Fifth Grade News
Click here to see a video of our recent Rube Goldberg demonstrations in the theatre. Thanks to Laura Z.'s family for shooting this great video of our projects!
Fifth Grade Curriculum
English
The goal in fifth grade English is to help children become more confident,
thoughtful readers and expressive and versatile writers. Reading instruction
is built largely around chapter books or novels, with a careful examination
of character, setting, plot, and theme through both discussion and writing.
Short stories, myths, poetry, and nonfiction are also read, and many selections
are tied to learning in social studies. Students are encouraged to make and
share personal reading choices through a year-long independent reading project.
A variety of writing experiences, including stories, essays, journals, retellings
and poems, give children opportunities to take their talents as writers in
different directions. Spelling, grammar, and vocabulary building are taught
as subskills which support growth as readers and writers.
Social Studies
Pacific Rim I
The 5th grade Social Studies course is devoted primarily to the history and
geography of Washington State and the Pacific Northwest, with a brief look
(historically and geographically) at the entire west coast of both North and
South America. Differing points of view by historians are stressed, as are
the social lessons that can be derived from investigating the historical “facts.”
Readings in historical texts and historical fiction guide an overview of our
region from its prehistory to the present day culminating in a project focused
on each student’s own family’s arrival in the Seattle area. Coursework
includes reading, note taking, discussion, report writing, and oral presentations.
Current events are also integrated into the curriculum.
Mathematics
The 5th grade mathematics course explores the patterns and relationships that
lie at the heart of mathematics. In close integration with the science course,
the curriculum is organized around interesting mathematical problems derived
from real situations (or imaginary extensions), building a conceptual framework
as needed. Students solve problems and in so doing they observe patterns and
relationships, which can then be formalized and tested. Math concepts are
used in the 5th grade science course, and scientific experiments are used
as examples of math problems or illustration of math concepts. The environment
of the classroom is organized to encourage cooperation, as well as individual
questioning, conjecturing, and mathematical reasoning. Stress is given to
the advantages of estimation for development of number sense. Exercise in
mental computation is a frequent activity. Note: 5th grade mathematics is
not organized into ability groups. Variations in ability or background are
addressed as necessary via tutoring, remedial work, and enrichment activities
in the context of the course itself. See the mathematics section of this brochure
for a list of specific course topics.
Science
This science course provides a laboratory experience through a variety of
investigations that develop observational, manual, cooperative, and analytic
skills. The use of the scientific inquiry method is emphasized. Lab topics
include chemical reactions, designing and building simple machines, animal
adaptation, and model rocketry.
Introduction to World Languages
This course will introduce and explore the four languages offered at Lakeside
along with their respective cultures: Mandarin Chinese, Latin, French, and
Spanish. Students get excited about foreign language through games, songs,
stories, and other interactive activities that teach them some of the basics
of the languages such as how to communicate their name, age, and some other
information as well as a lot of vocabulary for classroom objects, food, parts
of the body, and more. Emphasis in the modern languages is on communication
rather than grammar. After completing the course students will be prepared
to make an informed choice as to which language to pursue in the 6th grade.
Instructional materials: Invitation to Languages text, workbook, and video
program.
Music courses:
Ensemble I
Ensemble I is open to students in 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grades who have taken
instruction on their instrument through the first instruction book and who
are working with a teacher on their second instruction book. They must be
able to read music. This ensemble is for players with less than two years
of experience on her or his instrument. This course allows students to learn
about music through the rehearsal/performance of orchestral works arranged
for the student musician. Students discover how to work effectively in a musical
rehearsal, as well as how to take responsibility for their own contribution
to the group. Students are required to practice 75 minutes per week outside
of class. This ensemble plays in two to three evening concerts during the
school year. Students are required to play in all concerts.
Note: All Ensemble I students are required to be studying their instrument
with an outside teacher
Ensemble II
Ensemble II is open to students in 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grades who have taken
instruction on their instrument through the first two instruction books. They
must be able to read music. This ensemble is for players with two or more
years of experience on his or her instrument (or by audition). This course
allows students to learn about music through the rehearsal/performance of
orchestral works arranged for the student musician. Students will develop
effective ways to work in a musical rehearsal, as well as learning to take
responsibility for their own contribution to the group. Students are required
to practice 90 minutes per week outside of class. All Ensemble II students
are strongly encouraged to continue studying their instrument with an outside
teacher. This ensemble plays in two to three evening concerts during the school
year. Students are required to play in all concerts.
Chorus
Music is an active art that involves both the mind and the body (and it’s
fun!). Our main activity will be group singing. Unison and two-part songs
in various styles are rehearsed and performed. We work to build and develop
basic singing skills (breath control, posture, projection, matching pitch,
part-singing, diction, using rehearsal time well), to understand and use basic
music theory (simple music notation and symbols), and sample some of the rich
variety of the music of our world. The 5th grade chorus will perform in concert
at least twice a year. No prior singing experience is required.
Creative
Drama
Through improvisation and role-playing, students develop their creativity,
memorization skills, public speaking skills and an awareness of body movement
and language on stage. Students engage in a lot of group work and develop
skills as actors that aid them on stage. Basic theatre vocabulary will be
introduced to students throughout the year during this weekly class.
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Fine Arts
Studio art courses at the middle school offer regularly scheduled classes
twice a week, at each grade level. The rooms are also open and available for
work during free time and lunch periods, when supervised.. All students have
a sketchbook to use throughout the year for sketching from life, and for thumbnail
studies of projects. Students are presented with assignments designed to build
and maintain specific skills for both two and three dimensional projects.
Work grows more sophisticated and challenging as the student matures. Assignments
are developed with the availability of materials and the skill level of current
students in mind. Elements of design (color, line, value, shape, pattern,
texture) are the backbone of every assignment. Vocabulary and technique for
critiques are demonstrated when discussing works in progress and final projects.
Different artists, styles, and techniques are discussed at all levels.
In this full-year course, fifth grade students are exposed to many different
materials and basic skills. Students work on blind contours, gesture drawings,
color wheels, and still life painting during the first term. Next they begin
to explore the world of printmaking. Students experiment with many methods
of monoprinting such as: additive, reductive, stencils, and draw through.
The final unit of the year is the all school sculpture project which alternates
yearly between clay and paper-mâché or paper sculpture. Emphasis
is on the fundamental principles of design and composition, as well as cooperation
and problem solving. Appropriate use of tools is taught in all media.
Physical
Education
At the fifth grade level, this daily class is focused on the following skills:
eye-hand and eye-foot coordination, running, jumping, catching, tumbling,
lead-up games and fitness testing.
Service Learning
Fifth grade teachers integrate service into their existing structure. Fifth
graders tutor kindergarten students weekly at nearby Broadview-Thompson Elementary
School.
Technology
Computer Instruction
Students will be introduced to the use of our computer labs, with focus on
the Windows operating system, the MS Office suite of software, access to and
use of the school’s network, and exploring the World Wide Web. Regular
time is given to building students’ keyboarding skills in class and
to teach the use of and access to Lakeside’s e-mail system. More detailed
instruction on features of Word, Excel, or PowerPoint is given, often in conjunction
with assignments from other classes utilizing technology.
Learning Resources and Tutoring
The Learning Resources Department provides assistance to students in basic
academic skills and study strategies. The Learning Resource teachers work
with individual students and small groups to review and practice content information
given in classes and to provide help in acquiring more efficient and effective
learning strategies. This includes reviewing work with students to help them
develop their ability to evaluate their work for quality and completeness.
Study skills lessons are also incorporated into middle school curriculum.
Students are welcome to schedule time to work with Learning Resource teachers
both during the day and in after school study hall.
The Learning Resources Department also coordinates standardized testing, educational
evaluations, Johns Hopkins CTY testing, and services by tutors who are available
on a fee basis to work individually with students for ongoing support and
instruction.
Library
The library program promotes reading through book discussion groups, book
talks and displays, and participation in the Young Readers Choice Award sponsored
by the Pacific Northwest Library Association. Research skills are taught and
re-enforced through project work in a variety of subjects. Students learn
to use online databases such as Britannica Online, World Geography and periodical
indexes Proquest and Ebsco. Techniques for effective searching and critical
evaluation of Internet sources are emphasized. Fifth graders take part in
a weekly Library class, with literature-based activities such as storytelling
and readers’ theatre as well as skills-based research lessons.
After-School Study Table
Each day from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m., we offer a Study Table in the Middle School
library. This service is provided to families and students who have after-school
sports practices or late parent pickup. This is a supervised study hall, and
students are expected to come with the materials necessary to do homework
or read. Study Table closes promptly at 6:00 p.m.
Interscholastic Sports Program
The Middle School participates in the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). Our
offerings are listed below. These options are available to interested students
in addition to the regular required Physical Education classes. All students
must participate in PE on a given day to be eligible for practice or after-school
sports that day. Our primary goal for 5th and 6th graders is to have fun and
learn skills. For 7th and 8th graders, sports become more competitive. Students
and parents looking for a highly competitive experience should consider select
teams outside of Lakeside.
Signups for fall sports (soccer and cross-country) take place during the academic
course signups in the spring. Signups for winter and spring sports take place
several weeks before the season, either in PE classes or via e-mail. CYO does
place limits on team sizes. Therefore, our “no-cut policy” means
that inclusion in the program is based on the order of registrations each
season rather than on skill-based tryouts. Therefore, students and families
must keep watching The Weekly for registration deadlines. Students who do
not register within the stated timelines may be excluded from participation.
When we have a large number of students sign up for a sport and the numbers
warrant a second team, the teams will be divided according to the CYO offerings
for that sport. For example, basketball is divided into varsity and junior
varsity teams, while soccer is divided into two equal teams. In the case of
varsity and junior varsity, if a player has a regularly scheduled commitment
that would prohibit them from making the majority of practices or games, they
will be placed on the junior varsity rather than the varsity squad regardless
of their ability.
Teams practice twice a week. Exact practice days and times will be published
before the season. The majority of practices are 3:30-5:00 p.m. However, due
to the number of basketball teams we sponsor, we stagger basketball practices.
The first shift is 3:20-4:40 and the later shift is 4:40-6:00. Athletes who
have the late practice are expected to be in study hall until practice begins.
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