Your Fifth-Grader and Math

Here are some excerpts from a recent e-mail newsletter that I received from GreatSchools.net:

Problem-Solving and Real-World Math

In a thriving math classroom the teacher engages students to problem-solve and use mathematical reasoning to do tasks that are of interest and appropriateness to the students.

Wendy Miller, our teacher consultant and North Carolina’s 2006 Teacher of the Year, explains that your child will be building on material that’s been previously introduced so that she can master it. “Fifth-graders will experience a spiraling and challenging curriculum,” she says. “There will be a blend of understanding math concepts and applying skills to solve real-world problems. The fifth-grade classroom should provide students an opportunity to use problem-solving strategies to solve authentic tasks."

Geometry

Geometry is the study of points, lines, shapes and figures. It provides students with an understanding of the structure of space and spatial relations. Your fifth-grader learns about the characteristics and relationship between points, lines, line segments, rays, planes and shapes. She explores angles and measures right, acute and obtuse angles using a protractor. She will also explore and understand the properties of different kinds of triangles such as equilateral, right, scalene and isosceles triangles.

Miller explains: "Geometry is a part of everyday life for many professionals. Graphic designers, landscapers, and architects use geometry daily to express their creativity. Math is more than numbers. Math is a form of art when using geometry to solve authentic problems."

Learning about polygons

Your child learns about polygons, which are closed figures formed by line segments. She will construct and measure polygons with up to 10 sides. She will also find the perimeter of polygons. She will use the formula a=lw to find the area of a polygon and will begin to use a formula to find the volume of a prism.

Exploring graphs

Your child continues to use graphs and coordinate systems to identify, locate and plot ordered pairs of whole numbers. A coordinate graph is a grid with four sections with a horizontal x-axis and a vertical y-axis. Your child will be placing points on the graph with a horizontal and vertical value. Graphing is a skill that can help students make the connection between subjects. Science and social studies are areas in which students will use graphing to gain a better understanding of other subject areas. Students will not only develop their own graphs, they will use graphs as an information tool.