Bible
Fifth grade uses Building on the Rock Bible Curriculum, published by Summit Ministries. Building on the Rock lays the groundwork for worldview education. This innovative Christian elementary school Bible curriculum is the first truly integrated biblical worldview and Bible survey course of its kind. Students learn to view the world through four distinct relationships with the Creator, with each other, with ourselves, and with His creation. Building on the Rock is constructed in a spiral sequence, built around twenty biblical truths found throughout Scripture. Through this framework, students begin seeing all of reality from a biblical viewpoint. They stop seeing the Bible as just a book of unique stories and start seeing Scripture as the litmus test for every idea they encounter. Students start “connecting the dots” between what they find in Scripture and how they should think and live. Engaging activities across all curriculum subjects and utilizing the Socratic Method help shape students’ spiritual formation and instill a confident faith. Students will learn to know, love and trust God’s Word.
Language Arts
Reading/Literature
BJU Press Reading is a comprehension-based program that equips students to be good communicators. Students have opportunities to exercise Biblical discernment, critical thinking skills, and cultivate an appreciation of literature. Abeka Speed and Comprehension Book is used to build student reading comprehension and fluency. Students are also required to participate weekly in an Accelerated Reading (AR) program. This program has students reading books at their independent reading levels and taking periodic quizzes over these books. The goals of the AR program is to create a love of reading and increase reading comprehension skills. Students will engage in several literature studies throughout the year which may include Little Pilgrim’s Progress, My Side of the Mountain, Tale of Despereaux, A Lion to Guard us, Bud, Not Buddy, Maniac Magee, Where the Red Fern Grows, Frindle, The Kid in the Red Jacket, A Wrinkle in Time, and Number the Stars.
Vocabulary/Spelling
Spelling is a fundamental skill in written communication. During 5th grade, the spelling goal is for the students to learn and understand how and why words are spelled the way they are. The teacher will focus on 2-3 spelling rules that apply to their current list of words. The total list is made up of 29 essential spelling rules. These 29 rules are a follow-up from the Spalding Method, in which the students are trained in the lower grades. The students are taught to evaluate words and how the rules apply. The biweekly spelling words come from the vocabulary curriculum, Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop, that is used in class. Throughout the year, students can see how God gifted them with the privilege of being able to spell and understand our language.
Grammar/Writing
BJU Press English connects grammar, writing, and oral language. Students are taught grammar, sentence classification, and parts of speech. BJU Press English focuses on developing strong writers by providing instruction in organization, development of ideas, sentence fluency, and word choice. Some of the writing styles include journaling, research reports, note taking, persuasive essays, biographies, reflective essays, and poetry writing. Throughout the writing process the students focus on prewriting, editing, revising, and publishing their assignments.
Public Speaking
Scottsdale Christian Academy believes in building student confidence and communication skills early in their education by providing students numerous public speaking opportunities. Students from K-5th grade are given classroom oral reports several times a year, with the additional possibility to publicly address the entire elementary student body in Chapel. With the new global, technologically advanced society surrounding our youth today, SCA believes it is imperative, more than ever, to provide a foundation and enable students to cultivate public speaking at a young age. Expressing thoughts and ideas remain the cornerstone in any profession or relationship. Development of public communication skills early in life allows the students to position themselves for optimal success.
Math
enVision Math (Savvas) is a comprehensive mathematics curriculum for Grades K-8. It is organized to develop mathematical content connections with built-in connections across lessons, across topics, across strands, and across grades. When students connect ideas, they deepen their understanding. enVision Math is organized into clusters of connected topics and lessons. Students learn to see relationships, ask questions, and try different approaches. Since the goal and promise of enVision Math is to develop understanding, the math practices are infused in all aspects of the program. Finally, enVision Math grows from the organization of the program and the core instructional model used daily. However, there are many other elements that contribute to making enVision Math a high-quality curriculum. Throughout the program, students at every grade level will make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. enVision Math provides a wide variety of differentiation resources and strategies. Tiered activities, learning centers, flexible grouping, and technology help accommodate learning styles and readiness. enVision Math also allows students and parents to access online tools from the math curriculum. This online suite allows students and parents access to lessons, practice, videos, and assessments.
Science
Students use the Purposeful Design Science Series which weaves together the wonders of the created world and a Biblical worldview. The National Science Education Standards specify content requirements for each grade which are fully met in this series. Additionally, students gain proficiency in using the scientific method and a variety of technical resources to conduct scientific investigations. Students in Fifth Grade will study: Life Science (Natural Cycles, Life Cycles, Cells, Ecological Succession), Physical Science (Measuring Matter, Changing Matter, Force and Work, Electricity and Magnetism), Earth and Space Science (Earth’s Processes, Natural Resources, Weather and Climate, Sun, Earth and Moon), and the Human Body.
History
Fifth grade students use the BJU Press Heritage Studies curriculum. Throughout the year the students will focus on American History. The curriculum includes maps skills, government, and Junior Achievement which culminates in a trip to BizTown.
Music
Students in 5th grade music attend music class twice per week. SCA’s music program focuses on creating a love and awareness of music in daily life. Children are encouraged to have a heart for worship and glorifying God. Music theory, music history and music appreciation are taught through either band or choir. Student objectives are based on National Music Standards and SCA values.
Art
Students in 5th grade attend art class once per week. They develop and refine their drawing skills by creating more realistic landscapes. They learn to add texture to their watercolor paintings by using wax paper, gauze and plastic wrap. Use of shadows and light is developed. They explore the use of clay by creating unique coil pots. Mixed media portraits are introduced by using the grid system for enlarging their photos. Students learn about facial expressions and body positions. Two-dimensional etchings are explored and two-point perspective is used in landscapes. Fifth graders continue their study of master artists through the Art Masterpiece program. It is a national art enrichment project that uses reproductions of fine works of art to promote art literacy in children. Parent volunteers bring the prints to the classroom and present a lesson planned for 5th grade. Art Masterpiece lessons are taught approximately six times per school year. They usually consist of a “hands on” project. The purpose of the lesson is to increase the child’s awareness of art. As this occurs, students can recognize more of the art that they encounter in their world every day.
Technology
Students in 5th grade attend technology class twice per week. The technology program focuses on higher order skills and curriculum integration with classroom topics and activities. Computers are used to reinforce curriculum and provide both guided and independent practice. Student objectives are based on the Arizona Technology Standards and SCA technology goals.
Research Skills
Students in 5th grade visit the library once per week for research skills class. Research skills classes focus on using grade specific critical thinking skills to discover facts and information using online and bound reference materials and library resources. Research is integrated with classroom curriculum and topics. Critical thinking skills are also developed via genre and author studies.
Spanish
Students in 5th grade go to Spanish class once per week. Students will be able to: respond to classroom commands, understand, read, and write vocabulary related to numbers 1-100, colors, family members, clothing, foods/place settings, animals, body parts, weather, days of the week, rooms/household; identify people and objects based on oral and written descriptions; greet someone and ask how they are and respond appropriately; ask and answer a question about age; ask for someone else’s name and be able to give name when asked; ask “What do you want?” “How much is it?” “What are we going to do?”; express likes and dislikes using the verb “gustar”; recite a short poem, sing a song, memorize and recite a Bible verse; know and use appropriately the greetings according to the time of day, say goodbye in a variety of ways; say please, thank you, no thank you when appropriate, using a map of the world, identify parts of the world where Spanish is spoken by coloring in the countries, identify cognates in Spanish, giving the English equivalent.
Innovation & Creation Hub
Each elementary homeroom class visits the Innovation and Creation HUB once a week. Students focus on STEAM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). Students are provided with hands-on learning with activities centered around the problem solving method of Ask, Discuss, Design, Create, Test and Revise. Activities are determined by the curricular units being studied in homeroom classes and are designed for age-appropriate learning. Students are encouraged to take risks whether it is designing a Moon Lander, coding a robot to engage in a specific task, or designing a piece to be 3D printed. In the HUB students embrace the four C’s: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication. These four C’s are crucial to fostering innovators and leaders of the 21st century.
Field Trips
Fifth grade events and field trips include:
Physical Education