Fifth Grade Learning Goals

These goals are suggestions based on state standards. As always, each child learns differently and at a different pace, this is to act as a guide for subjects and also help with the order of presenting info to your learner. If your child needs a refresh or is missing some concepts, please refer to our Fourth Grade Learning Goals post to review.

In fifth grade, students will practice more complex mathematical concepts such as exponents, decimals, fractions and more. They will read and understand new vocabulary in science and social studies as well significantly improve their grammar skills. They will expand their knowledge about the scientific method, historical events and important historical figures.

Below are some of the skills and concepts a fifth grade education should include.

Comparing and contrasting topics and themes
Using linking words and writing a conclusion
Multiplying two fractions using an area model
Understanding how Earth’s four spheres interact within the water cycle
Knowing and locating different climate zones around the world

Math Objectives for 5th Grade

Below are just some of the 5th grade math objectives your child is expected to achieve. Finding a comprehensive and effective fifth grade math curriculum will ensure your child is learning all the important concepts and topics necessary to move on to sixth grade.

Use place value to add, subtract, multiply and divide decimals
Apply formulas to solve various customary length/weight/capacity/temperature problems
Calculate the probability of an event

Below are some concepts a fifth grader should know.

Rounding numbers to the nearest ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand and hundred thousand
Using partial products and mental multiplication
Dividing with two-digit divisors
Ordering and comparing fractions
Comparing perimeter and area

Reading Goals/Objectives for 5th Grade

In fifth grade, students read a mix of literary and informational texts to strengthen their reading fluency and comprehension skills as well as expand their vocabulary.

Below are just some of the reading goals that fifth grade language arts activities should help your child achieve.

Summarize and paraphrase information from a text
Read and interpret charts, graphs and other graphic representations in a text
Analyze a writer’s point of view and compare points of view from various writers on the same topic

Writing Goals/Objectives for 5th Grade

Writing skills will continue to be polished and built upon this year. A fifth grade language arts curriculum will help students learn and master tons of new writing concepts including the following:

Use interjections, prepositions and conjunctions for more descriptive and elaborate writing
Understand each of the five stages of the writing process: planning, drafting, revising, editing, publishing
Write a narrative complete with an event, narrator and characters

Grammar Goals/Objectives for 5th Grade

Fifth grade language arts activities should provide students with plenty of opportunities to learn and practice new grammar skills in order to enhance their writing and communication. Below are some of the grammar goals and objectives that a 5th grade language arts curriculum should help your child achieve.

Use punctuation in titles correctly with proper capitalization, quotation marks, underscore, and italics
Use correlative conjunctions correctly in a sentence: not only/but also, either/or, neither/nor
Use perfect verb tense correctly and understand how they convey time of events

Science Objectives for 5th Grade

By the end of this year, students should be able to achieve a number of objectives and gain various new skills. Below are a few concepts that a 5th grade science curriculum should help your child master.

Understand the movement of matter among producers, consumers, and decomposers in an ecosystem
Knowledge of the different changes of state, chemical reactions, solutions and mixtures
Identify solutions that help reduce negative impact on the Earth

Below are some of the skills and concepts your child will be learning this year.

Comparing and describing different properties of matter such as state, texture, and mass
The four different spheres of the Earth (biosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere)
The relationship of the sun, Earth, and moon to shadows, constellations and yearly patterns

Social Studies Objectives for 5th Grade

By the end of this year, students should have a good understanding of ancient civilizations and the exploration and colonization of North America and the impact these had on human history.

Some of the social studies objectives our online curriculum will help your child achieve this year include:

Explain the new system of democracy in Ancient Greece and how it would impact future governments throughout the world
Demonstrate an understanding of U.S. history during the Westward Expansion period from 1820-1850
Locate all 50 U.S. states on a map as well as their capitals

Below are just a few other topics your child will learn about this year.