Religion
Understanding that they are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, these students can more easily verbalize the everyday struggles between sinful and sanctified natures. As reading skills increase, they can more meaningfully read the Gospel and gain strength from it. Their personal knowledge of Jesus’ life expands and gives them more insight into this loving and caring God. They understand that God is an omniscient God who stays by their sides and helps them in many ways. Through their love for God, they learn to love others. This love enables the students to encourage classmates as well as others in their walk with the Lord. They continue to gain an appreciation for Martin Luther and his teachings as well as recognizing the liturgical seasons and the significance of visual symbols in the church.

Math
The concepts of simplifying and determining which information is essential in solving a problem draw on previous learning. Students work with decimals, ratios, estimating, factoring, and rounding as they continue on with higher level thinking skills and how these skills relate to mathematics. The understanding of fractions and decimals prepares them for future learning. Geometric terms and constructions provide visual evidence of learning in this area and measurement concepts include dimensional objects. Students will continue to develop skills of division as they work with larger numbers.

Language Arts
Enjoying literature involves all aspects of reading at this level. Students continue to develop their skills, while at the same time, exposure to a wide variety of literary forms occurs. Grammar skills develop with the students’ understanding of all eight parts of speech, sentence structure, and diagramming. In conjunction with the grammar skills, writing involves applying those skills to many different forms.

Handwriting
Maintaining and reinforcing correct letter and number formation is emphasized in this grade. Students are expected to show an orderliness and high level of neatness in all written work that uses letters and numbers. Self-evaluation is used by students to compare the accuracy and neatness of their handwriting.

Social Studies
God’s hand in the creation of our nation and its government is the focus of this class. Historic events, individuals, and the impact of the contributions from the groups that settled this nation are all studied to give the students a broad understanding of this great nation and the strength that has resulted from the diversity. The role of the United States as an economic power is studied and contributions to the economic well-being are identified. The Constitution and its power to preserve the freedoms of the citizens of America are acknowledged by the students as they study this and other documents. Learning more about map skills enables the students to see the relationship between the United States and other nations of the world.

Science
Students at this age are becoming more aware of their bodies and how they are alike and yet different from others. They learn about cells, organs, and systems of the body. Asexual and sexual reproduction are discussed on an age appropriate level. Besides themselves, the students learn about plants and animals and cell life in these living things. Looking beyond themselves, students continue to learn more about the solar system and how weather is predicted based on things such as maps, instruments, and cloud types. Matter and all of its forms, the relationship between energy and work, and the understanding of chemicals making simple compounds form the basis of physical science for these students. Hands-on investigations help the students see the connection between learning and doing.

Computer Science
Computer literacy begins at this level. Students become familiar with computer related terminology and understand more about the parts of the computer which they can identify. Their familiarity with the keyboard and word processing skills allows them to produce special projects. Desktop publishing skills and knowledge about file sharing continue. Work on educational software that reinforces classroom objectives continues. Students are introduced to the usefulness of databases. They create and print their own database.

Art
Ideas for drawings and sketches have roots in concepts learned in other areas such as the use of perpendicular lines, volume, mass, creation, and repetition. Mixing new colors and using them are fun for the students. More crafts and mediums provide more opportunities for creativity on the part of the student. Further study of great works of art continues.

Band / Choir / Drama
In fifth grade, the students have semester choices of choir, drama or band.

Health
Students determine alternate courses of action to avoid peer pressure. Learning first aid skills aids them in helping others and reacting to situations that can occur in every day life. They work on communication skills to foster healthy relationships with those they meet. Understanding substance abuse and its repercussions, they have a knowledge of laws that relate to the abuse of illegal substances. Recognizing the body systems and their functions aids them in knowing how to take care of the bodies God has given to them.

Spanish
Sequentially taught, students expand their understanding of the Spanish language in a bilingual classroom. The teacher converses both in English and Spanish using a natural grammar-implied approach which includes greetings, commands, phrases, and other every day conversations. Students speak, write, count, tell dates and time, read and sing in Spanish. They continue learning the use of conjugated verbs, articles, adverbs, and adjectives. They are able to describe and discuss their immediate environment, pastimes, and other people.

Physical Education
Enthusiastic participation and the enjoyment of competition are key to students this age. While they enjoy and participate readily, there is often an awkwardness with this age group that must be overcome. As they learn to appreciate themselves and their God given talents and abilities, they also learn to accept the talents and abilities of others. Team sports are of great importance and the ability to work on certain skills within the team sport make the activity more of a challenge to all students.

Voyages, Concordia Publishing House, 2002
Saxon Math, Saxon, 2001
Elements of Literature, Hold, Rinehart and Winston, 2003
Social Studies, Harcourt Brace, 1997
DARE, Harris County Sheriff’s Department
Exchange City, Junior Achievement, Houston, Texas
Viva el Espanol, Learning System C, 1998
Health, ABEKA, 1999
Science, Scott Foresman, 2003