Mrs. Beth Oster
Mrs. Oster has a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education, with concentrations in Math and Science, from the University of Maryland, College Park. Since joining our Parish in 1996, she volunteered as a Catechist, Coordinator of Religious Education, and Director of Vacation Bible School. This is her 5th year teaching grade levels at OLSS; she was previously one of our Art teachers. All seven of her children attended OLSS.
Email: grade5@olsss.org
PO Box 560 / 90 Alexander Lane, Solomons, Maryland 20688
Phone (410) 326-3171 | olssschool@comcast.net | Fax (410) 326-9478
OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA SCHOOL
5th GRADE ACADEMIC STANDARDS & CURRICULUM
Archdiocese of Washington Academic Standards define what students in Catholic Schools should know and be able to do at each grade level.
MATH
Series used: Saxon Math
1) Number Sense: Students compute with whole numbers, decimals, and fractions and understand the relationship among decimals, fractions, and percents. They understand the relative magnitudes of numbers, and prime and composite numbers. They convert between numbers in words and numbers in figures, for numbers up to millions and decimals to thousandths.
2) Computation: Students solve problems involving multiplication and division of whole numbers, and solve problems involving addition, subtraction, and simple multiplication and division of fractions and decimals.
3) Algebra & Functions: Students use variables in simple expressions, compute the value of an expressions for specific values of the variable, and plot and interpret the results. They use two-dimensional coordinate grids to represent points and graph lines. They use the distributive property in numerical equations and expressions.
4) Geometry: Students identify, describe, and classify the properties of plane and solid geometric shapes and the relationships between them. They identify angles, perpendicular and parallel lines, rectangles, triangles, and circles and use appropriate measurement tools (e.g. ruler, protractor.) They identify triangles as equilateral, isosceles, scalene, right, acute, obtuse, and equiangular. They understand the relationship between radius and diameter, degrees of angles, and shapes that have reflectional and rotational symmetry.
5) Measurement: Students understand and compute the areas and volumes of simple objects, as well as measuring weight, temperature, time, and money. They solve problems involving perimeters, areas, surface areas, and volumes using appropriate units. They understand and use the smaller and larger units for weight measurement (e.g. ounce, ton.) They compare temperatures in Celsius and Fahrenheit. They add and subtract money in decimal notation.
6) Data Analysis & Probability: Students collect, display, analyze, compare, and interpret data sets. They use the results of probability experiments to predict future events. They find the mean, median, mode, and range of a set of data.
7) Problem Solving: Students make decisions about how to approach problems and communicate their ideas. They use strategies, skills, and concepts in finding solutions, applying strategies from simpler problems to solve more complex problems. They recognize the advantages of exact and approximate solutions, and give answers to a specified degree of accuracy.
ADW 5th Grade Math Standards
LANGUAGE ARTS
Series used: McGraw-Hill Wonders 2023
READING:
1) Word Recognition, Fluency, & Vocabulary Development: Students use their knowledge of word parts and word relationships, as well as context cues, to determine the meaning of specialized vocabulary, and to understand the precise meaning of words. They understand and explain synonyms, antonyms, and homographs. They learn the figurative uses of words in similes and metaphors.
2) Reading Comprehension: Students connect the essential ideas of text by using their knowledge of text structure, organization, and purpose. They understand how to use informational text (e.g. table of contents, headers) to find information. They recognize main ideas, and draw inferences, conclusions, and generalizations. They distinguish among facts, inferences, and opinions in text.
3) Literacy Response & Analysis: Students read realistic fiction, expository writing, biography, drama, poetry, historical fiction, and fantasy. They begin to find ways to clarify the ideas and make connections between literary works. They analyze the characteristics of poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction. Students learn the literary devices of imagery, metaphor, and symbolism.
WRITING & SPELLING:
4) Writing Process: Students write clear, coherent, and focused essays. They progress through the stages of the writing process and proofread, edit, and revise writing. They write stories with multiple paragraphs that develop a situation or plot, describe the setting, and include an ending. They use organizational structure to provide information in their writing.
5) Writing Applications: Students write narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive texts of at least 500 words. They write for different purposes, adjusting tone and style as appropriate.
6) Written English Language Conventions: Students write using Standard English conventions appropriate for their grade level. They identify and use prepositional phrases, appositives, main clauses, subordinate clauses, transitions, and conjunctions. They use appropriate verb tenses, modifiers, and pronouns, and identify roots of words, prefixes, suffixes, and contractions.
LISTENING AND SPEAKING:
7) Skills, Strategies, & Applications: Students evaluate the content of oral communication, and deliver organized oral communication with a focus and structure.
ADW 5th Grade Language Arts Standards
SOCIAL STUDIES
Series used: Harcourt Social Studies
1) History: Students study early cultures and settlements in North America prior to contact with Europeans, and the interactions and conflicts resulting from European expansion. Native American tribes are studied, with a field trip to the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC.
2) Civics & Government: Students identify the principles and purposes of democratic government, and the ideas about limited government, rule of law, and individual rights. They learn about the structures of government and how they function.
3) Geography: Students learn the use of latitude and longitude. They identify regions, states, and cities on maps. They learn about how land features, climate, and location of resources affected the settlement patterns of the US.
4) Economics: Students learn the basic characteristics of a Market Economy, including the effects of changes in supply and demand on prices. They study the economic activities in early America, such as the use of technology and inventions to improve productivity.
ADW 5th Grade Social Studies Standards
SCIENCE
Series used: Harcourt Science
1) Nature of Science: Students collect data, and use it to make inferences and draw conclusions.
2) Nature of Technology: Students study the effects of new technology, and how the interaction between science and technology makes available scientific instruments and materials that are integral to modern life.
3) Physical Science: Students study the properties of matter, forms of energy, electricity, chemical and physical changes, forces, and motion.
4) Earth & Space Science: Students learn about the pattern of weather changes throughout the year, and how weather can be forecasted by examining air masses moving across the Earth’s surface. They describe the rotation of the Earth on its axis, the cycle of the moon, and learn more about the solar system. They also study rocks and fossils.
5) Life Science: Students investigate the structures, functions, and classification of living systems, identifying that living organisms are composed of cells, and that a single cell is the smallest unit of life. The examine the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells, and hereditary properties.
ADW 5th Grade Science Standards
RELIGION
Sadlier Religion’s “We Believe” series is comprised of four units: “Jesus Christ Shares His Life with Us”, “Confirmation and Eucharist Complete Our Initiation”, “The Sacraments of Healing Restore Us”, and “We Love and Serve As Jesus Did”. 5th grade religion curriculum focuses on the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church: Sacraments of Christian Initiation, Healing and Service. Students are given the opportunity to plan the school’s weekly Liturgy, and participate by reading the Scriptures, acting as song leaders, saying the Prayers of the Faithful, and taking up the offertory gifts. Service projects are woven into the curriculum.
ADW 5th Grade Religion Standards
PHYSICAL EDUCATION:
1) Movement Forms: Students work on mastering locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills, and begin to integrate these skills into a variety of sports and activities.
2) Motor Skills: Students begin to demonstrate an understanding of proper movement forms.
3) Physical Activity: Students learn about the physical, emotional, and psychological benefits of healthy lifestyle activities.
4) Responsible Behavior: Students work independently and cooperatively, in pairs and small groups.
Skills and Activities throughout the year include soccer, football, basketball, hockey, badminton, paddleball, volleyball, ball type skills (kickball, wiffleball), lacrosse, parachute play, scooter play, tag type games, rope skipping, and Frisbee.
ADW 5the Grade PE Standards
SPANISH
Students engage in written and spoken conversations on a variety of topics, and participate in conversations emphasizing previously learned material. They respond to simple requests, commands, and directions, and are able to read short passages and write sentences in Spanish. Students are introduced to the present tense of verbs ending in –ar and the verb ser. They work on their reading skills in Spanish and explore cultures of Spanish speaking countries.
ADW 5th Grade Foreign Language Standards
MUSIC
Students learn to perform by singing and playing instruments alone and with a group, with attention to breath control, tone quality, and dictation. They play melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic parts independently or in ensembles, following a conductor. They read and perform music in specified meters and keys from a score.
ADW 5th Grade Music Standards
ART
Students learn Art History and the connection of artworks to different cultures. They observe, select, and utilize a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas in their work, and produce artwork that reflects their personal ideas, experiences, and emotions. They apply elements and principles of design in their work, discriminating between types of shape, colors, textures, and space. A variety of art media is explored, including drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, and mixed media.
ADW 5th Grade Music Standards
TECHNOLOGY