Lake Forest Country Day School GRADE 5
UPPER SCHOOL CURRICULUM A co-educational independent school for students age 2 through Grade 8, graduating students of strong character with a passion for learning since 1888
Overview of Upper School (Grades 5–8) The Upper School experience at Lake Forest Country Day School offers a challenging, yet engaging curriculum coupled with the skills needed to flourish in a twenty-first-century world. The Upper School curriculum reflects high academic standards, and our faculty is dedicated to giving each student the opportunity to discover his or her academic, social, creative, and physical strengths. Because social and academic skills are inextricably linked, we strive to create a respectful, safe atmosphere where students can explore interests, take responsible risks, and develop academic skills and knowledge. Dedicated faculty members work together in our state-of-the-art facility to create an engaging curriculum, rich with opportunities for deeper thinking as students develop key twenty-first-century skills: communication, cosmopolitanism, collaboration, character, creativity, and critical thinking. We aim to help students grow in selfawareness and self-discipline so they can manage increasingly challenging coursework. Each student has an advisor to whom he or she can turn for assistance. A middle school social worker is also available to provide students with strategies that help the transition or aid in negotiating friendship dynamics as students mature and explore new interests. Students benefit from: The School's strong commitment to offering excellent academic preparation in all subjects and opportunities to participate in extracurricular arts and athletics programs. An emphasis on twenty-first-century skills, including information literacy, the productive use of technology tools, and digital citizenship. Our Character Development Program, which places an emphasis on developing students’ self-awareness and resilience as well as creating a positive social and emotional environment as the foundation for academic excellence. A faculty who understands brain and child development and works collaboratively to engage students in a variety of learning experiences that encourage making connections, building understanding, and taking ownership of learning. A commitment to experiential learning where students’ learning is enriched with field trips to Lake Forest Open Lands, the symphony, the theater, and a variety of historic sites. A compassionate school environment that values personal responsibility, diversity, and openness to different points of view. Expert assistance with the transition to selective high schools.
Upper School Curriculum Guide
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Upper School Curriculum
Overview
Teaching Philosophy Knowing the students we teach—individually, culturally, and developmentally—is of utmost importance to us. We also believe in the importance of getting to know their families. We value the input of parents as the child’s first teacher, beginning with advisor intake calls prior to the start of school when parents share their knowledge of and hopes and dreams for their child. Two important beliefs are at the heart of our teaching philosophy: first, the social curriculum is inextricably linked with the academic curriculum; and, second, how students learn is as important as what students learn. Upper School faculty shares a commitment to the following teaching and learning practices: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
Strength of character is emphasized and developed through socialemotional skill-building in the advisory curriculum, opportunities for leadership and service, and the disciplinary system. AUTHENTIC WORK OF THE DISCIPLINES
The curriculum emphasizes academic work that requires critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration, and has real-world applications. DIFFERENTIATION
Teachers focus on each individual student’s learning style and make adjustments as needed to provide support or additional challenge.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Students enjoy opportunities to engage in hands-on activities and role-play experiences that help them understand abstract ideas. UNIFYING CONCEPTS
Ideas are introduced in the context of central unifying concepts or themes to help students recognize and remember connections in what they are learning in different disciplines. ACADEMIC RIGOR
Teachers and students share responsibility for pursuing learning goals that are challenging yet attainable and position the student for future academic success.
Character Development Character education at LFCDS begins in the Early Childhood Program. As appropriate, children are introduced to terms that refer to specific “habits of mind,” such as persistence and empathy. As students move through the Lower School, their understanding of the various habits of mind deepens, and many “Until recently, most economists and psychologists believed that the most important factor in a child’s success was his or her IQ. This notion is behind our national obsession with test scores. But the scientists whose work I followed for How Children Succeed have identified a very different set of skills that they believe are crucial to success. They include qualities like persistence, curiosity, conscientiousness, optimism, and selfcontrol. Economists call these non-cognitive skills. Psychologists call them personality traits. Neuroscientists sometimes use the term executive functions. The rest of us often sum them up with the word character.” —Paul Tough, Author of How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character
Upper School Curriculum Guide
opportunities are given both inside and outside the classroom to demonstrate increased social emotional skills. Upon entering Upper School, each student is paired with an adult advocate. As his or her advisor, this faculty member takes on numerous essential roles, including being a guide for academic growth, executive functions, social-emotional learning, and character development. Each student is placed in a small advisory group consisting of eight to ten students who meet two to three times per week. During these sessions, students are engaged in activities related to empathy, communication, social cruelty, emotion management, problem solving, and substance abuse. Students also participate in team-building activities related to collaboration, diversity, respect, trust, and sensitivity. Finally, each advisor plans age-appropriate lessons throughout the school year such as movie discussions, study skills, test-taking strategies, and leadership skills.
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Upper School Curriculum
Overview
At LFCDS, we espouse certain core values— excellence, partnership, responsibility, participation, and diversity. So, for us, ‘strong character’ means acting in accord with these five values, which is what students and families agree to do by joining our school community. The School’s character education efforts,
therefore, are designed to help students recognize examples and lapses of these values in action and to develop the social-emotional skills needed to make behavioral choices consonant with what the school community recognizes as important.
Authentic Work of the Disciplines At LFCDS, we emphasize authentic learning experiences—ones that reflect critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and real-world applications. In order to prepare students for a university education, a meaningful career, and life in general, we work to develop students’ deep understanding of content and issues and ask them to demonstrate their new learning, not just recite it. The authentic work of real-world learning experiences enables students to develop important lifelong skills and to view their education as relevant and connected to the larger world.
from an African drum circle using only non-verbal communication. Eighth-grade student groups build, analyze, and test their own roller coasters based on
Outdoor Education
Lake Forest Country Day School’s Outdoor Education Program is designed to promote a positive and supportive atmosphere by heightening students’ awareness of and concern for others. This program provides a unique opportunity for teachers and students to become acquainted outside the classroom and to respond to and learn from the needs of others by working in a broader community. The program supports the School’s mission of producing students who have strong character and are responsible citizens. These goals are pursued through fifth-grade collaborative group activities and team building exercises, sixth- and seventh-grade camping experiences, and a six-day eighth-grade trip to Washington, DC. Numerous field trips to sites in Indianapolis, Chicago, and Springfield also enhance and enrich our School’s goal to provide students with ongoing opportunities for the development of collaboration and team-building skills.
So what does this look like at LFCDS? After reading The Phantom Tollbooth, fifth-grade students discuss the threedimensional world and properties of space figures in math class. They then create a two-dimensional net pattern from which they are able to construct a dodecahedron model. On each of the faces, students create questions and share facts from the story. In sixth grade, students create structural models of town buildings and test them for strength and durability by recreating hurricane-like winds using fans. Seventh-grade students reenact a traditional, unified musical piece
advanced physics principles. Learning experiences like these offer intellectual challenge, build work habits of persistence, metacognition, and accuracy, and engage students in the kinds of creative and critical thinking that will serve them well throughout their lives.
Differentiation Differentiation is the process of matching instruction to varied students and their interests and needs. It is a cornerstone of high-quality teaching and learning and a practice that pervades LFCDS. We pride ourselves on our ability to deeply know our students as learners
Upper School Curriculum Guide
and to think outside of the box when it comes to approaching their learning in the most appropriate and effective ways. This is responsive education. Students who exhibit academic talent may participate in Illinois Regional Math Counts Competition, LEGO Robotics
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Upper School Curriculum
Overview
Tournaments, or write articles for the latest edition of our School’s newspaper. Those children who require additional support may receive in-class individual and small-group assistance or instruction offered through
our Learning Services department. Ongoing assessment enables us to efficiently and flexibly encourage our students’ interests and to meet their academic and developmental needs.
Experiential Learning What adolescent wouldn’t want to design and build a bridge and test it for integrity and strength? Or research data that inspires them, and create their own formula for predicting trends based on algebraic knowledge of linear equations? Perhaps even write his or her own music and lyrics using the latest MIDI technology? Experiential learning occurs when students investigate and gain understanding through their play. An excellent instructional strategy to engage the whole child— cognitively, socially and emotionally, physically, and creatively—experiential learning allows students to learn by doing: creating, constructing, planning, solving problems, and collaborating. LFCDS teachers carefully craft experiential, hands-on learning activities that will tap students’ interest and engagement and then allow for independent thinking, open-ended responses, student choice, and rich understanding. Creative thinking and academic rigor can occur simultaneously!
Unifying Concepts Knowing how students learn best, we developed middle school curricula around unifying concepts that build upon and connect to each other. For example, the eighth-grade social studies curriculum is taught using a theme-based approach rather than sequentially. Units include War and Peace, Manifest Destiny, Expansionism, National Politics & the Presidency, African American Studies, and Reconstruction; all afford students the opportunity to make continuous connections while learning historical facts in context. Similarly, world language courses offer students engaging activities and applicable units of study based on culture, food, clothing, art, and notable destinations. Spiraling concepts by theme allows
Upper School Curriculum Guide
STEAM at LFCDS STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education is designed to enhance the teaching of math and science subject areas by incorporating technology and engineering into regular curriculum, creating a “meta-discipline.” A STEAM curriculum encourages problem solving, discovery, exploratory learning, and encourages students to actively engage a situation in order to find its solution. These skills are critical to the development of high level problem solving and will prepare today’s students to become tomorrow’s global leaders. In the Upper School, STEAM education is integrated through a series of project-based, semester-long classes, one for each grade level. Some of these units are new to the LFCDS curriculum; some are existing components of our current Math and Science programs. In the fifth grade, for example, students will design video games, with the goal being to foster critical 21st century skills such as systems thinking and digital media literacy. Seventh-grade students will work together to design, build, and test CO2 dragsters, with a design process that teaches them to identify problems, research and develop solutions, and ultimately redesign their vehicles based on feedback. In each grade-level course, the goal is to prepare middle school students for the advanced courses that await them in high school—with the added benefit of giving students the confidence to ultimately pursue a career in one of these fields later in life. students learning Spanish, French, and Mandarin Chinese to apply previously learned structure while identifying and utilizing new vocabulary. At the same time, each grade level represents a new layer of unifying concept that enriches and broadens students’ understanding of it and its application in varied contexts. Unifying concepts are integral to ensuring that students make connections within and across disciplines and topics and, as a result, comprehend their learning experiences more deeply.
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Upper School Curriculum
Overview
Community Service
The LFCDS Community Service program is a manifestation of the School’s commitment to responsible citizenship and its dedication to producing students of strong character. The Community Service program affords students an opportunity to respond to and learn from others by providing service to those in need in the broader community. The program offers a wide variety of service environments from which to choose and encourages family participation. Emphasis is placed on the development of an independent desire to serve others. Beginning in Lower School, class- or grade-level service projects are adopted as they arise through curriculum integration. This approach to service continues through sixth grade and is enhanced by many other service projects supported by the entire School. The development of social, environmental, and community consciousness becomes more individualized in seventh and eighth grade. At this point, each student researches and selects projects that are personally meaningful to him or her and that emphasizes the duty of giving back to the community. By reaching outside of the LFCDS family to give service to others, students are exposed to the greater needs beyond their day-to-day school life. Past community projects have benefited the environment, wildlife, the hungry, the sick, the homeless, and underprivileged children here and abroad.
Academic Rigor Rigor at LFCDS targets specific goals for both teachers and students. Teachers develop curricula that are rich with varied and intentional challenges. LFCDS faculty: Set high, yet attainable, expectations. Establish learning objectives that are clear and measureable. Assess student understanding formally and informally. Employ technology and varied resources. Give students clear, meaningful feedback to encourage positive work. Ask a range of questions and target synthesis. Vary learning experiences to include some of the following: multi-sensory materials, kinesthetic activity, technology/media, visual aids, and inquiry-based labs. Provide students opportunities to work collaboratively. Assign relevant homework with opportunities for summarization, questioning, reflection, and/or analysis.
Upper School Curriculum Guide
Students responding to rigorous curricula: Demonstrate investment in and ownership of the learning process. Set reasonable and attainable goals in recognition of their own strengths and challenges. Advocate for themselves and their own learning. Engage in class discussions and activities. Complete assignments thoughtfully and carefully. Show curiosity by asking pertinent and thought-provoking questions. Seek answers using a variety of reliable sources. Apply knowledge, skills, and concepts independently. Make connections to previously learned concepts and skills. Transition beyond rote memorization and restatement of facts to demonstrate depth of understanding. Think critically.
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GRADE 5 Curriculum
that seemed fixed in earlier grades begin to change as children mature and explore new interests. Entering fifth grade is an exciting time for your Coping with these friendship losses and gains can ten-year-old. The move to the LFCDS Upper School be emotionally difficult, especially because ten-yearis accompanied by lots of changes. Everything feels olds do not yet have the social and emotional skills different, from having a locker to having multiple to manage relationships with tact and sensitivity. At teachers instead of one classroom teacher for core LFCDS, we teach subjects. Students have the “whole child,” so more freedom and we make time to talk opportunities, but also with students both more responsibility individually and in than they had in Lower groups about matters School. Most students like trust, respect, Memorize and learn to abide by the Honor Code. adjust relatively communication, and quickly, but tougher Trade in ePET (laptop for in-class use) for an ePAL resilience. We also academic expectations, that can be used both at school and at home. teach positive ways a more complex weekly Experience Outdoor Education with team building to handle situations schedule that includes opportunities including a low ropes course, through skillextracurricular community service, and a Lake Forest scavenger hunt. building activities. activities, and the Learn to use new organizational tools, such as the Our Collaborative challenges of learning LFCDS Portal, for keeping track of assignments. Disciplinary model to use and take care of Participate in Advisory group discussions lets students know their ePAL (electronic and activities exploring both group dynamics when they have Portable Anytime and individual strengths. made poor choices. Learning) can make Go on downtown Chicago field trips, such as Through ongoing the first few weeks the Chicago Civic Orchestra, the Field Museum, and reinforcement of the seem overwhelming. the Robie House. Honor Code and Parent encouragement Take part in the annual Robbie Bermingham other LFCDS values, during the transition Speaking Contest. we create a learning is very important. Build a Rube Goldberg-type device to demonstrate environment that Students this age are understanding of simple machines. is developmentally still very eager to please appropriate and Conduct Student Led Conferences to share academic and the occasional conducive to the progress with parents. “You can do it!” from development of a parent means more “strong character.” than you may think.
The Fifth-Grade Experience at LFCDS
Highlights of the Fifth-Grade Experience
Our fifth-grade program is designed to provide both the challenges your child is ready for and the reassuring support he or she needs to settle into middle school successfully. We recognize that, in addition to taking on new challenges as learners, fifth-grade students are experiencing a new social environment. Some of the peer dynamics
Upper School Curriculum Guide — Grade 5
Having a strong social and emotional safety net is crucial for students at this age. That’s why fifth-grade students, like all Upper School students, are placed in small advisory groups right away. Students get to know an adult to whom they can turn for both practical help and emotional support. They also build relationships with a small group of peers
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Grade 5 in their advisory group, which helps expand their group of friends and learn to appreciate individual differences. Your child’s advisor can be a helpful resource for you as well as for your child. Open two-way conversation between parents and advisors is encouraged. Our middle school counselor is also available as a resource for both students and parents.
Schedule
Students in Upper School follow a rotating six-day cycle consisting of forty-five-minute class periods. Grade-level academic courses are clustered into blocks in order to provide opportunities for team meetings, integration of curricula, and flexibility. In courses such as social studies, science, and world language, students meet on five out of the six cycle days and attend an academic study hall, math extension, or additional English class. English and mathematics classes routinely meet seven times per cycle with English courses focusing on each of the numerous language arts strands including literature, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and writing. Students also attend semester-long fine arts courses that meet on alternating cycle days. Finally, students participate in physical education and wellness classes on alternating days. Students enjoy a mid-morning healthy snack and have a recess break each day in addition to lunchtime recess. Three times per week, Upper School students meet with their advisor and engage in a formal character development program consisting of such topics as empathy, communication, problem solving, peer dynamics, social cruelty, stress management, and substance abuse. These adult-led sessions use a variety of resources including the Second Step program, Student Success through Prevention. Each Wednesday, an advisory group designs and leads a division-wide community meeting in which students gather to share information, talents, successes, and celebrations with one another.
Overview the Panther Portal for confirmation and are updated regularly. In general, homework assignments in the Upper School should require the following preparation: Grade 5: 1–1.5 hour(s), Grade 6: 1.5–2 hours, Grade 7 and 8: 2–2.5 hours. Students in sixth through eighth grade usually have four academic study periods per cycle. If this time is used effectively, homework for one or more subjects should be completed during this period. The time for completing homework may vary depending on individual learning style and productivity. The value of homework depends upon how it is done. It is essential that each child find a quiet place to work and determine a definite time for study. Distractions and interruptions such as those from television, cell phones, video games, and social networking technologies should be minimized. Each child should be responsible for his or her own assignments.
Standardized Assessments
Standardized and normed data provided by the following tools, along with classroom-based assessments, offer teachers a more complete understanding of each student’s learning profiles and guides individual instruction as well as curriculum design. Fifth-grade students take the NWEA MAP (Measurements of Academic Progress) assessment. This test is designed to identify areas of strength, opportunities for interventions, and overall performance over time. The adaptive, untimed assessment provides reliable, detailed information about what each student knows and is ready to learn. Because the test is administered two or three times a year, educators have immediate and highly accurate data on the precise learning level of each child so their teaching can be adjusted to meet the individual needs of students.
Homework
Homework is assigned in the Upper School based on curricular needs for repetition, application, reflection, and/or student inquiry. These assignments are written down by each student, but are also posted digitally on
Upper School Curriculum Guide — Grade 5
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Grade 5
English
English Overview Upper School English is a multi-strand subject. Students study literature, composition, vocabulary, grammar, and spelling appropriate for their grade level. Students read and write in a variety of genres. Literature selections vary by grade level. Composition mainly revolves around the literature studied and the annual Robbie Bermingham Speaking Contest. Vocabulary focuses on Greek and Latin roots and prefixes; it is drawn from the literature students read as well as from the series Vocabulary for Achievement. Spelling includes words from the Rebecca Sitton program, homonyms, cross-curricular words, literary and language arts terms, and may also include individualized spelling from a web-based program. Grammar covers parts of speech, sentence syntax, and the usage conventions of the English language. The skill levels vary and increase with the complexity of texts as students progress through grades five through eight.
Grade-Level Expectations
In fifth grade, students work to master the following English skills:
Reading Read for information, understanding, and appreciation. •• Apply word analysis and vocabulary skills to comprehend reading selections. •• Clarify understanding of words by using a variety of resources, including context clues and dictionaries. •• Connect reading selections to personal experiences and other texts. •• Empathize and identify with character roles. •• Use information from reading selections to inform, explain, and support questions and predictions. •• Gather and comprehend information from a variety of sources. •• Recognize and understand structural elements in informational texts such as main idea, supporting details, and conclusion. •• Quote from the text accurately to reflect or support a point of view. •• Make and support inferences about the author’s purpose. Identify and appreciate literary elements. •• List the main events of the story’s plot using terms such as exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, and falling action. •• Identify narration, point of view, and use of dialogue in a variety of literary works. •• Identify character, setting and theme as they apply to reading selections. •• Identify the author’s use of certain literary elements such as foreshadowing, flashback, figurative language, and irony. •• Analyze and appreciate poetry through an understanding of poetic devices such as similes, metaphors, alliteration, rhyme scheme, and personification.
Writing Gain experience with writing an assortment of composition modes. Generate and organize ideas using a variety of planning strategies. Upper School Curriculum Guide — Grade 5
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Grade 5
English. Mathematics Identify and accomplish personal purpose. Recognize and formulate standard parts of an expository paragraph such as topic sentence, supporting details, transitions, and concluding sentence. Engage in the stages of the writing process: drafting, revising, and sharing final copy. Begin to incorporate figurative language and well-chosen vocabulary. Edit documents for clarity and correct grammar usage. Apply the rules studied for syntax, grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation to writing. Strive for grace of expression through effective sentence syntax, paying particular attention to identifying and correcting sentence fragments and run-ons. Write concisely and accurately for selected forms of assessment.
Presentation Express clearly personal responses to classroom discussion. Read a text aloud with appropriate inflection. Collaborate and present material as part of a group presentation. Practice and exhibit essential presentation skills such as diction, volume, eye contact, appropriate gestures, and pacing for many sizes and types of audiences. Participate as an effective audience member.
Mathematics Overview By incorporating researched standards and best practice strategies, our Upper School mathematics program challenges fifth- through eighth-grade students to compute accurately, think analytically and to reason logically. Instruction is individualized and differentiated within each class in addition to having a framed readiness path to allow for a variety of flexible grouping based on specific criteria. Pearson/Prentice Hall’s Mathematics series is the primary resource for all mathematics courses and the curriculum is infused with manipulatives, creative applications, projects, technology, and critical thinking activities. The goals of the Upper School mathematics program at LFCDS are: to stimulate enthusiasm for mathematics. to teach and reinforce essential mathematical concepts. to develop students’ problem-solving abilities. to foster mathematical creativity, flexibility, and ingenuity. to offer challenging, engaging learning experiences. Resources, manipulatives, projects, web-resources used on an ongoing, rotational basis: Prentice Hall Mathematics textbook series and resource materials Marcy Cook Tiles Buzz Math individualized online mathematics skills program Math Olympiad Contests Used Numbers (Real Data in the Classroom)
Upper School Curriculum Guide — Grade 5
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Grade 5
Mathematics, Science
The Problem Solver Middle School Mathematics Project – Probability and Fair Games Middle School Mathematics with Pizazz www.explorelearning.com www.phschool.com Interdisciplinary units with science and STEAM-based projects such as growing crystals, bungee jump analysis, rockets, and balsa wood bridge building. Applications-based projects such as fantasy football, mathematician research, polyhedra construction, statistics analysis, stock market game, and shopping unit.
Grade-Level Expectations
In fifth grade, students work to master the following mathematics skills: Think critically and abstractly. Develop problem-solving strategies. Build upon a conceptual understanding of order of operations, integer rules, and algebraic expressions and equations. Study scale within figures and drawings. Apply knowledge of geometric concepts and relate this to 3D space figures. Construct three-dimensional polyhedra. Develop an understanding of two-dimensional geometric terms. Explore and learn proportionality. Examine concepts related to probability. Investigate the metric system and make connections between metric and customary units. Build conceptual understanding of ratio, rate, and percent. Define facets of measurement. Understand and apply concepts related to statistics, measures of central tendency, and graphing. Analyze data representation through the study of different graphing techniques. Create means of analysis using Microsoft Excel. Investigate number patterns and sequences. Study geometric concepts related to area and perimeter. Solidify mastery of decimal and fraction concepts which are fundamental for algebraic equation work.
Upper School Curriculum Guide — Grade 5
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Grade 5
Science
Science Overview The Upper School science curriculum addresses the three branches of science—physical science, life science, and earth/space science. In a hands-on inquiry-based setting, students pose questions, explore hypotheses, and form conclusions. Students further their scientific understanding through learning that is relevant to real-life experiences and through spiraling unifying themes from grade five through grade eight. Fifth-grade students develop understandings around the theme of change and constancy. Throughout the year, they practice organizational skills, test-taking strategies, and cooperative group behaviors as well as develop independence, confidence, empathy, and responsibility. Technology is incorporated as a tool to further scientific understanding and to improve students’ communication skills. In the fall, students review and practice the critical thinking and inquiry skills that they have been developed in their Lower School science classes through units on force, motion, buoyancy, and simple machines. During the winter, fifth-grade students learn about the human body. They have a unique opportunity to design and implement their own experiment involving biofeedback, once again putting their knowledge of proper scientific procedures to practical use. The universe and microscopic aquatic biology are topics explored during the spring. We are fortunate to have a vernal pool in our very own outdoor laboratory. Our students are able to apply their skills to real-world problems that await them in their outdoor classroom.
Grade-Level Expectations
In fifth grade, students work to master the following sience skills:
General: Review and Reinforcement of Inquiry Graphing data. Communicating through sketches. Communicating through paragraph writing. Distinguishing observation from inference. Using the scientific method. Using inquiry. Forming hypotheses. Writing clear procedures. Drawing conclusions. Designing and running controlled experiments. Identifying variables. Supporting claims with evidence.
Physical: Force, Motion, Buoyancy, and Machines Using the scientific method. Using inquiry. Forming hypotheses. Writing clear procedures. Drawing conclusions.
Upper School Curriculum Guide — Grade 5
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Grade 5
Science Measuring and analyzing forces. Identifying the relationship between force and motion. Describing and predicting the motion of objects. Relating the mass of an object to the gravitational force. Applying knowledge of buoyant force and gravitational force in the lab. Calculating the mechanical advantage of levers, wedges, pulleys, inclined planes, screws, wheel and axles. Planning and constructing a compound Rube Goldberg machine while applying knowledge of all simple machines.
Life: Human Body Explore the relationship between structure and function in the human body. Identify the parts of the body systems and how they work together to sustain life. Discover how external factors, especially stress, can impact body systems. Recognize that choices we make can impact our health. Use biofeedback techniques to improve our health. Recognize how our bodies change over time.
Earth/Space: The Universe Discover our place in the universe. Explore the forces and processes that govern motion in the universe. Use models to represent size and distance in space. Compare and contrasting earth to other objects in our solar system. Identify the characteristics of other planetary bodies. Apply our understanding of force and motion to explain seasonal change.
Life: Life in a Vernal Pool Discover ways that aquatic organisms interact with each other and their environment. Compare and contrast ways that aquatic organisms have adapted to their environment. Compare and contrast ways that aquatic organisms depend on the feeding relationships of one another. Compare and contrast ways that organisms in an ecosystem get the resources and energy they need. Determine ways that energy is transferred from one organism to the next. Identify invasive species in our ecosystem and participate in returning our open lands to their native state.
Upper School Curriculum Guide — Grade 5
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Grade 5
Social Studies
Social Studies Overview With the unifying theme of growth, students in fifth-grade social studies examine the development of ancient civilizations with an emphasis on Mesopotamia, Sumer, Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. As students explore a variety of cultures and civilizations, they discover new ways in which the history of humanity has been shaped and altered by climate, geography, outside peoples, and other factors. Throughout the year, students not only compare and contrast the various ancient civilizations but also make connections to their prior knowledge of other metropolitan areas. In addition to the historical aspect of the curriculum, students discuss and present current events throughout the year. Students are actively engaged in this course by focusing on hands-on learning projects such as skits, simulations, news reports, film creation, PowerPoint presentations, and debate.
Grade-Level Expectations
In fifth grade, students work to master the following social studies skills:
Projects and Public Speaking (Cooperative Learning, Problem Solving) Read, reflect, and create a short oral presentation on a current event on the local, national, and international level. Work independently or cooperatively with a variety of peers to complete projects and presentations using media such as PowerPoint, posters, models, or WikiSpaces.
Social Studies Concepts (Economic, Political, Historical, Geographic) Using authentic evidence, students conclude whether an ancient people were a civilization based upon the seven characteristics of a civilization. Explain how geographical features impact the growth, development, and culture of a people. Explain how ancient civilizations used technology to overcome geographic challenges. Explain economic and political systems in ancient civilizations. Discuss the pros and cons of a variety of different forms of governments in ancient civilizations including tyranny, oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy. Explain how the necessity for trade led to cultural expansion and assimilation in the ancient world. Discuss the role of women in a variety of different ancient cultures. Explore the similarities and differences of social groups throughout the ancient world. Explain different types of work available to people in the ancient world. Discuss how the division of labor allowed rulers to accomplish great testaments to their power. Explore the history of Chicago and its relevance to our local communities.
Comprehension and Synthesis (Reading, Writing, Thinking) Examine daily life and culture in various time periods and places. Describe the historical development of city-states. Compare and contrast the quality of life for different social groups. Use a variety of writing styles and products to express learned concepts. Create and interpret timelines to develop a stronger sense of the continuity and discontinuity of the development of civilizations.
Upper School Curriculum Guide — Grade 5
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Grade 5
Social Studies, World Language Classroom Skills (Organization and Time Management, Note-Taking, Research) Review and reinforce two-column note-taking skills Learn to utilize resources available on online textbook as necessary to aid in note-taking and test preparation. Review identification of the main idea and supporting details in a reading selection. Take notes, organize, compose, and present information on topics of historical interest. Find and utilize a variety of reliable resources, both in print and online, to further learn about a topic. Effectively use technology as an aid in research and organization. Introduce/review effective study techniques for a variety of different types of assessments. Reflect on how historical events mirror or contrast current events. Develop written and oral arguments supported by historical facts.
World Language Overview The world language program intertwines communication, culture, comparisons, and connections in accordance with National Standards. World language events that pertain to community take place throughout each year of the program. We also invite our students to see and explore language and cultures beyond classroom walls by looking through an abundance of multi-media windows to the outside world.
Grade-Level Expectations
In fifth grade, students work to master the following world language skills:
Spanish Meet new people and make beginning conversation. Apply correct phonetics and accent to speaking, writing, and spelling. Count and use any numbers in conversation. Ask/tell the time and discuss “at what time…” Use definite and indefinite articles with beginning vocabulary. Learn to conjugate and use regular present tense verbs. Discern the difference between ser and estar. Discuss such topics as greetings, health, time, courtesy, calendar, and school. Appreciate the rich contribution of Hispanic culture to the US. Understand and celebrate El Dia de los Muertos.
French Use French vocabulary and expressions in syntactic context. Recognize French and English cognates via the story of the English language and beyond. Celebrate yearly French festivities. Describe and create a garden à la Claude Monet. Use and understand French first and last names and their origins. Use formal and information greetings and presentations.
Upper School Curriculum Guide — Grade 5
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Grade 5
World Language, Fine Arts Express physical well-being. Express likes and dislikes regarding sports and activities. Order and pay for food at a café and fast-food restaurant. Celebrate and compare Mardi Gras traditions.
Mandarin Chinese Comprehend oral Chinese and respond with short answers and sentences. Ask for clarification of meaning when needed. Share ideas in Chinese and contribute to classroom conversations. Read and understand short stories and conversations. Respond to written prompts with answers in Chinese pinyin and/or characters. Introduce themselves, their interests, and their family in Chinese. Begin reading, typing, and hand-writing Chinese characters. Recognize and learn about the meaning of characters and their components. Refer to the pinyin phonetic guide to clarify pronunciation. Understand important facets of Chinese daily life and culture, polite phrases, and introductions. Celebrate Chinese New Year with culturally significant foods and activities. Interact with other Chinese speakers in the community.
Fine Arts Overview Education in the arts is an integral part of the education of the whole child. Children learn to express and interpret ideas through observation and analysis of the fine arts. They learn creative modes of problem solving and develop an array of expressive, analytical, and developmental tools which can be applied to a variety of human situations. Students at LFCDS understand the influences of the arts in their power to create and reflect about cultures, both past and present, thus enabling them to make informed judgments about cultural products and issues. They also develop attributes such as self-discipline, perseverance, and collaborative skills. Through experiences in the arts, children develop their imaginations which brings them happiness and a sense of personal fulfillment.
General Music
The three main components of the Upper School general music program at each grade level are music literacy, performance, and music listening and analysis. Students learn proper performance etiquette (posture, facial expression, and singing and instrumental technique) and audience etiquette (active listening, predicting appropriate responses based on genre and venue).
Grade-Level Expectations
In fifth grade, students work to master the following instrumental music skills: Perform on a wind instrument on their choice (flute, clarinet, alto sax, trumpet, trombone or baritone). Explore notation in treble and bass clefs. Execute rhythms from whole notes to eighth notes and corresponding rests. Upper School Curriculum Guide — Grade 5
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Grade 5
Fine Arts Identify various time and key signatures (Concert C, F, Bb, and Ab). Understand simple transpositions. Learn the basics of tone production, air, embouchure, and articulation. Perform music in legato, staccato, and accented styles. Execute proper performance etiquette at two concerts and several in-school assemblies. Analyze band music with attention to style, balance, and blend.
Visual Arts
The three main components of the Upper School art program at each grade level include: art production, art literacy and criticism, and art history.
Grade-Level Expectations
In fifth grade, students work to master the following general visual art skills: Participate in discussions about art and artists (O’Keeffe, arts & crafts movement). Demonstrate an understanding of the elements of design (color, line, shape, texture, space, value, and form). Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of design (balance, unity, pattern, emphasis, contrast, movement, and rhythm). Create art with various visual art media to produce 2D and 3D works of art: ebony, paint, pastels, ceramics, digital media. Demonstrate art techniques & visual organizational skills to create more complex works of art: •• Value change in black and white (ebony, paint) and in color (pastels) •• Creation of form in 2D art •• Abstraction (drawing media, digital media, sculpture media) •• Relief sculpture with texture •• Composition •• Symmetry
Drama
Drama engages students in a progressive curriculum in grades four through eight. The emphasis is on process and exploration, rather than product. Each year, drama will give students the opportunity to hone their voice and movement skills. Students will continually have the chance to learn more about themselves, others, and engage in the world around them through mindfulness-awareness practices. Students will utilize critical thinking skills and stretch their imagination as they learn about the history of the theatre through interactive, hands-on activities. Students will learn how to think on their feet, practice memorization techniques, and learn about the physical theatre space as well as different acting techniques. Through our drama classroom philosophy of O.T.O. (Other Than Ourselves), students will better understand the idea of our interconnectedness as human beings and make lifelong connections between the past and the present. The three main components of the Upper School drama program are mindfulness/awareness practices, storytelling and theatre history, and performance. Students learn proper performance etiquette (body carriage, facial expression, and voice and speech technique) and audience etiquette (active listening, predicting appropriate responses based on genre and venue).
Grade-Level Expectations
In fifth grade, students work to master the following drama skills: Utilize their sensory awareness, spatial awareness, and mindfulness practices. Develop voice and movement skills. Develop ensemble skills. Develop memorization skills. Upper School Curriculum Guide — Grade 5
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Grade 5
Fine Arts, Physical Education & Wellness Explore the history, conventions, components, playwrights, and style of both ancient Greek and Roman theatre. Learn basic improvisation, as a theatrical art form.
Performing Arts
The musical performing arts are an important part in the life of an Upper School student at Lake Forest Country Day School. Beginning in fifth grade, students have the option to participate in the choral program. There are three separate choruses in which students can volunteer to participate: Fifth- and Sixth-Grade Chorus, Seventh- and Eighth-Grade Chorus, and Honors Chorus (merit based and by director’s invitation only). All students participate in the band program in fifth grade as part of their general music curriculum. In sixth grade, students have the option to continue to participate in the band program. There are three different instrumental ensembles in which students can volunteer to participate: Sixth-Grade Concert Band, Seventh- and Eighth-Grade Symphonic Band, and Jazz Band. Students in the choral and band performing groups regularly perform at all-school assemblies including the Thanksgiving Assembly, the Holiday Assembly, the Grandparents Day/Music In Our Schools Assembly, various evening concerts, and Upper School Graduation. Additionally, there are several opportunities each year for individual students to prepare solo and ensemble pieces for competitions in both singing and instrumental playing.
Fifth- & Sixth-Grade Chorus Students learn to sing within a choral ensemble. For this group, repertoire can include, but is not limited to, standard folk arrangements, pop arrangements, and arrangements from the standard American Broadway Theatre genre. Skills include: Sing with proper choral vowels. Stand with a good choral singing stance. Engage proper breathing technique. Follow a conductor’s cues and patterns. Sing with open-mouth/raised soft-palate position. Perform in unison, two-, and three-part harmony with vocal independence.
Physical Education & Wellness Overview The mission of the physical education & wellness program is to develop a lasting appreciation for physical activity and the skills, strategies, and knowledge that lay the foundation for a lifetime of well-being through athletics. Teachers strive to inspire a commitment to health-related fitness and positive lifestyle choices regardless of athletic ability. Our goals are to enhance students’ ability to lead, work together as a team, participate fairly with sportsmanship, and develop respect for peers. We expect active participation from all students.
Grade-Level Expectations
In fifth grade, students work to master the following physical education & wellness skills: Develop fluid combinations of fundamental locomotor skills.
Upper School Curriculum Guide — Grade 5
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Grade 5
Physical Education & Wellness, Education Technlogy
Develop combination of locomotor and manipulative skills. Follow rules, procedures, and etiquette, and wear appropriate attire to actively participate in fitness activities. Use equipment safely and properly. Develop an understanding of fundamental strategies used in sports and games. Understanding that aerobic exercise improves the efficiency of the cardiovascular system. Participate in daily physical fitness activities consistently. Be able to monitor individual heart rate during exercise. Be introduced to the principles of frequency, intensity, and time. Understanding of components of health-related fitness. Have a basic understanding of the body systems and their impact on athletic performance. Learn and follow the LFCDS PE Code of Conduct.
Education Technology
With technology increasingly permeating the fabric of society, success in completing many everyday tasks and projects hinges on competence in information technology. The continuing expansion of information requires that students focus on the following skills: creativity and innovation critical thinking and problem solving communication collaboration flexibility and adaptability initiative and self-direction social and cross-cultural skills productivity and accountability leadership and responsibility To prepare students for a high-tech world, LFCDS includes instruction in information technology in the classroom through its education technology program as well as providing elements of direct instruction to increase competencies and familiarity. The major goal is to provide opportunities for students to use information technology as a tool to complete a task rather than as an end in itself. Students learn both the technical skills of computer and technology use, and their proper role in attaining the skills of a competent twenty-first century learner.
Information Literacy
Information literacy in the Upper School is embedded in the academic curriculum. In classes from social studies to science to music, students develop skills in: accessing and evaluating information; organizing knowledge and presenting it creatively; and participating ethically as members of social and intellectual networks. The LFCDS library supports the Upper School curriculum by providing resources, both print and electronic, for student use and by teaching particular information skills as necessary.
Upper School Curriculum Guide — Grade 5
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Resources for Parents Lake Forest Country Day School offers many options for parents to connect with our school community. Beginning with an intake conference with your child’s advisor or homeroom teacher, informational coffees in early September, and grade-level social events, there are many opportunities to establish important connections. As the school year progresses, there are multiple ways for parents to volunteer, from classroom activities and field trips, to a variety of volunteer positions with the Parent Association and the school’s annual Auction. The Parent Association Office is open each day and welcomes all LFCDS parents to stop by for coffee, peruse the spirit wear, and connect with the other school families. In addition, parents are always welcome at our weekly Wednesday Community Meetings and for Coffee and Conversation on Tuesdays in the Parent Relations Office. Throughout the school year, LFCDS hosts outside speakers such as best-selling authors Dr. Michael Thompson and Rosalind Wiseman and all community members are welcome to attend. The school’s websites offer a wealth of information, including: Enrichment Activities and Resources: At LFCDS, we believe that summer is an important time to balance learning with leisure. This page provides information about required summer work, book lists for particular grade levels, mathematics and science challenges, and parent resources. Grade Level Curriculum Guides: Each year, faculty members prepare a detailed description of the curriculum for each grade level. These guides provide an in-depth review of the educational experiences your child will be a part of at each grade level. Teacher Communication: Many teachers share daily classroom experiences in blogs, through newsletters and photo sharing sites, emails, and phone or personal conversations. Curriculum Review Information: On an ongoing basis, a faculty task force examines and revises a specific curriculum component. Parent Association Information: The Parent Association web page provides up-todate information regarding volunteer opportunities and other parent-related events. Social media is a timely way to tell the story of Lake Forest Country Day School. The school regularly maintains and updates both its Facebook page and Twitter account with relevant information regarding the school. Please note that we have a strict social media policy and never post individual student names or information on these channels. No matter where you look on our website, you will discover all of the great day-to-day activities and events that define the Lake Forest Country Day School Experience. Questions? Please contact the Admission Office at (847) 615-6151.
Lake Forest Country Day School 145 South Green Bay Road Lake Forest, Illinois 60045 (847) 234-2350 | www.lfcds.org