The Logic Stage

Fifth Grade

By fifth grade, a child’s mind begins to think more analytically. Middle-grades students are less interested in finding out facts than in asking “Why?” The second phase of a classical education, the Logic Stage, is a time when a child begins to pay attention to cause and effect, to the relationships between how different fields of knowledge relate, to the way facts fit together into a logical framework.

In preparation for their formal Logic studies, we do all we can to ensure that by the time they leave lower school, students are brimming over with facts with which to wrestle. And although we are heavily focused on laying a solid foundation of the grammar of each area, we regularly expose students to the opportunity to safely discuss their thoughts and opinions on facts learned (practicing logic), as well as present their thoughts and opinions to others (practicing rhetoric).

Classical education seeks to emphasize the truth that all knowledge is unified. This means that every subject has relevance for every other subject, and thus the trained classical mind looks for the core principles of wisdom from which it can learn all later knowledge. Practically this means that subjects are not taught in isolation but rather in constant integration with one another.

In fifth grade, you may find the Latin, art and classroom teacher partnering in teaching a grammar, writing, and ancient history unit.  Latin and English grammar patterns are taught in unison. Art history is integrated with the units of study in the classroom as well as through the Latin instruction of ancient Greek and Roman history.

Fifth grade is a significant social and emotional developmental year.  Puberty can create a classroom that contains a broad mix of maturity levels, both physical and emotional. Some girls are interested in boys while others haven’t noticed their charms yet. Some girls have begun to develop physically, while others may still have a few years to go. Boys often still have a year or two before they begin to mature towards puberty.

Friendships become more important and more complex at this age. Being part of a group, what their friends think of them, and what they think of their friends are very important issues for fifth graders, particularly (but not exclusively) girls. Both sexes become more self-conscious and somewhat insecure about how they appear and whether they “fit in.”

By fifth grade children are developing a communal sense about God’s family, the church, and often want to be part of the church or children’s group within the church.

While fifth grade is a year of impeding change, it is also an exciting time as a child is evolving into an analytical, reasoning (and argumentative!) adolescent beginning his journey into the formal Logic stages of learning and development.

Moving into a fully-illustrated, hard-cover textbook, the fifth grade Bible curriculum focuses on God’s covenant promises. The Old Testament units demonstrate that God did not abandon his people during their exile from the Promised Land, but cared for them during the exile by raising up leaders such as Daniel and Esther. Students then connect the Old Testament promises to their New Testament fulfillment when they learn lessons from Jesus’ earthly life and ministry. Combined with devotions and morning prayer time, students are continuously pointed to the Lord throughout their day, not just in Bible study but in other subjects, too, as teachers pause and give notice to God as Creator in science or even Brilliant Author in math.

In fifth grade, a Humanities approach to learning begins to take place. We combine history with literature, and then layer in exercises in grammar, vocabulary, and writing, so that students are learning in a layered approach that has proven to make deeper connections to content long-term. Students read stories from the Junior Great Books series as well as novels linked to the historical eras. Using a classical writing curriculum, fifth graders rewrite creative fables, practice dictation and imitation, and employ oral recall as a memory exercise. Four-paragraph essays and complex sentence diagramming help to round out the curriculum and provide a solid foundation in the Language Arts as they prepare for middle school.

Clearly, math is core to any successful educational program. In Trinity’s lower school, foundations in math are taught using a curriculum that encompasses a spiral approach to learning. Many math programs use a compartmentalized approach; this approach means that students learn things in subject-focused units. For example, a unit on measurement is introduced; students practice, get tested, and then move on to the next unit, rarely practicing measurement skills again. A spiral approach, however, ensures that students continue to see strands of previously taught information all year long. This gives the learner more opportunities for mastery as they practice those skills over and over again. Students in fourth grade are given class time to master fact families, multiplication and division facts, and necessary terminology surrounding basic math functions such as prime and composite numbers, greatest common factors, and least common multiples. Our math curriculum also allows time to study problem solving strategies and exploration of foundational geometry principles. Artistic fun with coordinate planes, multiplication games the whole class can compete in, and time spent in paired learning make math a dynamic subject taught in an atmosphere of challenge and fun.

Students begin the year by studying the Renaissance and the Reformation. A highlight of the year occurs when family, friends, and school community visit the students’ “Living Wax Museum” presentation. This project embodies the heart of a classical approach. Students research a notable historical figure, then edit, rewrite, and refine their research. This is followed by memorizing key points and contributions of their Renaissance or Reformation leader, and then presenting this information with poise and confidence to the visiting crowd while dressed in full costume with props. Later in the year, students study Westward Expansion and the Civil War. Whether it’s a pioneer breakfast served up by volunteers, or a day-long field trip to Petersburg, Virginia, history is a hands-on, action-packed subject enjoyed by students and teacher all year long.

Fifth grade is all about Physical Science. Students explore matter and its properties, sound and light energy, electricity and magnetism, and more. At the core of the fifth grade philosophy is that science ought to be filled with hands-on fun. Whether they are building electrical circuits or blowing up balloons for demonstrations in electron activity, science lessons are anything but boring. While a science text is utilized, students further their understanding of the text by watching videos, playing games, and taking part in experiments. It’s no wonder that science tops the list of “favorite subject” for many of the fifth grade students.

Formal instruction in Art takes place once a week under the direction of an experienced, vibrant instructor. Focusing on the best of Art history, our knowledgeable teacher creates lessons that are both relevant and entertaining to her students. Fifth graders are learning how to discern what is visually “true, good and beautiful” while learning about the overarching concepts of: symmetry and balance, neutral colors, one point perspective and proportion. Completed projects include batik and water color painting, relief block printing, and the use of clay in three dimensional structures.

Formal music instruction is offered twice a week. Lessons are filled with games, songs, dancing, and laughter as students learn about rhythm and melody, major and minor scales, and the reading and writing of music. Students are also exposed to composers and hymns that solidify their understanding of the “true, good and beautiful” as it pertains to music. Directed by our dynamic Music instructor, fifth graders are invited to try out for the award-winning Trinity Academy of Raleigh Children’s Chorus. See distinctives below for more information about this one-of-a-kind enrichment opportunity.

A perennial favorite among the students, Physical Education classes are offered twice a week under the guidance of a loving and enthusiastic PE teacher. PE is a grace-filled environment that integrates character education and physical fitness. Intentional conversations take place frequently around the themes of peer acceptance, good sportsmanship, and Christ-like attitudes in the midst of conflict. Fitness concepts covered include: kickball, soccer, handball, flag football, floor hockey, basketball, lacrosse, and more. In addition, students are invited to take part in an after-school running club that fosters lifetime fitness habits and culminates in participation in our annual 5K charity run that takes place on our beautiful campus.

Bible

Moving into a fully-illustrated, hard-cover textbook, the fifth grade Bible curriculum focuses on God’s covenant promises. The Old Testament units demonstrate that God did not abandon his people during their exile from the Promised Land, but cared for them during the exile by raising up leaders such as Daniel and Esther. Students then connect the Old Testament promises to their New Testament fulfillment when they learn lessons from Jesus’ earthly life and ministry. Combined with devotions and morning prayer time, students are continuously pointed to the Lord throughout their day, not just in Bible study but in other subjects, too, as teachers pause and give notice to God as Creator in science or even Brilliant Author in math.

Language Arts

In fifth grade, a Humanities approach to learning begins to take place. We combine history with literature, and then layer in exercises in grammar, vocabulary, and writing, so that students are learning in a layered approach that has proven to make deeper connections to content long-term. Students read stories from the Junior Great Books series as well as novels linked to the historical eras. Using a classical writing curriculum, fifth graders rewrite creative fables, practice dictation and imitation, and employ oral recall as a memory exercise. Four-paragraph essays and complex sentence diagramming help to round out the curriculum and provide a solid foundation in the Language Arts as they prepare for middle school.

Math

Clearly, math is core to any successful educational program. In Trinity’s lower school, foundations in math are taught using a curriculum that encompasses a spiral approach to learning. Many math programs use a compartmentalized approach; this approach means that students learn things in subject-focused units. For example, a unit on measurement is introduced; students practice, get tested, and then move on to the next unit, rarely practicing measurement skills again. A spiral approach, however, ensures that students continue to see strands of previously taught information all year long. This gives the learner more opportunities for mastery as they practice those skills over and over again. Students in fourth grade are given class time to master fact families, multiplication and division facts, and necessary terminology surrounding basic math functions such as prime and composite numbers, greatest common factors, and least common multiples. Our math curriculum also allows time to study problem solving strategies and exploration of foundational geometry principles. Artistic fun with coordinate planes, multiplication games the whole class can compete in, and time spent in paired learning make math a dynamic subject taught in an atmosphere of challenge and fun.

History/Geography

Students begin the year by studying the Renaissance and the Reformation. A highlight of the year occurs when family, friends, and school community visit the students’ “Living Wax Museum” presentation. This project embodies the heart of a classical approach. Students research a notable historical figure, then edit, rewrite, and refine their research. This is followed by memorizing key points and contributions of their Renaissance or Reformation leader, and then presenting this information with poise and confidence to the visiting crowd while dressed in full costume with props. Later in the year, students study Westward Expansion and the Civil War. Whether it’s a pioneer breakfast served up by volunteers, or a day-long field trip to Petersburg, Virginia, history is a hands-on, action-packed subject enjoyed by students and teacher all year long.

Science

Fifth grade is all about Physical Science. Students explore matter and its properties, sound and light energy, electricity and magnetism, and more. At the core of the fifth grade philosophy is that science ought to be filled with hands-on fun. Whether they are building electrical circuits or blowing up balloons for demonstrations in electron activity, science lessons are anything but boring. While a science text is utilized, students further their understanding of the text by watching videos, playing games, and taking part in experiments. It’s no wonder that science tops the list of “favorite subject” for many of the fifth grade students.

Art

Formal instruction in Art takes place once a week under the direction of an experienced, vibrant instructor. Focusing on the best of Art history, our knowledgeable teacher creates lessons that are both relevant and entertaining to her students. Fifth graders are learning how to discern what is visually “true, good and beautiful” while learning about the overarching concepts of: symmetry and balance, neutral colors, one point perspective and proportion. Completed projects include batik and water color painting, relief block printing, and the use of clay in three dimensional structures.

Music

Formal music instruction is offered twice a week. Lessons are filled with games, songs, dancing, and laughter as students learn about rhythm and melody, major and minor scales, and the reading and writing of music. Students are also exposed to composers and hymns that solidify their understanding of the “true, good and beautiful” as it pertains to music. Directed by our dynamic Music instructor, fifth graders are invited to try out for the award-winning Trinity Academy of Raleigh Children’s Chorus. See distinctives below for more information about this one-of-a-kind enrichment opportunity.

PE

A perennial favorite among the students, Physical Education classes are offered twice a week under the guidance of a loving and enthusiastic PE teacher. PE is a grace-filled environment that integrates character education and physical fitness. Intentional conversations take place frequently around the themes of peer acceptance, good sportsmanship, and Christ-like attitudes in the midst of conflict. Fitness concepts covered include: kickball, soccer, handball, flag football, floor hockey, basketball, lacrosse, and more. In addition, students are invited to take part in an after-school running club that fosters lifetime fitness habits and culminates in participation in our annual 5K charity run that takes place on our beautiful campus.

Trinity Academy Distinctives

In addition to the classes above, students are exposed to:

Formal Latin instruction is offered four times a week in fifth grade. Not only do students learn the grammar of the subject, additional time is given for learning about historical and mythological heroes. Our Latin instructor’s attention to the different learning styles of her students make it a classroom filled with diverse learning opportunities throughout the week. Some days it’s a quiet, independent work space, and other days it’s filled with game playing and partner activities. No matter the approach on any given day, our students are immersed in great Latin instruction.
Core to our classical philosophy is the belief that students must be prepared to enter college (and life) well-versed in the skills of rhetoric. As a result, we literally begin practicing the skills of persuasive public speaking in Transitional Kindergarten. By fifth grade, students have typically mastered the basics of posture, voice, inflection, and eye contact. Continued work in appropriate gestures, fluency, and poise is a goal in the fifth grade classroom. A highlight of the year occurs when all TK-8 students present a classical poem or speech in our annual “Poetry and Prose Competition” each spring.
Memorization has fallen out of favor in recent years. However, we know that our Lower School students are the perfect ages to commit important content to long-term memory. We use that ability to their advantage by requiring our students to memorize everything from math facts to historical timelines and classical poetry and speeches. Later, when called upon to analyze and critique more complex subjects, students are not bogged down by an absence of basic understanding of the content. They can quickly move on to critical analysis and problem solving because the first step toward learning took place when they were young. In fifth grade, students memorize historical timelines and speeches.
Fifth grade students are invited to try out for the Lower School Children’s Choir. This talented group averages 45 3-6 graders, and meets once a week after school. The mission for TARCC is to offer a choral experience that develops good vocal technique and musicality while enjoying the creating of beautiful music with their peers. Opportunities are given to participate in competitions, perform in the community at local holiday events and at various school functions.
Third through fifth grade students are invited to join our Art teacher for enriching Art lessons once a week after school. Designed to broaden and enhance the skills of the participants, students spend 75 minutes in a hands-on Art environment creating projects in the area of sculpture, painting, clay, and more.
Latin
Formal Latin instruction is offered four times a week in fifth grade. Not only do students learn the grammar of the subject, additional time is given for learning about historical and mythological heroes. Our Latin instructor’s attention to the different learning styles of her students make it a classroom filled with diverse learning opportunities throughout the week. Some days it’s a quiet, independent work space, and other days it’s filled with game playing and partner activities. No matter the approach on any given day, our students are immersed in great Latin instruction.
Oration
Core to our classical philosophy is the belief that students must be prepared to enter college (and life) well-versed in the skills of rhetoric. As a result, we literally begin practicing the skills of persuasive public speaking in Transitional Kindergarten. By fifth grade, students have typically mastered the basics of posture, voice, inflection, and eye contact. Continued work in appropriate gestures, fluency, and poise is a goal in the fifth grade classroom. A highlight of the year occurs when all TK-8 students present a classical poem or speech in our annual “Poetry and Prose Competition” each spring.
Memorization
Memorization has fallen out of favor in recent years. However, we know that our Lower School students are the perfect ages to commit important content to long-term memory. We use that ability to their advantage by requiring our students to memorize everything from math facts to historical timelines and classical poetry and speeches. Later, when called upon to analyze and critique more complex subjects, students are not bogged down by an absence of basic understanding of the content. They can quickly move on to critical analysis and problem solving because the first step toward learning took place when they were young. In fifth grade, students memorize historical timelines and speeches.
Children's Chorus
Fifth grade students are invited to try out for the Lower School Children’s Choir. This talented group averages 45 3-6 graders, and meets once a week after school. The mission for TARCC is to offer a choral experience that develops good vocal technique and musicality while enjoying the creating of beautiful music with their peers. Opportunities are given to participate in competitions, perform in the community at local holiday events and at various school functions.
After School Art
Third through fifth grade students are invited to join our Art teacher for enriching Art lessons once a week after school. Designed to broaden and enhance the skills of the participants, students spend 75 minutes in a hands-on Art environment creating projects in the area of sculpture, painting, clay, and more.