Mrs. Kathman - Room 209
Math, Science & Social Studies
My name is Stefanie Kathman. This is my fourth year at Nativity and I am really looking forward to it! I hope to have another great year full of fun, excitement, learning, and adventure!
Course Description
Math
Students will have Math for 45 minutes everyday. Fifth grade math curriculum consists of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers and decimals as well as fractions. We also cover ratios, proportions and percents. The fifth grade also learns about data analysis, geometry and measurement. We focus on applied mathematics, which is relating math to our everyday lives.
Science
Fifth graders have Science for 45 minutes everyday. We cover earth and space science, physical science, and life science. Some topics that we discuss include stars, the environment and air quality, matter, chemistry, light, sound, and sources of energy. We conduct several hands-on experiments and focus on labs that help students be involved in their own learning. The fourth quarter is dedicated to Health where we study our body systems and how to keep our bodies healthy.
Social Studies
Students will have Social Studies for 40 minutes everyday. We cover the Ancient World, which includes Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient India, Ancient Egypt, Ancient China, Ancient Rome, and Ancient Greece. The students will learn about the geography of the Earth as well. We will discuss the geographer’s tools such as different types of maps and their uses. In addition, the Earth’s physical geography along with Earth’s human geography will be taught. We also study the maps of the world for the Nativity monthly map tests.
1st Quarter Review The first quarter has come to an end! We have already accomplished so much as fifth graders! The students have adjusted very well to the classroom rules and procedures, and continue to improve everyday!
Math: We have worked with adding, subtracting, and multiplying whole numbers and decimals. We have also learned about problem solving and working with word problems. We have used and variables to write and solve algebraic expressions. Our trip to the zoo allowed us to work with different areas of measurement as well. We have focused on understanding that “math is everywhere” and relate math to our everyday lives.
Science: The fifth graders have learned about Earth’s Resources. We learned about saving our planet and protecting Earth’s resources. We discussed alternative energy sources and looked at the advantages and disadvantages for each. We learned about recycling, and we even made our own recycled paper! With the help of our guest speaker, Mr. David Lowry from ERH, we determined what items were considered recyclable and when certain items were ready to be recycled. We also became “up to date” with the new additions to what was able to be recycled in Cincinnati. We also learned about Earth in Space, along with stars and galaxies.
Social Studies: We have worked with both Ancient World and Geography. In Geography we learned all about the geographer’s tools and the 5 themes of geography. In the Ancient World we have learned about the beginnings of Human society and have discovered Ancient Mesopotamia. The first quarter map tests included the Continents & Island Nations in September and North America in October.
2nd Quarter Preview
In the second quarter we continue and expand on the concepts that we have previously learned.
Math: We will focus on division at the beginning of the second quarter. We will divide by one and 2-digit numbers. We will learn the divisibility rules, and recognize prime and composite numbers. We will also use prime factorization to find the greatest common factor (GCF) and least common multiple (LCM). We will continue to have weekly reviews that help students review their basic skills and also what we have done so far this year.
We will also continue to focus on how to answer word problems and extended response questions while relating math to the “real world”.
Science: The second quarter helps us to expand our knowledge of Earth in Space, where we learn more about the solar system as well as space exploration. We will also begin Chemistry in the 2nd quarter. We will begin with talking about matter, mass, volume, and density. We will discuss chemical properties and physical properties, as well as chemical and physical changes. The students will also discover elements and explore atoms. We will work with mixtures and solutions this quarter as well.
Social Studies: We will continue to discover the Ancient World in the 2nd quarter, with our Mesopotamia Projects that focus on early inventions. We will also be writing our names in cuneiform. We will continue with geography as well, learning about Earth’s Physical and Human geography.
Current Events will continue in the second quarter with the focus changing each month. November is global current events, December is local current events, and January is National current events. The students are responsible for finding an appropriate article and writing a summary reviewing the main ideas of the article and a reflection based on their opinion of the article. These are due every Friday, unless otherwise noted.
The second quarter map tests include: South America in November and Canada in December.
First Quarter Preview
Math: During the first quarter we will discover decimals and use place value to compare and order both whole numbers and decimals. We will add, subtract, and multiply whole numbers and decimals. We will learn the divisibility rules, and use them to divide whole numbers using long division. We will also learn strategies for solving word problems.
Science: We will have a very busy first quarter in science. We will focus on the environment and how we can do our part to protect it. We will learn about alternative energy sources, as well as how we can conserve our resources. Students will work to design their own alternative energy source. We will make our own recycled paper during the Friendship Journey.
Social Studies: During the first quarter of social studies, we will study the beginnings of Civilizations, starting with Ancient Mesopotamia. We will also learn about Earth's physical and human geography by focusing on the five themes of geography and the geographer's tools.
Course Description
Math
Students will have Math for 45 minutes everyday. Fifth grade math curriculum consists of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers and decimals as well as fractions. We also cover ratios, proportions and percents. The fifth grade also learns about data analysis, geometry and measurement. We focus on applied mathematics, which is relating math to our everyday lives.
Science
Fifth graders have Science for 45 minutes everyday. We cover earth and space science, physical science, and life science. Some topics that we discuss include stars, the environment and air quality, matter, chemistry, light, sound, and sources of energy. We conduct several hands-on experiments and focus on labs that help students be involved in their own learning. The fourth quarter is dedicated to Health where we study our body systems and how to keep our bodies healthy.
Social Studies
Students will have Social Studies for 40 minutes everyday. We cover the Ancient World, which includes Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient India, Ancient Egypt, Ancient China, Ancient Rome, and Ancient Greece. The students will learn about the geography of the Earth as well. We will discuss the geographer’s tools such as different types of maps and their uses. In addition, the Earth’s physical geography along with Earth’s human geography will be taught. We also study the maps of the world for the Nativity monthly map tests.
1st Quarter Review The first quarter has come to an end! We have already accomplished so much as fifth graders! The students have adjusted very well to the classroom rules and procedures, and continue to improve everyday!
Math: We have worked with adding, subtracting, and multiplying whole numbers and decimals. We have also learned about problem solving and working with word problems. We have used and variables to write and solve algebraic expressions. Our trip to the zoo allowed us to work with different areas of measurement as well. We have focused on understanding that “math is everywhere” and relate math to our everyday lives.
Science: The fifth graders have learned about Earth’s Resources. We learned about saving our planet and protecting Earth’s resources. We discussed alternative energy sources and looked at the advantages and disadvantages for each. We learned about recycling, and we even made our own recycled paper! With the help of our guest speaker, Mr. David Lowry from ERH, we determined what items were considered recyclable and when certain items were ready to be recycled. We also became “up to date” with the new additions to what was able to be recycled in Cincinnati. We also learned about Earth in Space, along with stars and galaxies.
Social Studies: We have worked with both Ancient World and Geography. In Geography we learned all about the geographer’s tools and the 5 themes of geography. In the Ancient World we have learned about the beginnings of Human society and have discovered Ancient Mesopotamia. The first quarter map tests included the Continents & Island Nations in September and North America in October.
2nd Quarter Preview
In the second quarter we continue and expand on the concepts that we have previously learned.
Math: We will focus on division at the beginning of the second quarter. We will divide by one and 2-digit numbers. We will learn the divisibility rules, and recognize prime and composite numbers. We will also use prime factorization to find the greatest common factor (GCF) and least common multiple (LCM). We will continue to have weekly reviews that help students review their basic skills and also what we have done so far this year.
We will also continue to focus on how to answer word problems and extended response questions while relating math to the “real world”.
Science: The second quarter helps us to expand our knowledge of Earth in Space, where we learn more about the solar system as well as space exploration. We will also begin Chemistry in the 2nd quarter. We will begin with talking about matter, mass, volume, and density. We will discuss chemical properties and physical properties, as well as chemical and physical changes. The students will also discover elements and explore atoms. We will work with mixtures and solutions this quarter as well.
Social Studies: We will continue to discover the Ancient World in the 2nd quarter, with our Mesopotamia Projects that focus on early inventions. We will also be writing our names in cuneiform. We will continue with geography as well, learning about Earth’s Physical and Human geography.
Current Events will continue in the second quarter with the focus changing each month. November is global current events, December is local current events, and January is National current events. The students are responsible for finding an appropriate article and writing a summary reviewing the main ideas of the article and a reflection based on their opinion of the article. These are due every Friday, unless otherwise noted.
The second quarter map tests include: South America in November and Canada in December.
First Quarter Preview
Math: During the first quarter we will discover decimals and use place value to compare and order both whole numbers and decimals. We will add, subtract, and multiply whole numbers and decimals. We will learn the divisibility rules, and use them to divide whole numbers using long division. We will also learn strategies for solving word problems.
Science: We will have a very busy first quarter in science. We will focus on the environment and how we can do our part to protect it. We will learn about alternative energy sources, as well as how we can conserve our resources. Students will work to design their own alternative energy source. We will make our own recycled paper during the Friendship Journey.
Social Studies: During the first quarter of social studies, we will study the beginnings of Civilizations, starting with Ancient Mesopotamia. We will also learn about Earth's physical and human geography by focusing on the five themes of geography and the geographer's tools.
