2010 Fifth Graders- Positively Patriotic
by Macey Beal
March 10, 2010
Taught by Mrs. Archer, the fifth grade class consists of fifteen students: ten boys and five girls. The fifth graders continue with the typical classes: English, spelling, reading, writing, math, science, and social studies, as well as physical education, art, music, library skills, and guidance. Fifth grade is the first year students are given the choice of whether or not they would like to participate in band. As a result, eleven fifth graders joined band this year.
Along with the fourth grade and sixth grade, the fifth graders rotate classrooms. Mrs. Archer is the teacher of the fifth grade class, as well as the social studies class for grades four through six. In social studies the fifth graders recently did a unit on the Declaration of Independence. As is tradition, the fifth grade got its own copy of the declaration and signed it.
Fifth grade is also the year students have to learn and memorize the fifty states and their capitals. As a way of repetitious reinforcement, the fifth graders play a game while standing in line for lunch. As each student passes Mrs. Archer, she names a state and the student must tell her the corresponding capital.
One quality that defines the fifth grade is their patriotism. Each year, it is the duty of the fifth graders to raise and lower the flag in front of the school. Along with this responsibility, the students have been taught flag etiquette, they all know the proper way to fold the American flag. The fifth grade room also has a patriotic theme-- its walls are decorated in red, white, and blue and are covered in maps and posters.
As a special keepsake from the fifth grade, Mrs. Archer makes a poster with each student's name on it. The poster is then passed around the room for everyone in the class to write a positive message and to sign. Mrs. Archer says the group is very energetic. With them, no day is ever the same. "Not only am I teaching them, I'm learning from them."
