Grade 4/5 News

Jan. 29, 2018

We had lots of fun at GISS for their grade 12 biology exam.  There were four grade 5 classes at GISS--2 each from SSE and Fernwood, and one from Fulford.  Students went to one of 14 stations to see Grade 12 presentations on human anatomy.  All the students were keen and seemed to enjoy themselves.  The grade 12s were great and I'm told they were quite nervous about presenting to other students.  Tomorrow we'll be watching Teddy Anderson, a first nations performer, work with hoops and then each class will do a workshop with him.  On Thursday we will be receiving coho salmon eggs.  We usually release them near earth day at Fulford creek. 

Subjects

Math:   We continue studying multiplication and division together as a concept.  I like to students learn that they have similar functions just like adding and subtracting.  
   "Math is the science of patterns."

Reading:    We continue to use "word sorts"  twice a week to help with spelling and word patterns.  We also continue with the two novels, "My Side of the Mountain" and "Misty of Chincoteague".  On Thursdays we focus on Reader's Theatre and drama activities.

Writing:    I hope to finish the short story this week and teach students how to use slides in google apps to make a presentation.  When they are finished they can share their slide show with you.  

Science:  I'd like to finish Course 2 in hour of code this week and start students coding using lego robotics.   We are using a coding program with a robot called Sphero and the students are having fun with it.   
Social Studies: We continue having fun with our study of the Gold Rush in B.C. Students are in the Fraser Canyon panning for gold.  

Art:  Our theme will be looking at colour and patterns and we are working with the school mural.  

PE:    Most of our focus is on basketball in PE.    In dance, I will be starting to teach the students how to jive.

French:   In French we will be learning about months and seasons, as well as beginning to have some short dialogues and conversations.