The New Alberta Grade 5 English Language Arts and Literature Curriculum Made Easy

Hey there teacher bestie! Are you freaking out about the new Alberta grade 5 English Language Arts and Literature curriculum too? I know I was! If so, hopefully, this post will reassure you and help to make your life a little bit easier.

What Stayed the Same in the New Alberta Grade 5 English Language Arts and Literature Curriculum?

The good news is that we are still teaching our grade 5 students how to read and write! We are still exposing them to a variety of texts and vocabulary terms. We are still focusing on reading comprehension and writing strategies.

I have used a Reading and Writing Workshop model in my grade 5 ELA classroom for the past few years. I plan to continue using this model and most of my old lessons because when it comes to teaching reading comprehension and writing, not a ton has changed in this new Alberta grade 5 English Language Arts and Literature curriculum.

Want to learn more about Reading Workshop? Click HERE to read the blog post.

What Changed in the New Alberta Grade 5 English Language Arts and Literature Curriculum?

There is a new outcome about the land as text.

I created an AWESOME lesson that can be used to cover this outcome. It even comes with a rubric and would be a great activity to leave with a supply teacher. Click HERE to check it out on TPT.

We now must introduce students to specific types of texts such as hybrid texts, photo essays, and those incorporating flash-forwards.

The only picture book that is appropriate for fifth graders that I could find with a flash-forward is “The Night Before Christmas”. I plan to utilize this book as a mentor text in December. While being mindful of incorporating other holiday texts throughout the year so that I am not only using a Christmas book.

Hybrid texts are super easy to find in grade 5 nonfiction. There are often small paragraphs where the author will tell a story. These can often be found in the introductions of books. One of my favorite hybrid texts is How to Survive as a Firefly. Click HERE to check out my Interactive Read Aloud lesson for this text, perfect for exposing students to hybrid texts.

More specific vocabulary is used such as “round character” and “flat character”.

I cover this outcome by discussing round and flat characters after our daily read-aloud, just like I do theme.

I created some cute posters to use for an interactive display. Simply hang the posters above a piece of chart paper or on a whiteboard. Then, as you read books, ask students if anyone can add a character’s name to one side of the chart or the other. You will be surprised at how motivated students are to write on a class display! I also suggest having a special pen or marker that students use when they write, turning it into a huge privilege.

Click HERE to grab the FREE posters!

We are expected to share and study trickster tales with our students.

The Raven is an awesome Trickster Tale and a great read aloud. I have created an entire unit to accompany this book. Students will love learning more about trickster tales and the Haida people. Click HERE to grab it on TPT.

Specific poetic structures are introduced such as lyric poetry and stanzas.

poets.org has a really detailed explanation of lyric poetry. I have also created an entire blog post full of resources to help you teach your grade 5 students all about lyrical poetry! Click HERE to read more. Or click HERE to check out my Grade 5 Lyric Poetry Unit that utilizes the poem Life Doesn’t Frighten Me by Maya Angelou as a mentor text.

We are expected to analyze different types of figurative language with students, including metaphors.

One of my all time favourite read alouds is A Different Pond. This book is PERFECT for teaching students about figurative language. Click HERE to grab my Interactive Read Aloud Unit on TPT.

I also have a killer Figurative Language Digital Escape Room in my TPT store! Click HERE to check it out.

Students are studying the origins of word meanings and there is a focus on affixes.

I plan to study root words, prefixes and suffixes every Friday. I will introduce a new affix, we will discuss the origin of that affix as well as it’s meaning, some examples, etc.

Classes are to incorporate analyzing mentor texts into the writing process.

I was SOOO excited to see this in the new Alberta Grade 5 English Language Arts and Literature curriculum because incorporating mentor texts into the writing process is one of my absolute favourite teaching strategies.

Some of my favourite writing mentor texts include:

• Saturday by Oge Mora
• Come On, Rain by Karen Hesse
• Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

There are lots of new grammar terms such as parentheses.

I mainly plan on addressing these grammar terms and outcomes as they come up naturally during our writing time. Experience has taught me that when we teach grammar concepts in isolation, they don’t stick as well.

Students are expected to analyze a drama piece.

I am also super excited about this new addition to the curriculum! I plan on having the Alberta Musical Theatre Company or a similar group come to our school to perform. That way students can analyze real, meaningful drama!