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<p class="fontlook">During fifth grade, the students become more aware of their individuality as they grow to see themselves as an integral part of their community.  They have opportunities to explore and develop leadership, creativity and spirituality. They begin to understand the importance of finding a balance between reflection and action. They are also ready now to begin the lifelong process of discovering that individual rights must be balanced with individual responsibilities. They begin to move out from the small “circle of me” to a growing awareness of the larger world.

<p class="fontlook">Assuming the role of student representatives and participating in class meetings provide opportunities for students to learn the elements essential to a democracy and to practice student leadership. Interdisciplinary projects and presentations offer the students opportunities for varied learning experiences through research and design as well as through reading, listening, speaking, debating, writing, and synthesizing. They investigate primary sources and use research and the creative arts to interpret and role play historical events. The students encounter a variety of role models in their week-long immersion project researching the lives of notable women. They develop an awareness of social justice through individual and group action in connection with both the local and global community.  Individual student talents are recognized through participation in the Youth Fair, Belen Invitational Spanish Competition and other inter-school competitions.

<p class="fontlook">LANGUAGE ARTS
<p class="fontlook">Students have many opportunities to express themselves through the written and spoken word.  They write expository, narrative and persuasive pieces and poetry. Students learn to monitor their writing so that readers will understand; this includes revision for meaning, usage and spelling.  They continue their study of the parts of speech and focus on the elements of grammar.  Emphasis is on developing skills that lead to understanding, appreciating, organizing and assimilating the written word. 
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<p class="fontlook">SOCIAL STUDIES
<p class="fontlook">The World History course begins with an overview of world geography and an inquiry into the reasons why geography and the concepts of culture, society, civics, government and economics matter to the people of the past, present and the future. The course continues with the study of the earliest known humans and the factors that contribute to the rise of civilizations.  Through the power of story and the revelatory help of other primary and secondary sources, the students explore early civilizations from the Tigris and Euphrates Valley to others established in Asia, Africa and the Americas. The course concludes with the study of the Ancient Greeks whose civilization has greatly influenced many aspects of our present day societies.
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<p class="fontlook">MATH
<p class="fontlook">The Everyday Mathematics curriculum embraces many of the traditional goals of school mathematics as well as two new goals: to raise expectations substantially with respect to the amount and range of mathematics that students can learn and to provide materials for students that enable them to meet these higher expectations.  The curriculum emphasizes conceptual understanding while building a mastery of basic skills, explores the full mathematics spectrum, not just basic arithmetic and is based on how students learn, what they are interested in, and the future for which they are prepared. The program follows the local, state and national standards.   Students will realize by the end of the year that mathematics is not only useful but also connected to their life experiences in the world. They will do this mainly by exploring problem solving using analysis and logic.
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<p class="fontlook">RELIGION
<p class="fontlook">The course of study, using the text, <I>Finding God: Our Response to God's Gifts</I> reflects a vision of the Catholic faith as grounded in Scripture and Tradition and based on the inspiration of Saint Ignatius of Loyola which recognizes the presence of God in all things.  The students are called to recognize the presence of God in personal and communal prayer, in the sacraments of the Catholic Church, in their communities of faith, in the larger world community and in all creation. The students use the New Testament of the Bible for reading, prayer, meditation, discussion and dramatization in order to know the origins of the sacraments and to know who God is by studying Jesus' life on earth. The students will be asked to develop a meaningful religious experience through determining a balance between action (service) and contemplation (prayer), by taking time for quiet prayer and reflection, seasonal retreats, and working for justice and peace both locally and globally.  Discussion and reflection concerning the five goals of Sacred Heart education in the lives of the students, as well as their awareness and understanding of the changes in their spiritual, physical, emotional and intellectual growth and development, take place in the religion classes throughout the year.
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<p class="fontlook">SCIENCE
<p class="fontlook">The inquiry based learning approach is used to explore the topics of “Human Body Systems,” “Magnets and Motors” and “Changes of State.”  Through small group, teacher-guided explorations, the students critically analyze the subject matter.  From their experiences in the lab, the students develop an understanding of the concepts and the skills needed to solve problems using the scientific method.   The following are the skills fifth graders will begin to develop through scientific investigation: planning, implementing and analyzing experiments and drawing conclusions from their results; making and testing predictions; conducting, recording and organizing daily observations; communicating information through writing, drawing and discussion; and applying previously learned information to analyze a problem and suggest solutions.       
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<p class="fontlook">SPANISH – For Non Speakers
<p class="fontlook">The course stimulates students to reach a functional proficiency level of Spanish in order to understand and converse comfortably in everyday situations.  The students will have enough cultural insight to understand Hispanic Heritage. 
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<p class="fontlook">SPANISH – For Speakers
<p class="fontlook">Students will demonstrate the ability to use oral and written basic structures of the language. The students will appreciate the different cultural expressions of the Spanish language.
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<p class="fontlook">ART
<p class="fontlook">Students will learn the foundations of fine art through hands-on experience in many media including charcoal drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking. Students will gain knowledge of fundamental art techniques and concepts including line, value, color, proportion, perspective, and shading. Students will learn how projects fit into the context of art history and emphasis will be placed on studying specific artists, both historical and contemporary. Analysis and critique will be introduced as students become familiar with the vocabulary and interpretation of art.
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<p class="fontlook">MUSIC
<p class="fontlook">Fifth grade music teaches the students how to apply their previous knowledge of notation to reading music for different instruments.  The students will also continue to learn the essentials of music theory and composition. They will also solidify their knowledge by performing, evaluating and creating music.  
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<p class="fontlook">PHYSICAL EDUCATION
<p class="fontlook">P.E. classes continue to focus on skill development and a better understanding of the rules and regulations in the areas of basketball, volleyball, soccer, kickball, softball, swimming and water polo.  The students continue to acquire appropriate attitudes concerning winning and losing which will impact favorably on the development of acceptable social and emotional behaviors.
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<p class="fontlook">TECHNOLOGY
<p class="fontlook">In fifth grade, students gain the confidence necessary to become independent users of Carrollton’s network and its resources. Using their personal laptops, students review keyboarding, word processing and file management skills, as well as proper laptop care. Students work towards keyboard speed and accuracy with a goal of twenty-five words per minute. Students use their laptops to create multimedia presentations, as well other projects, using a variety of software, primarily focusing on various Microsoft Office products. Internet safety, e-mail etiquette, and acceptable use policies are stressed as well.
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<p class="fontlook">STUDENT DEVELOPMENT
<p class="fontlook">The student development curriculum in the Intermediate School encourages the students to learn to make wise choices regarding their personal well-being and to practice healthy behaviors. Topics covered throughout the year are: conflict resolution, empathy, self-esteem, responsibility, building friendships, respect for self and others, effective communication, problem solving skills, community building, peacemaking skills, body image, bullying prevention, touching safety, puberty, and drug and alcohol prevention.
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