Open Door Christian Schools

BIBLE
The primary goal of Bible class is to make the Word of God more meaningful to the lives of the students. Students need to find knowledge, wisdom, and understanding for themselves from the Word of God. The Bible can teach them how to live by using key stories to show students how to conform to the image of Jesus Christ. A workbook with life principles, character studies, puzzles, skits, and discussion will be used. Weekly memory verses will be given for students to be tested on, along with quizzes pertaining to the daily studies from the workbook. Focus will be on the Old Testament.
ACSI Elementary Bible Series – Grade 5. 1995.
NIV Bible
Memory Verse list

READING
In this course the natural connections between reading, writing, speaking, and viewing are integral parts of the program. Students are encouraged to develop intrinsic motivational principles and ultimately improve communication skills. Various reading selections and novels are used to provide experience in many genres. Story grammar, character analysis, vocabulary, and developing a love for the written word are key elements.
Bereiter, Anderson, Brown. Collections for Young Scholars 5. Open Court Publishing Company. 1995. Novel studies

SPELLING/HANDWRITING
Fifth grade spelling focuses attention on discovering spelling generalizations in weekly lessons. Word building is an important component as students add affixes to build word vocabulary. Writing activities are incorporated to allow students to practice spelling skills.
Templeton. Spelling and Vocabulary. Houghton-Mifflin, 1998.

ENGLISH
Grammar and writing are taught through a multi-sensory approach with students as active participants throughout the lesson. Special features of the program include jingles, question and answer flow, sentence building, and the writing process.
Shurley-English. Shurley Instructional Materials, 2000.

MATHEMATICS
Saxon math stresses incremental development and continuous practice. Speed tests and correcting daily homework are an important component for student success. Lessons are taught quickly in order to provide class time for problem solving. Increased competence in the following areas is the objective: problem solving with all four operations, fractions, decimals, measurement, geometry, word problems, and skill drills.
Hake, Saxon. Saxon Math 65. Saxon Publishers, Inc. 2004.

SCIENCE    
This course includes studies in life science, earth science, physical science, and space and technology. Emphasis is placed on a “hands-on” approach to encourage self-discovery and an understanding of key concepts.
Scott Foresman. Science: See Learning in a Whole New Light. Pearson Education, Inc. 2006.

SOCIAL STUDIES
Social Studies is a course dealing primarily with the development of the North American continent. Early lessons emphasize map skills, landforms, climate, and natural resources of North America. North American Indians are studied with a focus on their region of the land. The settling of Europeans in America is studied with emphasis placed on the development of our government, including key wars. Later lessons emphasize our 50 states and their importance in the development of our country, as well as an in-depth study of the presidents of the United States.
Banks, Beyer, Contreras. United States - Adventures in Time and Place. McGraw Hill. 2001.

ART
This course will provide a study into the techniques of art that are geared for the growth and development of fifth graders. The main focus of art history will be American artists. The class will use drawing, painting, sculpture, and crafts as a vehicle to honor the Lord with the use of the talents that He gives each child.

MUSIC
Students will learn to use their musical talents to glorify God. This class is designed to improve the student’s singing ability, music reading ability, and knowledge about music.

FIFTH GRADE BAND
This class is an introduction to instrumental music. Students will learn to play simple songs, to care for their instruments, and to function as part of a larger group. Students will leave this class with the ability to understand and play music on their own at a very basic level. Practice time and instrument rental/purchase are required for this class.
Essential Elements 2000 For Band, Book 1. Hal Leonard Publisher, 1999.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Physical education for fifth graders will consist of a concentrated exposure to four team and three individual sports. The focus of the classes will be on skills development, team strategy, and understanding rules. In addition to the athletic/sports emphasis, conditioning, good sportsmanship, and physical fitness will be emphasized.

COMPUTER LAB
This is a nine-week daily course in which the student will learn the location of the letters by touch. After mastering the keyboard, they will apply their skills by typing sentences, paragraphs, and short reports.
Dostal, June. Learning to Keyboard. West Publishing Company, 1993.