5th Grade

Literature
Art Appreciation
Poetry
History
Drawing
Science
Music

Literature

Books grouped by month.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum
The Marvelous Land of Oz by Frank Baum
The Mousewife by Rumer Godden
The Land of the Blue Flower by Frances Hodges Burnett

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Little Women by Louisa Alcott
The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett

Hans Brinker by Mary Dodge (aka The Silver Skates)
Detectives in Togas by Winterfeld
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth Speare
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Kidnapped! by Robert Louis Stevenson
Perrault's Fairy Tales by Charles Perrault

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Small Acts of Amazing Courage by Gloria Whelan
Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Burnett
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Twenty-One Balloons by William DuBois

Leo and the Lesser Lion by Sandra Forrester
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. Konigsburg
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth
The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
The Adventures of Erasmus Twiddle: Grmkville's Famous & Talented Not-Detective by Eric Laster

Art Appreciation

Two books per month. Optional assignment: draw something from one of these books instead of the regular Drawing book.

13 Sculptures Children Should Know by Angela Wenzel
Come Look With Me: Photographs by Jean Tucker

A Child's Book of Prayer in Art by Wendy Beckett
The Native American Look Book by Missy Sullivan

Can You Spot the Leopard? by Christine Stelzig
The Secret World of the Aztecs by Ferdinand Anton

Where is Jasper Johns? by Debra Pearlman
Mind-boggling Mazes and Loopy Labyrinths by Klaus Eid

Niki's World by Ulrich Krempel
Grant Wood by Deborah Leach

Joseph Cornell by Alison Baverstock
Henri Rousseau by Susanne Pfleger

Masterpieces Up Close: Western Painting from 14th to 20th Centuries by Claire D'Harcourt
Art Up Close by Claire d'Harcourt

Seen Art? by Jon Scieszka
Aboriginal Art of Australia by Carol Finley

Art of Japan by Carol Finley
Art of the Far North by Carol Finley

Poetry

All but the first of these books are part of the "Poetry for Young People" series. One book per month. The idea is that the child picks one poem each week and works on deciphering it - looking up unknown words, sorting through any grammar that isn't clear, and then thinking about what metaphors or imagery is being used and what the poem is trying to capture.

Fly Away, Fly Away Over the Sea by Christina Rossetti
William Blake by William Blake
Rudyard Kipling by Rudyard Kipling
Carl Sandburg by Carl Sandburg
Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson
Langston Hughes by Langston Hughes
Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth

History

Prehistory up to 400 AD/CE. For each of the civilizations below, do the Civilization Book (free printable). Each of the categories below is meant to be covered during one month.

Prehistory

Early Humans by DK Publishing
Prehistoric Art by Susie Hodge
Exploring the Ice Age by Margaret Cooper
The People by Robert Pickering
(more)
Stone Age Farmers Beside the Sea by Caroline Arnold

Mesopotamia

[I'm going to see if we can do the Civilization Booklet for each of these civilizations in one month. If not, then next year I'll stick to books that cover Mesopotamian civilizations in general.]

Mesopotamia, Iraq in Ancient Times by Peter Chrisp
Seven Wonders of the Ancient Middle East by Michael Woods

The Sumerians by Elaine Landau
You Wouldn't Want to Be A Sumerian Slave! by Jacqueline Morley
The Epic of Gilgamesh by Geraldine McCaughrean

You Wouldn't Want to Be An Assyrian Soldier! by Rupert Matthews
The Assyrians by Elaine Landau

The Babylonians by Elaine Landau
Ishtar and Tammuz: A Babylonian Myth of the Seasons by C. J. Moore

Ancient Israelites and their Neighbors: An Activity Guide by Marion Broida
God and His Creations: Tales from the Old Testament by Marcia Williams

The Persian Empire by Karen Zeinert
Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings by Elizabeth Laird

Egypt

Ancient Egypt: Tales of Gods and Pharaohs by Marcia Williams
Ancient Egypt: An Interactive History Adventure by Heather Adamson
Ancient Egypt by George Hart (DK)
Egyptian Art by Susie Hodge
Hatshepsut of Egypt by Shirin Yim Bridges
Tutankhamun: The Mystery of the Boy King by Zahi Hawass
(more)
Pyramid by David Macaulay

India

India by Julie Nelson
Indus Valley City by Gillian Clements
Seven Wonders of Ancient Asia by Michael Woods
Indian Mythology by Fred Ramen
Ancient India/Maurya Empire by John Bankston
Buddha: Father of Buddhism by Anna Carew-Miller

China

The Emperor's Silent Army: Terracotta Warriors of Ancient China by Jane O'Connor
The Ancient Chinese by Virginia Schomp
The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient China by Leonard Fisher
The Ch'i-lin Purse: A Collection of Ancient Chinese Stories by Linda Fang
Blood Brothers to the End : A Chinese Legend by Dan Jolley [gn]
Qin shi huang = The First Emperor of China : Qin Shihuang by C.C. Low
Confucius: The Golden Rule by Russell Freedman
(more)
(DVD) Ancient China by JWM Productions
The Great Wall of China by Leonard Fisher

Greece

Ancient Greece by John Malam
Ancient Greek Art by Susie Hodge
You Wouldn't Want to Be in Alexander the Great's Army! by Jacqueline Morley
Solon: The Lawmaker of Athens by Bernard Randall
Aristotle by Brian Williams
 (the following graphic novel series)...
The Trojan Horse by Justine Fontes
Atalanta by Justine Fontes
Demeter and Persephone by Justine Fontes
Jason by Jeff Limke
Odysseus by Dan Jolley
Theseus by Jeff Limke
Perseus by Paul Storrie
Psyche & Eros by Marie Croall
The Adventures of Hercules by Martin Powell
(more)
Ancient Greece: An Interactive History Adventure by William Caper
(DVD) Ancient Greece by JWM Productions

Rome

Ancient Rome by Richard Dargie
Roman Art by Susie Hodge
Technology in the Time of Ancient Rome by Robert Snedden
Julius Caesar: The Boy Who Conquered An Empire by Ellen Galford
Julius Caesar by Michael Ford [graphic novel version of Shakespeare's play]
Cicero: Defender of the Republic by Fiona Forsyth
Jesus by Susan Keating
Zeus, King of the Gods by George O'Connor
Athena: Grey-eyed Goddess by George O'Connor
City by David Macaulay

Celts

What Do We Know about the Celts? by Hazel Martell
Celtic Memories by Caitlin Matthews
The Celts by Hazel Martell
Stonehenge by Catherine Petrini

Across the board wrap-up

The Kingfisher Atlas of the Ancient World by Simon Adams
Clothes of the Ancient World by Christine Hatt
Ancient Civilizations: Biographies by Judson Knight
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Lynn Curlee
(more)
Outrageous Women of Ancient Times by Vicki León
[activity: make a comparative timeline - either side-by-side or all-in-one-color-coded-by-culture, listing phases of cultures, significant peoples, and so on.]

Summer Reading

The Kingfisher Book of the Ancient World: From the Ice Age to the Fall of Rome by Hazel Martell

Drawing

One book each month.

How to Draw Disgusting Aliens by Aaron Sautter
How to Draw Nickelodeon Avatar the Last Airbender by Shane Johnson
Ralph Masiello's Ancient Egypt Drawing Book by Ralph Masiello
Draw 50 Flowers, Trees, and Other Plants by Lee Ames
Drawing Manga Animals by Masaki Nishida
How to Draw African Animals by Justin Lee
How to Draw Bakugan Battle Brawlers by Ron Zalme
How to Draw Animals of the Rain Forest by Justin Lee
Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Creatures You Can Draw by Nicole Brecke

Science

This year's Science topic is Biology. Each topic grouping is meant to be covered over the course of a month, and activity ideas to reinforce the learning are included. NOTE to Creationists: These books may promote or mention evolution. If you want to know why I, a God-fearing Christian women, support teaching children that evolution is true, read my essay on theological reasons for believing in evolution.

Cells

Cells by Jacqueline Ball
The Basics of Cell Life with Max Axiom, Super Scientist by Amber Keyser
Plant Cells by Darlene Stille
Animal Cells by Darlene Stille
[Activity: Make a booklet with (a) drawn pictures of cells with their organelles labelled, (b) a chart contrasting plant and animal cells, (c) a chart of organelles and their functions, and (d) any other interesting facts about cells.]

Micro-Life (and Fungi)

Archaea: Salt-lovers, Methane-makers, Thermophiles, and Other Archaeans by David Barker
Bacteria: Staph, Strep, Clostridium, and Other Bacteria by Judy Wearing
Protists: Algae, Amoebas, Plankton, and Other Protists by Rona Arato
Fungi: Mushrooms, Toadstools, Molds, Yeasts, and Other Fungi by Judy Wearing
Understanding Viruses with Max Axiom, Super Scientist by Agnieszka Biskup
(more)
The Surprising World of Bacteria with Max Axiom, Super Scientist by Agnieszka Biskup
[Activity: Make a chart listing the various groups, their major features and differences, and some examples - preferably sketched and labelled.]

Photosynthesis

Understanding Photosynthesis with Max Axiom, Super Scientist by Liam O'Donnell
(YouTube) Photosynthesis by They Might Be Giants
Photosynthesis by Alvin Silverstein
(DVD) 5th Grade Science Series by Rock-On Educational Videos
(more)
(YouTube) Photosynthesis by Paul Anderson
[Activity: Draw and label a diagram of the process of photosynthesis.]

Plants

Plants by Shar Levine
Plant Parts by Richard Spilsbury
Incredible Plants by Barbara Taylor
Redwoods, Hemlocks, & Other Cone-bearing Plants by Steve Parker
Sunflowers, Magnolia Trees, & Other Flowering Plants by Steve Parker
[Activity: Make a chart or write a paper that describes the similarities and differences between different groups of plants. Also draw a picture of a plant that labels the major plant parts. Multiple pictures for different kinds of plants if the child wants to, or else they can pick one type and label the parts on that.]

Biomes

A Walk in the Prairie by Rebecca Johnson
Rainforest Food Chains by Molly Aloian
America's Forests by Marianne Wallace
(DVD series) Marine Ecosystems, Freshwater Ecosystems, Deserts, and Tundra by Schlessinger Media 
Ecomazes by Roxie Munro
[Activity: Make a chart listing the biome name on top, with sections for listing a) common animals, b) typical weather, c) common plants, and d) other features/comments for each biome.]

Animals (Part I)

Animals by Shar Levine
Angelfish, Megamouth Sharks, & Other Fish by Steve Parker
Mammals by David Burnie
Everything Bug: What Kids Really Want to Know about Insects and Spiders by Cherie Winner
(more)
(DVDs) Fish, Mammal by DK Eyewitness
(Online Video) Slow-mo Moth Hovering via BBC News (16 sec, no sound)
[Activity: Start a chart with the animal classification, size, environment, biological features, sketches of example species, and so on for each major group.]

Animals (Part II)

Birds: Nature's Magnificent Flying Machines by Caroline Arnold
National Geographic Kids Bird Guide of North America by Jonathan Alderfer
Everything Reptile: What Kids Really Want to Know about Reptiles by Cherie Winner
Dinosaurs by John Long
Amphibian by Barry Clarke
(more)
(DVDs) Reptile, Amphibian by DK Eyewitness 
(Website w/ photos) Animal Eyes Close-up via UK's Daily Mail
[Activity: finish chart.]

Body Systems (Part I)

(DVD) The Magic School Bus: Human Body by Warner Home Video
A Journey through the Digestive System with Max Axiom, Super Scientist by Emily Sohn
Movers & Shapers: Bones, Muscles, and Joints by Patricia Ann Macnair
The Brain: Our Nervous System by Seymour Simon
The Circulatory Story by Mary Corcoran
[Activity: For each system separately, draw an outline of a human body and sketch & label the major organs of that system]

Body Systems (Part II)

The Respiratory System by Christine Taylor-Butler
Human Reproduction by Casey Rand
The Care & Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls by Valorie Lee Schaefer
The Boy's Body Book by Kelli Dunham (It's ok to skip whichever body book is for the opposite gender of the child, but reading both can probably satisfy some curiosity and give kids a heads-up about issues the other genders are dealing with.)
(more)
Human Body Revealed by Sue Davidson
[Activity: ditto]

Summer Reading

Carl Linnaeus: Father of Classification by Margaret Anderson
Life on Earth by Steve Jenkins (evolution)
A Journey into Adaptation with Max Axiom, Super Scientist by Agnieszka Biskup

Music

This year focuses on Classical music. One grouping per month. Many of these are very long pieces (hour or more). If your student can't sit still through the whole thing, try playing it in the background while they do other schoolwork, or break it up into pieces across the course of a week. Some of the composers have biographies to accompany their pieces; these can be read while listening.

Medieval

Voice of the Living Light by Hildegard von Bingen
Messe du Jour de Noel by Leonin
Bonne amourete me tient gai by Adam de la Halle
Messe de Nostre Dame by Guillaume de Machaut

Renaissance

Missa Prolationum by Johannes Ockeghem
Missa de Beata Virgine by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Te Deum by William Byrd
Sonate e Canzoni by Giovanni Gabrieli

Baroque

Un Concert Spirituel by Claudio Monteverdi
Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi
Introducing Vivaldi by Roland Vernon
Brandenburg Concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach by Mike Venezia
Messiah by George Frideric Handel

Classical

Symphony 1-5 by Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn by Wendy Thompson
Symphony No. 40 in G minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart: The Boy Who Changed the World with His Music by Marcus Weeks
Symphony No. 9 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig Van Beethoven by Mike Venezia
Sei Sonate op.1 by Andrea Luchesi

Romantic

Violin Concerto in D major by Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms by Mike Venezia
Nocturnes by Frederic Chopin
Introducing Chopin by Roland Vernon
Symphony No. 9 "From The New World" by Antonin Dvorak
Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky [ballet visuals included]

Impressionistic

Ballade, Nocturne, and more by Claude Debussy
Miroirs by Maurice Ravel
Conte Fantastique by Andre Caplet
Piano Sonata by Charles Griffes (and Part 2)

20th Century

The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky
Introducing Stravinsky by Roland Vernon
Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber
Symphony-Concerto Op. 125 by Sergei Prokofiev
Sea Symphony by Ralph Vaughan Williams

Misc 1

Symphony 9 by Franz Schubert
The Story of the Orchestra by Robert Levine
Ma Vlast Moldau by Bednch Smetana
Famous Composers by Darren Henley [Audiobook CD]
Ride of the Valkyries and Flying Dutchman - Overture by Richard Wagner

Misc 2

The Magic Flute by Trollflojten [DVD]
The Random House Book of Opera Stories by Adele Geras
Symphony No. 5 by Gustav Mahler
Moonlight Sonata and Fur Elise by Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 25 in G minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Fantasia by Disney [DVD]