5TH GRADE NEWS
Farmland Elementary
Rockville Maryland
Quarter 4
The end is near!
Three quarters down, one to go! As we head into the fourth quarter we look
forward to continuing to help the students deepen their understanding in all subject
areas, and helping them begin their transition into middle school.
As the year winds down, students are encouraged to continue working on their
study habits and organization. These are key skills that will help your child be
successful next year in middle school. In order to support this learning here are some
helpful hints: 1. Be sure to have your child go through their “keep home” and
“return” papers with you each night; 2. Help your child keep their binder
organized by checking it regularly to see that papers are where they belong; 3. Go
over the “Week at a Glance” and assignment book each Monday so that you can
help your child plan how they will prioritize and plan for the week.
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.
IMPORTANT DATES
April 1 – 10
Spring Break
May 25
Memorial Day – No School
May 26
Mt. Vernon Field Trip
June 5
5th Grade Bash
June 11
5th Grade Celebration
CONTACT US
By e-mail:
Andrea Ciccarello: [email protected]
Mary Hart: [email protected]
Holly Murphy: [email protected]
Tracy Tibbs: [email protected]
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.).
Unifying Questions & TASS
Each marking period, students work toward
developing responses to a series of “unifying questions”
that apply to all subject areas. During the third marking
period, the unifying questions are:






What are the benefits of challenging myself and
others?
What is the most beneficial response to
uncertainty?
How does adding details improve my work?
In what ways can I enhance my work?
What are the benefits and costs of taking an
intellectual risk?
When is elaboration important?
Also, during each marking 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 evaluation (weighing evidence, examining
claims, and questioning facts to make judgments
based upon criteria) and
effort/motivation/persistence (working diligently and
applying effective strategies to achieve a goal or
solve a problem; continuing in the face of obstacles
and competing pressures.).
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
During weeks 1 and 2, students will write an
informational poem. During weeks 3-7 students will gather
facts about a career. After gathering information, students
analyze their research to determine whether they believe the job
will or will not exist in the future, and will create a multimedia
product to logically share the ideas. During weeks 8-9, students
reflect on personal experiences during their elementary school
years to compose a speech.
Essential Questions









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?
How do Standard English conventions to make communication
clear?
Marking period 4 begins with a focus on the
engineering and technology behind the microscope. It is
through the use of a microscope as well as other technology
that students identify the characteristics that make some cells
different from others. Students will use technology to observe
and describe unicellular organisms. Students are then
introduced to genetics where they explore the differences
between inherited traits and learned behaviors, and why
offspring resemble their parents, but are not identical to them.
Student will have the opportunity to look at how technological
development has improved scientific understanding of
explanations for how inherited traits are passed from generation
to generation.








Key Vocabulary
synthesize, poetry, transitions, figurative language, research, opinion,
sequence of events, pacing, exposition, conclusion, narrative
Essential Questions
What are cells?
How do cells differ from one another?
Why does the offspring of any organism resemble its parents?
How are likenesses passed from generation to generation?
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?
How does society impact the development of technology?
How does technology impact society and the environment?
Key Vocabulary
microscope, cells, unicellular, organisms, characteristics,
heredity, traits, DNA, genes, mutations
Social Studies
In marking period 4, understandings about personal financial literacy are developed. The learning progression is designed to
develop critical understandings about informed, responsible financial decision-making. Students end the marking period by
examining the characteristics of an informed consumer.




Study Skills Corner
Essential Questions
How and why has the production of goods and services changed over time?
How does technology affect decisions made by producers and consumers?
What factors influence career choices?
How do people make choices about managing their time and money?
Key Vocabulary
bank, borrow, career, charity, consumer, credit, debt, economy,
entrepreneur, fraud, income, interest, loan, occupation, savings
Completing Assignments:



Read the directions carefully!
Decide how much of the assignment you’ll finish
before taking a break.
Complete the assignment neatly and then check
your work for mistakes.
Organization:




Make sure you put homework, handouts, and study
guides in the proper place in your binder.
Empty out your homework folder nightly.
Make sure you bring home all materials needed to
complete your homework.
Don’t forget to write your name on all homework
and assignments!