St. Luke School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) School. Fifth grade is part of the Primary Years Programme (PYP). We are committed to integrating inquiry-based, student-directed learning throughout our curriculum. In addition, the IB Learner Profile Attributes, ATL’s (Approaches to Learning), and Key Concepts will be woven into all units of study.Religion: Taught by Ms. Bakamis & Mr. Scholz
(Call to Faith, Harcourt Religion Publishers, 2010)
Fifth graders will learn about the Sacraments and the liturgical calendar while continuing to build a personal relationship with Christ. Second Step, our social and emotional curriculum, and Archdiocesan mandated touching safety lessons will also be taught during religion classes. We will also spend some time writing compliments to each other to renew the spirit of our classmates.
Grading: Projects/Assignments 50%, Participation 25%, Assessments 25%
Math: Taught by Ms. Bakamis, Mr. Scholz, & Mr. Carson
(Reveal Math, McGraw Hill 2016)
We will be using the My Math textbook series. Students will work on increasing their math vocabulary and their skills in writing in math throughout the year. This year we will review and expand students’ knowledge of math facts and skills from basic addition through division with two-digit divisors. Students will also work with fractions, decimals, measurement, and geometric concepts. Math homework will be assigned every day with time in class to begin working. Even students who complete the work at school are expected to bring it home to show you that it is complete.
Grading: Tests 40%, Quizzes 25%, Assignments 35%
Science: Taught by Ms. Bakamis & Mr. Scholz
(Smithsonian Institution National Science Resource Center, 2012)
Students will learn science through inquiry and hands-on experimentation this year. Students will work in collaborative groups most of the time and engage in lab activities. The units of study are Geology and Paleontology, Compounds and Mixtures, and Biodiversity and Ecosystems. In addition, we will spend time every week, all year long in the garden making observations and collecting data for our final unit of study. We will also have one class period a month taught by master gardeners from the Seattle Tilth Society.
Grading: Assessments 40%, Assignments 25%, Projects 35%
Social Studies: Taught by Ms. Bakamis & Mr. Scholz
(HBJ Social Studies, 1991)
During this year’s study of the history of the United States, students will become more aware of their place in the local and national communities. We will touch on three specific periods in American history the thirteen colonies, the Revolutionary War, and the forming of our nation. This year, we will be teaching these three concepts in our IB Units of Study and will be taught with hands-on simulations and games, student-driven projects, and unique reports. Towards the end of the year, we will be making connections between the rights and responsibilities that were important to the founders of our early nation and the rights and responsibilities we enjoy today.
Grading: Projects 40%, Assignments 40%, Participation 20%
Literature (Reading & Spelling): Taught by Ms. Bakamis
(Pearson 2015)
Fifth graders will get to experience new curricular materials as we work to increase fluency and comprehension of both fiction and non-fiction texts. A novel study will be used to complement the units of study in the new textbook. Discussion of characterization will center on the IB learner profile attributes and attitudes and students will be asked to ponder events through the lenses of the key concept questions. Students will also be asked to read and complete a short report on one book per month of their own choosing. Fifth graders are responsible for 15 A.R. points per trimester.
Spelling is taught using the Words Their Way curriculum. All students are practicing words at their instructional level. The goal of the weekly class and at-home practice with word lists is to internalize spelling patterns and transfer spelling patterns independently to daily writing.
Grading: Projects 35%, Assessments 35%, Assignments 30%
Language (Writing & Grammar): Taught by Mr. Scholz
(Lucy Calking Writers Workshop & Pearson 2015)
In the first unit of Lucy Calking Writers Workshop, students write reflective personal narratives. Unit 2 calls on students to write research reports. In the third unit, students choose to write in either the essay, narrative, or memoir genre. Lastly, Unit 4 teaches students to build arguments in research-based essays.
Grading: Assessments 50%, Projects/Assignments 50%