Dear Parents,
Below is an overview of the 5th Grade CKLA units your child will explore this year. Each unit integrates reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills while aligning with Louisiana Student Standards (LSS) for ELA. We focus on building knowledge across a variety of topics to grow your child’s literacy and critical thinking.
🏰 Unit 1: Personal Narratives
Focus: Writing about real-life personal experiences
Standards: Narrative writing (W.5.3), using dialogue, transitions, and sensory details
Skills: Structure of narratives, grammar, and revising/editing
Parent Tip: Encourage storytelling at home!
🌎 Unit 2: Early American Civilizations
Focus: Understanding the cultures of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca
Standards: Reading informational texts (RI.5.1–5.5), writing informative pieces (W.5.2)
Skills: Nonfiction reading, summarizing, main idea & supporting details
Parent Tip: Explore documentaries or books about ancient civilizations together.
✍️ Unit 3: Poetry
Focus: Reading and analyzing poetry across different styles and themes
Standards: RL.5.4–5.6 – Analyzing figurative language, sound devices, and structure
Skills: Understanding metaphor, simile, rhythm, tone, and mood
Parent Tip: Read a short poem together and talk about how it makes them feel or what it reminds them of.
🐴 Unit 4: Don Quixote
Focus: Exploring classic literature through an adapted novel
Standards: Literature analysis (RL.5.2–5.6), figurative language (L.5.5)
Skills: Theme, character motivation, humor in text
Parent Tip: Read a fun or silly story together and talk about what it means.
🐫 Unit 5: The Renaissance
Focus: Learning about art, inventions, and humanism during the Renaissance
Standards: Integration of knowledge (RI.5.7–5.9), fluency (RF.5.4)
Skills: Text analysis, comparing ideas, building vocabulary
Parent Tip: Visit a virtual museum or look at Renaissance artwork online
🧭 Unit 6: The Reformation
Focus: Exploring religious changes and major reformers
Standards: Analyze multiple accounts (RI.5.6), cite textual evidence (RI.5.1)
Skills: Cause & effect, sequencing, nonfiction comprehension
Parent Tip: Talk about how different ideas can bring about big changes.
Focus: Enjoying Shakespeare’s comedy through a student-friendly version
Standards: RL.5.3–5.5 – Understanding plot, character, and figurative language
Skills: Reading dialogue, analyzing relationships, interpreting humor
Parent Tip: Have your child explain who their favorite character is and why!
Focus: Learning about Native American groups and their interactions with explorers
Standards: RI.5.1–5.6 – Analyzing multiple accounts and perspectives
Skills: Making inferences, comparing viewpoints, summarizing history
Parent Tip: Visit a museum website or read a book about a Native American tribe.
Focus: Exploring the basics of chemistry and matter through nonfiction
Standards: RI.5.2, RI.5.4 – Understanding scientific ideas and vocabulary
Skills: Learning scientific concepts like physical vs. chemical changes, interpreting diagrams
Parent Tip: Try a simple science experiment at home and ask what kind of change it was!
📚 Throughout the Year
We also focus on grammar, vocabulary development, reading fluency, text-based responses, and developing strong writing habits. Each unit includes a writing focus: narrative, informative, or opinion.
Want to Help at Home?
✔ Ask your child what they’re reading about
✔ Practice vocabulary and spelling
✔ Encourage writing stories, letters, or journals
✔ Visit the library together to find books on our unit topics!
Let’s work together for a successful year! 💙
If you have questions, feel free to contact me anytime.