Dear Parents and Students,
A short week but a busy one. As you enjoy some family time today (Thursday), we are hard at work collaborating to design and create professional Learning communities and looking forward to next week.
Homework
Because this week was a short week and students did not attend school today, we will complete our homework at the same time as beginning our new set for the following week, on Sunday (the beginning of Week 7).
Reading and writing
During this week learners have continued to work on developing their reading and writing skills.
Students continued to work in reading groups where they practiced reading aloud, continued to develop their ability to read with fluency and expression as well as building their skills of reading to build understanding.
As an extension this week readers also inquired into mini extension projects related to their reading.
Please see below some examples of their work this week.
Mathematics
This week in Math, students continued to work on developing their basic facts as well as extending their ability to work with multiplication of double digits by double digits as well as triple digits by double digits. For example 27 x 34 = ? or 144 x 29 = ?
Our resident math-magicians were also introduced to the beginnings of substitution strategies for algebraic equations for example 4 x a = 20. Therefore a=? Or if b = 3 then 6b = ?
Working with algebraic equations is something we will develop in more depth as the year progresses. Remember to talk with your children about how they are doing in math. They have a lot to share and explaining one’s mathematical reasoning and problem solving strategies really helps to consolidate learning.
Integrated UOI – Who We Are
This week students worked hard to complete their unit of inquiry on Who We Are.
This was an inquiry into:
- Recognizing who we are as individuals. Our focus key concept for this is CONNECTION
- The values that guide our choices and decisions. Our focus key concept for this is CONNECTION
- How beliefs impact celebrations. Our focus key concept for this is PERSPECTIVE
This week students worked on showing their understanding of these lines of inquiry and the Central Idea of the unit which is; Personal journeys reflect our communities.
For this students used their creativity and designed their own assessment pieces to show their understanding of this concept.
This week students also completed their charts showing some of their beliefs and values along with what this means for them in terms of celebrations and decisions they make. Please see below for some examples of this work.
The students have done a great job with this and have made some valuable connections about what their beliefs and values are and how these beliefs and values impact on their lives and the decisions they make. Next week we will begin a new integrated unit of inquiry looking at the central idea that ‘Flight inspires innovation’. This will be a ‘science heavy’ unit developing understanding through inquiry lines looking at;
- The relationship between the physics involved in flight and animals CAUSATION
- Developing and designing flying objects FUNCTION
This will be a hands-on type unit where students get to design, make and test flying objects looking at the principles of scientific fair testing, controlling independent variables, making and testing hypotheses and so on. This is an exciting unit to be engaged in so please do talk with your children about this and remember to please ask if you have any questions in relation to this.
Worth Repeating
Please remember that if you have not already done so, next week (Sunday) is the due date for contracts to be signed and returned to school. Thank you.
At this stage please do not bring sports equipment such as soccer/footballs to school as there are certain activities we are unable to participate in due to Covid mitigation measures. Should this situation change, I will of course update you on this.
Thank you for your continued support in keeping us all safe, happy and learning together.
Please remember your…
Hat, Water bottle, Ipad charged, PE Kit and Spare Mask…
Thank you.
As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincere regards,
Your partner in learning.
Glen Nicholson