5th Grade

In fifth grade, students continue to study art history and cultural arts, as well as work to increase their art vocabulary. Projects are designed to refine their skills and reinforce their understanding of the principles and elements of art. The curriculum includes lessons in drawing, painting, printmaking, construction, clay, sewing, and design. A special experiential art field trip is taken in the spring of each year to create sand sculptures at the local beach.

The fifth grade English program focuses on developing written expression skills necessary for fluency across subjects, utilizing the Writer’s Workshop approach. Writing is taught daily, with assignments covering narrative, informative, sensory, and expository writing. Mini-lessons address precise word choice, clear sentence construction, paragraph development showcasing the main idea, and creating believable plots, characters, and moods. Students are introduced to similes, metaphors, idioms, and personification. They learn to evaluate their own writing by proofreading for mechanical errors, and editing and rewriting are emphasized. Grammar lessons build upon prior years, covering subjects, predicates, simple and compound sentences, and the usage of the eight parts of speech. By the end of fifth grade, students can write well-developed personal narratives and organized expository paragraphs.

In fifth grade, students begin utilizing the “Young Adult” section of the library and have complete access to every book in the school library for the first time. The students develop skills related to navigating the genre-specific sections of the Middle School book collections, such as investigating and evaluating the reading level, content, and authorship of a book as it relates to the individual student’s interests, personal values, and reading level. Fifth graders begin using more sophisticated digital research skills related to finding, analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing information from multiple sources. The students create in-text citations and bibliographies using the MLA and APA styles. Students explore various print and online sources as they begin to develop skills related to scrutinizing the bias, purpose, and currency of information.

The fifth grade literature program involves studying selected class novels, exploring short story literature, poetry, and engaging in independent reading. The curriculum emphasizes developing key reading strategies such as prior knowledge, mental images, inference, questioning, and synthesis of information. Students use highlighting and sticky notes for annotation while reading, identifying well-written passages, vocabulary, and themes. They also deepen their understanding of literary concepts such as character, plot, point of view, main idea, author's purpose, setting, tone, rising action, and falling action. Students actively participate in literary discussions to foster critical thinking through self chosen small group book clubs and literature circles. The program aims to expose students to diverse authors and genres, nurture a love of reading, and cultivate critical reading skills. Writing is an integral part of the program, allowing students to respond to their reading. Vocabulary instruction focuses on word meaning, usage, and pronunciation to expand students' vocabulary and enhance their expression. The all-class novels have included Wonder by R.J. Palacio, Susanna's Midnight Ride by Libby Carty McNamee, and Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary Schmid.

Harbor Day School recognizes the importance of mathematics as a cornerstone of a student’s education. Our mission is to develop confidence and competence in mathematics as students learn to think critically and to problem-solve strategically and collaboratively. Students are encouraged to communicate their understanding in verbal and written form and to consider and critique alternate solution strategies for problems. Lessons and activities are crafted to facilitate making connections, seeing patterns, and experiencing the joy and success that mathematics can bring.

The mathematics program utilizes Singapore Math strategies. These strategies help students build strong number sense, fluency, place value understanding, and problem-solving ability. The components of our K-5 math program are designed around these four pillars of Singapore Math. The use of concrete materials, pictorial representations, and bar modeling techniques provides students with a well-balanced approach to concept mastery. Students develop a solid foundation for the more abstract thinking and approaches required in later math courses. Mathematical practices and habits of mind are developed and reinforced as students develop confidence and enthusiasm for mathematics. In grades K-5, the scope and sequence is aligned with and utilizes the Dimensions textbook series. Many additional resources provide opportunities for students to extend and support their acquisition of skills and to apply them in problem-solving activities. 

In fifth grade, the math program continues the study of numeration, computation with whole numbers, decimals and fractions, problem-solving, measurement, and geometry. Mastery of place value is expected and reinforced with manipulatives as needed. Lessons deal with rounding, estimation, prime and composite numbers, factors, the concepts of ratio, proportion, and percent, and the identification of the mean, median, mode, and range of a set of numbers. Measurement studies focus on standard and metric units, conversion of measures, area, perimeter, and volume. Geometry includes the study of angles, ordered pairs, coordinate graphs, symmetry, similarity, congruence, and properties of quadrilaterals and triangles. Students apply their knowledge of math concepts by solving numerous types of written and practical problems using bar models and other Singapore Math strategies. Students are encouraged to explain their logic in reaching solutions both orally and in written form.

Students have numerous opportunities to participate in extension math activities using deductive reasoning, Math Olympiad problem sets, and logic games. Math competitions include Continental Math League and AMC8. 

Fifth grade students meet with their music teacher twice a week. The fifth grade curriculum encourages children to explore and experience various musical forms and styles from many different time periods and cultures. Emphasis is placed on vocal skills introduced in Lower School, including part singing, solo work, and proper vocal techniques. Ear training and music theory are a part of each class. Self-confidence in the individual as well as an appreciation for singing as a group are encouraged. Public speaking and music performance are emphasized and reinforced by the presentation of two major music performances for the school community. In addition to other performance opportunities, fifth grade students present a Revolutionary Fair performance to complement their study of early United States history in social studies.

The purpose of the program in the fifth through eighth grade is to involve the student in more highly organized games and activities, emphasizing an expanded understanding of movement. Units are structured so that students will apply previously acquired knowledge and refined motor skills to more specific sport and team activities. Social attitudes such as sportsmanship, good judgment, and self-control are also promoted at this age level. Students are expected to demonstrate a sincere effort to participate, a respect for rules and officials, teamwork and sportsmanship, and an understanding of skills, techniques, concepts and strategies of sport activities. Motor skills and ball skills are further refined to apply to sport activities. The relationship between rules of the game and the restrictions they place upon movement are explained and explored. Physical and motor fitness are emphasized as life-long goals that enhance a student’s health and well-being. Social and emotional concepts that are discussed are the proper attitude toward competition and how it relates to both victory and defeat. Developing a respect for all ability levels, responsibility for the use of equipment and facilities, respecting the rules and the decisions of officials are all points of emphasis.

Fifth grade students participate in a puberty education program. This program includes group discussion, videos, and handouts designed to explain the physical and emotional changes which all boys and girls can expect to undergo during this period of life. The goal is to present puberty in a positive way, demystifying a process that can be puzzling and confusing to youngsters. Parents may preview the materials before they are presented to the students.

In the fifth and sixth grade, sport-related skills, activities, and games may include: cooperative educational games, recreational games, flag football, soccer, basketball, baseball, rhythmic gymnastics, softball, wiffle ball, volleyball, field hockey, team handball, fitness activities, fitness testing, and track and field.

Interscholastic athletics are introduced in the fifth grade for girls’ basketball and in the sixth grade for students who desire a higher level of competition in flag football, basketball, volleyball, and track and field. Teams at the fifth and sixth grade levels have a no-cut policy. All students that have attended practices and complied with team rules are given an opportunity to play in games. Teams practice during class and/or after school. Contests are with other private schools in the area.

Fifth grade students attend science class three times per week. The core interactive and digital instructional resource used in this course is the Discovery Education Science Techbook for California Next Generation Science Standards Grade 5. Students study topics that will guide them to formulate answers to important scientific principles by asking questions such as: “When matter changes, does it change weight? How much water can be found in different places on Earth? Can combining with other substances create new substances? How does matter cycle through ecosystems? Where does the energy in food come from and what is it used for? How do relative lengths of day and night change from day to day and how does the appearance of stars change in different seasons? What events happen because of gravity?” Students expand their understanding of these topics through individualized laboratory activities, teacher-led demonstrations, and the use of technology. Students are expected to demonstrate their understanding in asking questions, developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, constructing explanations and designing solutions, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information.

Fifth grade geography builds directly upon the fourth grade’s study of geography as students take what they learned about the physical geography of the United States and explore how it changed over time, affecting both settlement and the economy. Students focus on the movement of ancient civilizations to the North American continent, the development and location of Native American societies, and the ways in which the political and physical geography affected the development of the country. 

The fifth grade social studies curriculum introduces the concept that the United States is built on the idea of a pluralistic society, which is illustrated by the motto chosen by our early leaders, “E Pluribus Unum” which means “out of many, one”. In this vein, we use the lens of multiple perspectives to understand how all peoples have been impacted by our nation’s history. The study of United States history begins with the Native Americans and emphasizes their dependence on the environment throughout all aspects of their society. This is followed by a detailed study of the exploration and colonization of the New World by the Europeans as well as how the Native Americans were impacted by this colonization. The students study the development of the English colonies in the northern, middle, and southern regions, including the impact of slavery during this time period. They learn about the economic and political development of the colonies that led up to the French and Indian War. The students begin to see and understand the reasons why the colonists chose to break away from England during the Revolutionary War. Students study the political and economic struggles which led to the birth of a new nation. The course shows how the desire for a new, united, self-governing nation led to the founding documents of our country: The Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Students research and study the people who engineered key events of American history using a variety of resources, including fiction and nonfiction books, multimedia materials, and interactive experiences. The Harbor Day annual celebration of the “Revolutionary Fair" enhances the students’ learning through experiential hands-on activities to understand what life was like in our nation’s early history.

Fifth grade students meet twice per week in the computer lab. They are introduced to the 3D design program, Google Sketchup, in order to build their visuospatial reasoning skills. Students are assessed on their keyboarding skills four times during the school year, with a year-end goal of reaching 30 words-per-minute. Fifth graders learn video and photo editing as part of their digital storytelling unit. Students are taught how to assess online sources for credibility and are introduced to MLA formatting for references. There is a strong emphasis on digital citizenship, specifically defining plagiarism and the concept of intellectual property. Fifth grade students continue the practice of computer programming through the building and coding of robots using Lego EV3 Mindstorms.

Fifth grade is an important year for students at Harbor Day. During this year, the students are introduced to both Mandarin and Latin, and students have a semester study of each language. In both classes, teachers emphasize correct pronunciation, communication skills, listening and reading comprehension, cultural awareness, and the value of each language in today’s world. Language content is presented through hands-on activities, games, songs, skits, differentiated lessons, online resources, and small projects. At the end of fifth grade, each student chooses the one language from Mandarin, Latin, or Spanish that he or she wishes to study for the remainder of middle school. Students can reflect carefully upon their experiences over the year when making this important commitment to one of the three languages.

Latin 

Students experience Latin as a living language using modern language comprehensible input techniques (such as TPR - total physical response, questioning, gestures, cognates and derivatives, and context clues). Students learn to read simple stories about Minimus, a Roman mouse. These techniques help students acquire language more naturally than a traditional grammar-focused approach.

Mandarin 

Students explore the vibrant world of Chinese language and culture. From mastering character writing to perfecting pronunciation through Pinyin and tones, they dive deep into language fundamentals. Additionally, students immerse themselves in traditions such as festival celebrations, calligraphy, and Kung Fu. Culminating in a joyous Qingzhu celebration, students not only build a strong academic foundation but also develop a profound cultural appreciation.