Course Overviews

Math Course Overview

5^th Grade Mathematics

Course Overview 2009-2010

Instructor:

Cheri Garner

Room 309

Office Telephone: (702) 949-3600 ext 241

Middle School Fax: (702) 949-3625

E-mail: cgarner@adsrm.org

Course Description:

The fifth grade mathematics program focuses on solidifying students’ confidence and command of a wide variety of concepts in problem solving and analytical thinking. Manipulatives, mental math, estimation, and real-world problem solving are incorporated into daily lessons. Units of study include number theory, estimation, computation, geometry, division, fractions, decimals, percents, exponents, negative numbers, ratios, graphs, measurement, algebra concepts, and probability.

Textbooks:

         Everyday Math Journal 1 & 2

         Everyday Math Student Reference Book

Timetable:

·        Unit 1 – Number Theory                                                                4 weeks

·        Unit 2 – Estimation and Computation                                           4 weeks

·        Unit 3 – Geometry Explorations                                                     3 weeks

·        Unit 4 – Division                                                                               3 weeks

·        Unit 5 – Fractions, Decimals, Percents                                         3 weeks

·        Unit 6 – Addition and Subtraction of Fractions                             3 weeks

·        Unit 7 – Exponents and Negative Numbers                                 3 weeks

·        Unit 8 – Fractions and Ratios                                                          3 weeks

·        Unit 9 – Coordinates, Area, Volume                                             3 weeks

·        Unit 10 – Algebra Concepts                                                            3 weeks

This schedule is tentative and may be changed as needed. In the event of major changes, students will be given appropriate notice.

Assessments:

·        Class work

·        Homework

·        Quizzes

·        End-of-unit tests

·        Vocabulary tests

·        Self assessments

·        Participation

Science Course Overview

5^th Grade Science

Course Overview 2009-2010

Instructor:

Cheri Garner

Room 309

Office Telephone: (702) 949-3600 ext 241

Middle School Fax: (702) 949-3625

E-mail: cgarner@adsrm.org

Course Description:

Fifth grade students will use the inquiry process to pursue science questions using the scientific method. They will learn to develop questions into hands-on reproducible experiments and present them at our 5^th grade Science Exposition. Analysis and interpretation skills will be developed as they learn to communicate the results of their experimentations. Students will compare mammalian anatomy with owl pellets, create environments and modify variables affecting organisms, explore mixtures and solutions, and investigate the states of matter. Students will also study the nature and history of science and enjoy sharing current science news.

Textbooks:

         Full Option Science System (FOSS)

         FOSS Science Stories

         Sciencesaurus: A Student Handbook



Timetable:

·        Unit 1 – Food and Nutrition                                                      2 months

·        Unit 2 – Bones                                                                          1 month

·        Unit 2 – Variables                                                                    3 months

·        Unit 3 – Mixtures and Solutions                                               3 months

This schedule is tentative and may be changed as needed. In the event of major changes, students will be given appropriate notice.

Assessments:

·        Class work

·        Homework

·        Quizzes

·        End-of-unit tests

·        Vocabulary tests

·        Self assessments

·        Participation

·        Science Projects

Letter from Mrs. Garner

Mrs. Garner’s and Mrs. Tognoni’s

5th Grade Classes

Alexander Dawson School

10845 West Desert Inn Road

Las Vegas, NV 89315

702-949-3600

cgarner@adsrm.org

jtognoni@adsrm.org www.adsrm.org

August 25, 2009

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to 5th grade at Alexander Dawson School. We are so excited you are in our class! We know this will be a great year. We are going to reach high standards of excellence as we start this exciting adventure together. Besides all the great school activities, we will be having many adventures in our own classroom that will help make us better student leaders. Mrs. Garner will be your math and science teacher, and Mrs. Tognoni will be challenging you in language arts and social studies.

The math and science classroom is a classroom/technology lab. We will sharpen our communication skills with pencils and keyboards. We will use Internet research skills, desktop publishing, and multimedia production to enhance our learning and share what we learn. The world is our classroom, and it is only a click away! Besides all our technology fun, we will do many activities to build class spirit and learn to work together. Each of you will bring your unique talents and expertise to our class. I know we will learn from each other. In fifth grade this year, you will have a chance to earn your Einstein Challenge Award. This award will be earned as you explore math and science connections to the past, present, and future. We will be using Everyday Mathematics and exploring many science topics using hands-on science lessons based on inquiry and the scientific method. We will also be studying science history and celebrating new scientific inventions and discoveries.

The language arts and social studies class will be challenging, but fun and exciting all year round. As we study the history of our country, you will have the opportunity to earn your Great American Award. We will read, read, and read some more! It is imperative that you continue to read daily, look for books that interest you, and read everything you can find. Many books will be available to you in our classroom, but feel free to bring in any books you may have from home. Writing will also be a daily occurrence in our classroom. You will have opportunities to respond to books, learn and practice the writing traits, and write literary letters to me. A reader’s and writer’s workshop will be conducted in class all year long. Reading workshop is a wonderful balanced literacy approach to teaching reading. It allows students to make choices on books they want to read within their instructional limits. Writing workshop is a teaching technique which can build students' fluency in writing through continuous, repeated exposure to the process of writing.

At the end of fifth grade, you will be anxious to move on to 6^th grade, but you will want to make the most of each day. It all begins on Wednesday, August 26, 2009. See you soon! Feel free to send us an email and introduce yourself before Wednesday!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Cheri Garner

Mrs. Julie Tognoni

The Year at a Glance

5th Grade

Alexander Dawson School 2009-2010

Year at a Glance

September Washington DC Tour 5^th Grade

October Back-to-School Open House (October 6)

Halloween Party (October 29)

November Parent Teacher Conferences (November 10-12)

Grandparents Day (November 20)

December Colonial Winter Festival 5^th Grade

Holiday Party (December 18)

January Science Exposition 5^th Grade

February Valentine’s Day Party (February 12)

March Living Wax Museum 5^th Grade

CSI: Dawson Beach (March 22-26) 5^th Grade

Camp Pali Orientation 5^th Grade

April Poetry Cocoa House 5^th Grade

ERB Testing (April 19-23)

Parent Teacher Conferences (April 20-22)

May Mother’s Day Program 5^th Grade

Field Day (May 7)

Camp Pali 5^th Grade Trip (May 17-19) 5^th Grade

June Last day of school (June 9)

Dates Subject to Change