Science – Scott Foresman Science, The Diamond Edition Pearson Education, 2008

The fifth grade science curriculum focuses on four main areas of science: life science, Earth science, physical science, and the science of space and technology. Hands on learning in the form of experiments enhance the curriculum. Students participate in labs, classroom discussions and Science Focus. The lessons are supplemented with an Activity Workbook and primary and secondary source materials.  A science spiral is required for note taking, vocabulary (terms), class work and selected homework assignments. Grades will be determined by student participation, effort, lab work, spiral assignments, activity workbook assignments, as well as lesson and unit assessments.

Religion –Christ Our Life – Loyola Press, 2009 & Family Life, Benziger, 2000

The fifth grade program focuses on the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, as the center of Christian life. The curriculum is designed to help students grow in their appreciation of the Church as a worshipping community and of Christ’s action among us in the Eucharistic liturgy as well as the sacraments. Students are challenged to give worship to God through prayer, loving service, and celebration of the liturgical seasons. The text will be supplemented with additional activities as well as additional resources. Students participate in the First/Fifth grade Prayer Partner program as well as regular attendance at Mass. Students also participate in a variety of service projects throughout the year. The Second Step curriculum is integrated into the fifth grade religion program as well. This program focuses on improving interpersonal relationships through empathy training and anger management.

The fifth grade curriculum also uses the Benziger Family Life program. Lessons from the text will be integrated into lessons throughout the school year with the exception of puberty and human reproduction. These lessons will be taught in gender specific groups in the Spring and advance notice will be given to parents.

February 2010:

The fifth graders from St. Paul and Epiphany schools got together to complete activities based on the novel Esperanza Rising. Students learned about the Great Depression, made yarn dolls, created masks, and created story stones. The students all enjoyed a pizza lunch and shared Valentine cards as well. It was a wonderful experience for all.

Click here for a Web Gallery of photos from this fun day!

Mrs. Nader was so very proud of Room 210. They earned the money to purchase the materials for each rosary. They put together the order for materials. They learned how to create each knot, helping each other and perfecting their technique along the way. The finished products were works of art!! The class invited Father Musula to join them to bless the rosaries. He led the class in the prayer below as he blessed the all of the rosaries created by the children. Take time to pray this prayer again with your family. We hope the new rosaries renew interest in the rosary. If you are unfamiliar (or need a refresher) on how to pray the rosary, here is a link to a printable file.

http://www.rosaryarmy.com/rosaryprayers.aspx

Prayer for Peace to Mary, the Light of Hope

Immaculate Heart of Mary,
help us to conquer the menace of evil,
which so easily takes root
    in the hearts of the people of today,
and whose immeasurable effects already
    weigh down upon our modern world
    and seem to block the paths toward the future.

From famine and war, deliver us.
From nuclear war, from incalculable self destruction,
    from every kind of war, deliver us.
From sins against human life from its very beginning,
    deliver us.
From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity
    of the children of God, deliver us.
From readiness to trample on the commandments
    of God, deliver us.
From the loss of awareness of good and evil,
    deliver us.
From sins against the Holy Spirit,
    deliver us.

Accept, O Mother of Christ,
    this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual
    human beings, laden with the sufferings
    of whole societies.
Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit conquer all
sin:
    individual sin and the "sin of the world,"
    sin in all its manifestations.

Let there be revealed once more in the history of the
world the infinite saving power of the redemption:
the power of the merciful love.
May it put a stop to evil.
May it transform consciences.
May your Immaculate Heart
    reveal for all the light of hope.

Amen.

Pope John Paul II