Grade 5

The AST Fifth Grade Language Arts curriculum is based upon the Common Core standards. It incorporates vocabulary, grammar, speaking, listening, reading and writing in English. These aspects of language are taught directly and are also integrated into Science and Social Studies. Each aspect of language will be taught continuously throughout the school year.

The AST Fifth Grade mathematics curriculum is based upon the Common Core standards. It includes Operations and Algebraic Thinking, Number and Operations in Base Ten, Fractions, Measurement and Data, and Geometry. In each description, the AST adaptation of the Common Core standards is explained.

Each unit, once taught, is frequently reviewed. Each lesson begins by reviewing a topic from earlier in the year, then the immediate previous topic taught. There is also a brief review activity every afternoon using the workbook. The students will use Khan Academy at home for at least one hour over the week in order to further consolidate their understanding of the material.

The fifth grade science program continues the learning of science through investigation and experimentation. Students use the scientific method throughout the course to test theories and to identify faulty reasoning. Collaboration and discussion are utilized to teach students to defend their ideas and also to listen to the thoughts of others as they clarify their thinking. Projects based upon current readings and research are a significant component of the program. Students participate in a science fair at the end of the year.

In Fifth Grade, students at AST focus on the history and government of the United States of America. Students will be introduced to the events and debates surrounding early Americans, Europeans discovery and colonization. They will study the reasons for the American Revolutionary War and how it led to today’s Constitution and system of government in the United States.

Physical Education (P.E.) is an integral part of the education program for all students. P.E. teaches students how their bodies move and how to perform a variety of physical activities. Students learn health-related benefits of regular physical activity and the skills to adopt a physically active, healthy lifestyle. The discipline also provides learning experiences that meet the developmental needs of students. With high-quality physical education instruction, students become confident, independent, self-controlled, and resilient; develop positive social skills; set and strive for personal, achievable goals; learn to assume leadership; cooperate with others; accept responsibility for their own behavior; and, ultimately, improve their academic performance.

Native Speakers

Students in Grade 5 will distinguish the meaning of emotions and expression according to different situations and respond appropriately. They will recognize at least 2,000 Chinese characters and use 1300 characters. They will understand the glyph structure of the text, and use the parts of the character to understand the pronunciation and meaning of the text. They will use predictions, inferences, and questions to improve their understanding of the text. Furthermore, they will explore social issues by reading multiple texts.

Foreign Learners

CFL Grade 5 is targeted at young students with previous exposure to Mandarin. The curriculum is specially designed for children living in non-Chinese speaking families. The materials feature a spiral-up lesson structure that builds upon and applies previous material, so children can learn Chinese naturally--the way they would in a native environment.

Vividly illustrated with a comprehensive selection of sentence patterns, easy-to-read Chinese characters, Pinyin, and colorful pictures, the book introduces young readers to basic Chinese sentences in a daily living environment. Each lesson features sections on vocabulary, exercises, character practice and a reading challenge, along with English translations for each vocabulary word and sentence.

Music

The Grade 5 music course provides students with a sequenced instruction in the elements and skills of music, as well as connections to other disciplines. The music elements include expression, rhythm, form, melody, timbre and texture/harmony. A wide selection of music from different cultures and genres is used to engage students in active music making and help them develop a lifelong appreciation of music.

Engineering

Visual Art

Art is an expressive language. Each of us has a part of ourselves from where spatial intelligence resides. Learning to connect with and use that language that helps us understand ourselves as unique and original. Visual art study is important for developing visual thinking and its literacy. Regular exposure to and practice with visual art content builds visual imagination and teaches us the elements of our own visual language.

Grade specific art lessons are built upon four basic areas of National Arts Education CORE standards in the visual arts: creating, responding, producing, and connecting. Students are encouraged to participate in their own creative process and develop their own personal artistic style and approaches to artmaking; generate ideas; analyze elements; select materials and techniques; experiment with methods; interpret meaning; and relate their results to artistic artifacts and socio-cultural contexts that build knowledge of art history and cultural patrimony. Craftsmanship of the final works of art is stressed for display in the community and giving an opportunity for group feedback.

Unit topics and lessons build upon the foundations established in earlier grades, linking as much as possible to classroom units of instruction in other areas. Initial assessments determine the specific needs of each students while building group autonomy and self-directed learning with the safe and appropriate use of materials and supplies. Students are given the opportunity to develop personally creative and imaginative works of art that emphasize use of the basic elements and principles of art: line, shape, form, pattern, space, emphasis, and contrast. Visual arts expectations and standards for these areas are built through engaging in developmentally appropriate learning experiences that encourage the practice of skillful use of art materials, concepts, and principles of art and design.

Digital Art

This course is intended to introduce students and broaden their creativity using computer technology as a tool. Students will be encouraged to develop their artistic observation, creative expression, history and cultural relevance, critical evaluation, and response by means of a digital environment. The use of computer Art software for the creation of the virtual world and digital imaging will increase the students’ creativity and innovation, communication and collaboration, as well as their critical thinking, problem-solving, decision making and digital citizenship.

The art-making focuses on the elements and principles of art i.e. line, color, shapes, space, form, texture, balance, etc. Students use digital tablets to create lines, draw and fill shapes, create backgrounds, change elements, create imaginative designs, and experience design thinking from past to present. Class sessions provide opportunities to sharpen artistic perception, develop self-expression, research design innovators and discuss cultural contexts

In this course, Elementary students are exposed to the major digital art software family, which has a general overview of all other software in digital art creation. Adobe Family software has all the capabilities of designing and creation of an imaginary digital world. Using this software helps students to be capable of using any other digital creation software that can be around; also students are prepared for the future usage of complex tools in Adobe digital creativity.