Fifth Grade

St. Paul's 5th Grade Students present their work at the annual Change Makers event.

Program Overview

In fifth grade, students take a big step academically with plenty of project-based learning around the foundations of government, economics, historical figures, automation, and robotics. There are creative learning units designed to get students collaborating and presenting their ideas, including the much-loved Changemakers unit. Before and after school, fifth grade students can choose to join a wide range of activities including Math Club, In Harmony Choir, Drama Club, Running Club, and more. Plus, fifth grade is when students get to participate in their very first grade-level Anchor Trip. Learn more about fifth grade curriculum, special classes, and typical daily schedule below.

Curriculum Objectives and Academic Approach

Using hands-on learning at the core of our our curriculum, students are given space to explore areas of individual interest. In addition, students explore activities that combine art, social studies, music, and science. Some fifth grade learning objectives include:

English/Language Arts: Produce clear and coherent writing expressing an argument/opinion in five-paragraph essay format.
Math: Solve equations involving algebra, ratio, percents, graphs and probability, angles, and surface area.
Social Studies: Learn about the foundations of government, immigration, reform movements, economics, and the major wars of the 1900s.
Science: Students are challenged to design, construct, test, and make predictions during an end-of-year robotics challenge.

Makerspace
In Makerspace class, students have weekly time devoted to designing, building, coding, and other STEAM-related skills. In fifth grade, students are challenged to create robots to address a specific need or solve a problem.

Eurekus
Eurekus is a type of STEAM curriculum that students participate in weekly, typically during their Makerspace class. In 5th grade, students get familiar with coding robots, engineering circuitry, 3D printing, and much more.

Project Based Learning
PBL is a teaching method in which students learn by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects. Students participate in two of these projects each year.

RULER
Using RULER from the Yale Center of Emotional Intelligence as our social emotional learning foundation, students practice understanding and labeling their emotions while also learning strategies to regulate and express their emotions in healthy ways.

Second Step
This social emotional learning curriculum focuses on building emotional IQ. This works gives students the tools and practice to thrive in their relationships at home and at school. Some examples of Second Step lessons include: learning not to place blame when resolving conflict; how to share our feelings while listening to others; the proper technique for apologizing.

Special Programs and Classes

In addition to the core content explored with their classroom teachers, students participate in a range of special classes designed to get them moving, making music, exploring foreign language, and participating in school service projects.

The St. Paul's academic program is arranged in a 7-day rotation with special classes occurring a varying times throughout the seven days. Each day features at least two specials classes.

Daily Chapel: At the start of each day, students gather to share songs, stories, and prayer. Using local stories from community leaders and bible stories, teachers emphasize topics to encourage empathy, open-mindedness, and life skill development. There are often speakers representing different faiths and life experiences so students can learn about a range of customs, cultural celebrations, and world perspectives.
Music: Twice in every seven day period. Students play with percussion and string instruments, learn choreography, and write musical compositions . This time offers students a chance to move, try out instruments, and refocus for more classroom exploration. In addition, music classes reinforce themes that are covered in core classes. Fifth grade students perform a special Christmas music program for friends and family.
Spanish: Three days in every seven day period, fifth grade students take Spanish classes where they explore vocabulary, sentence structure, and Hispanic/Latinx cultural traditions.
Physical Education: Students play games, learn about sportsmanship, and practice team-building skills during their P.E. classes. They attend P.E. three times during the seven day rotation schedule.
Art: Students attend art classes three times during the seven day rotation schedule. The art program emphasizes core academic content and provides ample opportunity for creative expression while students explore new materials and mediums.
Library: Parents can also sign up to volunteer as the Library Helper during students’ visits to the St. Paul's library. This class happens once during the seven day rotation.
Buddy Program: Fifth grade students are buddies with Pre-K students, and they meet-up regularly for activities, playground time, shared meals, and they sit together every Friday at All School Chapel.
Anchor Trip: Fifth grade is the first year that students can go on their grade-level trip together. In fifth grade, they travel to the YMCA of the Ozarks for nature exploration and team-building activities for two days/nights.

Daily Schedule Example

Core Program

8:00 - 8:20 a.m: Drop-off/ Morning Work
8:20 - 8:40 a.m: Chapel
8:40 - 9:50 a.m: Math
10 - 10:35 a.m: Special class (Spanish, Library, PE, Music, Study Hall)
10:35 - 11:05 a.m: Grammar
11:15 - 11:40 a.m: Lunch
11:45 - 12:05 p.m: Recess
12:15 - 1:05 p.m. - Science
1:15 - 2:15 p.m. - Special class (Spanish, Library, PE, Music, Study Hall)
2:15 - 3 p.m. - Reading
3 - 3:30 p.m. - Study Hall / Prepare for Dismissal

Extended Day
Morning care is available from 7:15 - 8 a.m. After school care is available until 6 p.m. Click here to learn more about Extended Day options and pricing.

Admissions Information

Service Learning in Fifth Grade

At St. Paul's, we help students learn the value of serving others. Each grade level works with a community partner organization for embedded service projects throughout the year.

Fifth Grade Partner Organization - KC Pet Project

Fifth grade students help this organization by:

Designing a website scavenger hunt featuring KC Pet Project's community impact
Creating pet toys in the St. Paul's Maker Space
Visiting the pet shelter in small groups
Baking and donating dog treats
Gathering and donating pet supplies

Fifth grade also participates in the spring fundraiser supporting our sister school in Haiti. Click here to earn more about our school-wide service projects.

A fifth grade student poses with her Pre-K Buddy during an activity

The St. Paul's fifth grade classrooms each have 22 students.

Community Pledge

Everyday at Chapel, students say the St. Paul's Community Pledge.

As a member of the St. Paul's community, I pledge to be honest, to respect others, to take responsibility for my actions and words, to be kind and inclusive, and to help others do the same.

These words reinforce the St. Paul's mission and values and help students focus on the day ahead.

Explore What Comes Next

Middle School

Fifth Grade Learning Highlights

St. Paul's 5th grade students pose with their poster on influential Changemakers — Changemakers Museum
After working together for weeks to build their Changemaker Museum, 5^th grade students present on their individual figures for family and friends in a culminating event. Their museum features a Changemaker timeline, map, speeches, and student-made artifacts representing the lives and work of influential figures like Galileo, Ruby Bridges, Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, and Billie Jean King.

St. Paul's 5th grade students work on coding Ozobots in the Makerspace. — Ozobots in Makerspace
5th graders experiment with Ozobots in Makerspace as an introduction to coding and circuitry. These bots detect colors and follow paths with specific codes. The students explore how they work and learned how to write code and transfer it to their bots. Ozobots are just one of the gadgets 5^th graders interact with during STEAM time. They also use Makey Makeys, Microbits, 3D printers, and even try out some soldering!

Two St. Paul's fifth graders pose with their Class of 2025 shirts. — Middle School Move Up Event
In the spring, 5^th grade students stop by the middle school for a special “move-up” event to get them pumped up for the next school year! Teachers introduce middle school electives, students tour the classrooms, and they pick up their special class t-shirts. What are students usually most excited about? Decorating their lockers! What are they typically most nervous about? Getting to middle school classes on time.

The St. Paul's math club pose for a group photo after performing well in their district competition. — Math Club
4^th through 6^th grade students can participate in Math Club, a before school group that meets once a week in the fall and spring semesters. This group practices all year long for their district competition in early April. Students who qualify continue on to the state competition in May!

A group of 5th grade students pose with JE Dunn construction hats for their BizTown day project. — BizTown Project
5^th grade students visit BizTown where students work together to start their own businesses! Students ensure success by creating business partnerships, selling goods and services to citizens, and creating profits to pay off business loans. They even start the day with special ribbon-cutting ceremony with JE Dunn volunteers to open their businesses to the public.

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