Engaging students in elementary science is often done within the confines of the classroom. Citizen science projects, however, bring students, families, teachers, and communities together to help scientists with their research. Students become active participants in real research, use their three-dimensional understanding of science, and…

In the technology-rich twenty-first century, students are required to actively construct their knowledge and collaboratively engage in problem solving by using such skills as adaptability, communication, self-management, and systematic thinking. In accordance with this necessity, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education…

Describes a stock market investing project for fifth graders. (SJL)

Discusses a fifth-grade sculpture project that uses a subtractive, rather than additive, technique. Students carve an animal sculpture from a block of simulated stone compound. Explains the process and how to make the simulated stone compound. (CMK)

Argues that, especially in the intermediate grades, keying into students' personal interests is a powerful motivator for learning. Illustrates this with the story of a formerly excellent student who became disillusioned with school in fifth grade, becoming resistant and disruptive. Describes how a project approach to reading and writing that…

Describes an activity that takes two class periods where fifth-grade students created hand-built pots. Explains that each child receives a clay slab. Discusses how to make the major part of the pot from two pinch pots and how to create the neck and foot. (CMK)

Describes a project used with fifth-grade students in which they learned about animation. Explains that the students learned about animation used in art. States that they received a personal data assistant to create their own animation of a flower that was growing and pollinated by a butterfly. (CMK)

This activity plan for fifth graders posits that the student is an agent for the King and Queen and are authorized to make a journey to the New World on behalf of the kingdom. The mission is to claim all land for the monarchy, locate a new trading route across the ocean, look for the Northwest Passage, and bring back gold, silver, spices, new…

Discusses an art project for fifth and sixth grade that was inspired by a Laurel Burch plate with a jungle motif. Explains that students choose a project name, make lists of images associated with their chosen name, and use those images in their round designs. (CMK)

Describes an art project in which fifth-grade students create abstracts and collages after exploring artwork of various artists. Explains that this project is perfect as a final activity for the school year and also helps to use up any leftover paint supplies. (CMK)

As a means of integrating Appalachian culture and folklore into the curriculum, a fifth-grade social studies unit has students create a personal history book by studying the origin and history of their own name, developing their own memory stories, developing a family tree, studying family artifacts and old photographs, and interviewing family…

A teacher who once relied on a reading skills program describes her conversion to an approach that emphasizes the reading of books. A substantial part of each class period is set aside for free reading time. A sampling of book projects used to focus students' efforts is included. (PP)

As a focal point for their unit on Anglo-Saxon England, the reading of "Beowulf" led fourth and fifth graders into a variety of learning projects: creating monsters, writing sagas, tracing the tale's geography, and role playing Saxon life and customs. (SJL)

Focuses on the importance of developing student listening skills. Describes a classroom project for fifth-grade students in which they created a music video, addressing the roles of the students and the teacher. Includes a section detailing the steps involved in completing this project. (CMK)

This art project involved fifth graders in producing one-minute television commercials. The subject matter for the commercials was determined by school events. The commercials were shown several weeks before the special event they advertised. (RM)