TOUCHSTONE SCHOOL
Mrs. Moore/Mr. Bardeschewski
Curriculum Overview
Fifth/Sixth Graders
September 3, 2014- November 7, 2015
Language Arts
In writing, students built on and expanded writing strategies in terms of both style and
structure. The following skills and concepts were focused on this term:
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Determining the main ideas in non-fiction text in order to take useful and
effective double-column research notes
Using double-column research notes to understand and write non-fiction
information in their own words
Using specific teacher feedback to revise and improve written work
Review of basic grammar use: nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs
Analyzing the components of a complete sentence: contains subject and predicate,
and expresses a complete thought
Identifying and fixing run-on sentences and fragments
Developing topic sentences and summarizing various works of literature
Effective use of personification, similes, metaphors, and line breaks in poetry
Crafting a script of a play based on factual information
Oral presentation of written work
Students practiced these skills through projects such as Inventor Interviews, Puppet plays,
Class Website Articles, Current Events Articles, Surprising Word Poems, Fall Haikus,
River Poems, summaries of various non-fiction passages, and a variety of daily and
weekly assignments and activities.
Language Arts also included the development of vocabulary by guided instruction of
Latin and Greek roots and derivatives, as well as being part of literature studies. For
spelling, students were placed in small groups based on an assessment of each child’s
spelling strengths and weaknesses. Spelling tests were administered weekly and
vocabulary tests were administered semi-weekly.
Reader’s Workshop
Students worked on using critical/analytical reading skills before, during, and after
reading. Comprehension strategies practiced this term included: concise summarizing of
text, critiquing and reviewing books, tracking main events, making predictions, asking
thoughtful questions, sharing responses, and finding evidence to support story themes.
Opportunities for practicing these skills came through the summary of various plays, a
picture book review, novel study discussions with small groups, and double-column
notes. In the second half of the term, two books were chosen as catalysts for discussion
about issues important for the social and emotional development of pre-adolescents kids.
Mrs. Moore’s group of girls read Belle Teal, by Ann Martin, while Mr. Bardeschewski’s
boy group read Monkey Island, by Paula Fox. In both groups, the various Emotional
Intelligences were explored and discussed. Finding positive, constructive ways to deal
with conflict in friendships and in the classroom community were also themes explored
through these novel studies and discussions. Fifth and sixth graders were also expected to
choose and read independent literature at least 60 minutes (fifth graders) or 90 minutes
(sixth graders) weekly as part of on-going reading homework.
Integrated Studies
The theme studies of Inventors/Inventions and Physics included the study of concepts
related to: the history of major inventions, historical figures in science and technology,
the story of some of the world’s important or interesting inventions, Newton’s Laws of
Motion, work (as defined in physics), mass, momentum, acceleration, speed (and how it
is calculated), velocity, gravity, unbalanced and balanced forces, net force, and the
various types of energy (kinetic, potential, chemical, mechanical, light and sound). These
concepts were studied and further developed through: picture glossaries, class
discussions, multi-media presentations, a variety of science labs, exploration using the
Scientific Process, the writing of lab reports, invention posters, flashcard study using the
Quizlet app, and an I-movie that integrated students’ understanding of Newton’s Laws
with a variety of motion experiments.
In geography for the fall term, fifth and sixth graders were asked to learn the locations of
the countries of the Middle East and Western Europe through music and map study, as
well as by exploring these regions using Google Earth. Knowing the countries of each
region was required and tested. Students were also given the opportunity to set higher
academic goals by choosing to learn the capitals, landforms, and waterways of each
region.
Personal and Social Development
Managing time and homework responsibilities and developing study habits that will carry
students successfully through the middle school and high school years are goals of the 5/6
classrooms. Emphasis was placed on the use of a daily planner or electronic calendar,
establishing homework routines, organization of IPAD folders, binders, workspace, and
lockers and taking responsibility for appropriately using and keeping track of an IPAD as
a learning tool.
Getting along and working productively with others, independence, developing
leadership skills, mutual respect, trustworthiness, making smart choices, and being a
good friend are topics that merit considerable discussion and practice with children in the
pre-adolescent years. Opportunities to facilitate personal and social development
included: discussing relevant issues using literature as a catalyst, setting academic goals,
many opportunities to collaborate on projects, high expectations for self-management,
interacting with first and second grade “Buddies” and participation in class meetings to
plan class events and work out community or playground issues.
Grade 5 Math Curriculum
Using the Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Math Connects text and teacher selected lessons and
activities, the following concepts were introduced, practiced, and/or reviewed this term.
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Identifying place value through billions
Comparing whole numbers
Exploring the relationship between fractions and decimals
Representing decimals visually
Identifying decimal place value through the thousandths
Comparing decimals
Ordering whole numbers and decimals
Rounding whole numbers and decimals
Estimating sums and differences
Adding and subtracting whole numbers
Adding and subtracting decimals
Identifying and applying addition properties: commutative, associative, and
identity properties
Using patterns to multiply mentally
Using the Distributive Property to multiply mentally
Estimating products by rounding and using compatible numbers
Multiplying by two-digit numbers
Measuring length to the nearest quarter inch using The Customary System
Using data from the math game “Digit Place” to determine various averages:
mean, median, and mode
Problem Solving: Using the four-step plan of understanding, planning, solving,
and checking
Math 6
Using the Glencoe McGraw-Hill Math Connects text (courses 1 and 2), video instruction,
and teacher selected lessons and activities, the following concepts were introduced,
practiced, and/or reviewed this term.
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Understanding the meaning of a negative power of ten as it relates to a place
value chart
Multiplying and dividing whole numbers by powers of 10
Powers and exponents
Square roots of perfect squares
Identifying and using the Associative, Commutative, and Identity Properties of
Multiplication and Addition
Prime Factorization
Order of operations
Variables and expressions
Substitution in equations
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Identifying functions, writing a rule for a function using a variable (input/output
tables)
Writing expressions and equations from word problems
Review of area and perimeter of rectangles
Review of decimal operations
Review of reducing fractions to simplest terms, review of converting from mixed
numbers to improper fractions
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Grade 7 Math Curriculum –
Using the Math Connects Course 3 textbook, video instruction, and teacher selected
lessons and activities, the following concepts were introduced, practiced, and/or reviewed
this term.
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Writing algebraic expressions and equations from word problems using variables
Solving equations using substitution when given the value of a variable or
variables
Associate, Distributive, Commutative, and Identity Properties of Addition and
Multiplication
Review of Order of Operations
Absolute Value
Identifying, comparing and comparing integers
Operations with Integer – adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing
Comparing and ordering rational numbers
Operations with rational numbers including positive and negative fractions and
decimals
Solving single-step algebra equations using inverse operations to isolate the
variable
Powers and exponents: negative exponents
Scientific Notation
Square Roots