May 27-31

Learning Outcomes
Health

Students investigate maturation and identify changes during adolescence.

Students connect puberty to the capacity for human reproduction.

What Did Students Do?

This week, students began their health unit by establishing ground rules so that a respectful and safe learning environment was in place. We discussed that feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable are normal feelings that may occur as we begin our health lessons. Students started by reviewing the changes that occur during puberty. Students reviewed physical, social and emotional changes that happen as they mature. Then, students learned about the egg producing reproductive system. They learned about the external and internal components of this system. They learned about the process of menstruation. Students also began to learn about the sperm producing reproductive system. They will continue this work next week.

Parents, we strongly encourage you to engage in conversations with your child about the content they learned this week. A big part of our work in health is to help students identify and connect with trusted adults about their thoughts, feelings and questions about this topic. 

Here is a resource that you may find helpful in guiding these conversations. 

(Screen capture from teachingsexualhealth.ca)

Teachingsexualhealth.ca is an innovative website developed by Alberta educators and health professionals. We offer up-to-date, evidence-based information and strategies for teachers and educators teaching the Alberta Education Human Sexuality curriculum and for parents of children from birth up to 18 years of age.

Ask Your Child About:

-how to add proper fractions, improper fractions and mixed numbers

-the plays we saw at Nickle School

-their Social Studies research topic

Upcoming Events:

June 3rd – 7th – Lacrosse residency   June 7th - Rock Your Locks! Kids Cancer Care Assembly   June 10th – Fun Lunch   June 11th – Volunteer Tea (1:00 – 2:00 p.m.)   June 12th – School Council Meeting – Gr. 5 to share Teacher Report   June 21st – National Indigenous People’s Day   June 25th – Grade 5 Farewell (10:00 – 11:30); Grade 6 Farewell (1:00 – 2:30)  June 26th – Report cards are visible to parents through PowerSchool   June 27th – Last day of school for students (11:30 dismissal)

      May 21-24

Learning Outcomes
Literacy

Respond to texts by summarizing main ideas.

Math

Relate fractions, improper fractions and mixed numbers to their positions on the number line

What Did Students Do?

This week, students had an opportunity to summarize text after listening and reading. After listening to chapters in A Rover's Story, students learned about summarizing. We discussed why it is important and how it helps them comprehend text and explain what they know. We discussed the difference between retelling and summarizing. Students learned and practiced how to skim text, how to use highlighters to capture important details, how to make jot notes about what they highlighted and how to synthesize the main ideas into a summary. Ask your child to tell you more about this process. Perhaps they can even show you how to summarize text after reading a book at home. We will continue practicing this skill next week. 

In math, students continued practicing how to model and place fractions on a number line. Students practiced taking an improper fraction and converting it to a mixed number. They also worked in small groups to break a number line down and placed fractions on their position on the number line. 

Ask Your Child About:
-their weekly quiz

-how to convert an improper fraction to a mixed number

-what summarizing means

-the fur trade

-their picture prompt story

-the weekly drawing challenge

Upcoming Events:

May 31st - “Dress like a Star” - Spirit Day   May 31st – Gr. 5 & 6 to Nickle Drama Performance   June 3rd – 7th – Lacrosse residency   June 7th - Rock Your Locks! Kids Cancer Care Assembly   June 10th – Fun Lunch   June 11th – Volunteer Tea (1:00 – 2:00 p.m.)   June 12th – School Council Meeting – Gr. 5 to share Teacher Report   June 21st – National Indigenous People’s Day   June 25th – Grade 5 Farewell (10:00 – 11:30); Grade 6 Farewell (1:00 – 2:30)  June 26th – Report cards are visible to parents through PowerSchool   June 27th – Last day of school for students (11:30 dismissal)

May 13 - 16

Learning Outcomes

Science

Construct simple circuits, and apply an understanding of circuits to the construction and control of motorized devices.

Given a design task and appropriate materials, invent and construct an electrical device that meets the task requirements.

What Did Students Do?

Students were given supplies to create a device that independently moves one meter using a motor. They had to rely on their prior learning about electricity using wires, batteries, and switches. Students made their own groups and came up with a plan for their device. They then created a supply list and gathered the things they needed from both school and home.

This activity has challenged students greatly. They have fully embraced the process of designing, building, testing, improving, redesigning, etc. Some groups have experienced success and many others continue to work on their designs. We have appreciated the amount of creativity, thought, and perseverance that students have put into their designs. Though we celebrate the successes, the most important part of this process is the learning that has come out of it.  

Ask Your Child About:
-how to turn an improper fraction into a mixed fraction

-how their device in science is going

-how to play Omniken Ball

-what is happening in our novel, A Rover's Story

Upcoming Events:

May 20 - Victoria Day Holiday

May 24th - Fun Snack

May 31st - Dress Like A Rock Star Day

May 31st - Grade 5s and 6s to Nickle School for Drama Presentation

June 3 - 7 - Lacrosse Residency

June 7th - Rock Your Locks Event

June 11 - Volunteer Tea

June 25th - Grade Five Farewell Assembly 10:00.- 11:30 

     May 6 - 10

Learning Outcomes
Math

Relate fractions, improper fractions and mixed numbers to their positions on the number line (beginning this work and continuing into next week)

What Did Students Do?

Students began investigating fractions this week. We spent a little bit of time reviewing fraction concepts. We reviewed key vocabulary such as: numerator and denominator, equal parts, fractions of a whole and fractions of a set. Students worked in partnerships to identify and place fractions along a number line. They worked with fractions between 0 and 1. 

Ask Your Child About:
-Visiting with the baby chicks!

- Kickball and how fun it has been

- Happy Mother's Day - Each student made a beautiful card and a gift for their wonderful, hardworking, loving and supportive Mom. Happy Mother's Day <3

Upcoming Events:

May 14th – Fun Lunch   May 17th – PD Day for staff (no school for students)  May 20th – Victoria Day holiday – no school for staff or students   May 24th – Fun Snack   May 31st - “Dress like a Star” - Spirit Day   June 3rd – 7th – Lacrosse residency   June 7th - Rock Your Locks! Kids Cancer Care Assembly

    April 29-May 3

Learning Outcomes

Science

Recognize and describe one or more examples of wetland ecosystems found in the local area; e.g., pond, slough, marsh, bog, fen.

Understand that a wetland ecosystem involves interactions between living and nonliving things, both in and around the water. 

Understand and appreciate that all animals and plants, not just the large ones, have an important role in a wetland community. 

Identify the roles of different organisms in the food web of a pond: • producers—green plants that make their own food, using sunlight • consumers—animals that eat living plants and/or animals • decomposers—organisms, such as molds, fungi, insects and worms, that reuse and recycle materials that were formerly living. 

Identify human actions that can threaten the abundance or survival of living things in wetland ecosystems; e.g., adding pollutants, changing the flow of water, trapping or hunting pond wildlife.

What Did Students Do?

Students went on a field trip to Bow Habitat Station and had a great experience learning on the land. We learned so much and had great hands-on activities to learn about wetlands. Our educators had a wealth of knowledge to share with us about the science of wetlands, its beauty and the role they play in our environment. 

Students did a trail trek to observe plants, animals and organisms that play a role in wetlands. We saw birds, plants and even earthworms busy at work! Spring truly has sprung - even though our weather didn't necessarily agree!

Then, students did a marsh dip where they collected and observed various examples of invertebrates. They used reference sheets to identify and name their findings! Many students shared that this was their favourite part of our field trip.

After lunch, students had a chance to check out the aquariums before starting our afternoon activities. 

In the afternoon, students looked closely at dragonfly samples at various life stages. They drew and labelled each life stage. They learned how to make scientific sketches by making them Accurate, Big, Colourful, Detailed and Explained (ABCDE!). Then students had an opportunity to look even more closely at invertebrates found in our wetlands through a microscope. This allowed them to see the features and characteristics of each specimen in order to identify them.

Students then explored the Discovery Centre. They went on a Scavenger Hunt and jotted down important info about wetlands across Canada. One station was a Jenga game. This was a way to highlight the interconnectedness of decomposers, producers and consumers in a wetland. Students learned that human interactions and development in wetland areas are causing these areas to be out of balance and that they are being destroyed. 

What a day we had! Ask your child to tell you more about their day. They will be bringing home a reflection about their field trip. 

A big thank you to our educators, Megan and Ellen, for leading us through such engaging activities and for sharing their expertise and knowledge with us. 

A HUGE thank you to our parent volunteers for making our day possible! Thank you!

Ask Your Child About:
-static electricity - What is the science behind this?

-our Novel Study - A Rover's Story

-digital citizenship