Grade 5

Charter Oak's Grade 5 Teachers

Ashley Kendrigan

Grade 5 Teacher

Jo-Ann Lizon

Grade 5 Teacher

Lyssa Martin

Grade 5 Teacher

Lindsey Roberts

Grade 5 Teacher

Grade 5 Curriculum in a Nutshell

Dear Families,





Paul W. Vicinus, Jr.
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment


Language Arts



  • Apply Phonics and Word Recognition Skills
    • Use knowledge of letter-sound correspondence, syllabication patterns, and morphology (e.g., roots and affixes) to accurately read unfamiliar multisyllabic words.
  • Read with Fluency
    • Read on level text with appropriate accuracy and fluency to support comprehension
  • Identify Key Ideas and Details
    • Quote accurately from a text when drawing inferences and explaining what the text says explicitly.
    • Determine a theme from details in the text including how characters respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic.
    • Compare and contrast how characters interact drawing on specific details.
    • Determine two or more main ideas of a text and supporting key details; summarize the text.
    • Based on specific information in a text, explain the relationships or interactions between individual, events, etc.
  • Understand the Structure of Texts
    • Determine words/phrases used in a text including figurative language (e.g., metaphors, similes).
    • Explain how chapters, scenes or stanza fit together to provide structure of a story, drama or poem.
    • Describe how the narrator’s or speaker’s point of view influences how events are described.
    • Compare and contrast the overall structure of events, ideas, information in texts.
    • Analyze multiple accounts of the same event noting similarities and differences in the point of view they represent.
  • Integrate Knowledge and Ideas Within and Across Texts
    • Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning or tone of a text.
    • Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources to locate an answer or solve a problem quickly and efficiently.
    • Explain how an author uses evidence to support particular points in a text.
    • Integrate information from several texts on the same topic and write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
    • Independently and proficiently comprehend a variety of texts at the grade 4 – 5 complexity range.


  • Demonstrate Command of Conventions of Standard English
    • Appropriately use conjunctions, verb tenses, and correlative conjunctions (e.g.,either/or, neither /nor).
    • Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation and spelling when writing.
  • Use Knowledge of Language
    • Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading or listening.
  • Understand and Use Grade Appropriate Vocabulary
    • Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings (e.g., similes, idioms, proverbs).
    • Use general academic and domain-specific words/phrases that signal contrast and other logical relationships (e.g., similarly, nevertheless).

Speaking And Listening

  • Participate in Collaborative Conversations with Understanding
    • Come to discussions prepared and explicitly draw on information known about the topic under discussion.
    • Follow agreed upon rules and contribute to the discussion.
    • Review key ideas and draw conclusions based on information and knowledge shared.
    • Summarize a written text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats.
    • Summarize the points a speaker makes and explain how the reasons and evidence are supported.
  • Present Knowledge and Ideas Clearly
    • Report on a topic or present an opinion with logical sequence and descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
    • Include multimedia components and visual displays when appropriate.
    • Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks.



Narrative: Narrative Craft

Information: The Lens of History

Opinion: The Research-Based Argument



  • Review and practice Zaner Bloser cursive alphabet.


The fifth grade Keyboarding Without Tears program develops the accuracy and speed necessary to handle the demands of schoolwork and testing in higher grades.Formatting and typing skills are reinforced with engaging and changing themes: Start the Music, Super Words, People Power, and Water, Water! Spot Checks within the program are used to gauge student understanding of specific skills. Each Spot Check measures speed and accuracy. The end of Grade 5 keyboarding benchmark expectation is 20 words per minute (wpm) with 90% accuracy. Proper technique and posture are emphasized at all grade levels.






Our instructional focus in Grade 5 is on three critical areas: (1) developing fluency with addition and subtraction of fractions, developing understanding of the multiplication of fractions, and of division of fractions with unit fractions and whole numbers (2) extending division to two-digit divisors, developing understanding of operations with decimals to hundredths, and developing fluency with whole number and decimal operations; (3) developing understanding of volume. To provide you with an understanding of your child’s mathematics learning, we have highlighted the domains and clusters of standards for Grade 5 below. A comprehensive description of the Connecticut Core Standards for Mathematics is available at

Mathematical Practices

  • Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
  • Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
  • Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
  • Model with mathematics.
  • Use appropriate tools strategically.
  • Attend to precision.
  • Look for and make use of structure.
  • Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

Key Fluency

  • Multiply multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm.

Operations and Algebraic Thinking

  • Write and interpret numerical expressions.
  • Analyze patterns and relationships.

Number and Operations in Base Ten

  • Understand the place value system.

Number and Operations – Fractions


Measurement and Data

  • Convert like measurement units within a given measurement system.
  • Represent and interpret data.



Social Studies



  • Determine the purpose for rules and laws.
  • Instruction about Religion: Discussion of how religion shaped the development of the 13 original colonies.


  • Explore maps and their purpose.
  • Give and follow directions.
  • Create a variety of maps.

In addition, as part of the English/Language Arts and Writing units, fifth graders will participate in a study of exploration and colonization. Students first consider the question, What impact did the early explorers have on shaping the development of the New World? Students then study the 13 original colonies in an effort to answer the question In what ways, and for whom, was America a land of opportunity during the colonial period? Students determine the similarities and differences among the early American colonies through the study of a variety of primary and secondary sources and electronic media.

World Language

Aiken, Braeburn, Bugbee, Charter Oak, Duffy, Morley, Smith, Webster Hill, Whiting Lane and Wolcott-Spanish; Norfeldt - French; Charter Oak - Chinese

  • Learn to communicate in French, Spanish or Chinese through oral expression
  • Learn the correct pronunciation of specific French, Spanish or Chinese vocabulary

  • Learn the nuances of verbal / nonverbal communication in French, Spanish or Chinese

  • Develop cultural awareness and cultural knowledge

A theme related to travel focuses on transportation, airports, hotels, time, directions and currency. The cultural focus centers on regional France, South American countries, and China.



In fifth grade, students develop an understanding of matter and its conservation through experimentation and create models to show their knowledge. They are able to interpret data about the distribution of water on Earth as well as describe ways in which the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and/or atmosphere interact. Fifth grade students also identify the movement of matter and energy transfer among plants, animals, decomposers and the environment. Finally, fifth graders are able to understand the patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows, day and night, and the seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky. 

To demonstrate their understanding of the core ideas indicated above, fifth grade students engage in the following science and engineering practices:

  • Asking questions and defining problems

  • Developing and using models

  • Planning and carrying out investigations

  • Analyzing and interpreting data

  • Using mathematics and computational thinking

  • Constructing explanations and designing solutions

  • Engaging in argument from evidence

  • Obtaining, evaluating and communicating information

Visual Arts


Understanding The Creative Process through the Visual Arts

Connecting / Exploring Culture through Concept and Skill

  • Learn about styles of art such as Pop Art, Abstraction, Cubism, Surrealism



Responding / Critique and Aesthetic Discourse



Vocal Music


Instrumental Music




Instrumental Music



  • Read and write simple rhythmic and melodic patterns; e.g., dotted quarter and eighth; pentachordal melodies.
  • Identify symbols, traditional terms and standard music notation.
  • Identify simple form, e.g., theme and variations.


  • Listen to and recognize basic form, styles, meter and tonality.
  • Use terminology in describing and analyzing music, e.g., theme and variations.
  • Devise criteria to evaluate music performance, e.g., ensemble, intonation, balance and blend.

Understanding Culture/History

  • Identify ways in which other disciplines are interrelated with music.
  • Sing songs and play games that explore cultural diversity.
  • Put music into a cultural and historical context.

Physical Education


  • Perform more complex combinations of locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills, including specific sport skills and educational gymnastic routines.
  • Perform more complex rhythmic patterns involving creative or cultural dance movement.
  • Participate in a variety of activities to improve their health-related fitness.
  • Participate in competitive and cooperative activities that require effective interpersonal communication, individual skills, and teamwork to achieve success.

Library Media Services


Standard 1—Inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge.





  • Use information and technology ethically and responsibly.

Standard 4—Pursue personal and aesthetic growth.



  • Describe physical, social and emotional changes that occur during puberty.
  • Identify cognitive, emotional and physical effects of alcohol, drug use or misuse. Practice refusal skills to ensure healthy lifestyles.
  • Work cooperatively to develop positive attitudes, problem solving and coping skills while respecting the differences, similarities and the rights of others.
  • Make healthy eating choices, particularly at breakfast.
  • Analyze techniques the media uses to influence our choices.
  • Practice effective communication skill, including how to start conversations, ways to use assertive strategies when necessary, and how to use etiquette when on the Internet.
  • Practice using problem-solving strategies in social situations, such as dealing with gossip; resisting impulses to cheat, steal or lie; or dealing with peer pressure.
  • Demonstrate self-regulation techniques and anger management strategies in a variety of situations, including resisting revenge and dealing with consequences.
  • Identify ways to access help or support when needed from trusted adults, including when on the Internet.
  • Explain what to do if cyberbullying occurs.
