Homework policy

Schoolwork policy
Grading policy

Classroom
Overview

Uniform and discipline policy

Cooperative environment
Binders and notebooks
Assignment notebooks
After-school help
Classroom Rules and policies

 3 times weekly

Social
Studies

Taught by
homeroom
teacher
Reading, writing,
note-taking, and
critical thinking

 Unit 1: Pre-columbian explorers and civilizations-Vikings, Native Americans, Incas,

Aztecs, Mayans, European explorers
Unit 2: Early colonial settlers and interactions with Native Americans- goals and
obstacles, major groups and leaders
Unit 3: Colonization of the New World- differences among colonial groups, leaders,
religious beliefs, educational systems, geography/climate, economic development of
colonial Massachusetts
Unit 4: Road to the Revolution- leaders and events leading to Revolutionary War
Unit 5: Establishment of American Constitutional Government- Articles of Confederation,
Shays Rebellion, Constitutional Convention, branches of government, Bill of Rights
Unit 6: Post-Colonial Development and Westward Expansion- Louisiana Purchase, Lewis
and Clark, consequences of abolition of slavery, War of 1812, onset of the Civil War

S.S. Units

 Daily math class for 5A

and 5B
Math groups for tailored
instruction

Math

Math centers for

additional engaging
practice
Daily math homework to
supplement class
material
Decoding and
interpreting word
problems
Interactive activities
requiring cooperative
group-work

 Unit 1: Place value, exponents, order of operations, multi-digit multiplication and

division
Unit 2: Understanding decimals- reading and writings decimals, rounding decimals,
performing operations on decimals, graphing decimals on a number line

Unit 3: Coordinate planes, geometry, and integers-graphing points, classifying figures,

generating and identifying patterns based on rules
Unit 4: Fractions- multiplying fractions, interpreting fractions, using models
Unit 5: Fractions and Decimals- performing operations on fractions and decimals,
understanding like and unlike denominators, word problems
Unit 6: Measurements and Line Plots- recognize volume of solid figures, display data
on a line plot, interpret and convert measurements

Math Units

 4 science classes per week

for 5A and 5B
Inquiry-based learning
approach
Integration of experiments
into each unit

Science

Practice with the Scientific

Method across units
Integration of writinginformational writing such
as lab reports, summary
writing, and creative writing
Hands-on projects and
activities that activate the
senses

 Unit 1: Plant characteristics and life cycles- classification, structures, and functions
Unit 2: Heredity, mutations, and adaptations- adaptations of living things, introduction
to DNA and inherited traits, environmental effects on species
Unit 3: Soil, rocks, and minerals- exploration of rocks and properties, mineral
characteristics, test and identify
Unit 4: Elements of matter- three types of matter, properties of matter, compare and
contrast, introduction to atoms
Unit 5: Forms of energy- light, sound, heat, electrical, magnetic; electric circuits;
identification and classification of conductors
Unit 6: Heat, electricity, and magnetism- attraction and repulsion, electro-magnets,
energy waves, everyday applications

Science Units

 Classes held every day

Guided by Common Core Stds
Focuses on writing, reading,
listening, and speaking with
grammar, vocabulary,
proofreading and analyzing
literature

ELA

Whole class, group and partner

English Language Arts

Will be reading novels, poetry,

instruction,
biographies, informational texts
and more
Goal: to improve reading and
writing skills, and instill love of
literature and learning
Students should read 30 min/day

Unit 1: One Land, Many Trails - different customs and societies effect on
American frontier
Unit 2: Person to Person - helping others and building character
Unit 3: Animal Encounters - learning about animal interactions for survival
Unit 4: Voices of the Revolution - searching for power, leading for change
(book report, perspective essay)
Unit 5: Biographies - how ones decisions change lives (writing biography
projects)
Unit 6: Give It All You Have - determination and success (character
studies)

ELA Units

Religion

use We Believe textbook

by Sadlier
may explore website:
www.webelieveweb.com
four to five days a week
variety of group/partner
and whole class settings
stories from Bible shared
in friendly format
tenets and principles of
Catholicism discussed
and explored
reading, writing, drawing,
and speaking involved
introduction of important
vocabulary and ideas,
follow current events as
well

Unit 1: Jesus Christ Shares His Life With Us - how and why we
are called to follow Jesus
Unit 2: Confirmation and Eucharist Complete Our Initiation examine how Confirmation and the Eucharist empowers us
Unit 3: The Sacraments of Healing Restore Us - how we work
towards forgiveness
Unit 4: We Love and Serve As Jesus Did - virtues help us to
love God and others

Religion

S.T.E.M. program, Grades 2-6

as an additional special
starting early October

Extracurricular activities for

Grade 5:

Important
Information

Band
Culture Club
Floor Hockey
Track
Current Events Club
Art
Cross Country

After-school help
Wednesdays 2:30-3:30
beginning 9/21 for all
subjects
Additionally as needed
CORIs due 9/30! This is the
only chance to have them
done for the entirety of the
school year.

Questions? Concerns?
Miss Graham - miss.graham@stmaryschoolmelrose.org
Website - http://missgraham5a.weebly.com/
Mrs. Folman - mrs.folman@stmaryschoolmelrose.org
Website - http://stmarysmelrose5b.weebly.com
Dont hesitate to reach out to us!
Heres to a great year!