Fifth grade is enjoying a new curriculum this year, and it includes many exciting additions. Genetics has been added to science,and the students have had fun learning about recessive and dominate charactertistics. Science also has fifth graders learning about cycles and endangered species. The classes did upper level work with Punnett squares.
Another step in getting ready for middle school is the research process, Internet exploration and verification of facts. The Internet has been very helpful in discovering information about the Civil War and how to buy a fleet of cars within a given budget for math. PowerPoint allowed the students to present their poems and illustrations using technology. Students will graph their probability results on an Excel program.
Students have been to Science Place and learned about physics and weather. Sea World is a three day field trip with an opportunity to study sharks and whales in depth. Students are working hard to earn money for this field trip in May.
All students are working on reading and speaking skills by presenting oral book reports in reading. Students are reading in novel groups also. Fifth graders are beginning to look at the world in an analytical way by becoming film and video critics as well as responding to the writings of others. Keypals give the students a chance to be more global as they communicate on the Internet.
Students prepare for TAAS by enhancing their critical thinking skills, and math and reading abilities. Fifth grade is a very busy year at Burks!