Students will typically develop skills and learn about concepts not addressed on this page. This resource provides one insight into broad aspects of core curriculum.

• Over the course of a school year, students learn much more than can be depicted in one resource.
• Core curriculum is stated as general expectations for all students.
• This page describes what students must know and be able to do at the end of their school year.
• In all cases, instruction must fit each student’s needs.
• Classroom teachers are the best resource for parents wishing to learn more about their children’s education.
• For more information on materials and approaches used in classrooms, contact the building principal.

Fifth grade students will....

• place major events in the development of their local community and Michigan in chronological order
• identify and explain how individuals in history demonstrated good character and personal virtue
• compose simple narratives of events from the history of Michigan and the United States
• locate and describe diverse kinds of communities and explain reasons for their location
• describe major kinds of economic activity
• describe major movement of goods, people, jobs and information within Michigan
• describe the geography of Michigan at major times in its history
• give examples of authority and the use of power
• interpret the meaning of specific rights guaranteed by the Constitution
• explain responsibilities of citizens
• explain the basic organization of local, state and federal governments
• explain why people must face scarcity when making economic decisions
• distinguish among individual ownership, partnership and corporations
• pose a social science question about Michigan or the United States
• compose a short essay expressing a decision on a local, state or national policy issue
• identify and discuss groups of people throughout United States history from Ice Age to the 1800's.

 

Fifth grade students will....

• Identify, understand, analyze, compare and contrast different types of literature
• apply and synthesize information gained through reading
• use reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing processes to make connections
• Identify and use parts of speech
• create complete sentences and paragraphs 
• use appropriate punctuation and capitalization
• paraphrase and classify oral presentations
• categorize, classify and analyze various types of media
• prepare and incorporate media into presentations
• understand, use and create graphic organizers
• develop and apply methods for self-checking comprehension
• edit for correct spelling
• identify and use multiple resources
• utilize each stage of the writing process to create original pieces in a variety of formats

Fifth grade students will....

• develop strategies and skills for information gathering and problem solving
• observe and record evidence of science in their world
• conduct experiments, record and discuss results
• show how science can be interpreted through creative expression
• develop an awareness of and sensitivity to the natural world
• describe positive and negative effects of humans on the environment
• classify common objects and substances according to observable attributes
• measure weight, dimensions and temperature of appropriate objects and materials

Fifth grade students will....

• use percent, proportion, decimals, rates and ratios
• add, subtract, multiply and divide integers
• use area, points, lines, planes, angles and area/perimeter
• define and use commutative, associative and distributive properties
• use algebraic equations up to one variable
• apply properties of equality and inequality
• define and use order of operations
• define and use absolute value (distance from zero)
• use various hands-on materials to learn mathematical concepts