December 9 - 13

ELAL

Students enhance the accuracy and artistry of expression through creative and critical thinking processes.

Establish a plot, point of view, setting, and problem through creative writing.

What Did Students Do?:

On Monday and Tuesday, students were given a pre-assessment for narrative writing. Using a picture prompt they wrote a story about the picture. This gave us, as teachers the opportunity to see where our students are at with their writing and what next steps we need to take to further their skills in narrative writing. On Wednesday students examined the elements of a narrative story: beginning, middle, end, problem, solution, character, and setting. Students used graphic organizers to examine the parts of their own story. They then looked at non-examples of written stories and identified the parts that were weak or missing. 

Students engaged in rich conversations about these non-examples. They made connections to well-written stories and described how these had strong story elements. Students described how the non-examples felt flat and lacked the suspense that many good stories have. They recognized that the non-examples still had good elements to them, but did not fit the criteria for captivating or engaging storylines.

    

   

Ask Your Child:

-What picture prompt did you choose? 

-Tell me about your story.

-Tell me about packing bags and making cards for the Mustard Seed with your buddy class. 

-Which multiplication strategy do you find most effective for you - Lattice, traditional stacked, or grid?

-What did you learn in Science about Density this week? Tell me about using the Gizmo in Google Classroom. 

-What spirit day are you most excited about?

Student Voice Cookbooks

Our Student Voice group has created a cookbook that will be on sale next week for a donation of $5 or more.  Cookbooks will be on sale before the concerts. See The Monday Message for more information. Proceeds will go to The Mustard Seed. 

Coming Up:

Spirit Week - December 16 - 20th

Monday - Dress like your favourite holiday character

Tuesday - Silly Sweater Day

Wednesday - Dress To Impress Day

Thursday - Festive Hat and Hair Day

Friday - Pyjama Day

Winter Concerts:

Ms. Chen's class - Tuesday, December 17th

Mrs. Sampson's class - Wednesday, December 18th

Choir attends both nights

Last Day of Classes is Friday, December 20th

Winter Break - December 21 - January 5th

School Resumes - January 6th after Winter Break

  December 2- 6

Math
Students multiply natural numbers within 100 000, including standard algorithms.

What did students do?

This week, students began working on multiplication. Students have been building their fact fluency of their basic multiplication facts. Students used cards, partner practice and games to begin building speed, accuracy and mental math strategies for specific times tables. Ask your child to tell you more about the times tables we have worked with and how they are progressing.

Students have also begun to work with learning about and using a variety of algorithms to find products. Students demonstrated their understanding of using the traditional method to multiply 2- by -1 digit multiplication equations. Students also learned how to use the grid method to multiply larger numbers. Students learned how the grid method works and used it as a strategy to work through 2-by-1 digit and 2-by-2 digit multiplication equations. Ask your child to tell you more about this algorithm. See if they can tell you about annexing zeros and how the grid method works.

Procedural fluency is a goal in our school development plan. See the graphic below. Students came to understand that proficient math thinkers have the ability to think flexibly, accurately and efficiently. Students will be given opportunities and direct instruction on building their procedural fluency.

Students had the opportunity to apply and build their procedural fluency in a math routine this week. 

Science

Students also had the opportunity to make Ooblek this week! Ask them more about this experience in Science and what we discussed this week (States of matter, phase changes and phase changes in the water cycle). Next week, we will circle back to this topic and discuss the science behind this Non-Newtonian Fluid. 

Upcoming Events

December 17th – Winter Concert (Save the date) 

December 18th – Winter Concert (Save the date) 

December 20th – Fun Snack  

December 20th – Last day of classes before Winter Break 

 

   

November 25-28

Social Studies

- value Canada’s physical geography and natural environment:  

• appreciate the variety and abundance of natural resources in Canada
• appreciate the diversity of geographic phenomena in Canada

- examine, critically, the physical geography of Canada by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues: 

• What are the major geographical regions, landforms and bodies of water in Canada? 
• How do landforms, bodies of water and natural resources affect the quality of life in Canada? 
• How have natural disasters and severe weather been part of Canada’s physical geography? 
• What are the differences and similarities among the geographical regions of Canada? 
• How is the geographical region they live in different from other regions of Canada? 
• What are the factors that determine climate in the diverse geographical regions of Canada (e.g., latitude, water, mountains)? 

What did students do?

This week, students researched a geographical region of Canada. They looked at web resources to find information related to the regions landforms, climate/weather, recreational activities, history and natural resources. They also began working on designing a postcard to represent their region. Students will work towards synthesizing their research findings into a slideshow presentation. They will also work on writing an opinion piece related to their region in the coming weeks. 

Take a look at some research graphic organizers below and some postcards in progress. 

Upcoming Events

December 4th – Fun Lunch  

December 17th – Winter Concert (Save the date) 

December 18th – Winter Concert (Save the date) 

December 20th – Fun Snack  

December 20th – Last day of classes before Winter Break 

 

   

November 18-22

Science

Students investigate and interpret astronomical phenomena. 

Discuss observable features of lunar and solar eclipses and auroras. 

Explore Inuit, northern First Nations’, or Métis’ stories related to the midnight sun, the polar night, or the northern lights. 

Represent astronomical phenomena in a variety of ways. 

What did students do?

This week, students explored auroras through a scientific lens and an Indigenous lens. Students learned about the Northern Lights and how this phenomena can be explained using scientific terms and concepts. They also had an opportunity to explore a few different stories related to Indigenous viewpoints about the significance and meaning of auroras. Students took jot notes and responded to questions to represent their understanding. Students also had a chance to review their learning across this science unit - space. They had individual, partner and group opportunities to revisit, review and practice these concepts in preparation for their unit assessment.

Upcoming Events

November 27th – School Council Meeting – 7:00 pm (Kinder & Gr. 4 to present) 

November 29th – Professional Learning Day for staff  

December 4th – Fun Lunch  

December 17th – Winter Concert (Save the date) 

December 18th – Winter Concert (Save the date) 

December 20th – Fun Snack  

December 20th – Last day of classes before Winter Break 

  

November 14-15

English Language Arts

Contribute to discussions or dialogues by agreeing, disagreeing, and adding to or explaining ideas.

Explore how varied perspectives presented in texts can influence personal perspectives.

Communicate a clear position supported by relevant evidence.

What did students do?

This week, students explored the opinion statement "Bugs are creepy." Students engaged in discussions about this perspective and shared their position on the topic by placing their name on a scale using a sticky note. They showed whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement. Then, students read an opinion essay titled Bugs are Creepy. They engaged in dialogue and discussion about their thoughts, connections, similar or different opinions. Students had a chance to move their sticky note after hearing and reading the essay. They were invited to share where they originally placed themselves on the scale and explained why they chose to move it. Then, students read through the essay to identify important structural elements of an opinion piece. They noted the Opinion (opening), Reasons, Evidence and closing Opinion (OREO). Students highlighted these components and organized them into a graphic organizer. We will continue this work next week using a new topic. 

Upcoming Events

November 27th – School Council Meeting – 7:00 pm (Kinder & Gr. 4 to present) 

November 29th – Professional Learning Day for staff  

December 4th – Fun Lunch  

December 17th – Winter Concert (Save the date) 

December 18th – Winter Concert (Save the date) 

December 20th – Fun Snack  

December 20th – Last day of classes before Winter Break 

 

November 4 - 7th

Science

-Students will demonstrate an understanding of the events and factors that have changed the ways of life in Canada over time and appreciate the impact of these changes on citizenship and identity. 

-Students will demonstrate an understanding of the people and the stories of Canada and their ways of life over time, and appreciate the diversity of Canada’s heritage. 

ELAL

-Students will integrate verbal, non-verbal, and paraverbal language to enhance communication.

-Ensure messages are heard clearly by using breath, body, and energy to project voice.

-Students will enhance the accuracy and artistry of expression through creative and critical thinking processes.-

What did students do?

The Grade 5s completed persuasive paragraphs about why Remembrance Day is an important day.  Some students shared these paragraphs at our Remembrance Day assembly on November 7th.  Students learned about the importance of maintaining peace. They wrote about peace from their perspective and from a soldier's perspective and incorporated their five senses. In their music class, Ms. Harris worked with students on the poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae.  They worked on verbal and paraverbal (The manner in which a message is delivered) language with this poem and shared it in our Remembrance Day Ceremony. In Social Studies, we learned about, and discussed World War 1. Students were very engaged in these discussions with lots of questions and comments. We watched videos and read books about Remembrance Day as well as reading some articles about it in our small reading groups. In Art, students created poppies and peace.

Our Grade 5 Students were very eager to share their learning during the Remembrance Day Ceremony. Thank you to all of our Grade 5 parents and families who were able to join us.

Upcoming Events

·       November 8th – System Indigenous Learning Day  

·       November 11th – Remembrance Day – no school for staff or students  

·       November 12th – Fall Break – no school for staff or students  

·       November 13th – Fall Break – no school for staff or students  

·       November 14th – Students & staff return from Fall Break

October 28 - November 1

Science

Students investigate and interpret astronomical phenomena.

-Connect the direction of Earth’s tilt in relation to the Sun to the length of day and night in each season.  

-Describe personal observations related to cyclical changes in the Moon’s appearance. 

-Identify astronomical phenomena that occur cyclically. 

What Did Students Do?

Students learned about how the Earth rotates on it's axis to create day and night and how a revolution around the sun gives us the measurement of a year. They explored why we have four  seasons in our part of the world. Students then began a moon investigation, looking at the different phases of the moon and how they change throughout the month. Students looked at various models and participated in physical demonstrations around these topics.

Important Dates 

·       November 5th – Fun Lunch  

·       November 7th – Remembrance Day Assembly 10:00 am  (Gr. 5 parents invited)

·       November 8th – System Indigenous Learning Day  

·       November 11th – Remembrance Day – no school for staff or students  

·       November 12th – Fall Break – no school for staff or students  

·       November 13th – Fall Break – no school for staff or students  

·       November 14th – Students & staff return from Fall Break