+ MATHEMATICS

In 5th grade, students practice more complex computations with larger numbers, fractions, decimals, and use all operations including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to solve problems.

5th grade math also emphasizes real life situations to help students strengthen their skills and understand that Math is a tool to be used in their everyday lives. Students will often be asked to explain how they solved problems in order to master the underlying rules they used.

Our goal will be for the class to use the four operations to solve decimal problems, round decimals and to add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions with unlike denominators.

+ RELIGION

Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the Word of Christ. Romans 10:17

Our 5th grade religion classes will help us to understand and develop our faith using the teachings of the Catechism of the Catholic Church as the basis of our study. We will explore our core Catholic beliefs in order to develop a common knowledge and language that allows us to interact with our community of faith. Contributing to their growth will be a study of the Mass, Sacraments, discovering the Church’s celebration of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, the life of Mary and the saints, and weekly scripture readings. We will see how the sacraments strengthen us to grow in faith and holiness and the love of God. We will study the Beatitudes and Corporal works of Mercy as examples of how we can live our faith so we can ultimately grow closer to God.

+ ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

The fifth-grade ELA curriculum at St. Patrick School is designed to strengthen foundational skills while preparing students for the academic demands of Middle School. Instruction is delivered through a two-part system: grammar and language mechanics, and writing and composition, both of which are supported by high-quality, research-based resources.

A core part of our program is the Wit & Wisdom curriculum by Great Minds. This rich, knowledge-building curriculum uses engaging texts across literature, history, and the arts to develop students’ reading comprehension, critical thinking, vocabulary, and writing skills. Each module is centered around a central theme and essential questions, allowing students to explore meaningful topics while practicing close reading and text-based analysis.

In conjunction with Wit & Wisdom, students continue to advance through the Voyages grammar curriculum, where they expand their understanding of sentence structure, grammar rules, and the proper use of parts of speech. These skills are practiced both through workbook-based exercises and through application in real-world reading and writing tasks.

The second component of the program focuses on writing development. Students apply their grammar knowledge and writing skills across various genres, including personal narratives, business letters, formal book reports, and research papers. Writing is taught through a workshop model, which combines direct instruction, guided writing practice, teacher-student collaboration, and the study of professional writing samples within each genre.

Our goals in Grade 5 ELA are to solidify students’ command of grammar, enhance their writing abilities, and foster thoughtful, skilled communication. By integrating Wit & Wisdom with targeted grammar instruction and genre-based writing, we prepare students to meet—and exceed—the expectations of Middle School and beyond.

+ HISTORY

In Social Studies, the students will focus on American history beginning with the colonization of America and the events through the 20th century. We will begin with the earliest settlements in North America, examining how they established the economic, political and social development of the English colonies. We will discuss how so many people believed in finding freedom to express their religious beliefs and gain a better way of life that is still a dream of many today.

Our studies will also explore the development of democratic institutions and ideas, including the events that led to the independence of the original 13 colonies and ultimately the formation of our national government under the rules of our new constitution.

We will continue to read and interpret maps and charts. We will discuss current events and how they influence our lives, research people past and present and study the sacrifices they made to help others attain better lives. Students will see how historical events helped mold the country we live in today.

+ SCIENCE

The fifth-grade Science curriculum at St. Patrick School provides students with a broad introduction to a variety of scientific disciplines, including geology, biology, ecology, and physics. This comprehensive approach is designed to give students both a foundational understanding of key scientific concepts and the opportunity to apply their learning through hands-on experiences. The curriculum is built around two key components. First, students engage with informational texts related to each scientific field. They learn how to read for understanding, extract key information, and summarize content in their own words. This literacy-focused approach helps strengthen comprehension skills while deepening content knowledge.

The second component emphasizes scientific inquiry and experimentation. As students explore each topic, they participate in collaborative, teacher-guided experiments that reinforce the concepts introduced in class. Through these activities, students develop essential skills such as problem solving, data collection, observation, and the use of the scientific method. They also begin learning the basics of scientific writing, documenting their findings and reflecting on outcomes—laying the groundwork for more advanced science work in Middle School.

The primary goal of the fifth-grade science program is to help students expand their scientific knowledge, strengthen critical thinking skills, and foster curiosity about the world around them. By combining reading, discussion, and hands-on discovery, we aim to create a learning experience that is both engaging and enriching.

+ SPECIALS

Students participate in specials that compliment the rigorous classroom curricula throughout the school year. Art, Physical Education, Music, STEAM, and Spanish are offered to all students from grades Pre-K through Grade 8. In Grade 5, students will have Spanish 2 times per week.