5th Grade Lessons

In 5th grade, many new and exciting concepts are learned and mastered. The lesson plans below can help guide your instruction. Many of the Math and Language Arts lessons are aligned with the Common Core State Standards - making integration into an existing curriculum very simple. The lessons come from the talented teachers in our Teacher.org community. The 5th grade section will continuously grow as more teachers submit their work. Contact us if you have lessons that you would like to share . You have the power to inspire our future!

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5th Grade Arts Lesson Plans

Camouflage and Environment

Length of Time: 30 Minutes

Students will make butterflies of various colors and then they will experience the advantage that butterflies that are the same color as their environment have against predators.

Christmas Around the World Part 1

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

This lesson combines Visual Arts with Social Studies. Students will read about how Christmas is celebrated in different parts of the world and draw a scene depicting that location.

Christmas Around the World Part 2

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

This lesson combines Music and Social Studies. Students will listen to and learn Christmas songs from around the world and analyze.

Fairy Tale Fun

Length of Time: Varies depending on grade level and depth of project

In this performing arts lesson, students will rewrite a well-known fairy tale to include a great deal of dialogue and then act out that fairy tale (creation of props is optional as is taping the performance).

Kwanzaa Art

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

Students will discuss the 7 principals of Kwanzaa and then draw pictures of an example of each.

Making a Menorah

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

Students will make a beautiful vibrant menorah using art supplies while learning about the background.

Mini Diorama

Length of Time: Several Class Periods

This visual arts lesson will allow students to share some personal interests in the form of a diorama. Sample rubric included.

Paper Mache Zoo

Length of Time: Varies depending on grade level and depth of project

In this visual arts lesson, students will create zoo animals (or any animals) using paper mache. The ‘zoo’ can be displayed in the classroom or in a localized area of the school.

Theater in Action

Length of Time: About 2 Class Periods

Students will write and perform a scene from the story, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Upside Down Art

Length of Time: 20 minutes to 2 hours depending on grade level

This lesson will allow students to practice creating art from a unique perspective while learning about Michelangelo.

5th Grade English/Language Arts Lesson Plans

Collaborative Questioning

Length of Time: About 60 - 90 Minutes

Students will read a teacher selected, standards-based science or history text. Students will then develop questions based on Costa’s levels of questioning to encourage collaborative discussion of the reading.

Explain Those Idioms

Length of Time: 30 - 40 Minutes

Students will recognize idioms for their actual as well as realized meaning.

Fable Lesson: What is a Fable?

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

In this  fable lesson, students will use Internet sources, graphic organizers and group activities to analyze and discuss the characteristics and story lines of two different fables, "The Owl and The Grasshopper" and "The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse." After students read and brainstorm story elements of the folktales, they will then write a fable of their own.

Hiding Homophones

Length of Time: 30 - 40 Minutes

This lesson offers a simple introduction or refresher course in homophones, words that are pronounced the same, but spell and mean differently. Students will create a visual reminder of some of the more common homophones.  

Moody Reading: Reading with Expression

Length of Time: Varied Depending on Usage

This lesson will be used to help students understand how to read with expression by choosing an expression to read with regardless of what is written.

Parts of Speech BINGO

Length of Time: 10 Minutes/Game

Students will recognize and identify basic parts of speech: preposition, noun, verb, adjective through a simple game.

Short Stories

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

This lesson is designed to help students ask questions and support answers by connecting prior knowledge with literal information found in, and inferred from, the text.

Tearing Into Vocabulary

Length of Time: 15-30 Minutes

This is a quick activity to allow students to work cooperatively while increasing awareness of vocabulary for a given lesson.

Theater in Action

Length of Time: About 2 Class Periods

Students will write and perform a scene from the story, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Writing Narratives

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

In this lesson, students will use a graphic organizer for narrative writing.

Writing to a Photograph

Length of Time: About 45-60 Minutes

Students will develop a plan for a fictional story based on a picture.

5th Grade Environmental Lesson Plans

Angles in Nature

Length of Time: 50 - 60 Minutes

Students will take a walk outside with their protractor and measure the angles in nature. They will record the angles that they find in branches, trees, bushes, flowers, etc… and then determine the supplementary angle.

Biosphere

Length of Time: 30 - 45 Minutes

This lesson will allow students to create a self sustaining biosphere.

Camouflage and Environment

Length of Time: 30 Minutes

Students will make butterflies of various colors and then they will experience the advantage that butterflies that are the same color as their environment have against predators.

Ozone Layer

Length of Time: 1-2 Class Periods

Students will think about how people affect the environment and what they can do to help it and prevent further damage.

Rainfall Gauge

Length of Time: 20 - 30 Minutes

This lesson will allow students to learn about the rain amounts in their area as well as offer a hands-on science experiment that could lead to discussions about the water cycle.

Save the World

Length of Time: Two 45 Minute Lessons

This lesson is intended to motivate students to become environmental superheroes.

5th Grade Math Lesson Plans

Angles in Nature

Length of Time: 50 - 60 Minutes

Students will take a walk outside with their protractor and measure the angles in nature. They will record the angles that they find in branches, trees, bushes, flowers, etc… and then determine the supplementary angle.

Comparing Decimals Game

Length of Time: 40 - 60 Minutes

Students will play a game in which they choose cards and choose the best place to put the number they have chosen in order to get the highest answer possible.  This should not be the first introduction to the topic.

Comparing Multiplication Facts (Hey Tocayo!)

Length of Time: 30 - 40 Minutes

Students will be assigned a number that has various factors and they will find partners with different factors that have the same product.

Fractions, Decimals, Percents, & Graphs

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

This lesson is designed to explore fractions, decimals, percent’s, and graphs with TRIX cereal.

Order of Operations

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

This lesson is designed to help students solve problems involving the four operations, and identify and explain patterns in arithmetic.

Roll the Dice - Probability & Statistics

Length of Time: Two 45 minute periods

Students will learn about probability and statistics while rolling dice and flipping a coin carefully recording their results.

Symmetry Search

Length of Time: 1-2 class periods

The students will locate manmade objects or things in nature that are symmetrical.

The Value of a Number

Length of Time: 1-2 Class Periods

The students will work in groups of 4-6 physically learning and reviewing place value.

5th Grade P.E. Lesson Plans

Aces and Exercise

Length of Time: 1 class period

Using a deck of playing cards, the students will pick the number of reps for various exercises.  

And Freeze!

Length of Time: As Desired

Students will practice listening skills and basic physical concepts as required in physical education class. Students will also work on balance and coordination.

Basketball Relay

Length of Time: As Desired

Students will practice teamwork, dribbling, and shooting a basketball.

Boom Over Movement Game

Length of Time: 15 - 20 Minutes

Students will play a game in which they need to change direction quickly. Students are to pretend that they are on a sailboat that is in the middle of a storm. They will have to run and change direction based on verbal commands and duck quickly to avoid being hit by the imaginary boom.

Coordination Course

Length of Time: 10-40 Minutes

This plan will allow students to practice coordination while staying physical.

Music Movement

Length of Time: 1 class period

The students will move to the music based on its beat, words, tune, and other variables.

PE Immigration

Length of Time: 2-3 Class Periods

The students will research games and activities from other countries to share during a PE class.

Pass It Off

Length of Time: 20 - 30 Minutes

This lesson will allow students to practice passing, dribbling, and bouncing skills using basketballs

Race to the Answer

Length of Time: 20 - 30 Minutes

This lesson will allow students to practice teamwork, basic math skills, and get exercise through a relay race. Note: Problems/difficulty level can be altered by grade

Trust Me

Length of Time: 20 - 30 Minutes

This lesson will allow students to practice teamwork and trust building, as well as working on directionality for younger students.

What Time is it FOX?

Length of Time: 20 - 40 Minutes

The students play a game where they practice different movements including jumping, galloping, skipping, running, jogging, leaping, and walking. Based on National Physical Education Standards, students should have been learning these skills for the last 4 years.

5th Grade Science Lesson Plans

Camouflage and Environment

Length of Time: 30 Minutes

Students will make butterflies of various colors and then they will experience the advantage that butterflies that are the same color as their environment have against predators.

Engineering Design

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

This lesson is designed to generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

Layers of the Earth

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

This lesson is designed to help students understand that the Earth has a layered structure.

Solar System

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

The students will learn about the Solar System, the  order of the 8 planets, special words such as orbit and asteroid.

5th Grade Social Studies Lesson Plans

A City Saved by a Volcano

Length of Time: 3-4 Class Periods

Students will learn how the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Italy preserved two Roman towns.

A Day in the Life of a Roman Girl and Boy

Length of Time: 3-4 Class Periods

Students will research the topic of daily life for children of ancient Rome.

Christmas Around the World Part 1

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

This lesson combines Visual Arts with Social Studies. Students will read about how Christmas is celebrated in different parts of the world and draw a scene depicting that location.

Christmas Around the World Part 2

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

This lesson combines Music and Social Studies. Students will listen to and learn Christmas songs from around the world and analyze.

Exploring the West

Length of Time: 3 class periods

The lesson will teach the students why there was an expansion to what is now the western half of the United States, as well as the displacement of Native Americans.

History of Hanukkah

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

Students will read a passage about the history of Hanukkah and “talk to the text” to understand the story better. Students will answer questions individually and then with a partner to understand the text better.

Kwanzaa Socratic Seminar

Length of Time: 30 - 40 Minutes Each

Students will discuss the cultural roots of Kwanzaa and analyze why the holiday has been brought to the United States.

The History of Thanksgiving

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

Students will research the history of Thanksgiving based on the perspective of the Native Americans and the Pilgrims and then interview each other to learn about each story.

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