Yr5 Curriculum Update – 23/11/18
Working together to achieve success for every child
Unit of Inquiry
Students have enjoyed exploring the school grounds on their Biodiversity Walks. They have been practising the skills of collecting and interpreting data about the number of different plants and animals evident. By combining this practical task with what they have learnt about biodiversity and its benefits, students have been able to develop the skill of synthesis.
Students have been introduced to MISO, not the soup, but an acronym for ways to research that stands of Media, Interviews, Surveys and Observations). As inquirers, students will research into an ecosystem of their choice to find out:
- The benefits of biodiversity in this area offers
- The issues that are threatening the biodiversity
- The impacts caused by these threats
- Possible action/solutions that are being taken/can be taken to protect the biodiversity
Students will present their learning through a website using Google Sites.
During the Biodiversity Walk, we learnt that there are not very many bugs around KJS at this time of year. Maybe we could have more flowering plants to encourage insects into the school. Before I didn’t really know what biodiversity meant but now I know it means how plants and animals are connected and depend on each other. Anya 5T
During Mr Melsom’s session, we learnt about native and non native trees in Hong Kong and why it is better to have more variety of trees to increase biodiversity. We also made seed balls and learnt how they protect insects from eating all the seeds. Ishan 5T
Literacy
In reading, students have been using a range of texts related to biodiversity to practise reading strategies such as summarising and synthesising information. These skills will be particularly useful during personal research into biodiversity with a chosen ecosystem.
In writing, they have also been delving into persuasive writing. Students have chosen an issue affecting biodiversity to craft letters persuading their audience to take action. Note-taking strategies have also been revisited and introduced, with the purpose of assisting students in recording their research inefficient methods.
Students have also been learning how to evaluate websites in order to determine if the sources they use when researching are reliable.
Maths
Students have been tapping into their prior knowledge and learning new strategies for solving a range of problems including adding subtracting, multiplying and dividing. By sharing different approaches and strategies for solving problems, they have been thinking about maths problems flexibly.
It’s good to show your working out and thinking when solving problems. Some strategies are less complicated than others. Usually I use a strategy that takes the shortest amount of time to work out the solution. Some strategies I would recommend are:column, partitioning and the jump strategy. Claire 5T
When I solve number problems, I prefer to use the partitioning strategy. Lucas 5T
A Biodiversity Walk around the school has given students an opportunity to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. They will continue to interpret data and then attempt to use that data to form and implement some small, meaningful actions.
Chinese
In the Chinese classrooms, we continue to focus on the concept of wellbeing and providing different learning opportunities for children to explore their own interests and promote agentic learning.
Here is a glimpse of some of our classrooms:
Year 5 Camp
We will be heading off to camp on Tuesday and are all very excited about it. The organisation has gone well and it looks like the weather will be cool, which helps with some of the activities and sleeping in a tent. There is likely to be some rain while we are away so please make sure that the children have a light rain-coat.
We would like to give the children the opportunity to do a bag check on Monday, so please send their packed bags in with them on Monday if that is possible. Bags can then remain at school overnight ready for our Tuesday morning departure.
Key Dates for the Diary
Monday, November 26: Bring in camp bags
Tuesday, November 27 – Friday 30: Year 5 Camp
Wednesday, December 12: Year 5 Sports Day (am)
Friday, December 14: Last day of term (finish at noon)
