Art
Grade 5 students use more complicated techniques to create
more complex art. They judge whether a design is “good” or
not and improve on what they see. Your child will play with
shapes to make new and sometimes abstract creations in
drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, fabric arts,
photography and computer graphics. They will also improve
their work by using less material and working more efficiently.
For more about Grade 5 Art, refer to the program of studies.
English Language Arts
Grade 5 students describe how their own experiences and
knowledge explain new ideas, information and situations. Your
child will show how they’ve interpreted ideas correctly by using
examples. By skimming, scanning and listening to key words
and phrases, they’ll select creative ways to engage their
audience. Qualities such as courage, ambition and loyalty will
be illustrated by using stories from other cultures and
communities. Your child will be invited to listen and give
feedback to their classmates. For more about Grade 5 English
Language Arts, refer to the program of studies.
Health and Life Skills
Your child will examine the impacts of physical activity,
nutrition, rest and immunization on the body. They will
understand the physical risks of using alcohol and drugs, and
they will see that people who eat differently because of
allergies or diabetes can still be healthy. Your child will also
practise good listening skills and understand why having
friends of all ages is a good thing! They will show thanks to
those who volunteer in the school and help make others feel
appreciated for their hard work. For more about Grade 5
Health and Life Skills, refer to the program of studies.
000, apply mental mathematics and estimation, and use
personal strategies to solve problems involving whole
numbers and decimals. Describing and comparing fractions
and decimals with objects, pictures and numbers and making
predictions about patterns are part of their learning. Through
activities, your child will measure length using cm and m,
volume using cm3 and m3, and capacity using mL and L.
They’ll connect numbers and shapes to their everyday life,
making connections, for example, between counting money
and writing the value using a decimal point, and they’ll discuss
how they would solve a problem. For more about Grade 5
Mathematics, refer to the program of studies.
Music
In Grade 5 music, students create rhythms by combining beat,
tempo, patterns, metre and duration. They understand that
melodies change when rhythms change and that chords can
go with melodies. Your child will recognize the sounds of
many instruments. While singing, they will understand how to
read parts, such as for sopranos or altos, and they will focus
on phrasing and pronouncing words clearly. For more about
Grade 5 Music, refer to the program of studies.
Physical Education
Your child will participate in dance, games, gymnastics,
individual physical activities and activities outside of school,
such as aquatics and outdoor pursuits. Through active and
safe participation, they will understand what an active lifestyle
involves and how their physical and emotional health will
benefit from physical activity. Your child will also discover how
positive interactions, through fair play, leadership and
teamwork, make physical activity more fun and productive. For
more information, refer to the program of studies.
Human Sexuality Education
Exemptions from Physical Education
Schools are required to offer human sexuality education in
Grade 4 to Grade 9. Parents have the right to exempt their
child from this instruction. Schools will provide alternative
learning experiences for those students who have been
exempted from human sexuality instruction.
Exemptions from participation in physical education may be
given for medical conditions, when a medical certificate from a
doctor is presented to the principal; for religious beliefs, when
a statement in writing from a parent is presented to the
principal; and when access to facilities is prohibitive. When
exemption is granted, activities consistent with the program
outcomes should be substituted, where appropriate.
Mathematics
Your Grade 5 child will show and describe numbers to 1 000
School boards are required to ensure that all students in
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grades 1 to 9 are physically active for a minimum of 30
minutes daily through activities organized by the school.
Schools are responsible for creating and nurturing a learning
environment for students that supports the development of
healthy and active lifestyles.
Science
Your child will build simple electrical circuits and devices and
learn about the connection between magnetism and electricity.
By mixing different materials together, they’ll learn to
recognize what dissolves and what reacts. Your child will also
carry out field and classroom studies of wetlands, learning
about the organisms, interactions and human impacts that
occur in these ecosystems. They’ll observe, describe and
interpret weather phenomena like rain, hail, sleet and snow,
understanding that weather and climate can be affected by
human actions. For more about Grade 5 Science, refer to the
program of studies.
Social Studies
Your Grade 5 child will explore Canada and its regions and
see Canada’s history through the experiences of Aboriginal,
French, British and immigrant groups. Your child will develop a
sense of belonging and an awareness of how the multiple
stories of Canadians contribute to a sense of citizenship and
identity. For more about Grade 5 Social Studies, refer to the
program of studies.
French as a Second Language (FSL)
I’m continuing to explore Francophone cultures while learning
French! Your Grade 5 child will continue to develop French
language skills, mainly by speaking. They will study a variety
of themes, including their school, domestic and wild animals,
clothing, their home, and holidays and celebrations. They will
explore the Francophone culture in western Canada through
holidays and celebrations such as Le Festival du Voyageur , a
winter festival in Manitoba. For more about Grade 5 FSL, refer
to the program of studies.
COMMON QUESTIONS
How can I encourage my child to
develop good literacy skills?
Literacy is more than reading and writing. It is the door to the
world! You, your community and your school help open that
door for your child, exposing them to unlimited opportunities.
Between Kindergarten and Grade 12, students will develop
and use many literacy skills and strategies to understand what
they see, hear and read and to communicate effectively. For
more about literacy, including information on strategies you
can use to encourage literacy, visit the Literacy web page.
How can I be involved in my child’s
school?
You and staff at your child’s school are partners in providing a
positive learning environment for your child. You can be
involved in your child’s education in many ways. It is really
important to get to know your child’s classroom teacher(s) and
the school principal by attending parent-student-teacher
meetings. You could also attend, or volunteer at, school
events such as open houses, information sessions, parent
advisory meetings, concerts and special events. Often schools
have newsletters that provide updates on upcoming events in
the school. In this way, you will have a better idea of school
rules, program expectations, discipline policies and grading
practices. School councils provide another way for you to
become involved in the school. The school council works
together with school staff to support and enhance student
learning. Contact your child’s school to get more information
on ways you can be involved.
How can I help my child with
homework?
You, as a parent, play a key role in supporting and reinforcing
your child’s learning. It is so important for you to talk with your
child’s teachers about their expectations for the work they
assign. Keep in touch with the teachers about your child’s
progress, including successes and achievements, not just
concerns. Knowing what the teachers expect and how they
organize the classroom learning experience will help you to
help your child. Don’t be afraid to ask the teachers questions
when you are unsure of the tasks and work assigned.
Communication with teachers (often through the use of a
school organizer or agenda) will help you and your child
prioritize and organize the homework and studying they must
do. In many schools, you can easily contact teachers via email. Just visit the school website or talk to the school office
staff to find out more.
Once you have determined what schoolwork or skills your
child must work on at home, set aside a time when there are
few distractions and spend time with your child. Be positive
and encouraging in your approach to learning. It will help your
child feel confident and enthusiastic about success. Talk to
your child about schoolwork and help with homework when
you can. Help your child set realistic goals, and discuss
progress in an encouraging way. Connect your child’s
schoolwork with everyday life, and use these opportunities for
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problem solving in everyday situations. As you support your
child through encouragement and guidance, homework and
studying can become a positive experience with rich rewards.
Developing strong homework and study habits early in life will
build a strong foundation for your child’s future learning.
When the school requests a specialized assessment for your
child, this does not necessarily mean your child has a specific
disability or special education needs. It may simply be an
indicator that your child is having difficulties learning at a
particular time and may require short-term support.
The Parent Advantage: Helping Students Become Successful
Learners at Home and School for Grades 1–9, Parent’s Guide
covers aspects of learning that can challenge any student.
This resource provides ideas for how you can help your child
get organized for learning and study. It also offers advice on
how you can help your child with reading, writing, spelling and
mathematics; exam preparation; and special projects, such as
book reports.
When assessment results and additional information have
been compiled, the school will contact you and arrange for a
meeting to explain the results, discuss the recommendations
and get your input on any related decisions.
What if my child needs more support to
be successful?
If your child is having difficulty learning, the first step is to talk
with the classroom teacher to determine what might be
causing these difficulties and decide if there are some small
changes that can be made in the classroom environment to
improve learning.
Teachers can use a number of strategies to explore your
child’s learning strengths and needs, including:
• talking with your child
• observing your child in the classroom in various types of
learning experiences
• analyzing your child’s class work
• doing an informal reading or mathematics inventory.
Many school authorities have school-based teams that might
include administrators, counsellors, learning coaches and
other school staff knowledgeable about learning strategies
and learning difficulties. Classroom teachers can consult with
the team to develop strategies for addressing the learning
needs of individual students.
If it is apparent that school-based strategies aren’t enough, the
teacher, in consultation with parents, may make a referral for a
specialized assessment. Written informed parent consent is
required before any specialized assessment, such as psychoeducation, speech-language or IQ testing, begins. Each
school authority has different assessment procedures, so talk
to your child’s teacher or the school principal about what will
take place and how long it will take. There should be
opportunities during the assessment for you, as a parent, to
share information and insights about how your child learns.
If my child has a disability or medical condition that
impacts learning, what kinds of supports are available?
Many children who have disabilities or medical conditions that
impact learning will receive support in regular classrooms in
their local school or school of choice. For more information on
the types of strategies required to support students with
disabilities or medical conditions, see Medical/Disability
Information for Classroom Teachers.
Depending on the individual learning needs of your child, there
is a continuum of possible supports, from minor adaptations in
instruction to intensive individualized programming.
All decisions about programming must be made in the best
interest of your child so he or she can experience both
challenge and success. Your child may benefit from
specialized programming, either within a local school or at a
district site. They may attend specialized classes full-time or
may spend part of the day in a specialized program and part
of the day in the grade-level classroom. Alternatively, your
child may do best in a regular classroom with additional
supports. In a truly inclusive education system, there is a wide
variety of placement and programming options that may be
right for your child. For more ideas on how to support your
child's learning, see The Learning Team: A Handbook for
Parents of Children with Special Needs. For more information
on inclusive education, refer to the Inclusive Education web
page.
What if I do not agree with an educational decision that is
made for my child?
As a parent, you have a right and a responsibility to participate
in decisions about the education of your child. School
authorities are required to make every reasonable effort at the
school and district level to resolve concerns collaboratively
with parents. However, despite these efforts, there may be
differences of opinion between parents and the school about
the education of children. For information on how to resolve
these differences, view the Working Together to Resolve
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Differences web page or The Learning Team: A Handbook for
Parents of Children with Special Needs.
What if my child is gifted? How can I support his or her
diverse learning needs?
Raising children who have exceptional abilities can be both
exciting and challenging for parents. Because every child is
unique, there is no one way to ensure children have the best
opportunities possible to develop the skills and attitudes they
need to live a satisfying and happy life. For information and
ideas on supporting, at home and at school, children who are
gifted and talented, see The Journey: A Handbook for Parents
of Children Who Are Gifted and Talented.
How are my child’s diverse learning needs supported
within French immersion programs?
French immersion is a program open to all students. Just like
students in the regular English program, French immersion
students display a wide range of abilities and needs—they
may be gifted or have behavioural, emotional, physical or
learning challenges. View more information regarding French
immersion special needs.
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