5th Grade
READING & WRITING GOALS
DURING WRITING, I CAN...
-Write stories, real or imaginary, that unfold naturally and develop the plot with dialogue, description and effective pacing of the action
-Write opinions that offer reasoned arguments and provide facts and examples that are logically grouped to support your point of view
-Expand, combine and reduce sentences to improve meaning, interest, and style of writing
-Build knowledge of academic words with an emphasis on those that signal contrast in ideas or logical relationships, such as on the other hand, similarly and therefore
WHEN READING, I CAN...
-Summarize the key details of stories, dramas, poems and nonfiction materials, including their themes or main ideas
-Compare and contrast stories that deal with similar themes or topics
-Explain how authors use reasons and evidence to support their points or ideas
-Draw on information from multiple books, articles or online sources to locate an answer or solve a problem quickly
-Understand figurative language, such as “She was as quiet as a mouse.”
WHEN SPEAKING, I CAN...
-Participate in classroom discussions by listening, asking questions, sharing ideas and building on the ideas of others
Give a class presentation on a topic or tell a story, introducing relevant facts and details in a clear and logical order
MATH GOALS
WHEN MULTIPLYING AND DIVIDING AS WELL AS USING FRACTIONS AND DECIMALS, I CAN...
-Multiply whole numbers quickly and accurately (such as 1,638 x 753) and divide whole numbers in simple cases (such as 6,971 by 63)
-Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators (such as 2 1⁄4 - 1 1/3)
-Multiply fractions, divide fractions in simple cases and solve related word problems
-Measure volume using multiplication and addition
WHEN LEARNING PLACE VALUE, I CAN...
-Understand the place value system (the value of where the digit is in the number). For example, in 461, the place value of the 6 is “tens”
-Read, write and compare decimals to the thousandths place
-Add, subtract, multiply and divide decimals to the hundredths place
WHEN UNDERSTANDING NUMBER OR WORD PROBLEMS, I CAN...
-Use exponents to express powers of 10 (in 102, 2 is the exponent)
-Write and interpret mathematical expressions using symbols such as parentheses. For example, “add 8 and 7, then multiply by 2” can be written as 2 x (8+7)
-Analyze mathematical patterns and relationships
-Understand the concept of volume (the amount of space a substance occupies or that is enclosed within a container)
SCIENCE GOALS
WHEN INVESTIGATING HEAT AND CHANGES IN MATERIAL, I CAN...
-Understand the different states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases
-Learn how matter changes from one state to another by heating and cooling
-Identify the state of any sample of matter
-Use these lessons in real-world situations, such as figuring out where snow around your school would melt the fastest and/or slowest and why
WHEN INVESTIGATING HUMAN SYSTEMS, I CAN...
-Learn that all organisms or living things have structures and systems with separate functions. For example, human body systems have basic structures, functions, and needs
-Compare and contrast a human system to that of another organism, and provide hypotheses (proposed explanations) about why the similarities and differences exist
WHEN INVESTIGATING WEATHER SYSTEMS, I CAN...
-Learn that weather conditions change because of the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface by the sun’s energy
-Learn that weather changes are measured by differences in temperature, air pressure, wind and water in the atmosphere
SOCIAL STUDIES GOALS
WHEN UNDERSTANDING U.S. HISTORY, I CAN...
-Analyze historical sources from multiple points of view to develop an understanding of historical context
-Examine significant historical documents such as the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence
-Create timelines of eras and themes in North America from 1491 through the American Revolution
-Learn about the individuals and groups in North America from 1491 through the founding of the U.S. government
-Explain important political, social, economic and military developments leading to and during the American Revolution
-Use maps and other geographic tools to answer questions about the geography of the United States
-Learn about the causes and consequences of discovery, exploration, and migration
-Explain the historical foundation and the events that led to the formation of the U.S. government
WHEN LEARNING ABOUT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, I CAN...
-Understand the foundations of citizenship in the United States, giving examples of civic ideals such as freedom, equality, and responsibility
-Understand the origins, structure, and functions of the U.S. government
-Define a capitalist market economy
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP YOUR CHILD?
READING AND WRITING
-Provide time and space for your child to read independently, without distractions such as the TV
-Ask your child what he or she has learned from reading. Have him or her read the most interesting or useful sections out loud and discuss how that knowledge can be used in real life
-Assist your child in using references such as the Internet or a dictionary to look up unfamiliar words
-Make sure your child has a library card
Invite your child to read his or her writing out loud to other family members. Ask questions about word choices and ideas
-Go to a play or musical with your child. Discuss the way the actors bring the words to life
Discuss your family stories and history. Encourage your child to ask relatives questions about their lives. Put the information together in an album or brainstorm different ways to tell family tales, such as poems or short stories
MATH
-Look for “word problems” in real life. This includes doing arithmetic with decimals, such as when balancing a checkbook. Multiply with fractions.
-Use everyday objects to allow your child to explore the concept of fractions
-Have your child explain how to write fractions in different ways
-Ask your child to give you a fraction equal to a decimal
-Use the length, width and depth of a garden plot to determine how many bags of garden soil to buy