5th grade curriculum

[Mary Ellen Jansson]

Does anyone have a 5th grade curriculum they are willing to share? This is my first year teaching this grade and I need some help! Any ideas or help would be appreciated!

[Sandy Croushore]

My 5th graders favorite activity is Clay Animation.  Groups develop a story, create clay creatures and settings in shoeboxes, shoot digital pictures, and put the pictures into the software.  I used to use PowerPoint, but importing the pictures got to be tedious.  Now I use iMovie on the Macs, which imports the pictures very quickly.  They also find free music (incompetech.com) and add titles.  They are completely engrossed!

We also work on how to use search engines and cite sources.  Last year I discovered a free download education game called Wolfquest.  Students play the part of a wolf looking for a mate.  They have to learn how to control the wolf correctly in order to accomplish the goal.  After I introduced it last year, many of my students downloaded it at home and cam into the next class with tips on how to play effectively.  They beg to play every week!