s story.

Social Studies

The first semester the class concentrates on the first Americans, and when they meet and have conflict with the Native Americans. In the second semester the class starts to learn about the fight the colonies have for independence and when they join to make a new nation. Also in the second semester the class learns about slavery and the civil war.

Science

The class covers many topics starting with learning more about “life science” and how to classify plants and animals. Then they will continue to learn about plants; their characteristics, parts, life cycle and the interactions and changes in different ecosystems. The class also covers the systems of the human body and how the cells of our body form to create our systems. “Earth science” is studied to learn about the water cycle and weather patterns. The class also studies the changes in the Earth surface, and protecting Earth’s natural resources. In “physical science,” the class learns about the properties and changes of matter, electricity, changing forms of energy, and objects in motion.

Math

The 5th grade Math program starts with a review of what was learned in fourth grade. After the review, we begin collecting, organizing and using data, and then jump into measurement and parts of geometry. We work on division and multiplication of decimals. The class will end the year with more work on geometry; different types of shapes, measuring and drawing angles.

Language Arts

In 5th grade language arts students begin by learning and reviewing all eight parts of speech. Following this we turn our attention to phrases, clauses and different types of sentence structures. This is designed to help them become better writers as they enter the upper grades. Punctuation is also examined, as is the way each part of speech functions within sentences with various structures. Students learn the basics of writing for different purposes.

Reading

In 5th grade we use novel studies to explore literary elements and practice reading comprehension strategies. The novels for the 2024-2025 school include Tuck Everlasting, Holes and Esperanza Rising. 

We also work on different reading concepts including drawing conclusions, summarizing, using context clues, cause and effect, compare and contrast, setting and plot.

Physical Education

Our Physical Education classes includes a variety of games and activities that improve students’ large motor skills, coordination and teamwork.

Field Trips

 We enhance classroom learning with field trips. In the past, we have visited the Itasca Nature Center and the zoo. Also, we try to take advantage of the incredible museums that the city of Chicago offers.