December 2017

December 8, 2017

With just a few more weeks until the break, we were hard at work wrapping up some of the projects that we have on the go and trying out a few new things this week.

This week, we tested out our board game ideas by creating paper prototypes and getting feedback from peers. We took some time to ensure that we were meeting our Social Studies Curriculum expectations through our game ideation and that our instructions - procedural writing - were clear to our users. Next week the real building begins! I can't wait to play some amazing games about Canada's regions and some of the social and environmental issues related to Canadian government.

It was Computer Science Education Week and we were coding every day! From designing out our Google Doodles to solving math problems in Kano involving the area and perimeter of rectangles, we had several opportunities to try something new. We also started working with our Kindergarten buddies and ended the week facilitating activities in partners for our buddies. Stay tuned to some of the great work we will be doing with the Kindergarten students.

In French, we are continuing to write about our weekend activities following a model. Not only are we writing but we are also taking the time to learn how to describe the events in simple sentences. This will come in handy as we will be creating short comics after the break about our holidays.

In Science, the grade 5s have started a new unit on Conservation of Energy. Through online activities, they started to work on a Google Doc about what they already know and trying to find some information about renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. There are some great activities in the Google Classroom should students wish to explore and investigate more at home. 

Next week we will be having a Pizza Party on Thursday. A notice will be sent home to parents next Wednesday. The cold weather is fast approaching. Please remember that we are outside for all recesses and that we should be dressing according to the weather.

December 15, 2017

EEK! There's only 1 week left for our time together in 2017! Where has the time gone?

This week, we continued our board - not bored - games and co-created out checklist so that we know what we need to include in order to be successful. Board games are due next Wednesday and I can't wait to get playing. There are so many amazing designs related to Canada and Government coming to life!

In Math, we started to investigate grid coordinates, cardinal directions and identified transformations - translations, reflections and rotations. In small groups, we played games and solved problems, realizing that there are sometimes a variety of ways to move around a grid, landing us in the same place. Next week, we will engage in hands-on activities to help us with our understanding of transformations. Be sure to check out some of the links that have been included in Google Classroom to get ready.

In Science, we continued presentations and are almost ready for testing next week. Next Thursday, we are going to be trying out a few hands-on activities related to energy.

In French, we are continuing our work around learning about the weather. Students were asked to: identify different types of weather; investigate the weather in other French-speaking countries; and to say and write simple sentences about our own weather - which seems to be changing a lot lately.  Next week, we'll have an activity that asks us to reflect on the different types of clothing that we may way for different types of weather. Links to some of the online activities related to weather and clothing can be found in Google Classroom.

With our Kindergarten buddies this week, we were tasked with documenting what they may create using 20 linking cubes. The diversity of ideas was fantastic. The grade 4s & 5s were great when it came to asking rich questions of our buddies and considering how they started and continued in the building process. It's been so great getting to know the Kindergarten students and we look forward to starting a STEM project with them in the new year.

We are almost finished our student-led Wonder Art. Many are already up in the halls and we invite you to visit and to see some of the ways in which we can show kindness to others. Next week we are starting an Art project with Ms. Beneventano's class on the history of Arpilleras and their connection to story and issues of Social Justice. 

I'm looking forward the week ahead and wrapping up some of the projects that we have been working on. Have a fantastic weekend!

December 22, 2017

It's the last post for 2017! Not to worry, it will be short and sweet!

This week we:

• • Finished - or at least mostly finished - our board games including instructions & a description. There was not time to play them so that will be among the first things that we do in the new year.

  • Continued to investigate transformations, specifically translations and reflections. Consider trying some of the online activities shared in Google Classroom over the break and get ready for lots of fun with rotations.

  • Started writing short paragraphs in French about the weather and suitable clothing options. There's lots of writing when we get back about our adventures over the break and more! Be sure to check out the NFB's site for short films for children to continue to be immersed in French fun over the break.

  • Continued our Art work with Ms. Beneventano's class. We're looking forward to seeing some great quilts inspired by Arpilleras from Chile.

  • Worked on straw structures with our Kindergarten buddies. It was amazing to see many unique structures that were made and we will continue our learning about the documentation of a process and asking rich questions.

  • Tried to build a working battery out of a potato, pennies, copper wire & galvanized nails. We realized that we needed a lot more potatoes to get things going. The 5s will continue our learning around energy in 2018.