GRADE 5 NEWSLETTER
Friday, 27 April 2012
GRADE 5 NEWSLETTER
How the World Works WHAT HAVE WE BEEN LEARNING?
THINGS TO REMEMBER Decimals are another way of writing fractions. Percentages are another way of writing hundredths.
Unit of Inquiry Just how does a windmill power my television? How do photovoltaic cells work? How can we capture the power of nature to run our homes and lives? What happens when I mix PVA and Borax? What is heat? How do temperature and salinity affect density? These questions and many more were answered by two guest speakers who visited Grade 5 recently. Paolo (Bea’s grandfather) shared his expertise in the renewable energy field. And, on Wednesday, we had a visit from Nicholas Alvarez, a chemical engineer who had a variety of demonstrations to help us better understand exoand endothermic reactions. This week we wrapped up Unit Five and our investigation into the way energy powers our world. Classes completed final projects and assessments linked to central idea and showed their understanding of how energy is changed, stored and used in many ways. Students spent time discussing and preparing for the student led conferences next week. We have encouraged the children to share their understanding of the knowledge, skills and concepts we have learned as well as ask YOU questions. Please be ready to join the students in a lively discussion, participate in the activities. This will make the experience more authentic and successful for the students.
Mathematics This week we have been finishing off our work with decimals, fractions and percentages and looking at starting a unit related to shape and space. Ask your child. The big ideas we have covered are that: Decimals, fractions and percentages are related
Because decimals are part of the base-ten place value system, the clearest connections between decimals and fractions occur where the denominator of a fraction is a power of ten. You can see what sort of assignments we have done next week in your child’s portfolio.
Dansk INTERMEDIATE We read and discussed weather
reports from Danish newspapers and on –line from DMI.dk. Now students are creating a presentation of the weather from a chosen location in the world. The presentation will be shared with the class and assessed for use of oral language.
Portfolios There are still a number of portfolios missing. Please return Portfolios on Monday, if you have not done so already. Thank you.
Important Dates 01.05.12
Student Led Conferences
07.06.12
Exhibition Open Evening
20.06.12 Grade 5 Graduation
Public Holidays – No school 04.05.12
Store Bededag (General Prayer Day)
17.05.12
Kristi Himmelfartsdag (Ascension Day)
18.05.12
Extra free day
BEGINNER The students have been focusing on
28.05.1 2 Pinsedag (Pentecost)
food and especially the vocabulary of shopping. Hopefully they are feeling confident enough to try to speak the next time they are in various shops in Denmark.
05.06.12
Drama
Don’t’ forget to come to the Spring Fair tomorrow from 11:00 - 15:00.
Grundlovsdag (Constitution Day) ½ day
Spring Fair
As we complete this final Drama unit, the students Have completed their work with A Midsummer Night’s Dream by working in groups to explore Shakesperean language by dramatizing short scenes..
Music As we wrap up our final week of music in PYP5, the students are preparing one final group piece, demonstrating their skills at ensemble listening, keeping a steady beat, and improvising.
Thank you to all the parents who contributed to the lovely class baskets.