What’s Happening in January for Fifth Grade?

5th Grade – January Curriculum Overview

 

Welcome to January! Our theme this month is Renewal—a time to refresh our minds, set new intentions, and bring positive energy into our learning. We’ll focus on starting the new year with curiosity, kindness, and a renewed sense of purpose. There are four instructional weeks this month, with no school on Monday, January 19, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Take a moment that week to learn about Dr. King’s dream for equality and how we can help others in our communities.

Week 21 (Jan 5–8): New Beginnings

• Language Arts
  • Reading: Read a story or article about fresh starts or personal growth.
    Reading Log: Read daily and record title, author, minutes, and a short reflection. Submit logs in Google Classroom at the month’s end.
  • Writing/Grammar: Write about a time you tried something new or set a goal for yourself.
  • Spelling (Renewal Words):
    • Week 21 words: renew, begin, change, goal, fresh, resolve, growth, habit, journey, improve
    • Weekly spelling routine (Mon–Thu):
      • Daily: Study flashcards or use StudyStack for practice.
      • Monday: Write definitions for each word.
      • Tuesday: Use each word in a sentence.
      • Wednesday: Copy each word in cursive or type it three times.
      • Thursday: Take the online spelling quiz or submit a written test in Google Classroom.
• Math: Review place value and practice multi-digit multiplication/division.
• Science: Explore the water cycle as a symbol of renewal. Try a simple evaporation experiment.
• Social Studies/History: Learn about New Year traditions around the world.
• Music: Listen to a song about new beginnings. How does music make you feel hopeful?
• Art: Create a “New Year, New Me” self-portrait or collage.
• PE: 20–30 minutes of movement most days. Log activity in Google Classroom.

Week 22 (Jan 12–15): Setting Intentions

• Language Arts
  • Reading: Read a biography of someone who made a positive change.
    Reading Log: Continue daily entries and reflections.
  • Writing/Grammar: Write a letter to your future self with your hopes for the year.
  • Spelling (Intentions & Growth):
    • Week 22 words: intention, focus, effort, courage, plan, achieve, wish, support, mindful, progress
    • Weekly spelling routine (Mon–Thu):
      • Daily: Study flashcards or use StudyStack for practice.
      • Monday: Write definitions for each word.
      • Tuesday: Use each word in a sentence.
      • Wednesday: Copy each word in cursive or type it three times.
      • Thursday: Take the online spelling quiz or submit a written test in Google Classroom.
• Math: Practice fractions and decimals in real-life scenarios (cooking, shopping, etc.).
• Science: Investigate plant growth and how living things renew themselves.
• Social Studies/History: Study someone who made a difference by setting big goals.
• Music: Learn a new song or instrument technique. What’s challenging about learning something new?
• Art: Draw or paint a picture representing your goals for the year.
• PE: 20–30 minutes of movement most days. Log activity in Google Classroom.

Week 23 (Jan 19–22): Dreaming Big (No School Monday – MLK Jr. Day)

• Language Arts
  • Reading: Read about Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement.
    Reading Log: Continue daily entries and reflections.
  • Writing/Grammar: Write about your own dream for a kinder, fairer world. What can you do to help others?
  • Spelling (Dream & Justice):
    • Week 23 words: dream, justice, peace, equality, kindness, speech, inspire, unite, freedom, respect
    • Weekly spelling routine (Tue–Fri):
      • Daily: Study flashcards or use StudyStack for practice.
      • Tuesday: Write definitions for each word.
      • Wednesday: Use each word in a sentence.
      • Thursday: Copy each word in cursive or type it three times.
      • Friday: Take the online spelling quiz or submit a written test in Google Classroom.
• Math: Explore patterns and sequences—what comes next?
• Science: Learn about inventors and inventions that changed the world.
• Social Studies/History: Discuss the Civil Rights Movement and Dr. King’s legacy.
• Music: Listen to or sing “We Shall Overcome” or another song of hope.
• Art: Make a poster or mural about your dreams for your community.
• PE: 20–30 minutes of movement most days. Log activity in Google Classroom.

Week 24 (Jan 26–29): Fresh Starts & Looking Forward

• Language Arts
  • Reading: Choose a book or article that inspires you to try something new.
    Reading Log: Complete and submit your January reading log in Google Classroom.
  • Writing/Grammar: Write a story about a character who faces a challenge and grows from it.
  • Spelling (Renewal & Hope):
    • Week 24 words: hope, challenge, renew, brave, future, learn, adapt, support, imagine, succeed
    • Weekly spelling routine (Mon–Thu):
      • Daily: Study flashcards or use StudyStack for practice.
      • Monday: Write definitions for each word.
      • Tuesday: Use each word in a sentence.
      • Wednesday: Copy each word in cursive or type it three times.
      • Thursday: Take the online spelling quiz or submit a written test in Google Classroom.
• Math: Review and practice key math concepts from this month.
• Science: Reflect on how science helps us grow and solve problems.
• Social Studies/History: Share something new you learned about a person or place this month.
• Music: Create a playlist of songs that help you feel renewed or hopeful.
• Art: Make a “January Reflections” collage or drawing.
• PE: 20–30 minutes of movement most days. Log activity in Google Classroom.

Fun Fridays (Jan 9, 16, 23, 30)

• Jan 9 – New Year’s Art: Create a vision board for 2026.
• Jan 16 – Kindness Challenge: Do a random act of kindness and share your story.
• Jan 23 – MLK Reflection: Watch a short video or read a story about Dr. King. Talk about what “dream” means to you.
• Jan 30 – Winter Nature Walk: Go outside and notice signs of renewal in nature.

Recommended Free Resources

• Khan Academy – Literature & Writing
• Purdue OWL – Writing & Grammar
• ReadWriteThink – Elementary ELA
• iCivics – Government & Social Studies

January is all about fresh starts, setting intentions, and believing in your ability to grow. Let’s renew our energy and curiosity together!