List of 12 items.

• English

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  Welcome to the world of 5th Grade English, where students delight in the joys of reading and writing. With exposure to stories, letters and poems, they will discover new worlds and also look inward as we focus on the theme of personal responsibility. Organization and preparation are emphasized throughout, with regular assessments of writing, vocabulary development, and comprehension skills. Revision is not only encouraged, but hailed as the very essence of good writing. Students will prove their newfound independence as middle-schoolers by choosing books to present to classmates. These lively presentations allow independent readers to introduce favorite passages, highlight key plot points, and bring scenes to life. We will explore literature in order to understand ourselves better, develop empathy for others, and learn to communicate with clarity, precision, and flare. The ultimate goal: to nurture a lifelong love of reading and writing in responsible, compassionate adolescents.

• Mathematics

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  This class is designed to extend students’ fluency with whole-number operations to fractions and decimals. A special emphasis is placed on developing students’ understanding of equivalence in mathematics as they explore the relationships between fractions, decimals, percentages, and the place-value system. Throughout the year, students are also gradually introduced to probability, graphing, statistics, geometry, and algebraic concepts at a developmentally appropriate level. A focus on the development of problem solving and reasoning skills is integrated into every stage of instruction. Students are regularly prompted to explain their thinking, justify their solution to a problem, or share a problem-solving strategy.

• Early American History

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  In Early American History students explore chronological, causal and geographical connections. Students study the 15th and 16th century European explorations in the western hemisphere, with a particular focus on North America, before considering the earliest settlements in North America, and the political, economic, and social development of the English colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries. They also learn about the early development of democratic institutions and ideas, including the ideas and events that led to the independence of the original 13 colonies and the formation of a national government under the U.S. Constitution. The curriculum will be brought to life through a variety of different tasks including primary source analysis and historical re-enactments.

• Religion

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  Throughout this course students grow in their spiritual relationship with God through the experience of group and individual prayer, scripture reading, reflection, and meditation exercises. They study, practice, and understand the liturgy of the Mass in the fullest sense and gain a greater awareness of the Church as a community of worship and belief. Reading and discussing the Venture, Pflaum Gospel Weeklies and “What the Church Believes” prepares the students for that week’s Sunday worship at Mass. Through their in-depth study of The Good News Bible, and key units in their “Call to Faith” textbook, students learn to appreciate the Sacraments as a means of knowing Jesus in a more intimate way, a more human way. Students address issues of ethics and morality as they apply scripture and prayer to their own personal lives.

• Earth Science: Weather and Climate

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  The fifth grade course of study strives to actively engage students through inquiry and exploration of content. Through investigation and experimentation students will be able to understand scientific practices while engaged in active learning of the content. Students make inferences and draw conclusions based on data and evidence. They are asked to consider sources of error and apply discovered knowledge to make meaningful connections. They learn to use laboratory equipment safely as they conduct experiments that show that air has mass, pressure, and density. Students design and build hot air balloons, describe the composition of the Earth's atmosphere, and explain how heat is transferred. They learn how human activities may be affecting the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and increasing the greenhouse effect. Topics from the life sciences include desert ecology, food webs and adaptations of organisms in the desert. Among the many highlights of this program is an extended overnight class trip to Joshua Tree National Park.

• World Languages: Spanish

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  Students enter middle school and attend Spanish class four times a week. They work towards expressing themselves in detail during real world situations. They practice written and spoken skills, build on vocabulary, and formulate more complex sentences. To apply their growing knowledge of Spanish, students write descriptive paragraphs and talk about themselves, family members, and others. While expanding their communicative skills, through hands on kinesthetic learning, students advance their proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Their curriculum includes projects that help reinforce the language, such as skit writing, performing and creating song renditions.

• Health and Personal Development

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  The middle school health and personal development program builds on what the students have learned in the lower school and expands their knowledge in the areas of physical, emotional and social health. Areas of focus include: interpersonal relationship and communication skills, understanding who they are as individuals as well as citizens of their community and world, learning about various aspects of health, including sexuality education, being physically fit, understanding body image and eating disorders, drug and alcohol education, learning about the impact of media and technology and how to be good digital citizens, and how to exercise effective and educated decision-making skills in all aspects of their lives. Students leave Mayfield confident in their life skills and with a deeper understanding of their personal development and physical, emotional, and social health.

• Art

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  In the fifth grade, students work on sculpture, drawing, painting, and ceramic projects. In their sculptural unit, students create spooky clay castles using slab, pinch and coil methods. They create a “realistic” favorite meal/desserts using recycled materials, cardboard, and newspaper Students construct reptile sculptures (based on their science project) using newspaper, tape, and the paper mache method and need to understand and apply volume, form, space, and shape. They come to understand that “common or everyday objects” can be considered as “Art.”

• Drama: Using Our Voice

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  Fifth grade students become filmmakers, using video to explore and respond to the world around them and identify universal themes. They learn how to write, direct, and edit footage together to tell a meaningful story. Each week, they work in small groups to produce a school-wide news broadcast called the "Mayfield Minute." In a variety of ways they are able to use their theatre skills to bring their content knowledge to life. They use more complex structures when creating stories (exposition, complication, crisis, climax, and resolution) and characters (protagonist, antagonist). In collaboration with music class, they develop a musical theatre piece which is performed in the spring.

• Music

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  By fifth grade, students are able to read, write, and perform simple melodic notation in treble clef in major and minor keys. They can sing accurately and with good breath control throughout their singing ranges, alone and in small and large ensembles. Students use classroom instruments to play melodies and accompaniments from a varied repertoire of music from diverse cultures, including rounds, descants, and ostinatos and two-part harmony, by oneself and with others. Students are able to play solo compositions and ensemble arrangements on instruments with good posture, good playing position, and good breathe or bow control. Performance opportunities include the Christmas and Spring Concerts, liturgical music for masses and services, and developing a musical theatre production in collaboration with drama class.

• Computer Science and Technology

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  5th Grade Computer Science and Technology students learn and practice productivity and creativity skills on the iPad that specifically support their success in the iPad 1:1 program in middle school. Students gain competency in their knowledge of hardware & troubleshooting, advance their word processing, email etiquette, spreadsheet, presentation, video editing and production skills, and acquire a basic knowledge of digital citizenship.
  

  
  In addition, 5th graders expand their knowledge of robotics using the Lego Mindstorm EV3 robots and curriculum. Students work collaboratively to create solutions to real world problems.

  
  Students continue to document their classroom learning on their digital portfolio.

• Physical Education

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  Students participate in a wide range of activities that enhance their development of sport-specific skills and creation of lifelong habits of physical activity and wellness. They learn and refine these skills through many activity-based units throughout the year. Following along with the athletic program, students continue building skills in football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, track and field, softball and baseball. The curriculum is interwoven with other various games and activities that develop physical fitness, motor-skills, and basic game strategy. The emphasis on sportsmanship, teamwork, and cooperation encourages students to develop their own skills individually, as well as, collectively when working in groups or on teams. The fundamentals of Mayfield team sports are introduced, and a desire to participate in the school’s athletic program is instilled.