Grade 5
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About Our Grade 5 Program
Equipped with the cognitive and social-emotional skills acquired in prior grades, fifth graders, new to the Upper School, explore, discover, analyze and connect in new ways. Throughout the year, concepts of responsibility, freedom and agency are reinforced through a variety of cross-curricular projects and initiatives, encouraging students to expand their team building and leadership skills. Principles of growth mindset (thinking in terms of “not yet” instead “can’t”) provide fifth graders with the confidence to acknowledge their own opportunities for growth while celebrating the achievements of their classmates. The fifth grade curriculum inspires intellectual growth and equips our students with the knowledge, skills and resources required to develop into confident, capable young adults.
Classroom Communities
At Brookwood, teachers lay the foundations for strong class communities: expectations are shared, routines are established and rules are created in order to help all kids be their best. We devote the beginning weeks of school to practicing the skills needed to create and maintain a cooperative and collaborative environment. Classroom communities are created anew every September—each one unique and distinct, molded by the personalities and passions of its students and teachers—with the overarching goal of honoring all individuals as members of our broader, vibrant Brookwood community.
Building Relationships Across Grades
As part of our Personal Growth and Development (PGD) program, fifth graders meet with Kindergarten buddies regularly to foster a greater understanding of what it means to be an empathetic and responsible member of our school community. It is a wonderful opportunity for both the younger and older students to form relationships that last throughout their years at Brookwood.
Risk-Taking & Teamwork: Heron Cup Houses
Taking a page from Harry Potter, 5th graders are introduced to the Upper School House System and are sorted into one of ten constellation-themed Heron Cup Houses. These houses build connections and community by mixing students across grades. Houses eat lunch together once a week and participate in playful competitions that involve risk-taking, teamwork, and a healthy dose of team spirit.