The fifth-grade science curriculum should introduce measuring, counting, predicting and recording experiments. By the end of the curriculum a student should have the ability to provide a hypothesis, defend their conclusions, determine evidence, observe physical and chemical properties, and accurately measure and record these changes and conclusions. A fifth-grade student should be fluent in measurements, organizing, identifying organisms, solar system properties, and positioning of planets and moons.
A fifth-grade math curriculum should introduce logical reasoning, fractions, decimals, and geometry. By the end of the curriculum, a student should be adept in whole numbers to the millions and decimals to the thousands. Fractions, division, multiplication, addition and subtraction should be mastered. The curriculum should leave the student knowledgeable in converting fractions, differentiating between triangles, and solving basic algebraic questions.
The fifth-grade social science curriculum should aim to teach about a student's country and the history of that country. A fifth-grade student should understand basic American economics and government structure. The curriculum should be centered on current events, analyzing data, understanding beliefs, world and local geography, and basic American democracy, including the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. The main goal ois to teach a student the differences in cultures and how present-day societies came to be.
A fifth-grade language arts curriculum should have reading comprehension as its main goal. Book reports, spelling lists and reading lists are key tools to help achieve this comprehension. Different book genres should be covered, strategies for understanding reading, recognizing different styles of writing and practicing legible writing and grammar is stressed at this grade level.