It was another busy week in grade 5! This week included a great day off campus where we visited both the Weaselhead and Signal Hill Library. At the Weaselhead, students observed changes to the wetland we last visited in September. It is interesting to consider the wildlife that use that ecosystem in different seasons, how they have adapted to survive and to predict the changes we will see when we return in a few months. At Signal Hill Library, students participated in a program called Math Quest (available in the evenings at most public libraries in the city) and learned how the library works, how they can check out books and where to find books they are interested in.
Looking ahead: Thursday Jan. 25 - 5.4 to Masters Gallery Feb. 2 - No School-PD day Feb 5 - Fractal Snowflake Workshop (in school EXPO, could use a few parent volunteers as helpers. 5.3 in AM, 5.4 in PM). Math:This week, we picked up our lesson on division by reacquainting students with the array model. Previously, we used it to multiply. This time, we're using it to divide. This is important to note because it shows the inverse relationship between the two operations. We used manipulatives (snap-it cubes) this week and will use an iPad app (Number Pieces)next week to show the process of division. Looking ahead: Long division and chunking division Science:This week, our student teacher, Ms. Kwong, introduced the electricity unit to 5.3 and 5.4. They discovered things they already know about electricity, why they think it’s important, and began to touch on safety around electricity. Humanities: We spent this week immersed in our collection of Caldecott eligible picture books. There were over 30 books available on the long list for students to examine against the Caldecott criteria. On Thursday, students voted and the top 16 moved onto the next round. In addition, 4 books will be assigned wild card spots and will move on. We will continue narrowing down the books until Feb. 6th, when we will choose a winning selection. Looking ahead, the students will begin their research on a regional issue on Monday and we will continue with Mock Caldecott. A recap of last week's EXPO trip.
0 Comments
This week was packed full of high energy learning. Thank you to the amazing parents that were able to join us on our EXPO trip. Several stepped in at the last minute and endured a cold day and noisy bus ride. Please enjoy reading the review of our week.
Looking Ahead: Wednesday, Jan 17th: Weaselhead AM (please dress for the weather and send extra snacks and a water bottle) Signal Hill Library PM (we need a couple volunteers for each trip) Friday, Jan. 19th: No School-PD Day Thursday, Jan. 25th: Masters Gallery 5.4 (AM only) Friday, Jan. 26th: Last day of term 1 electives Monday, Jan. 29th: Electives Report Cards Student Teachers: We are excited to welcome our 2 student teachers from Mount Royal University on Monday. They are in their final practicum and will be with us until April. Ms. Jessica Savoie will be working with Mrs. Stevenson in Humanities and Ms. Yuna Kwong will be joining Mrs. Piper in Math/Science. Humanities Students enjoyed an EXPO trip this week that had a strong humanities focus. We worked as archaeologists to uncover artifacts at Fort Calgary, and compared indigenous cultures at the Glenbow. We began our inquiry into regional issues this week. Students brainstormed some of the issues that each region faces. As we move forward each student will identify an issue they want to examine deeper. Eventually, they will present the issue to their peers. This inquiry has many overlaps with the learning they undertake in science and there will be some work occurring across disciplines. We also began our Mock Caldecott unit. Students examined previous winners and the Caldecott Criteria. They are using the criteria as they critically examine books that are eligible for this year’s award. As a group we will choose a book that we feel should win this year’s Caldecott Medal. Math Students began looking at division and its relationship to multiplication. Looking ahead we will be performing division of multi-digit numbers using different strategies. Science Students enjoyed watching a documentary called, “Frozen Planet: On Thin Ice”. We examined the scientific evidence of warming that is occuring at the Earth’s polar regions. We were able to make many connections with background knowledge on this issue, and discussed the impacts on the environment and on people. Students also began designing an experiment that would show that the air contains water. Welcome Back
Wow! It is hard to believe we are back it for the first school week of 2018! We hope all our families enjoyed a restful and fun-filled break. Thanks for your support over the past months. Looking Back: The Peace Festival Week leading up to break is always a magical week at Connect. The students participated in several Peace Festival activities and enjoyed some time outside in the fresh dump of snow. The pace and work we engaged in was purposeful, yet felt relaxed and focused. In class we focused on finishing up some work, so we could enjoy a fresh start in January. Students wrapped up their fabric testing in science and we finished the novel study in humanities. We are looking forward to starting new units in the core subjects and welcoming our student teachers. Looking Ahead: There is a field trip on Wednesday, January 10th to the Glenbow Museum and Fort Calgary. This is an ALL DAY field trip so students will need to pack a lunch and snacks. As we are walking between the two sites, students must be prepared for the weather, and the current forecast looks like a high of -19 degrees. We could also use 2-3 more volunteers for this trip, as both the Glenbow and Fort Calgary require a high ratio of students to adults. We need a minimum of 8 volunteers and are just barely achieving that ratio. If you can help us out last minute, please send an email. |
Archives
February 2020
Categories |