Fifth Grade Specials
NFS Curriculum Update :: December, 2015
ART
Fifth grade artists will embark on learning and practicing traditional pen and ink techniques. Students will use this knowledge to recreate chosen architectural landmarks and practice adding shading with crosshatching and details. These landmarks will then be collaged onto our pastel backgrounds designed to represent space. Students will use chosen materials to add details and bring the ideas of this art element together.
LATIN - 5CE
This month 5CE will continue to learn about various parts of speech and how they function in Latin. We will learn to write sentences using linking verbs followed by nouns or adjectives. We will also learn how to construct sentences with action verbs followed by nouns. We will use this knowledge to compose sentences about ourselves, which will be compiled into a Latin autobiography. Illustrating and binding our autobiographies should carry us through to the end of the month.
LIBRARY
Fifth Grade will study “exquisite corpse” drawings and stories (one person begins, then passes it to another who adds a piece, then passes it on and so forth), and draw and write our own versions. We will discuss how to stretch an idea into a story, referring back to the exquisite corpse story and using examples from The Chronicles of Harris Burdick.
MUSIC
The fifth graders continue to be very successful with their vocal sigh treading. We will be adding more difficult rhythms and solfege patterns to this as we move forward. Fifth grade will finish their handchime unit this month by playing actual compositions! The December composer of the month is Charles Ives.
P.E.
December is the start of our basketball unit and many of the classes this month will focus on various basketball skills, drills, and activities. Our fitness skill challenge this month is "how many baskets can you make in a minute?" We will participate in basketball activities like Runners & Gunners and Basketball Pirates. We will play large group games like BBK and Line Basketball. We will also participate in non-basketball activities like flag grab and will use the rock wall. Fitness and skill development remain an important part of our activities, as well as sportsmanship and fair play.
SCIENCE
Fifth graders learn about creating a “fair test” and “variables” while planning their own experiment about evaporation. They will learn that conducting a fair test is one of the most important ingredients of doing good, scientifically valuable experiments. To insure that an experiment is a fair test, you must change only one factor at a time while keeping all other conditions the same. Students, once comprehending this concept and completing their first test/experiment on evaporation, will design a second experiment based on questions that arose from the first test. This is inquiry at its finest! Through the scientific method, including data collection and analyzing that data, we will hopefully answer the questions they come up with.
SPANISH - 5MM
Fifth grade Spanish students learned the names and locations of Spanish speaking countries in Central America, The Caribbean and South America. In December they will learn vocabulary regarding our magic trip to El Parque Nacional Tayrona in Colombia. Using functional chunks of vocabulary, students will describe in written and oral expression the following cultural and travel information: Where is Colombia? Who are the indigenous group that lives in Tayrona, Colombia? What fun activities will we do in Colombia? What are we going to take to Colombia? What animals are we going to see in the Tayrona National Park? What is the weather in Tayrona Colombia? What are we going to eat in Colombia? Class will include pronunciation practice, written work and many games and oral activities that will enable students to communicate interesting information about Tayrona National Park.
Event Information
Holiday Meeting for Worship
Parents are welcome to join us for Holiday Meeting for Worship on Friday, December 18th at 9 am in the George School Meeting House. This year's program includes performances from the Advanced Handbell Elective, the NFS Parent Chorus, and the Faculty Chorus.
When?
Friday, Dec 18, 2015, 09:00 AM
Where?