I’ve saved Miss 10 for last because I’ve been writing these in grade order. If you’d like to see what I’m doing with my other kids, check out our preschool, 2nd grade, and 3rd grade plans. Miss 10 loves science and art and spends hours of her time every day reading about science and drawing. So this year, we’re science-heavy and art-heavy to follow her interests. We’re especially excited to use our microscope and telescope a lot this year. Without further ado, here’s what we’re doing for 5th grade.
Language Arts
Spelling and Word Study
We aim to finish Spelling Workout E and start Spelling Workout F this year. We also plan on working through Critical Thinking Company’s Word Roots Books 1 and 2.
Grammar
We’ve got just a bit of First Langauge Lessons 4 to finish up before we start working through Grammar Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind.
Writing
We’ll be using Zaner-Bloser’s Handwriting 5 for penmanship. We’re also using Writing with Skill Level 1. We’ll be doing Partnership Writing Projects again this year from Brave Writer and Brave Writer Arrows. In addition, we’re following Torchlight’s Equity and Ethics program and will participate in their writing projects and NaNoWriMo (we’ll take time from other things so she can focus on that).
Literature
Miss 10 reads a lot on her own and is a fast reader. For literature this year, I’ve combined Blossom and Root 5, Build Your Library 5, and Torchlight’s Level 5 Equity and Ethics programs. In addition, we’ll be doing some of the longer read-alouds from River of Voices and Oh Freedom! We’re excited to dig into Frindle, Esperanza Rising, Planet Earth Is Blue, The Girl and the Ghost, and so much more this year. She keeps picking up our stack of literature books to peruse them.
Mathematics
We’re doing Singapore Math and wrapping up the Primary Math US Standards edition. If we keep at the pace she’s been at the last few years, we’ll likely be looking at a pre-algebra program for next year. If not, that’s okay too. Our goal is to get through 5B, though I think we’ll get further than that.
Logic
For logic this year, I’m using the Blast off with Logic Trilogy (Logic Countdown, Logic Liftoff, and Orbiting with Logic), Critical Thinking Company’s The Basics of Critical Thinking, and Ali Almossawi’s An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments.
World Languages
Latin
We’ll finish Grammar School Latin by Memoria Press before starting First Form Latin and taking the Exploratory Latin Exam this year.
German
Miss 10 will continue using Duolingo to learn German, as she has been for a couple of years.
Social Studies
Geography and Equity and Ethics
We’re using Torchlight’s program for this. I’m also adding state studies from Blossom and Root into the mix. We’ll also be using Torchlight’s The Art of Navigating Finance.
U.S. History Part 1
We’re using Build Your Library Level 5, River of Voices Volume 1, and the first half of Volume 2 to study US History up to (but not including) the Civil War. I also use the first half of Woke Homeschooling’s “Oh Freedom!” curriculum.
Science
We’re doing a lot of science this year. I’m using Pandia Press’s REAL Science Odessey Biology 2, Blossom and Root’s Level 5 Wonders of Worlds Beyond – Oceanography and Astronomy, and Scientific Connections Through Inquiry Level 5. We’re super excited about our science plans for this year. We’ve got our microscope and telescope all ready to go! I also have a robust library list of books for reading alongside our studies.
Arts & Music
We’re doing Glitterbombers, Blossom and Root’s 9 Profiles in Art Volumes 1 and 2, and art projects suggested in Torchlight, Build Your Library, and The Art of Rock and Roll Volume 1.
Extracurricular Activities
Miss 10 is a second-year Girl Scout Junior and will be working on earning her Bronze Award. The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest award a 4th or 5th grader can earn and requires at least 20 hours of work on a sustainable project that helps improve our community. Her project idea involves working with community organizations that serve the unhoused. She’s also been asking to play soccer and for cooking classes.
There you have it all of our plans for the year. We have our books and plans ready and even have more books at the library today! I will update you throughout the year on how our plans are going.
Just a Secular Homeschooler 