 Stuart Hall’s curriculum is strong across the
board, but the School is particularly noted for its
emphasis on developing critical reading and
writing skills through a “Writing Across the
Curriculum” approach. Stuart Hall students learn
grammar; they diagram sentences. A solid
foundation is laid for moving into Middle School
and for the rigorous curriculum that extends all
the way to Advanced Placement courses in the
Upper School. Stuart Hall believes that the
groundwork for college also begins at this level — groundwork that is facilitated by the practice of
note taking, learning organizational skills and time
management, and emphasis on critical thinking
skills, all of which are embedded within the fifth
grade curriculum.
GRADE 5
Language Arts 5, Literature 5, Math 5, Social
Studies 5, Science 5, Physical Education and
Health 5, and Computer, Art, Music, and
Performance (CAMP).
LANGUAGE ARTS 5
Language Arts 5 fine-tunes students’ skills in
spelling, grammar, word usage, mechanics, and
composition. Diagramming sentences enables
students to visualize the relationship of words and
to develop a better understanding of clear, accurate
writing. The use of graphic organizers aids students
in writing narrative, descriptive, expository, and
persuasive paragraphs as well as essays.
LITERATURE 5
Literature 5 approaches reading strategies,
comprehension skills, vocabulary, grammar, and
writing skills thematically. Each theme is
explored through literary genres such as tall
tales, poetry, plays, biographies, and
autobiographies.
 MATH 5
Math 5 engages students in an arithmetic
approach to mathematics. Students review to
master skills in basic operations involving
whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and
percentages, while being introduced to an
understanding of the algebraic process. Other
topics include number theory, graphing data,
geometry, measurement, ratio, and probability.
Problem-solving skills are emphasized
throughout the course. At the end of the year,
students will be prepared to make the transition
from an arithmetic approach to an algebraic
approach to mathematics in sixth grade.
SOCIAL STUDIES 5
Social Studies 5 examines historical events from
the earliest days to 1865. “Time Encounters,”
“The English Colonies,” “The American
Revolution,” and “A New Nation” will be the
main units covered throughout the year. Map
skills, chart and graph skills, citizenship skills, and
reading and writing skills are addressed in each
unit. Note taking skills and using study guides are
emphasized through the yearlong study of
American history.
SCIENCE 5
Science 5 provides an integrated approach to
science through units on “Life Science,” “Earth
Science,” and “Physical Science.” Study includes
processes that change the earth, living systems,
energy and motion, the solar system, and the
building blocks of matter. Students learn and use
the scientific method in conducting experiments.
Lab reports emphasize writing and critical thinking
skills by making inferences, describing observations,
and drawing conclusions. Note-taking skills and the
use of study guides are emphasized throughout the
course. To provide a more in-depth study of certain
topics, students research and prepare reports,
projects, and oral presentations.
PE AND HEALTH 5–6
The fifth and sixth grade Physical Education
class has been designed to help the students
master the skills and rules of several sports and
activities. Emphasis will be on participation and
effort versus skill and ability. This class was
designed to include all skill levels.
In fifth grade Health, emphasis will be on the
human body and its systems.
CAMP
The CAMP — Computer, Art, Music, and
Performance — program introduces these areas of
study. The objectives of the program include
sequential skill building, the acquisition of
knowledge, and the development of selfconfidence.
Each year, students in grades 5–8
rotate through the four disciplines. In addition to
acquiring a broad-based understanding of the
arts, it is anticipated that students will be better
prepared for Upper School.
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