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5th Grade
 The fifth grade program introduces the students to a schedule of studies by which they move from one class to another, each taught by a teacher with specialization in that subject area. One focus is on developing basic skills required for more challenging studies in the years ahead. The other is on introducing new fields of learning and the richness they hold and on developing in the students their natural curiosity and interest in learning new things. The class time learning activities are prepared for and followed up with nightly homework tasks. Organizational skills, listening skills, reading comprehension skills, silent reading skills, and library skills are taught. In addition, note taking, outlining, map reading and test-taking skills are developed. These skills are taught in all classes.
Religion
The Religion program for the fifth grade encompasses three major components. In Scripture the students learn about the Sacramental life of the Church as a continuation of Jesus' mission. The Social Awareness unit provides the students with an opportunity to reach out to the elderly in the greater Houston community. The Human Sexuality segment focuses on facets of human relationships and communication as methods to meet the students' growing needs at this stage of development.
Language Arts
This course is divided into five areas: reading, grammar, writing lab, spelling, and vocabulary. The program offers training in speaking and articulating thoughts. It also helps students to develop a fondness for good books. There is a classroom library as well as the MS/US Library from which students may borrow.
The students' creative writing and oral expression are built upon a solid foundation of fundamental skills. Rules and drill are essential to our program. Grammar is taught contextually. Rules are immediately illustrated and applied through writing.
Creative Drama
In Creative Drama 5 the students will learn about characterization. They will discover what an actor must to do to honestly re-create a character. The students will produce a radio show using the skills they have learned. All Fine Arts courses in 5th grade are Pass/ Fail.
Social Studies
The Social Studies course is the study of America from colonization through the Civil War. The curriculum examines how the Thirteen Colonies won independence from England and created a new nation. Students follow pioneers westward across America and learn how the young nation grew. Some major objectives of this course are to help students acquire historic and geographic background, to learn to arrive at generalizations based upon accurate facts, and to understand the importance of human rights for all people.
Mathematics
Fifth graders will develop basic math skills which will allow them to be successful in future math courses. Topics covered during the year are whole numbers, decimals, fractions, percents, ratios, proportions, data and graphs, geometry, measurement, and probability, and integers. Problem solving and mental math strategies are implemented and modeled throughout the year. Manipulatives, literature and technology will be used in the classroom.
Science
Fifth grade students begin a two-year survey of Life Science. The course stresses basic concepts in life science with a strong emphasis on using microscopes, introduction to living things, classification, viruses, bacteria, fungi, plants, ecology, and the preservation of the environment. The scientific method is introduced and inquiry and observation are enhanced by a hands-on, activity oriented curriculum.
French
The course encourages the development of oral skills. Students are introduced to basic sentence formation and simple grammar. Culture and civilization include a study of different features of the French way of life.
Spanish
This course is designed to introduce the student of Spanish to the basics of the language with emphasis on listening, speaking, reading and writing. The course is intended for students with no knowledge of Spanish. The course focuses on the acquisition of basic communication skills using a creative approach in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. The student will become familiarized with the vocabulary, grammar, geography and culture of the Spanish speaking world.
Computer
In this course, students will learn essential keyboarding skills, understand the hardware components of the computer, create projects through a variety of software programs (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher), practice internet safety, and gain basic computer knowledge.
Art
Fifth grade Art will have the opportunity to learn basic drawing, painting, sculpting, and printing skills. They begin learning to use art tools and art techniques. Art projects coordinate with the Artist of the Month program linking art disciplines to artists who preceded us historically. All students are encouraged to create visual images to express themselves using a variety of media with the appropriate skill. All Fine Arts courses in 5th grade are Pass/ Fail.
5th Grade Physical Education and Health
In 5th grade, the physical education program complements the intellectual, social and spiritual components of the curriculum. Individual physical conditioning, coordination and fitness, team sports, and health education are parts of the program. Team and individual sports, as well as gross motor-skills through low organizational games, are developed in physical education. Health topics include personal health and hygiene, nutrition, safety and substance abuse. All PE courses are Pass/Fail and not calculated into the student's GPA.
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