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Curriculum Overview – Grade 5

This is a broad overview of the curriculum that will be taught in the fifth grade at the Franconian International School.

The FIS curriculum has been developed and organized to incorporate components from a variety of concepts and institutions. The FIS Curriculum consists of central elements of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program, The National Curriculum from Great Britain, concepts of curriculum from the United States and the official Bavarian Curriculum for public elementary schools.

We have listed the major topics or themes that will be covered during the year for each subject. This is a guide and it is our goal to teach our curriculum as comprehensively and consistently as possible. In the middle grades, many topics will not be taught in isolation as separate subjects, but will be integrated as meaningful experiences that the children will be able to relate to in their everyday life.

Language Arts

Spoken Language

¨ Exploring, explaining, planning, predicting, investigating and sharing ideas, insights and opinions

¨ Reading aloud, telling and enacting stories and poems

¨ Reporting, describing, and presenting

¨ Developing listening skills

Reading

¨ Develop reading strategies

¨ Understanding vocabulary in context

¨ Improving fluency, accuracy, understanding and enjoyment, expression

¨ Various text: Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, traditional stories, legends, plays, etc.

¨ Deepen understanding of plot, ideas, characters, vocabulary and use of language, point of view

¨ Inferencing

Writing

For a variety of purposes - stories, poetry, letters, factual reports, journals, etc.

¨ Features of layout and presentation

¨ Punctuation, grammar and sentence structure

¨ Planning and drafting processes

¨ Spelling, use of dictionary

¨ Develop legible handwriting

¨ Develop larger and varied vocabulary

Mathematics

Numbers and the number system

¨ Counting, and properties of numbers to nine digits

¨ Place value and ordering to nine digits

¨ Estimating and rounding to seven digits

¨ Inequalities

¨ Decimals – indentifying place value

¨ Equating decimals with fractions

¨ Fractional inequalities

Calculations

¨ Understanding multiplication and division

¨ Rapid recall of all basic facts

¨ Mental calculations strategies (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division)

¨ Pencil and paper procedures (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division)

¨ Multiplication of three digit numbers

¨ Division by a two digit divisor

¨ Checking results of calculations

¨ Percentages, ratios and proportions

¨ Fractions – addition and subtraction

¨ Fractional conversions

Solving Problems

¨ Making decisions, word problems using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division

¨ Problems involving "real life", money and measures

¨ Two step word problems

¨ Extracting relevant information

Handling Data

¨ Organising and interpreting data

¨ Coordinate Graphing

¨ Probability

Measures, shape and space

¨ Measures: Length, mass, capacity in metric and standard units

¨ Concepts related to angles, circles and lines

¨ 2-D and 3-D shapes

¨ Perimeter and Area

Science

¨ Seeing things

¨ Electricity – changing circuits

¨ Forces in action - volcanoes

¨ Food chains

¨ Micro-organisms

¨ Dissolving

¨ Reproduction

Social Studies

Geography

¨ Reading Map Keys

¨ World Political Geography

¨ European Physical Geography

¨ Basic Mapping Skills

¨ Distances on a Map

¨ Natural Disasters

History

¨ World Explorers

¨ Inventions

¨ Native people of the Americas

¨ German History – a segment

German

German as a first language

¨ Role plays

¨ Reading for expression

¨ Writing of personal and business letters

¨ Main parts of speech

¨ Grammar

¨ Novel reading

¨ Writing for a variety of purposes and audiences - essays

Stress on reading of German literature and poems

German as a second language

¨ Oral language

¨ Acquisition of the language through songs, rhymes, games, fairy tales, text work, films, books

¨ Vocabulary from child–related everyday situations (family, friends, school)

¨ Basic to extended reading and writing

¨ Grammar work

Physical Education

¨ Fair play/sportsmanship

¨ Competitions

¨ Health and fitness

¨ Theoretical sports knowledge and practice in the following sports: athletics, gymnastics, dance, soccer, basketball, handball, volleyball, indoor hockey, badminton, swimming, winter sports

Art

¨ Developing skills in the techniques of:

Drawing, painting, printing, collage, fabric work and work in 3-D

¨ Continued work in the use of pattern, texture, colour, line, tone, shape, form

¨ Care and use of tools and materials

¨ Study of the work of chosen artists

¨ Art History

Information Technology

¨ Internet Research

¨ Storage Devices and how to use them

¨ File Management

¨ Database and Spreadsheet skills

Music

¨ Written notation and Music theory

¨ Movement / Dance

¨ Rhythm

¨ Role Play

¨ Percussion instruments

¨ Responding to Music

¨ Music Appreciation

Ethics

¨ Making decisions

¨ Acting responsibly

¨ Standards and rules for ethics orientation

¨ World Religions in everyday life

¨ Children in difficult situations

¨ Traditions (legends, tales, feasts, etc.)