5th Grade Curriculum Outline (Words Only)

Parent-facing planning outline. For DBM’s full scope & sequence, visit: https://www.dbmlearningacademy.com/compliance/general/compliance/curriculum.php

English Language Arts

Analyzing Theme & Main Idea

• Determine theme from details; summarize text without personal opinion.
• Differentiate theme vs. main idea; support each with key evidence.
• Compare how two texts treat the same theme or topic.

Writing Narratives

• Multi-paragraph stories with clear setting, rising action, climax, and resolution.
• Dialogue punctuation and paragraphing; sensory details and precise verbs.
• Revise for pacing and clarity; publish a polished narrative (1–2 pages).

Advanced Grammar & Usage

• Verb tenses (perfect/progressive); subject–verb and pronoun–antecedent agreement.
• Prepositions/prepositional phrases; correlative conjunctions (either/or, neither/nor).
• Commas with introductory elements, items in a series, and direct address; dashes/parentheses (intro).

Figurative Language & Poetry

• Simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, idioms; analyze impact on meaning and tone.
• Write original poems (narrative, free verse, haiku, limerick) using imagery and sound devices.

Textual Evidence & Inference

• Quote or paraphrase accurately; explain how the evidence supports inferences/claims.
• Annotate short texts: highlight, margin notes, and coded symbols for claims/evidence.

Cursive & Scholarly Note-Taking (Level 5)

• Fluent cursive in multi-paragraph pieces; mix print/cursive strategically for clarity.
• Cornell or outline notes from lectures/videos; headings, bullets, and abbreviations.
• Weekly written summaries in cursive to strengthen speed + legibility.

Keyboarding, Research & Media Literacy

• Target 25–30+ WPM with accuracy; type multi-paragraph drafts.
• Search effectively, evaluate source credibility (author, date, bias), and avoid plagiarism.
• MLA-lite citations: Author/Title, Site/Publisher, URL, Accessed Date; create a simple bibliography.

Mathematics

Place Value & Decimals

• Place value to thousandths; compare, order, and round decimals.
• Add/subtract decimals to hundredths using place-value reasoning and standard algorithm.

Adding & Subtracting Fractions

• Add/subtract fractions with unlike denominators using equivalent fractions.
• Word problems with mixed numbers; interpret sums/differences in context.

Multiplying & Dividing Fractions

• Multiply fractions × fractions and fractions × whole numbers with models and equations.
• Divide unit fractions by whole numbers and whole numbers by unit fractions (visual models first).

Volume & Measurement

• Volume of right rectangular prisms (V = l × w × h and additive strategies).
• Convert like measurement units within a system to solve multi-step problems.

Coordinate Plane & Patterns

• Plot points in Quadrant I; interpret patterns and relationships in tables/graphs.
• Generate and graph numerical patterns from rules; analyze growth and differences.

Data & Statistics (add-on)

• Line plots with fraction measurements; compute and compare typical values (mean/median mode intro).
• Explain data stories in writing: “what the graph shows” + evidence.

Science

Matter & Its Properties

• Physical vs. chemical changes; mixtures/solutions; density and states of matter (model-based).
• Plan fair tests (e.g., dissolving rates, temperature effects) and chart results.

Earth’s Systems & Cycles

• Geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere—interactions and feedbacks (age-appropriate).
• Cycles: water, carbon (intro), rock; human impacts and stewardship.

Energy & Motion

• Kinetic/potential energy; energy transfer (sound, light, heat, electric) with simple investigations.
• Graph motion from distance-time activities (conceptual trends, not formulas).

Space & Solar System

• Sun-Earth-Moon system: rotation vs. revolution, seasons, moon phases, tides (conceptual).
• Planets, dwarf planets, asteroids/comets; gravity and orbits (intro models).

Scientific Thinking & Inquiry

• Question → hypothesis → procedure → data → conclusion; control variables where possible.
• Use tables/graphs; write evidence-based explanations and reflect on limitations.

Engineering & Design (add-on)

• Design/build/test solutions (water filter, egg-drop, solar oven) and iterate based on data.

Social Studies

U.S. Government & Constitution

• Foundational principles: popular sovereignty, rule of law, rights/responsibilities.
• Three branches, checks and balances; how a bill becomes a law (age-appropriate overview).
• Civic discourse: listening, evidence, respectful disagreement.

Colonial America

• Regions, economies, daily life, and interactions with Native peoples (multiple perspectives).
• Causes and consequences of settlement choices; primary source snippets and maps.

The American Revolution

• Causes (taxation, representation), key events, figures, and big ideas (liberty, self-governance).
• Timelines, cause-effect chains, and short argumentative paragraphs with evidence.

Geography & World Regions

• Physical/political maps; climate zones; major regions and cultural features.
• Latitude/longitude basics; read thematic maps and compare regions.

Economics & Innovation

• Supply/demand, productivity, specialization, trade; entrepreneurs and inventions.
• Personal finance: budgets, saving/investing (intro), opportunity cost.

Primary Sources & Argument Writing (add-on)

• Read short primary sources; identify claim/evidence; write a 1-paragraph argument with citations.

Logic, Problem-Solving & Projects

• Weekly logic sets (multi-step, spatial, numeric) with written justifications.
• Monthly cross-curricular projects: revolution museum exhibit, solar system model with scale, water-cycle comic, startup budget + pitch.
• Presentations with slide decks; cite sources, speak clearly, field Q&A.

For DBM’s complete scope and samples across grades, visit: https://www.dbmlearningacademy.com/compliance/general/compliance/curriculum.php