Course of Study for Language Arts-Fifth Grade
September
Learning the parts of a book: Table of Contents, Index, Chapters,
Glossary, etc.
Read various biographies- “Dear Mr. Henshaw” and “Wilma Unlimited”
then complete: A Biography Research Project
Presentation of Biography
Letter Writing: indented paragraphs, punctuation/capitalization,
and complete sentences
OAT Assessment Practice
October
Continue to practice OAT Assessment formats from:
“The Wreck of the Zephyr”
“Digging Up the Past”
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick
Book Report and Mystery Storyboard Project
Presentation of Mystery Project
OAT Assessment Practice
November
Continue to practice OAT Assessment format in passages
Finish any Mystery Storyboard Presentations
Work on summary writing to show it is a brief statement of just
the key ideas or events; told in a logical order
December
Author Study of VanAllsburg
Write responses to novels, stories, and poems that organize
interpretation around several clear ideas and justify the
interpretation through the use of examples and specific textual
evidence
Mysteries of Harris Burdick, write a story based on a picture
Polar Express- Round Robin activities
OAT Assessment Practice
January
Describe the defining characteristics of literary forms and genres,
including: poetry, drama, chapter books, biographies, fiction,
and non-fiction
Continue OAT Assessments based on various survival projects
Students choose a survival book
Storyworks – work with poetry and drama selections
February
Work on delivering formal and informal descriptive presentations
recalling an event or personal experience that convey relevant
information and descriptive details
D.A.R.E. Essay
Continue OAT Assessment Practice
March
Read various tall tales – “Paul Bunyan”, “John Henry”, and “Babe
and the Blue Ox”
Write a tall tale that establishes a clear position, include
relevant evidence to support a position and to address
potential concerns to listeners, and follow common
organizational structures when appropriate.
Continue OAT Assessment Practice
April
Poetry Unit – produce informal writings (journals, notes, and
poems) for varioAnd audiences
Continue OAT Assessment Practice
May
Write an informational essay or report including research that
organizes information with a clear introduction, body, and
conclusion following common expository structures when
appropriate (such as cause and effect and compare and contrast).
Needs to include facts, details, and examples to illustrate
important ideas.
Planet Research Project in Science