Grade 5

Fifth grade is the culminating year of the Primary Years Program at Dwight. It is a year filled with in-depth research and collaborative learning. Students gain independence as they utilize their educational foundations to explore new ideas. Over the course of the year, students explore topics such as the human brain, leadership over time, states of matter, and systems for food production and distribution. They strengthen their skills in reading, writing, math, and Units of Inquiry while consolidating their knowledge of the PYP in preparation for the Exhibition at the end of the year.

The PYP Exhibition is the culminating experience of primary school marking the transition from the PYP to the Middle Years Program (MYP). The Exhibition is a collaborative project that involves students in identifying, investigating, and offering solutions to reallife issues or problems. Students work as a class to identify an issue or problem and then in small groups closely examine one aspect of the issue. The Exhibition provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning in the PYP and to take action as a result of their learning.

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Peek Inside the Classroom
Explore the Curriculum

Peek Inside the Classroom

On any day, you might find our Grade 5 students:

Creating optical illusions inspired by the work of Bridget Riley and Victor Vasarely, and studying the science of color
Working together with 1:1 iPads to edit their own online blogs
Leading and organizing the first-ever Lower School picnic in Central Park
Challenging themselves in math at their own pace via an online learning platform
Communicating with peers in London via Skype in preparation for a trip "across the pond"
Spearheading several community service initiatives
Taking the stage at Carnegie Hall with Dwight students from New York, London, Shanghai, and Seoul

Explore the Curriculum

Fifth grade is the concluding year of the Primary Years Program at the Dwight School. It is a year filled with in-depth research and collaborative learning. Students gain independence as they utilize their educational foundations to explore new ideas. Over the course of the year, students explore topics such as the human brain, leadership over time, and systems for food production and distribution. They strengthen their skills in reading, writing, math, and Unit of Inquiry while consolidating their knowledge of the PYP in preparation for the exhibition at the end of the year.

The PYP exhibition is the culminating experience of primary school, marking the transition from the Primary Years Program (PYP) to the Middle Years Program (MYP). The exhibition is both a collaborative and independent project that involves students in identifying, investigating and offering solutions to real-life problems. Students work as a class to select a theme and central idea, and then in small groups closely examine a related key concept. Individual students then choose a specific topic that they are passionate about within that concept and begin their investigation. The exhibition provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning in the PYP and to take action as a result of their learning.

Curriculum Guide