5th and 6th Grade
Welcome to Fifth and Sixth Grades. Fifth and sixth grade begin the “middle school” experience for North Lake School students. Students are housed in homerooms and travel to four content teachers per day. This model promotes content integration and strong collaboration among our team of teachers. Through their close knit classroom communities, the 5th and 6th grade teachers help students develop independence and responsibility. The general curriculum for fifth and sixth grade includes Math Expressions (Grade 5), Big Ideas Math (Grade 6), an integrated and thematic approach in literacy and social studies, and finally, a science curriculum based on the Wisconsin Academic Model Standards with an engineering emphasis.
Our 5th grade literacy curriculum is derived from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Into Reading. The research-based literacy instruction has unique close reading routines that build better readers while also providing intervention for struggling students. Into Reading has easy organization, proven instructions, and exceptional differentiation.
Fifth grade studies literature, literary genres, literacy skills, figurative language, writing genres, speaking skills, and listening skills. Students read, respond, present, write, and demonstrate in their literacy class.
At least once a semester, we will take a break from Into Reading and read a trade book (chapter book) together. Our focus will be on critical analysis and discussion of story elements, as well as the author’s use of figurative language.
Big Ideas Modeling Real Life Grade 5
Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life Grade 5 provides a cohesive, coherent, and rigorous mathematics curriculum for students. It features rich lessons, activities, and assessments aligned to grade-level standards, while simultaneously supporting and engaging students. This rigorous program provides a balance of the three aspects of rigor: conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and application. The focal units for 5th grade are:
- Place Value
- Numerical Expressions
- Adding and subtracting decimals
- Multiplying Whole numbers
- Multiplying decimals
- Dividing whole numbers
- Dividing Decimals
- Adding and subtracting fractions
- Multiplying fractions
- Dividing fractions
- Convert and Display units of measure
- Patterns in Coordinate Plane
- Understanding Volume
- Classifying two-dimensional shapes
The study of science allows North Lake School students to experience the richness and wonder of the natural world. Later in life, they will face complex questions requiring scientific thinking, reasoning, and the ability to make informed decisions. Scientific knowledge prepares students for the future and helps them acquire skills needed in high school and beyond. North Lake students are excited and engaged in science topics/application and are exposed to the engineering process as well. Our curriculum includes several Engineering is Elementary (EiE) units and various resources.
Fifth Grade Science units are organized topically and outlined below:
PLTW Infection detection
- Virus/Bacteria
- Communicable disease
- Hand washing
Human Body
Cells
Characteristics of living things
Types of organelles – form and function
Edible cell
Microscope usage
Muscles
Types of muscle tissue
Muscle form and function
Voluntary and involuntary muscle
Bones
Types of bone cells
Bone form and function
Digestive system
Mechanical and chemical digestion
The digestive tract
Structure and function of the digestive system
Electricity
static electricity
electric force
charging an object
static electricity in nature
electrical current
simple circuits
parts of a circuit
series and parallel circuits
Makey Makey Class Project
conductors
insulators
magnetic poles
magnetic fields
electromagnets
Simple Machines
Introduction to Forces and Motion
Newton’s Laws of forces and motion
Newton’s Laws experiments
Gravity vs Friction
Potential vs Kinetic energy
Simple and compound machines
Unit review
Unit assessment – Rube Goldberg Device
Earth’s systems
Biosphere, Geosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere
Water cycle
Water Resource
Unit assessment Challenge: Water filter
Life Science
Producers, Consumers, Decomposers
Vertebrates: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians
Invertebrates
Plant Structure and Photosynthesis
Vascular Plants
Nonvascular Plants
Plant Reproduction through seeds, cones, or spores
Angiosperm and Gymnosperm
Deciduous and Coniferous
Dichotomous Keys Introduction for Plants and Animals
The 5th grade journey begins with the 5 themes of geography – Movement, Region, Human/Environment Interaction, Location and Place. The students know this as “MR. HELP.” Looking at the world through the lens of MR HELP will help the students better understand the places we study. Meaningful connections are made when the students are encouraged to think like a Geographer.
In addition to making connections and thinking like a geographer, the students will learn how to think like a Political Scientist, an Economist, an Anthropologist, and a Historian. A variety of perspectives are revealed throughout the year as we develop questions, gather and evaluate evidence, and determine how to respond to newly formed opinions and outcomes. We will notice a more critical level of understanding about the world and our part in it.
Once we have a firm grasp of geography concepts, the 5th grade journey continues as it takes us from a barren North American continent occupied by few natives thousands of years ago to a culture-rich continent filled with diverse groups of people, difficult decisions, and a newly crafted U.S. Constitution that is quickly and often put to the test. Learning about U.S. history will be an interesting and thought provoking experience. The culminating 5th grade experience is the State Visitor Center (the “state project”) created by the students. Each student will research a state in the U.S. and showcase their findings in a variety of exciting ways.
5th grade topics:
- Maps/Atlases/Five Themes of Geography
- Early Peoples
- Native Americans
- Explorers
- New World & The Americas
- Colonization
- The American Revolution (with an introduction to the U.S. Constitution)
- U.S. State project
The Foundations class is an introduction to civics and government for our 5th graders. This class meets twice a week throughout the 2nd semester. Mrs. Andorfer and Mrs. Ruck collaborate together and provide creative ways for the students to learn about what it means to be a citizen and abide by a system of rules. Another exciting component of this class is our preparation for Junior Achievement’s BizTown – a simulated community field trip – where 5th graders experience being an adult for a day (having a job, paying taxes, going shopping…) and connecting it all to financial literacy.
The Foundations curriculum includes:
- Civics – the rights and duties of citizenship
- Government – the system of rules and the group of people who make the rules and make sure citizens follow them; focus on the form of government of the United States
- Junior Achievement’s BizTown – 5th grade experiential field trip typically in April of each school year; focus on Financial Literacy, Community & Economy, Work & Career Readiness, Business Management
Our 6th grade literacy curriculum is derived from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Into Reading. The research-based literacy instruction has unique close reading routines that build better readers while also providing intervention for struggling students. Into Reading has easy organization, proven instructions, and exceptional differentiation.
Sixth grade studies literature, literary genres, literacy skills, figurative language, writing genres, speaking skills, and listening skills. Students read, respond, present, write, and demonstrate in their literacy class.
At least once a semester, we will take a break from Into Reading and read a trade book (chapter book) together. Our focus will be on critical analysis and discussion of story elements, as well as the author’s use of figurative language.
North Lake School’s sixth, seventh, and eighth grade math curriculum is BIG IDEAS MATH 2014.
We are proud to offer this Common Core built curriculum written by Ron Larson and Laurie Boswell, leaders in the field of mathematics. The Big Ideas Math is a three year middle school series taught at North Lake School. The program uses a research-based strategy of a balanced approach to instruction and has made this series very successful. This approach opens doors to abstract thought, reasoning, and inquiry as students persevere to answer the Essential Questions that drive instruction. The foundation of the program is the Common Core Standards for Mathematical Content and Standards for Mathematical Practice. Students are subtly introduced to “Habits of Mind” that help them internalize concepts for a greater depth of understanding. These habits serve students well not only in mathematics, but across all curricula throughout their academic success. This series exposes students to highly motivating and relevant problems. Woven throughout the series are the depth and rigor students need to prepare for career readiness and other college level courses. In addition, the Big Ideas Math series prepares students to meet the challenge of standardized testing.
Common Core Standards
Ratios and Proportional Relationships – Understand Ratio Concepts; Use Ratio Reasoning
The Number System – Perform Fraction and Decimal Operations; Understand Rational Numbers
Expressions and Equations – Write, Interpret, and Use Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities
Geometry – Solve Problems Involving Area, Surface Area, and Volume
Statistics and Probability – Summarize and Describe Distributions; Understand Variability
The study of science allows North Lake School students to experience the richness and wonder of the natural world. Later in life, they will face complex questions requiring scientific thinking, reasoning, and the ability to make informed decisions. Scientific knowledge prepares students for the future and helps them acquire skills needed in high school and beyond. North Lake students are excited and engaged in science topics/application and are exposed to the engineering process as well. Our curriculum includes several Engineering is Elementary (EiE) units, the Prentice Hall Science Explorer textbook series, and other various resources.
Sixth Grade Science units are organized topically and outlined below:
Scientific Method
Lab Safety and lab tools
SI
Scientific Inquiry and Process
Developing Scientific Questions and Researching Background Information
Developing a Hypothesis
Determining Variables and Forming Operational Definitions
Writing Procedures
Collecting Data and Interpreting Data with Graphs
Drawing Conclusions and Communicating Results
Chemistry
Periodic table
Elements
States of matter
physical properties, chemical properties and changes
Acid and base
Mixtures and solutions
Astronomy
Revolution and Rotation
Earth in Space – seasons
Phases, eclipses and tides
Solar system
The sun
Inner and outer planets
Stars
Ecology
What is ecology
Populations
Interactions
predator / prey
Succession
Water cycle
Food chains
Food pyramids
biomes
Earth’s Changing Surface
Explain how weathering and erosion affect Earth’s surface
Identify what causes chemical and mechanical weathering
Describe the composition of soil and explain how it forms
Identify the roles of plants and animals in soil formation
Describe the process that wears down and builds up Earth’s surface
Explain how water erosion is mainly responsible for shaping the surface of the land
Explain how glaciers cause erosion and deposition
Identify features that result from deposition and erosion by waves
Sound and Light (Electromagnetic Waves)
Recognize waves carry energy not matter
Compare and contrast compressional waves and transverse waves
Identify the parts of a wave – wavelength, frequency, period, amplitude, crest, trough
Explain how a waves amplitude and energy are related
Calculate wave speed
Explain why waves change direction when they travel from one medium to another
Compare and contrast refraction and diffraction
Describe constructive and destructive interference
Describe properties of electromagnetic waves
Compare the various types of electromagnetic waves – x rays, ultraviolet, gamma, infrared
Distinguish between AM and FM radio
Identify different uses of radio waves
The 6th grade journey begins with a review of what we remember about the 5 themes of geography – Movement, Region, Human/Environment Interaction, Location and Place. The students know this as “MR. HELP”. Thinking like a Geographer will be the springboard for the many hats we wear in 6th grade.
In addition to making connections and thinking like a geographer, the students will learn how to think like a Political Scientist, an Economist, an Anthropologist, and a Historian. Different perspectives are revealed throughout the year as we develop questions, gather and evaluate evidence, and determine how to respond to newly formed opinions and outcomes. We continue to recognize a more critical level of understanding about the world and our part in it.
Explorations in 6th grade take us throughout the Western World. When we “go” to these countries, we will analyze the places we visit in various ways. As mentioned above, some strategies we will use include asking thought provoking questions, finding and evaluating documented evidence to support a position, and engaging in meaningful conversations. Together we will also study the social issues, economic impacts, and political decisions that affect citizens across our globe. We definitely gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the world in which we live. These experiences allow students to connect to the world in ways never thought of before. The students will showcase their knowledge and understanding of western world countries by presenting research at the Western World Showcase at the end of May.
These topics are covered in 6th grade:
- Map and atlas skills review
- Five Themes of Geography (MR HELP) review
- Economy introduction
- Ancient times through modern day:
- Europe
- Australia
- North America
- Central America & Caribbean Islands
- South America
- Antarctica
Writing, speaking, and technology are infused in this 6th grade enrichment class. This class meets 2-3 times a week throughout the 1st semester. Mrs. Ruck and Mrs. Andorfer collaborate together and have fun working with the students as they create their writing and speaking pieces. Our focus is writing, public speaking, and utilizing technology resources (Google platform and closed circuit monitors throughout the school) to create and share student work. The students collaborate together throughout the writing and sharing process.
The Write IT curriculum includes:
- the writing process and writing traits
- purposes for writing
- writing types: narrative (personal narrative, realistic fiction), poetry writing
- public speaking – different types and techniques