INTERMEDIATE GRADES CURRICULA

Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade

Language Arts:
A literature based reading program with an introduction to chapter novels exposes students to various genre:  poetry biography, historical fiction and fiction.  The writing process is incorporated into all aspects of the language arts program.  Students learn that writing can be for pleasure or for the exchange of information, as well as a form of communication.  Other writing activities include journals, creative writing and reports.  Specific skills covered at this grade level include:  sentence structure, dictionary use, parts of speech, and application of oral and written language processes in everyday situations.

Mathematics:
Critical thinking skills are incorporated throughout the year to develop problem solving strategies.  A combination of hands-on activities, cooperative groups, textbook exercises, and appropriate technology are utilized for instruction in fundamental addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  Other concepts covered include place-value, graphs, measurement and time, geometry, and fundamental fractions.

Religion:
The Church as community-builder is stressed.  The Church passes on the good new of the Old and New Testaments through missionaries.   Students learn the Creed and how Jesus taught us to live these beliefs.

Prayers:  Hail, Holy Queen, Memorare, and the Apostles Creed.  Prayers learned in previous years are reviewed.

Science:
Areas of investigation include life cycles of plants and animals, roles of living things, forms of energy, the movement of the earth, moon, and sun, earth’s water.  Hands-on activities provide practice in recording and analyzing observations and promote the development of scientific reasoning.  The scientific method of experimentation is practiced with class experiements.

Social Studies:
The study of map skills and communities continues; in particular, cities, towns, farms, and ranches are studied.  The importance of preserving our natural resources and conversation are emphasized.  The students will also begin to study the process of lawmaking and Washington, D.C.

Art:
The goals of the curriculum are to provide students with the opportunity to explore a variety of two and three dimensional medial to experience the ability to create representations of thoughts and feelings, and to expand their understanding of color and shape.

Music:
Various aspects of music are introduced through song and movement activities.  Songs are introduced in relation to special holidays and units of study as well as part of a study of different genres:  classical, jazz, rock and country.

Media:
The Library skills necessary for active participation in gathering information are reviewed each year.  The atlas, almanac, dictionary, encyclopedia, thesaurus, phone book, maps and specialized dictionaries are studied. The page referred to as the verso that contains copyright information is covered.  MLA style footnotes are explained.  Stories for fun are read aloud.

Physical Education:
Our physical education curriculum refines the basic skills learned in kindergarten through second grade. These skills are taken a step further with an emphasis on beginning sport skills, fitness concepts, an understanding of how exercise impacts physical health and why physical activity is necessary. Students in third grade have P.E. twice a week for 45 minutes each time. Fourth and fifth grade students have two 45 minute classes and one 30 minute class per week.

Fourth Grade Curriculum

Language Arts:
A literature based reading program exposes students to various genre including poetry, biography, nonfiction, historical fiction, and fiction.  The writing process is incorporated into the language arts program.  Writing is used for a variety of purposes including writing for pleasure and writing as a form of communication.  Reading and writing narrative and expository text are introduced.  Writing activities include:  essay, journals, creative writing, descriptive writing and summaries.  Specific skills covered at this grade level include:  sentence and paragraph structure, parts of speech, dictionary use and thesaurus skills, study skills, and application of oral and written language processes in everyday situations.

Mathematics:
Computation skills, place-value and estimation are reviewed.  Multiplying and dividing by multiple digits with and without remainders is reinforced.  Metric and standard measurements, statistics and probability, fractions, geometry and adding and subtracting decimals are also studied.  Emphasis is placed on problem solving strategies and computer application programs.

Religion:
The focus is on a Christian moral life with loving service to others.  Emphasis is placed on a study of the commandments, the Beatitudes, and the works of mercy.

Prayers:  Memorare, Act of contrition, and the major Mass prayers.  Prayers learned in previous years are reviewed.

Science:
Areas of investigation include Earth’s land and water resources, properties of matter, animals, and plants, magnetism and electricity, weather and climate, space exploration.  Hands-on activities provide practice in recording and analyzing of observations, in addition to, drawing conclusions using scientific reasoning.  Students practice using the scientific method.

Social Studies:
Florida is extensively studied.  Special emphasis is placed on geography skills, the environment, regions, early people, the road to statehood, the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Art:
The goals of the curriculum are to provide students with the opportunity to explore a variety of two and three dimensional medial to experience the ability to create representations of thoughts and feelings, and to expand their understanding of color and shape.

Music:
Various aspects of music are introduced through song and movement activities.  Songs are introduced in relation to special holidays and units of study as well as part of a study of different genres:  classical, jazz, rock and country.

Media:
The Library skills necessary for active participation in gathering information are reviewed each year.  Students are exposed to the atlas, almanac, dictionary, encyclopedia, thesaurus, phone book, maps and specialized dictionaries.  Electronic research tools like the atlas and encyclopedia are added to the repertoire of print resources being explored.

Physical Education:
Our physical education curriculum refines the basic skills learned in kindergarten through second grade. These skills are taken a step further with an emphasis on beginning sport skills, fitness concepts, an understanding of how exercise impacts physical health and why physical activity is necessary. Students in third grade have P.E. twice a week for 45 minutes each time. Fourth and fifth grade students have two 45 minute classes and one 30 minute class per week.

Fifth Grade Curriculum

Language Arts:
Development of critical thinking, vocabulary skills and comprehension are major focuses.  Reading skills are taught through literature based reading. The writing process is used in developing descriptive paragraphs, personal narratives and persuasive writing.  Grammar is taught in detail.  Sentence and paragraph structure is developed.  Spelling and mechanics are incorporated in writing.  The study of word processing and keyboard skills continues.

Mathematics:
Throughout the year, problem solving strategies are emphasized.  A review of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are followed by an introduction to fractions, decimals, and geometry.  The use of computers and calculators to solve problems is taught, but unaided mastery of all basic operations is required.

Religion:
The focus is on the seven sacraments and the gifts of faith, hope, and love.  Other areas include stories from the Old and New Testaments and church structure.  Corporal Works of Mercy, Fruits of the Holy Spirit, Gifts of the Holy Spirit are also studied.  In the Family Life portion of the curriculum, God’s gift of communication and sexuality are presented.

Prayers:  Mysteries of the Rosary, Hail Holy Queen, Stations of the Cross.  Prayers learned in previous years are reviewed.

Science:
Areas of investigation include plants, the solar system and beyond, populations and ecosystems, the solid earth, movement and control, energy, work, and machines, and the light and sound.  Hands-on activities are provided; detailed science records are kept; and accurate note taking is taught. Students practice using the scientific method of experimentation with an individual project for a non-judged science fair in the spring.

Social Studies:
The focus is on American history, from early Americans to present day.  Geography skills are also reinforced.  Students are responsible for locating states, capitals, and major cities in the United States.

Art:
The goals of the curriculum are to provide students with the opportunity to explore a variety of two and three dimensional medial to experience the ability to create representations of thoughts and feelings, and to expand their understanding of color and shape.

Music:
Various aspects of music are introduced through song and movement activities.  Songs are introduced in relation to special holidays and units of study as well as part of a study of different genres:  classical, jazz, rock and country.

Media:
The Library skills necessary for active participation in gathering information are reviewed. Appropriate use of the atlas, almanac, dictionary, encyclopedia, thesaurus, phone book, maps, and specialized dictionaries is required.  Boolean searches are practiced to narrow accumulated research sources to a useful level.

Physical Education:
Our physical education curriculum refines the basic skills learned in kindergarten through second grade. These skills are taken a step further with an emphasis on beginning sport skills, fitness concepts, an understanding of how exercise impacts physical health and why physical activity is necessary. Students in third grade have P.E. twice a week for 45 minutes each time. Fourth and fifth grade students have two 45 minute classes and one 30 minute class per week.