Fifth Grade

List of 7 items.

• English

  The fifth-grade English program continues the foundation formed in Lower School and expands on it. Students will explore various genres, write critically, apply vocabulary to enhance comprehension, and use technology to aid in the learning experience. There is a reinforcement of the basic grammar skills and enlargement to include all parts of speech. Reading instruction includes the strategy of close reading and BHH (book, head, heart). Students choose what literature circle book they will read within a theme that involves applying reading skills and strategies, writing about the reading experience, researching and presenting information about the book, and creating an item based on that reading experience. Writing is an important part of the curriculum, helping the student become effective communicators by learning how to write clearly and concisely. Peer critiquing and group sharing are important parts of the writing process.

• Fine Arts

  Band
  
  The purpose of the Middle School band program is to engage all students of varying performance levels in a performance group best suited for their needs. Students begin instrumental studies in the fifth grade in a beginning band ensemble. In this class, students learn the basics of tone production and basic music theory.
  
  

  Chorus
  
  The primary purpose of the choral program is to actively engage students in the study and performance of choral music. Students will study various composers and styles of music. Students develop their ability to read, comprehend, and articulate abstract concepts within the choral music studied. Students will learn the skills that will enable them to be versatile, competent, and confident in performing a wide spectrum of vocal music.
  
  

   

  Theater
  
  The Cannon Middle School theater program is designed to introduce students to the basic principles of theatrical performance. In this course, students will study a variety of theatrical styles and will have a number of performance opportunities. Students will focus on the utilization of improvisational exercises in order to develop the skills necessary for confident performances. The theater curriculum stresses teamwork as the group works together to prepare for a variety of in-class performances as well as a production for a fall middle school assembly and a larger staged production in the spring, which is open to the public.
  
  

  Visual Art
  
  The Middle School art program builds the foundation for self-expression and art appreciation through the use and understanding of the elements and principles of art and design. Students have the opportunity to explore a variety of art mediums in the context of drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, and sculpture.

• History

  Fifth-grade history is an integrated approach to studying the development of civilizations throughout the ancient and Medieval periods in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Students experience history through engaging hands-on activities which foster students' love of learning. It brings learning alive and makes history meaningful for a fifth-grade student. The themes covered include geography, community and social structures, and government and political systems.

• Math

  The fifth-grade math program includes the following units: place value, basic operations in whole numbers, fractions, integers and decimals, measurement, geometry, ratio, proportions, percents, perimeter, area, volume, and statistics. Abstract thinking and problem-solving are emphasized in every unit of this course. Various manipulatives, interdisciplinary units, multiple technology tools, and mathematics competitions are used for enrichment.

• Physical Education

  Health Education
  
  In grades five through eight, age-appropriate texts and resources are used to teach mental, physical, and social skills necessary to maintaining one's health. Units taught include human growth and development, evaluating health-related information, products and services, decision-making, family living, nutrition, safety and basic first aid, and environmental health.
  
  

  Physical Education
  
  The Middle School physical education program stresses physical fitness and a variety of athletic experiences. The program includes training and testing for the Cannon strength and conditioning program.  Also included are units on soccer, flag football, volleyball, tennis, aerobics, cardiovascular fitness and conditioning, basketball, softball, baseball, and lacrosse. Participation is mandatory. However, students develop skills for performance at their individual levels.

• Science

  The middle school science curriculum incorporates the different disciplines of science into each course of study beginning in fifth grade. In the fifth grade course, students explore the disciplines of life and environmental science through an in depth study of ecology. They study the interactions of the living and nonliving factors of their environment, learn about diversity and adaptations, and explore the many cycles of the natural world. Through hands-on activities, teacher demonstrations, and student explorations, fifth graders learn about the effects of human interactions and interferences in the delicate balance of the natural world.

• World Language

  In fifth grade, world language courses are exploratory, and students rotate through all three World Language courses offered at Cannon School (Spanish, French, and Mandarin). At the end of their fifth-grade year, students choose which language they will study for the remainder of their Middle School Career.