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5th Grade

Expedition 1: Stories of Human Rights

What are human rights, and how do real people and fictional characters respond when those rights are threatened? In this module, students develop their ability to read and understand complex text as they consider this question.
Guiding Questions & Big Ideas:

  • What are human rights, and how can they be threatened?
    • Human rights belong to everyone, but they can look different to different people in different places.
    • We can better understand how human rights can be threatened by reading about the experiences of fictional characters in stories.
  • How can we use writing to raise awareness of human rights?
    • We can raise awareness of human rights issues by writing about the issues fictional characters face.

Expedition 2: Biodiversity in the Rainforest

Students read to build knowledge about the rainforest and analyze the author’s craft in narrative writing to build proficiency in writing first person narratives about the rainforest.
Guiding Questions & Big Ideas:

  • Why do scientists study the rainforest?
    • Scientists study the rainforest because it is home to diverse life and to determine the impact of deforestation on biodiversity.

  • How do authors engage readers in narratives?
    • Narrative authors engage readers by researching what they are writing about to describe it accurately and precisely through concrete and sensory language.

Expedition 3: Athlete Heroes of Social Change

Students consider the factors that contribute to the success of professional athletes as leaders of social change. They read about a number of professional athletes who have been leaders of social change, beginning with Jackie Robinson.
Guiding Questions & Big Ideas:

  • How have athletes broken barriers during the historical era in which they lived?
    • Athletes are presented with unique opportunities to lead change.
  • What factors can contribute to an individual’s success in changing society?
    • Individuals are shaped by and can shape society.
    • A variety of factors can influence an individual’s ability to effect change.

Math Units:

  • Unit 1: Understanding Place Value
  • Unit 2: Thinking in Cubes
  • Unit 3: Estimating with Fractions  
  • Unit 4: Using Fraction Equivalence
  • Unit 5: Exploring the Coordinate Plane
  • Unit 6: Seeing and Connecting Patterns across Representations
  • Unit 7: Understanding Fraction Multiplication Visually
  • Unit 8: What Does it Mean to Divide Fractions
  • Unit 9: Thinking in Powers of 10
  • Unit 10: Using Numbers and Symbols Flexibly