What your child learns in 5th grade in Alabama
In 5th grade, students add, subtract, multiply and divide with decimals, add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators, and work with volume and the coordinate plane, and write longer pieces with evidence. Social studies brings Alabama and US history to the present: the world wars, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement in Montgomery, Birmingham and Selma, and the space program in Huntsville.
5th grade subjects in the Alabama Course of Study
Math
Focus areas
- Numbers and operations: operations with decimals and fractions, and numerical expressions
- Measurement, data and geometry: volume, the coordinate plane, and converting units
- Student mathematical practices: making sense of problems and explaining reasoning
15 units, including Numbers to a Million, Multiply, Divide, Equivalent Fractions.
English Language Arts
Focus areas
- Reading: summarizing, point of view, and figurative language
- Writing, speaking and listening: building arguments, and research from several sources
- Vocabulary and language: building word knowledge and using grammar, spelling and punctuation
11 units, including Plot and Conflict, Figurative Language, Purpose and Structure, Context Clues.
Science
Focus areas
- Matter and its changes, energy in food webs, and Earth's systems and the sun and stars
- Science and engineering practices: measuring, graphing and designing devices
- Engineering design: solving real problems in Alabama and beyond
12 units, including Solid, Liquid, Gas, Matter & Particles, Measuring Matter, Solutions & Mixtures.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- Course: Alabama in American History and Government III: Twentieth Century to Present
- The Progressive Era and the world wars
- The Great Depression and the New Deal
9 units, including Industry & Inventors, The Progressive Era, World War I, Boom, Bust & the New Deal.
Printable 5th grade sheets
One free practice sheet for each subject, with an answer key. Print them, or work through them on screen.
What to look for on the report card
Look for comments on problem solving, supporting ideas with evidence and independent research.
Alabama has no statewide report-card scale in 5th grade, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. See what each level means.
5th grade students also take the Alabama state tests (ACAP). Read the state tests guide.
Alabama's learning practices apply in every grade. Read about Learning practices.
The four practice steps in 5th grade
- Beginning
- Practice shows a first understanding of the content standards. Most answers still need a hint or a second try.
- At home: Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Practice shows a partial understanding of the content standards. Some answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practicing the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Practice shows a solid understanding of the content standards. Most answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Practice shows a deep understanding of the content standards, including harder, unfamiliar questions.
- At home: Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Ready for 5th grade?
5th grade builds on what your child practiced in 4th grade. If a skill feels shaky, a few short practice sessions before or early in the year can help:
- Math: Numbers to 10,000, Add & Subtract, Multiply & Divide, Fractions, Decimals
- English Language Arts: Reading Detectives, Text Features, Figurative Language, Point of View, Parts of Speech
- Science: Energy, Speed & Collisions, Energy on the Move, Forms of Energy, Waves & Codes, Sound
- Social Studies: States & Capitals, Reconstruction, Colonial Regions & Work, The American Revolution, Building a Government
Common questions
5th grade covers math, English language arts, science, social studies in the Alabama Course of Study. In 5th grade, students add, subtract, multiply and divide with decimals, add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators, and work with volume and the coordinate plane, and write longer pieces with evidence. Social studies brings Alabama and US history to the present: the world wars, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement in Montgomery, Birmingham and Selma, and the space program in Huntsville.
Alabama has no statewide report-card scale in 5th grade, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. Students in 5th grade also write the Alabama state tests (ACAP), which is separate from the report card.
Practice shows a solid understanding of the content standards. Most answers are right on the first try. At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
5th grade builds on 4th grade. In math, that means Numbers to 10,000, Add & Subtract, Multiply & Divide. In English language arts, that means Reading Detectives, Text Features, Figurative Language.
About 15 minutes a day of short practice works better than long sessions, on the skills your child's teacher flags. Look for fractions, decimals and percentages in sale signs, sports statistics and recipes. Read what they are interested in: graphic novels, sports pages, series. Then talk about it. Praise effort, and stop on a success.
Practice 5th grade skills with Gradelings
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