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

   April 22-26

Learning Outcomes

Math

-Explain the standard algorithms for multiplication and division of natural numbers.

-Divide 3-digit by 1-digit natural numbers using standard algorithms.

-Express a quotient with or without a remainder according to context.

What Did Students Do?

This week, students continued working on developing their skills related to division. Students played math games, worked with a partner on vertical workspaces and practiced independently. Students learned how to use the steps of divide, multiply, subtract, bring down and repeat/remainder to work through a variety of equations. Many students also chose to participate in a math contest through Mount Royal. It is an annual math contest that students can participate in to build their interest in math activities. Ask your child to tell you about whether they chose to participate and what kinds of questions were on the contest. 

Ask Your Child About:
-The Mount Royal Math Contest (Many students chose to participate)

-Kickball in PE

-their group's battery powered car

-their superhero and villain writing

Upcoming Events

April 30^th – Grade 5 Field Trip to Bow Habitat Station

April 15 - 19, 2024

 

Learning Outcomes

Science: 

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

What Did Students Do? 

Students began designing a vehicle that will use a simple motor to move one meter independently.  Each student worked on design ideas on their own.  They then made groups of three or four and each had a chance to share their ideas.  As a group they then put together their ideas and came up with a plan and a list of materials.  They will begin their design on Monday.  

Ask Your Child About:

-Their plan for their vehicle 

-To show you the big seven method of division 

-To discuss their Minecraft build

Upcoming Events

April 26th – Spirit Day – ‘Twin Day’  

April 25 - Minecraft Sharing day

April 30^th – Grade 5 Field Trip to Bow Habitat Station

April 8 - 12

Our Learning folders came home on Friday.  We hope you had a chance to view your child's weekly quiz and self evaluation for the week.  Please take time to give your child some positive feedback on their accomplishments this week.

Our Anything But A Backpack spirit day was a great hit.  Students were very creative with everything they brought from suitcases, laundry baskets, pots, and boxing gloves, to traffic cones, pinatas, boxes, and crates.  Thanks for helping your child with this fun event.  

Learning Outcomes

Physical Education - Gymnatstics

Students modify movement to improve control and efficiency.

Students refine and apply spatial awareness across a variety of physical activity contexts.

Students examine and apply personal safety in a variety of situations.

What Did Students Do? 

This week was exciting for students as the gymnastics equipment was all out.  Students spent time moving throughout the gymnastics stations, working on control and technique as they went about their various movements.  Students had the opportunity to travel up ropes and climbers, and across ladders, balance beams, and  benches. They used the box horses, ramps, and bars to work on their various balances, landings, and other movements.  

Maker Activity

In our Maker Space activity this week students were asked to design a shoe that they could put on and remove.  They were given 4 sheets of paper and a strip of masking tape.  They also had access to string.  The focus was on design and functionality.  Students made some great creations which they then took time to share during the fashion show portion of the activity.  Students had to work together in groups of three or four.  They needed to collaborate and communicate within their groups in order to achieve success.  

Ask Your Child About:

-Our work so far with division and their introduction to The Big 7 Method

-The novels they finished reading this week. 

-How their Minecraft build is progressing

-How their Maker Space activity went and what type of shoe they designed. 

Upcoming Events

April 17^th – Fun lunch   April 19^th – CBE System PD Day

April 23^rd – Spirit Day – ‘Twin Day’  

April 30^th – Grade 5 Field Trip to Bow Habitat Station

 April 2 - 5

Minecraft Challenge Season 3

Learning Outcomes

English Language Arts

Examine a variety of text features that organize content and emphasize information that is most important.

Examine ideas and information within texts that are explicit and implicit.

Use evidence from texts or additional sources to support responses and interpretations.

Make connections between features of land and personal experiences.

Engage in collaborative dialogue when sharing ideas, solving problems, or making decisions.

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

Use respectful language when collaborating with others.

Demonstrate adaptability to build consensus when perspectives or opinions within groups differ.

Science

Design and carry out an investigation of a practical problem, and develop a possible solution.

What Did Students Do?

Minecraft Challenge Level Up Season 3

Prior to Spring Break, students began reading and understanding The City of Calgary's Strategic Direction Document that our city council uses to guide all decisions. This was our first step in the Minecraft Challenge. Students were invited to think like City Planners and they needed to examine guiding documents to frame their thinking. 

Students read this document, determined the most important information and summarized each section into a graphic organizer. 

This week, students continued their Minecraft challenge work. Students logged into the Minecraft world and engaged with NPC representations of various individuals to inform their designs. They heard from people like:

Each person shared insights about council's strategic plan and their thoughts about how to make Calgary a vibrant, sustainable, diverse and equitable place to live, work and play. Students summarized each NPC's message. 

Students got into their groups and chose their site: Hultain Park or Green Line and got planning! They had to explain how each feature of their build addressed vibrancy, equity, diversity and unity and one of the resiliencies.

Then it was time to start building! Students were so excited to begin the building work within Minecraft. It was wonderful to see students collaborate and help each other out. Students offered to help address tech issues, log in challenges and how to navigate within the Minecraft space. The Grade 5s demonstrated excellent collaboration, problem solving and support for one another! Big thanks to our Grade 6 students who came to help us with a variety of tech issues and for teaching us how to save, import and share our builds!

Ask Your Child About:

- our work so far with division and what the divisibility rules are for 2 and 5

-the TREX art exhibit and the one they chose to reflect upon

-their guided reading novels and the events, characters that they read about this week

-the villain character they created based on the TREX art piece they chose

Upcoming Events

April 8^th – Gymnastics equipment begins in Phys Ed  

April 10^th – School Council Meeting

April 12^th – Spirit Day – ‘Anything but a backpack day!’   April 17^th – Fun lunch   April 19^th – CBE System PD Day

April 23^rd – Spirit Day – ‘Twin Day’  

April 30^th – Grade 5 Field Trip to Bow Habitat Station