5TH GRADE NEWS
Farmland Elementary
Rockville Maryland
Quarter 1
Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year!
Welcome to 5th Grade! To those families who have been at Farmland,
it’s great to see you again. To our new families, we are pleased to have you join
a terrific community where teachers and families work together to provide our
children with a well-rounded education.
In an effort to keep you informed, we will be sending out a quarterly
newsletter with important information about our curriculum and important dates.
We hope you will find the information helpful in your planning and in your
support of your child’s learning. If you have any questions feel free to contact
any of your child’s teachers.
CONTACT US
IMPORTANT DATES
Sept. 1
Labor Day: NO SCHOOL
Sept. 2
Back To School Night
Sept. 24
Early Dismissal
Sept. 25
Rosh Hashanah: NO SCHOOL
Oct. 13
By e-mail:
Andrea Ciccarello: Andrea_Ciccarello@mcpsmd.org
Mary Hart: Mary_C_Hart@mcpsmd.org
Holly Murphy: Holly_A_Murphy@mcpsmd.org
Tracy Tibbs: Tracy_L_Tibbs@mcpsmd.org
Open House
Oct. 15
5th Grade Family Fun Night
(Rain date: 10/22)
By Phone:
(301) 230-5919; best times to call are immediately before or after school, or
during the lunch/recess hour (12-1 p.m.).
Oct. 17
MSEA Conference – NO
SCHOOL
Oct. 30
Halloween Parade/Parties;
First Marking Period Ends
Unifying Questions & TASSOct. 31
Each marking period, students work toward
developing responses to a series of “unifying questions”
that apply to all subject areas. During the first marking
period, the unifying questions are:
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When should I rethink or change my ideas, questions, or
strategies?
How can responsibilities best be shared to reach a group
goal?
What are the benefits of seeking multiple perspectives?
How does new evidence confirm or change my thinking?
When should I stand firm and when should I yield to the
ideas of others?
When should I rethink or change my ideas, questions, or
strategies?
How can responsibilities best be shared to reach a group
goal?
How can criteria be used to support a group decision?
Teacher Professional Day: NO
Also, during each markingSCHOOL
period, teachers
provide explicit instruction on important Thinking
and Academic Success Skills (TASS) that will help
students thrive not only in fifth grade but in college,
throughout whatever career they choose, and as a
contributing member of society. This quarter’s TASS
skills are collaboration (working effectively and
respectfully to reach a group goal) and flexibility
(being open and responsive to new and diverse ideas
and strategies and moving freely among them).
5th Grade Curriculum Update
Math & Reading
Math and Reading curriculum updates will be sent home in a separate newsletter. For students taking Math 5,
the update will be sent at the beginning of each quarter. For students taking Math 6, the update will be sent home at the
beginning of each unit. Reading curriculum updates will be sent home in a separate newsletter at the beginning of each
quarter.
Writing
Science
Students will compose an adventure story, an
informative piece about energy sources, and an opinion piece or
proposal on the most efficient energy source to produce
electricity for an amusement park ride as part of the Energy
Sources inquiry. At the end of the quarter students will create a
multimedia product that incorporates excerpts from their energy
source inquiry and opinion writing, and present them to the
class.
Throughout the marking period students will explore
the physics of force and motion. Students demonstrate how
scientists and engineers collaborate when they apply the
concepts of physics through an inquiry project in which they
design amusement park rides. At the end of the marking period
students will combine their investigations in science with
products in writing and information literacy to present their
amusement park ride design proposals.
Essential Questions
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How do writers use narrative techniques to develop real or
imagined experiences that influence their audience?
How do writers logically link reasons and evidence to enhance
an opinion?
How do writers organize information to support the purpose of
communication?
How does the application of writing process change when
constructing extended writing vs. short compositions?
How does using multiple forms of technology help you produce
and publish writing as well as interact with others?
How do using relevant print and digital literary or informational
texts enhance analysis and research?
How do using multimedia components and visual displays
enhance the main idea or theme of a presentation?
How does integrating the writing traits make writing effective?
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Essential Questions
How is an object’s motion described?
What causes an object’s motion to change?
What evidence do you have that energy exists in various forms?
What is needed to carry out a task or conduct an investigation?
How can tools, materials, and skills be used to carry out a task,
conduct an investigation, or address a problem?
What steps are used to carry out the engineering design
process?
How can the engineering design process address a
technological problem?
Key Vocabulary
weight, mass, quantative data, force, qualitative data,
kinetic energy, potential energy, mechanical energy, heat
energy, chemical energy, electrical energy, gravitational
energy, speed, velocity, acceleration
Key Vocabulary
plot, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, theme,
conflict, setting
Social Studies
During the first marking period students will gather information from multiple and diverse perspectives and consider new
ideas as they develop understandings of the American Revolutionary War historical period. Students will explore interactions
between colonists and Britain prior to, during, and after the French and Indian War to identify changes in British Royal Government
policies that increased tensions between Britain and colonists. Students will end the marking period by exploring roles and
viewpoints of individuals and groups during and after the American Revolutionary War.
Essential Questions
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How does identifying the causes of conflict and compromises help you to
reconcile different perspectives?
How are economic decisions affected by government policies?
How are economic decisions affected by individuals and groups?
How do economic systems influence the development of a society?
How can the viewpoints and actions of individuals and groups affect the
course of history?
What is worth fighting for?
Key Vocabulary
activist, boycott, collaboration, command decision, compromise,
conflict, currency, Loyalist, opportunity cost, Patriot, rebellion,
urban artisan, yeoman farmer,
Study Skills Corner
Completing Assignments:
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Know what your assignment is and when it is due.
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Decide how much time you will need to complete
the assignment.
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Plan the time to complete the assignment.
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Choose a quiet place to work.
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Gather all of the materials you need to complete
the assignment.