Project Time
In fifth grade we introduce an hour per day of scheduled project time. This is time consecrated for your child to work on a project of his or her choice.
What counts as a project? A project can be anything with educational or experiential value, which has a fixed goal and a tangible result. This may be a creative endeavor, learning a new skill, or organizing an event.
Setting aside a specific time for projects benefits your child in many ways. It creates space for the exploration of new interests and the furthering of existing ones. It develops the ideation, planning and execution skills which are at a premium as work becomes more automated. Children who are accustomed to initiating and completing projects develop resourcefulness and a can-do attitude, and are better placed to acquire new skills as technological change accelerates. Perhaps most important, it fosters a love of building and creating which will enrich your child's life regardless of his or her chosen career path.
History & Geography
This year, your fifth grader will study modern world history with its focus on the birth of modern nation states. This is an appropriate time to focus on geography. By the end of the year, your child will be able to label every country in the world on a map. (American states will be learned in middle school, when your child studies US history.)
Math
If your child has been completing one math level per year, this will be the final grade of the Beast Academy curriculum. After this, we begin Art of Problem Solving's successor middle school math curriculum, starting with Prealgebra. If you would like more time to complete the Beast Academy levels, simply edit the Beast Academy end date and Prealgebra start date as needed. The Prealgebra course is challenging and may be started in seventh, eighth or even ninth grade without detriment to your child's math education.
Writing
This year introduces the Writing with Skill series, the successor to the Writing with Ease books completed in earlier grades. These books also provide four daily lessons per week, but we suggest completing only two lessons per week to allow time for creative writing and other assignments. At this pace, each Writing with Skill level can be completed over the course of two years.
Depending on your child's interest, allocate one to three days per week to creative writing. Allow your child to choose what to write about: he or she may opt to keep a diary of personal events, mail letters to family members or even write a book. The book 500 Writing Prompts for Kids provides plenty of ideas. The Cliffhanger Writing Prompts is another good way to inspire young writers.
Art
This year's art curriculum introduces painting with watercolor pencils. Be sure to allow at least a few hours per week for your child to complete the art lesson and project to his or her satisfaction.
Reading
Your child should be able to read this year's literature selections independently. You may nevertheless opt to continue reading aloud together as long as you and your child enjoy it. If you do, make sure to allow your child at least an hour per day of personal reading time as well.