5th Grade

Fifth grade is a crucial year as students prepare for middle school and beyond. At this stage, they are expected to take greater ownership of their learning, develop independence, and strengthen critical thinking, reading, writing, and problem-solving skills. Students also focus on collaboration, communication, and creativity—essential skills for success in the 21st century.

Curriculum Focus Areas

English Language Arts (ELA)

Fifth graders will engage in reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities that strengthen comprehension and communication skills. They will work with both fiction and nonfiction texts, developing the ability to analyze, interpret, and cite evidence.

Throughout the year, students will:

Read longer and more complex texts across genres.
Identify themes, main ideas, and key details.
Analyze characters, settings, events, and points of view.
Compare and contrast texts in the same genre and by different authors.
Expand vocabulary knowledge, including figurative language.
Apply phonics and word analysis to decode unfamiliar words and build fluency.
Write narratives, opinion pieces, and informative/explanatory texts.
Use the writing process to plan, draft, revise, and publish.
Demonstrate correct grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.

Math

Fifth graders at Turner Intermediate use Eureka Math to build a deep and connected understanding of mathematics. They extend their knowledge of whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and geometry, while practicing problem-solving skills.

Key areas of focus include:

Multiplication and division with larger numbers.
Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions.
Operations with decimals and real-world applications.
Measurement, volume, area, and perimeter.
Data analysis using charts and graphs.
Solving real-world, multi-step word problems.

Daily practice and programs such as Zearn and Imagine Math Facts reinforce fluency and fact automaticity in all four operations.

Science

Fifth graders continue to explore the world around them through hands-on investigations using FOSS kits.

Units of study include:

Life Science: ecosystems, adaptations, and inherited traits.
Earth & Space Science: Earth’s systems, the water cycle, and human impact on the environment.
Physical Science: matter, energy, and forces.
Scientific inquiry: observation, data collection, hypothesizing, and analysis.

Social Studies

Fifth grade social studies expands students’ knowledge of history, geography, government, and economics.

Students will learn to:

Analyze major U.S. historical events and their impact.
Understand the principles and structure of the U.S. government.
Recognize rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Read and interpret maps using latitude, longitude, and cardinal directions.
Explore U.S. states, capitals, and regions.
Compare cultures and understand how geography influences societies.
Explain basic economic concepts such as goods, services, producers, and consumers.

Skills Your Child Will Develop

By the end of fifth grade, students will be able to:

English Language Arts: Read and comprehend both literary and informational texts on grade level, independently and proficiently. Write across genres with clarity and evidence.
Mathematics: Fluently use the four operations with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals; solve multi-step problems; and demonstrate strong reasoning skills in geometry and measurement.
Science: Demonstrate an understanding of ecosystems, Earth’s systems, matter, and energy, while using scientific inquiry to explore real-world problems.
Social Studies: Explain U.S. history, government, and economics, as well as apply geography skills to analyze maps and regions.

Fifth graders leave Turner Intermediate ready for middle school as independent readers, confident writers, fluent mathematicians, and thoughtful problem solvers.