Gainfield Elementary School

Teacher (email)		webpage	Phone
Mrs. Susan Fishman			203-264-5312
Mr. Peter McGee			203-264-5312
Mrs. Jessica Hine			203-264-5312

 NEW! Click here to view Valentine's Day pictures of Mrs. Fishman's and Mrs. Bouffard's classes!

Science Fair Info 

Check here for some Science Fair ideas:

• Science Fair Central from Discovery Education
• Science Fair from DragonFly TV PBS Kids
• Science Fair Project Resource Guide from Internet Public Library
• Science Fair Project Ideas, Answers and Tools
• Science Fair Ideas from Science Bob
• Science Fair Adventure
• Energy Quest Science Project related to energy from California Energy Commission

Non-Fiction Career Project Resources:

(don't forget to search in World Book Kids and Student and Kids Infobits too)!

• Career Information - from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Fun Jobs - from Kids.gov (K-5)
• Careers - from Kids.gov (6-8)
• Occupational Outlook Handbook - from the Dept. of Labor Statistics
• Career Information - from Career Kids
• Career Exploration and Research Guides - from the Vocational Information Center
• The Fun Works-Explore careers you never knew existed!
• Career Information-Learn about some careers compiled by a school district!

When I Grow Up Project Overview, Notetaking Organizer, and Rubric

Catch It Resources:

• Brain Explorers:  an Inquiry-based Neuroscience Learning Unit
• Neuroscience for Kids Resources
• The Brain - Collection of information, activities and websites related to brain science
• Neuroscience for Kids - by Eric H. Chudler, Ph.D
• Neuroscience for Kids:  Books and Articles - compiled by Eric H. Chudler, Ph. D
• Your Brain - from The Science Museum
• Science NetLinks:  Systems of the Human Body - Sample lesson to develop conceptual understanding of interactions among parts of a system
• Brain and Senses Info for Teachers

Museum Box

The fifth grade curriculum at GES focuses on academic growth and study skills, while fostering independence as students prepare for middle school. 

Language Arts

The Language Arts curriculum is designed to allow students more time to practice authentic reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing tasks, to offer more choice in text selection, to organize the curriculum around units of study (genre/author/thematic studies) and to provide instruction through a workshop framework. The titles of the units covered throughout fifth grade include: Survival Stories and Historical Fiction. The content of each unit serves as the vehicle for teaching students the essential skills, knowledge and understandings of English-language arts.

Math

Math Trailblazers is a spiral program with many concepts and skills introduced and taught at different grade levels at an increasing level of complexity.  In fifth grade these concepts and skills are reinforced through the use of Daily Practice Problems and applied in problem solving.  The units in the fifth grade program include measurement, data collection and analysis, estimation, graphing, multiplication, division, fractions, ratios, probability, decimals, and geometry.  Problem solving is an integral part of each unit as students use varied problem solving strategies to solve "real life" math problems.  

 Social Studies

The Region 15 social studies program is built around a progressive understanding of the pervasive and enduring historical, political, geographical, economic and social issues of our world. The curriculum balances and spirals the learning of concepts, skills, and developmentally appropriate content.  Instruction includes thought provoking activities, hands-on experience, and performance-based assessments using a variety of resources. The social studies program develops’ students appreciation, tolerance and respect for other cultures.

Fifth Graders begin the year with a unit of study about Native Americans. Students will learn who the first Americans were and what their lives were like. They will learn about the unique qualities that distinguish this group and make them an important part of our Nation’s early history.  During the second marking period, students will study the Age of Exploration. In this unit, students will see how changes in Western Europe helped foster the age of exploration, and learn why Europeans wanted to find a direct route to the Far East. Students will sail the seas wit early explorers, and investigate the impact of exploration on the local cultures. Students will follow the ocean voyages and discoveries of the explorers which lead to the settlement of the Americas. In the last unit of study, Colonial Period to 1763 (pre-Revolutionary), students will set sail from Europe and embark on a journey and discover the challenges and rewards of colonization in the New World. Along the way, we will see how the actions and decisions shaped the history of America and were the foundation for the modern United States.

 Science

Our science program begins with an introduction to the field of science, scientists, and the scientific method. Next, students explore the world of light and sound.  This unit is followed by a unit on the sun, earth and moon.   We end the year by studying populations and ecosystems, which correlates with our study of owls and the dissection of owl pellets.