Language Arts
Independent School District 196 has adopted a balanced literacy approach to teaching language arts. Reading, writing, listening, speaking, and spelling are important components of this area of learning. Skills and strategies in each area are modeled, taught, and practiced taking into consideration the unique needs of each learner. These essential learnings are acquired through connected experiences at home, school, and in the community. Students will read a variety of texts, including fiction, poetry, and non-fiction.
The Language Arts curriculum consists of District 196 Word Study Skills, Lucy Calkin’s The Art of Teaching Writing, and concepts taught from Fountas and Pinnells Guided Readers and Writers Grade 3-6, individual, small group, and whole class literature instruction, and the use of weekly reading response journals.
Mathematics
Beginning with the 2003 – 2004 school year, District 196 students and teachers in kindergarten through grade 5 have new math textbooks and updated math curriculum that will provide continued academic rigor and high expectations for math students at all levels. We believe that learning mathematics is an active, collaborative process that balances computation, procedures and problem solving and provides support and challenges for all learners. So, along with teaching students procedures and the importance of fluency and accuracy, teachers will provide instruction that focuses on understanding.
Your child will use Scott Foresman/ Addison Wesley Mathematics and Investigations in Number, Data and Space.
Science
Students will experience a hands-on approach in science class. Students will be experimenting with materials and reading non-fiction texts throughout our science units. The units we study focus on all the major areas of science – physical science, earth science, life science, inquiry, and scientific reasoning and technology. We will be studying environments, landforms, variables, and mixtures and solutions through FOSS Science curriculum.
In addition to following district science curriculum, students will receive enhanced science instruction from our science specialist. Students will being going to the science lab throughout the school year. Students will also have the opportunity to choose from various electives, including science options, throughout the year.
Science Page
Social Studies
The social studies program at the fifth grade level introduces students to world history, culture, and geography. We will emphasize a variety of cultural differences among countries and their origins. Lessons focus on how people migrated, the diffusion of ideas and inventions, and how these ideas and inventions were adapted and borrowed by other cultures. Throughout the year we will concentrate on the cultures of Sumer/Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and the Middle Ages during our course of study.
The Heath Social Studies textbook, The World Past to Present, will be used by your child throughout the year.
Health
During the 2002-2003 school year, our current health curriculum was implemented in District 196. This health curriculum covers the following areas of health: mental/emotional health, social health, chemical health, safety and first aid, growth and development, communicable diseases, and consumer health.
The Harcourt health textbook, Your Health, will be used by your child throughout the year.
D.A.R.E.
Our fifth grade students are fortunate enough to be involved in a ten-week D.A.R.E. program. D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. This unique program brings a uniformed Eagan police officer into our building weekly. The officer has undergone intensive training in a course that focuses on teaching students ways to say no to drugs, alcohol and negative peer pressure. The officer also helps students understand different forms of pressure and other issues surrounding drugs and alcohol.
Student Council
Students in third through fifth grade may be active members of student council. Fifth grade students may be chosen to hold the positions of class representative, treasurer, president, or vice president. Student officers will be chosen based on their leadership and organizational abilities.
Morning Announcements
Each morning a fifth grade student will be in charge of presenting the morning announcements to the school. This student announces the lunch menu, any important announcements for the day, and will ask teachers to lead students in the Pledge of Allegiance. All students who are interested in helping with morning announcements will be considered for the job.
Band
Students have had two opportunities to join band. They have begun weekly small group lessons, which focus on tone, rhythm, correct fingering and posture, and breathing techniques. Students in band are asked to practice 20 minutes a day, six days a week to continue making progress.
In addition to weekly lessons, students will participate in large group band. Parents are responsible for transportation to large group band on Tuesdays. Group band will start at 8 am; students are asked to arrive 10 minutes early in order to start on time.
School Patrols
On the first day of school the patrol supervisors meet with all fifth grade students to explain the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of being a school patrol at Glacier Hills. Being a school patrol is a privilege for fifth grade students. Those students who cannot demonstrate the leadership ability to be good role models throughout the school day may not continue to be school patrols. Patrols that demonstrate these leadership qualities will have the opportunity to go skating and to the Park at Mall of America during the school year.
Special Events
In addition to the privileges mentioned, fifth graders also participate in various special events throughout the year. These events include a 5th grade music program/DARE graduation, a skiing field trip, a skating field trip, track and field day at a local high school, as well as other field trips planned throughout the year.
