Behavior Expectations
There is only one rule in Social Studies class: Be a good citizen. It might sound simple, but there's a lot to it! Throughout the year, students will be exploring what citizenship really means! Coming soon: Student-made Class Constitutions, describing the rights and responsibilities of members of our school and classroom communities. If a student is having difficulty meeting behavior expectations, he or she will be asked to fill out a Behavior Reflection and have it signed by a parent. If the student continues to struggle, or does not get the behavior reflection signed, Ms. A will follow up with a phone call home and/or parent meeting. |
Curriculum
In Social Studies, we learn by doing! We believe in project-based learning and in the Research/Inquiry cycle: 1. Immersion/Questioning: What are we wondering about this topic? What are the important themes or ideas that we hope to learn more about? 2. Collecting: What are good sources to use to gather information on this topic? How can we organize our ideas? 3. Creating: Which ideas seem most important? How can we put them together to share them with others? 4. Sharing/Reflecting: How can we teach others what we have learned? How has our own thinking changed? Click below to see the New York State Learning Standards for Social Studies for grades K through 8. For more information, visit EngageNY, the website of the New York State Department of Education. Social Studies at Home and in the Community!
Learning doesn't end when you step out of the school building! There's a big, wide world out there waiting to be explored! Here's what you can do to learn more about Social Studies at home and in the neighborhood: *Read and discuss books about real people, places, and times in history! *Watch documentary movies or TV series about real people, places, or times in history! *Visit educational websites such as: -National Geographic for Kids -Time for Kids -Newsela.org -History.com -Brainpop (username ps89q, password: brainpop) *Read the newspaper or magazines! *Visit some of the amazing places in NYC! Click below to see a list of places you can visit to learn more about some of our 5th grade social studies topics:
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Report Cards and Grading
Students receive report cards, including a Social Studies grade, in November, March, and June. Social Studies grades will be based on a combination of project grades, test grades, and class participation using the following scale: 4- Exceeds grade level expectations 3-Meets grade level expectations 2-Approaches grade level expectations 1-Far from grade level expectations. Struggles to show effort and/or respect Students are expected to keep track of their progress using a "grade tracker." Ask to see your child's grade tracker! |