Colonial Heights Public Schools
Parent Curriculum Guide
2nd Marking Period
Grade 5
Science
*Review of 4th grade Science concepts is built in throughout the year.
5.6 Investigate and understand characteristics of the ocean environment. a) geological characteristics; b) physical
characteristics; and c) ecological characteristics
5.1 Demonstrate an understanding of scientific reasoning, logic, and the nature of science by planning and conducting
investigations in which a) items such as rocks, minerals, and organisms are identified using various classification keys;
b) estimates are made and accurate measurements of length, mass, volume, and temperature are made in metric
units using proper tools; d) hypotheses are formed from testable questions; e) independent and dependent variables
are identified; f) constants in an experimental situation are identified; g) data are collected, recorded, analyzed, and
communicated using proper graphical representations and metric measurements; h) predictions are made using
patterns from data collected, and simple graphical data are generated; i) inferences are made and conclusions are
drawn; and j) models are constructed to clarify explanations, demonstrate relationships, and solve needs.
*4.5 Investigate and understand how plants and animals, including humans, in an ecosystem interact with one another and
with the nonliving components in the ecosystem. a) plant and animal adaptations; b) organization of populations,
communities, and ecosystems and how they interrelate; c) flow of energy through food webs; d) habitats and niches;
e) changes in an organism’s niche at various stages in its life cycle; and f) influences of human activity on ecosystems
*4.8 Investigate and understand the relationships among the Earth, moon, and sun. a) the motions of the Earth, moon, and
sun; b) the causes for the Earth’s seasons; and c) the causes for the phases of the moon
*4.7 Investigate and understand the organization of the solar system. a) the planets in the solar system; b) the order of
the planets in the solar system; c) the relative sizes of the planets
Social Studies
*Review of 4th grade Social Studies concepts is built in throughout the 1st Semester.
VS.3 Demonstrate knowledge of the first permanent English settlement in America by e) identifying the importance of the
arrival of Africans and English women to the Jamestown settlement; f) describing the hardships faced by settlers at
Jamestown and the changes that took place to ensure survival; and g) describing the interactions between the English
settlers and the native peoples, including the contributions of Powhatan to the survival of the settlers.
VS.4 Demonstrate knowledge of life in the Virginia colony by a) explaining the importance of agriculture and its influence on
the institution of slavery; b) describing how the culture of colonial Virginia reflected the origins of European (English,
Scots-Irish, German) immigrants, Africans, and American Indians; c) explaining the reasons for the relocation of
Virginia’s capital from Jamestown to Williamsburg to Richmond; d) describing how money, barter, and credit were
used; and e) describing everyday life in colonial Virginia.
VS.5 Demonstrate knowledge of the role of Virginia in the American Revolution by a) identifying the reasons why the
colonies went to war with Great Britain, as expressed in the Declaration of Independence; b) identifying the various
roles played by whites, enslaved African Americans, free African Americans, and American Indians in the
Revolutionary War era, with emphasis on George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and James
Lafayette; and c) identifying the importance of the Battle of Great Bridge, the ride of Jack Jouett, and the
American victory at Yorktown.
VS.6 Demonstrate knowledge of the role of Virginia in the establishment of the new American nation by a) explaining why
George Washington is called the “Father of Our Country” and James Madison is called the “Father of the
Constitution.”; b) identifying the ideas of George Mason and Thomas Jefferson as expressed in the Virginia
Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom; and c) explaining the influence of geography on
the migration of Virginians into western territories.
Math
5.4 Create and solve single-step and multistep practical problems involving multiplication and division with and without
remainders of whole numbers.
5.5 a) Find the product and quotient of two numbers expressed as decimals through thousandths, (divisors with only one
nonzero digit).; b) Create and solve single-step and multistep practical problems involving decimals.
5.19 Investigate and recognize the distributive property of multiplication over addition.
5.7 Evaluate whole number numerical expressions, using the order of operations limited to parentheses, addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division.
5.18 a) Investigate and describe the concept of variable.; b) Write an open sentence to represent a given mathematical
relationship, using a variable.; c) Model one-step linear equations in one variable, using addition and subtraction.;
d) Create a problem situation based on a given open sentence, using a single variable.
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Science Key Vocabulary & Concepts
Scientific Investigation
*observation – the use of senses to collect information about the environment
*inference - the use of prior knowledge and experience to generate conclusions about those observations
*prediction - a forecast about what may happen in some future situation
*independent variable – the factor in an experiment that is altered by the experimenter
*dependent variable - the factor in an experiment that changes as a result of the manipulation of the independent variable
Parts of the Ocean Floor
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Parts of the Ocean Floor Key:
continental slope
seamounts
abyssal plain
mid-ocean ridge
volcanic islands
continental shelf
trench
Social Studies Key Vocabulary & Concepts
Terms to Know
*cash crop – a crop that is grown to sell for money rather than for use by the growers
*money – a medium of exchange (currency, which includes coins and paper bills)
*barter – trading/exchanging of goods and services without the use of money
*credit – buying a good or service now and paying for it later
*debt – a good or service owed to another
*saving – money put away to save or to spend at later time
People to Know
*James Lafayette – an enslaved African American from Virginia, served in the Continental Army and successfully requested his freedom
after the war
*George Washington – provided military leadership by serving as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War,
first President of the United States, “Father of Our Country”
*Thomas Jefferson – provided political leadership by expressing the reasons for colonial independence from Great Britain in the
Declaration of Independence, wrote The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
*Patrick Henry – inspired patriots from other colonies when he spoke out against taxation without representation by saying, “…give me
liberty or give me death.”
*James Madison – “Father of the Constitution”
*Jack Jouett – rode on horseback through the backwoods of Virginia to Charlottesville to warn Thomas Jefferson, then governor of
Virginia, that the British were coming to arrest him and members of the General Assembly
Math Key Vocabulary & Concepts
Word Problem
A full box of cookies
and four extra equal 24
cookies.
Three full boxes of
cookies equal 60
cookies.
A full box of cookies
shared among four
friends equals 3.
Open Sentence
b + 4 = 24
3b = 60
b =3
4
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Reading/Language Arts Curriculum for 2012-2013
Communication
Grade 5
5.1 Listen, draw conclusions, and share responses in subject-related group learning activities. a) Participate in and
contribute to discussions across content areas.; b) Organize information to present in reports of group activities.;
c) Summarize information gathered in group activities.; d) Communicate new ideas to others.; e) Demonstrate the ability
to collaborate with diverse teams.; f) Demonstrate the ability to work independently.
5.2 Use effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills to deliver planned oral presentations. a) Maintain eye contact
with listeners.; b) Use gestures to support, accentuate, and dramatize verbal message.; c) Use facial expressions to
support and dramatize verbal message.; d) Use posture appropriate for communication setting.; e) Determine
appropriate content for audience.; f) Organize content sequentially around major ideas.; g) Summarize main points as
they relate to main idea or supporting details.; h) Incorporate visual media to support the presentation.; i) Use language
and style appropriate to the audience, topic, and purpose.
5.3 Learn how media messages are constructed and for what purposes. a) Differentiate between auditory, visual, and
written media messages.; b) Identify the characteristics and effectiveness of a variety of media messages.
Reading
5.4 Expand vocabulary when reading. a) Use context to clarify meaning of unfamiliar words and phrases.; b) Use context
and sentence structure to determine meanings and differentiate among multiple meanings of words.; c) Use knowledge
of roots, affixes, synonyms, antonyms, and homophones.; d) Identify an author’s use of figurative language.; e) Use
dictionary, glossary, thesaurus, and other word-reference materials.; f) Develop vocabulary by listening to and reading a
variety of texts.; g) Study word meanings across content areas.
5.5 Read and demonstrate comprehension of fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, and poetry. a) Describe the relationship
between text and previously read materials.; b) Describe character development.; c) Describe the development of plot
and explain the resolution of conflict(s).; d) Describe the characteristics of free verse, rhymed, and patterned poetry.;
e) Describe how an author’s choice of vocabulary contributes to the author’s style.; f) Identify and ask questions that
clarify various points of view.; g) Identify main idea.; h) Summarize supporting details from text.; i) Draw conclusions
and make inferences from text.; j) Identify cause and effect relationships.; k) Make, confirm, or revise predictions.;
l) Use reading strategies throughout the reading process to monitor comprehension.; m) Read with fluency and accuracy.
5.6 Read and demonstrate comprehension of nonfiction texts. a) Use text organizers, such as type, headings, and graphics,
to predict and categorize information in both print and digital texts.; b) Use prior knowledge and build additional
background knowledge as context for new learning.; c) Skim materials to develop a general overview of content and to
locate specific information.; d) Identify the main idea of nonfiction texts.; e) Summarize supporting details in nonfiction
texts.; f) Identify structural patterns found in nonfiction.; g) Locate information to support opinions, predictions, and
conclusions.; h) Identify cause and effect relationships following transition words signaling the pattern.; i)
Differentiate between fact and opinion.; j) Identify, compare, and contrast relationships.; k) Identify new information
gained from reading.; l) Use reading strategies throughout the reading process to monitor comprehension.; m) Read with
fluency and accuracy.
Writing
5.7 Write for a variety of purposes: to describe, to inform, to entertain, to explain, and to persuade. a) Identify intended
audience.; b) Use a variety of prewriting strategies.; c) Organize information to convey a central idea.; d) Write a clear
topic sentence focusing on the main idea.; e) Write multiparagraph compositions.; f) Use precise and descriptive
vocabulary to create tone and voice.; g) Vary sentence structure by using transition words.; h) Revise for clarity of
content using specific vocabulary and information.; i) Include supporting details that elaborate the main idea.
5.8 Edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, and paragraphing. a) Use
plural possessives.; b) Use adjective and adverb comparisons.; c) Identify and use interjections.; d) Use apostrophes in
contractions and possessives.; e) Use quotation marks with dialogue.; f) Use commas to indicate interrupters.; g) Use a
hyphen to divide words at the end of a line.; h) Edit for fragments and run-on sentences.; i) Eliminate double negatives.;
j) Use correct spelling of commonly used words.; k) Identify and use conjunctions.
Research
5.9 Find, evaluate, and select appropriate resources for a research product. a) Construct questions about a topic.;
b) Collect information from multiple resources including online, print, and media.; c) Use technology as a tool to
research, organize, evaluate, and communicate information.; d) Organize information presented on charts, maps, and
graphs.; e) Develop notes that include important concepts, summaries, and identification of information sources.; f) Give
credit to sources used in research.; g) Define the meaning and consequences of plagiarism.
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