Week 26!

What a jam packed week we had in 5L!  We launched many new units and were immersed in some great learning opportunities.  We also had our annual grade 5 vs staff basketball game on Thursday night.  I told the class I was SO impressed with them!  They truly had some serious basketball skills. Below you can check out some of the happenings of our week:

*Math:

• Reviewed multiplying fractions
• Worked on finding area with fractional side lengths
• Problem solved
• Took a quiz on Thursday

*Literacy:

• Began our new reading/writing units which focus on argument and advocacy
• Learned about being an informed citizen 
• Practiced suspending judgement and researching to find both sides of an issue
• Joined a debate team and researched both sides in order to prepare for a debate
• Learned what makes an argument strong (claim, reasons and solid evidence)
• Debate team topics are: Are extreme sports worth the risk?  Should animals be kept in zoos?  Are sharks or humans more dangerous?  Should we ban plastic bags and water bottles? 

Should animals be kept in zoos?

Should we ban plastic bottles and bags?

Are humans or sharks more dangerous?

Are extreme sports worth the risk? 

*Science:

• Began our new matter unit
• Learned about solid, liquid & gas
• Took ownership of our learning by visiting different centers to gain understanding about density, matter vocabulary, atoms and matter.

*Classcraft: We launched Classcraft in our classroom this week!  Please ask your child to show you it at home.  Essentially, each student is playing the role of a character (Mage, Healer, Warrior) while working together in small groups.  I am the Gamemaster, sharing daily random events that either hinder or help teams/individuals.  Students earn points for positive behaviors and lose points for negative behaviors.  As their character levels up, they are able to acquire new powers to be used in the classroom! 

*Important Dates:

• Early Release Thursday, March 16th
• No School Friday, March 17th
• Sign up form for April Parent Teacher Conferences will be sent home next week

Enjoy the weekend!

Mrs. Loh