What your child learns in 5th grade in New York
In 5th grade, students add, subtract, multiply and divide with fractions, work with decimals, volume and the coordinate plane, and write longer pieces with evidence. Science covers matter, ecosystems, gravity and Earth's systems, and students take the elementary-level science test. Social studies is “The Western Hemisphere”: early peoples and civilizations of the Americas, European exploration, and the geography, cultures and governments of North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
5th grade subjects in the New York State Learning Standards
Math
Focus areas
- Number and operations: operations with fractions and decimals, powers of 10, and the order of operations
- Measurement, data and geometry: volume, converting units, the coordinate plane, and sorting shapes by their properties
- 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: plot and structure, how visuals and media add meaning
- Writing: research questions, taking notes and avoiding plagiarism
- Language: context clues, Greek and Latin roots, complex sentences and punctuation
17 units, including Plot and Conflict, Figurative Language, Purpose and Structure, Context Clues.
Science
Focus areas
- Matter and its changes
- Food webs, ecosystems and gravity
- Earth's systems, the sun and the stars
12 units, including Solutions & Mixtures, Solid, Liquid, Gas, Changes of State, Physical or Chemical?.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- The first peoples of the Americas and the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Inca and Mississippian civilizations
- European exploration, the Columbian Exchange and the transatlantic slave trade
- The geography, countries, capitals and cultures of the Western Hemisphere
12 units, including Maya, Aztec & Inca, Exploration & Exchange, First Peoples of the Americas, Civilizations of the Americas.
Printable 5th grade sheets
One free practice sheet for each subject, with an answer key. Print them, or work through them on screen.
- 5th grade MathNumbers to a Million, MultiplyOpen the sheet →
- 5th grade English Language ArtsPlot and Conflict, Figurative LanguageOpen the sheet →
- 5th grade ScienceSolutions & Mixtures, Solid, Liquid, GasOpen the sheet →
- 5th grade Social StudiesMaya, Aztec & Inca, Exploration & ExchangeOpen the sheet →
What to look for on the report card
Look for comments on problem solving, supporting ideas with evidence and independent research. State test scores are separate from the report card.
New York 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 New York State tests (grades 3–8). Read the state tests guide.
New York's social emotional learning benchmarks apply in every grade. Read about Social emotional learning.
The four practice steps in 5th grade
- Beginning
- Practice shows a first understanding of the learning 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 learning 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 learning 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 learning 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: Sense & Respond, Light, Sound, Adaptations & Habitats, Energy on the Move
- Social Studies: New York's Land & Maps, Haudenosaunee & Algonquian Peoples, Explorers & New Netherland, Wars for New York, Governing New York
Common questions
5th grade covers math, English language arts, science, social studies in the New York State Learning Standards. In 5th grade, students add, subtract, multiply and divide with fractions, work with decimals, volume and the coordinate plane, and write longer pieces with evidence. Science covers matter, ecosystems, gravity and Earth's systems, and students take the elementary-level science test. Social studies is “The Western Hemisphere”: early peoples and civilizations of the Americas, European exploration, and the geography, cultures and governments of North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
New York 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 New York State tests (grades 3–8), which is separate from the report card.
Practice shows a solid understanding of the learning 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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