Cambridge Public Schools

By fifth grade, students are expected to know and understand an incredible amount of science content. Fifth grade is the first time students will take the Science MCAS. Because of this, the science department has proposed a science pilot program as a way to introduce new science content and to also review content that may or may not have been covered in grades K-4. Also, as a culminating event, fifth graders will plan and create their own experiment and prepare for an exhibition.

In social studies this year, the students will study the movement of people (and cultures) over time with an emphasis on migration to North America, and America’s past. We’ll start by exploring Ancient civilizations (Mayans, Incas, Aztecs). We’ll then focus on the North American continent as we study Early Explorers. Later, we’ll review Colonial Times and the road to the American Revolution. We’ll cover westward expansion and the causes of the Civil War. In addition to projects and field trips, we’ll use a textbook called Social Studies Alive!

Because of the enormous amount of content that will need to be covered between science and social studies, we have decided to organize the year as seen below: