• Grade Five

    English Language Arts
    Students in Grade Five are growing adolescent readers and writers of many different forms and genres of text.  Using the components of a Balanced Literacy Approach, students in grade five receive a daily 90 minute literacy block during which they are challenged to read, write, listen, and speak independently, in pairs and small groups, and in whole group settings. 

    Specifically, in grade five, our focus and by using the Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment system to insure prescriptive instruction at each student’s individual reading level.  The language arts curriculum in the general classroom is supported by a Book Room stocked and leveled with books spanning the range of reading levels and instructional levels for Pre-K through grade 6.  In addition, students at this level read a variety of young adult novels that support the English Language Arts Curriculum.

    The focus of English Language Arts instruction at any level remains NYSED Core Curriculum and challenges students to read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding, for literary response and expression, for critical analysis and evaluation, and for social interaction. 

    Math
    The Elementary Math Program in the North Tonawanda City School District provides a comprehensive curriculum that is aligned to the New York State Standards for Learning. The Elementary Math curriculum focuses on foundational mathematical reasoning skills beginning with number sense and operations, geometrical shapes, measurement, patterning and sequencing, problem solving, and reasoning. Building on these foundational skills each year, we provide students with explicit, grade level instruction in our daily 60 minute math block.

    Specifically, in grade five, students learn place value to millions, read and write whole numbers and decimals, compare and order whole numbers and decimals, round numbers to the nearest hundredth and up to 10,000.  Students also understand multiplication patterns, estimate products for whole numbers and decimals, multiply whole numbers and decimals, choose a computation method, multiply whole numbers including 3-digit by 3-digit and multiply decimals by decimals, as well as divide whole numbers, money, and decimals by 2 digit divisors.  Students also begin working with the concept of factoring and determining the greatest common factor in addition to furthering their exploration of order thinking and reasoning skills required for the more complex concepts of algebra and geometry.

    The focus of Mathematics instruction at any level remains the NYSED Core Curriculum through which teachers provide students with the knowledge and understanding of mathematics necessary to function in a world very dependent upon the application of mathematics.  Instructionally, this goal translates into three components:

    • conceptual understanding
    • procedural fluency
    • problem solving 
    Social Studies
    The Elementary Social Studies curriculum provides students with opportunities to confront questions about humankind and the world. As part of the New York State Core Curriculum, students engage in the study of history, geography, economics, government, citizenship and civics.  Concepts and themes explored at the elementary level begin with the study of families, communities, local places in the North Tonawanda community and the Western New York region, citizenship, rights and responsibilities, and rules and laws.

    Specifically, in grade five, the social studies curriculum is an in-depth exploration of the United States including its geography, its history as a country,  its politics, economics, and government, its customs and culture, its regions and the features of the those regions including their geographies, customs, and cultures.  In addition, students learn about their neighbors to the North and South of the United States, Canada and Latin America, whose exploration also focuses on the history, geography, economy, and government of the countries.  

    Science
    The Elementary Science Program in the North Tonawanda City School District provides a comprehensive curriculum that is aligned to the New York State Standards for Learning. The Elementary Science curriculum uses Scientific Inquiry to explore broad topics of the physical setting and the living environment. Students use simple equipment and tools to gather data and extend their senses acquiring simple skills such as how to observe, measure, connect, record and report data, and to classify objects using their own rules. From their own observations, they begin to ask questions and make predictions. Students' investigations are largely based on systematic observations and simple classifications to bring order and organization to their understanding. As students develop concepts and vocabulary from such experiences, they develop the ability to ask meaningful questions, investigate aspects of the world around them, and use their observations to construct reasonable explanations for their questions.

    Specifically, in grade five, students explore the relationships among air, water, and land on Earth with a particular focus on erosion and deposition.  Students also observe and describe the properties of materials demonstrate an understanding of chemical reactions, and atoms and molecules bonding together.  Further exploring energy and motion, students will explore how humans utilize interactions between matter and energy and will demonstrate an understanding of Newton’s Law of Motion, and kinetic and potential energy.  Students also continue to explore the many ways measurement can be used to gather data.  In addition, students are introduced to reproduction and genetics.

    In addition to academics, the North Tonawanda City School District provides instruction in an experiential setting by offering one mandatory field trip per grade level for each elementary student.  Grade Five students visit a local theatre for a live performance connected to their curriculum content.