Fifth Grade Curricular Offerings

CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION:

Bible
Bible is a core subject at Denbigh Christian Academy. Bible grades in fifth grade are based on weekly memory verses and quizzes on Bible stories taught in class. Students will be taught various Bible stories and Biblical principles. A Beka Publications is the primary resource for our Bible curriculum. Denbigh Christian Academy teaches Biblical Doctrine. Weekly chapels are an integral part of the spiritual formation of our students. Each class presents at least one chapel program per year. Students are encouraged to participate weekly in worship, praise, and age appropriate application of God’s Word.

Language Arts
Reading and Literature: Denbigh Christian Academy teaches Reading using a phonetic approach. Students in fifth grade focus on content, comprehension, speed reading, and vocabulary building. Reading grades are based on the student’s proficiency in oral reading and performance on written comprehension quizzes. Book reports are also required and graded. A Beka Publications is the primary resource for our Language Arts curriculum.

Spelling: Fifth grade students will be given a weekly word list which includes a vocabulary word list. Students will be graded based on performance on a weekly test that will include spelling words, vocabulary matching, and sentence dictation.

Language: Students in fifth grade study basic language and grammar skills to include capitalization and punctuation rules, abbreviations, possessive words, creative writing, letter writing, and basic dictionary/thesaurus skills. Grammar concepts include recognition, use of, and diagramming of all eight parts of speech, and identification of sentences and sentence parts. The students will demonstrate their skills with the completion of a research paper. Grades are based on performance on designated assignments, quizzes, and tests.

Mathematics
Students in the fifth grade classes at Denbigh Christian Academy review the basic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Fifth grade students review and expand on problem solving skills to include story problems with multiple steps, fractions and decimals, averaging numbers, estimating answers, factoring, perimeter and area, and converting measures both English and metric. The students will be introduced to percents, squares and square roots, reading a thermometer on both the Fahrenheit and Celsius scales, reading schedules and charts, and solving algebraic equations. Instruction consists of daily oral drills, worksheets, and speed drills that may be graded.  Students are also given weekly graded tests. A Beka Publications is the primary resource for our Mathematics curriculum.

Penmanship
Students in fifth grade at Denbigh Christian Academy review cursive letter formation. Practice includes original compositions and sentence dictation. Students are graded on accuracy and effort. Students are graded on a weekly writing test and overall performance on daily seatwork.

History and Geography
The fifth grade students at Denbigh Christian Academy study world history and geography. Map studies are an important part of the course. They also review the eight basic documents that are considered foundational to American government today. Students are graded based on participation in activities, projects, map studies, quizzes and written tests. A Beka Publications is the primary resource for our history and geography curriculum.

Science and Health
Students in the fifth grade at Denbigh Christian Academy have the opportunity to study basic science and health. Science topics include animals, energy, matter, and earth and space. Health incorporates discussion and projects about the circulatory and digestive systems, nutrition and physical fitness, and interpersonal relationships. Students’ grades are based on performance on written tests and quizzes, and various topical projects. A Beka Publications is the primary resource for the science and health curriculum.

RESOURCES:

Art
Students in grades one through five at Denbigh Christian Academy attend class with the art teacher at least once a week. The art curriculum is designed for the students to experience age appropriate activities and instruction.

Computer
Students in grades one through five at Denbigh Christian Academy attend regularly scheduled classes with the computer teacher in the computer lab at least once per week. The Tech Works curriculum, which covers appropriate skills for each grade level is used. Students are also given time to work independently in an age appropriate supervised environment.

Library
Students in grades one through five at Denbigh Christian Academy have a weekly scheduled library class. During this time, they receive age appropriate instruction to include library skills and etiquette. They are also allowed to check out books, and encouraged to utilize library resources.

Music
Students in grades one through five at Denbigh Christian Academy attend music class at least once weekly with the music teacher. This class is designed according to a prescribed, age appropriate curriculum. Students in grades one through five have the opportunity to participate in “Serving Through Music” clubs. The content of these classes varies each year according to student interest and participation level. An additional fee is charged for participation in these “after school” clubs.

Physical Education
Students in grades one through five attend class with the Physical Education teacher to focus on specific age appropriate skills at least once each week. Students participate in the Presidential Physical Fitness Award program and Jump Rope for Heart. On days that Physical Education classes are not scheduled, each class has a regularly scheduled recess period. Denbigh Christian Academy participates in the Peninsula Co-ed League offering volleyball, basketball, soccer, and cheerleading. Students in grades five through eight are eligible to try out. Additional fees are required for participation in this extra curricular program. Students must maintain a C average or better to participate on sports teams.

Special Activities
Students in grades one through five at Denbigh Christian Academy have various opportunities through out the school year to experience educational field trips. Classroom parties are held for celebrations such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, student birthdays, or other occasions the teacher may select. Special guests may also be invited to present programs to enhance the spiritual and educational content of our program.