Olympic fever!

We are going to have a great Olympic/Canada/House pride assembly tomorrow run by our fantastic student leaders! Be sure to wear your regular uniform bottoms and your Olympic/Canada pride tops for the assembly tomorrow!

Tonight, students are completing the two pages entitled "How the Respiratory System Works" due Wednesday. This will be a great review of your learning! Please note that the grade wide test next week will only be on the Circulatory System, but we will have small quiz within our own class to make sure that you have the Respiratory System down pat! You are all doing so well with this challenging material!

Problem Solving is due on Monday -- I don't make house calls on Sunday night, so please complete a small amount each night this week! I am sure you have all done brilliantly on the Fractions Section One test today! You will get them back at some point this week.

Good night, 5D!

Monday

We had a great day back today, and we accomplished some great things in our Respiratory System. Students are continuing to develop their summarizing skills by creating Kay Ideas at the end of each lesson.

Problem Solving: We worked through the strategy of Making a Table today, applying logic and an understanding of patterns to solve problems. We discovered that our skills at finding the LCM greatly helped in this process. Please complete this package for next Monday -- questions 79, 103, 59 and 108. We have a Fractions Test tomorrow, so tonight it would be wise to review.

Speech drafts (drafts!) are due tomorrow for my editing.
Please come in PE kit, bring your uniform and please remember your recorder!

Good night, 5D!

January in Review

There are many photos of Science World in here, but there are plenty of other great memories as well! We have certainly begun 2010 on a strong note! Our class had time with the Collingwood torch, there were many rock-paper-scissor duels, a great (and peaceful) art lesson and loads of laughter and fun. Although we didn't get any good photos of it, we also made blood and lungs! Hooray for January!

Thursday

We introduced the Respiratory System today by learning the new vocabulary terms of the diaphragm, inhaling and exhaling. We built a simple model of the lungs to understand this relationship. It is going to be a great unit!

Tomorrow, please be sure to bring your Library books and recorders. Mr. Corbett is teaching Art tomorrow afternoon, and you will all be delighted with the wonderful shading lesson he has prepared.

We said goodbye to Fractions Section One in Math today (test has been moved to Tuesday February 2, which gives students loads of review time) and we moved on in to Fractions Section Two: Adding and Subtracting Fractions! We worked through pages 49 and 51 together, and students are responsible for making sure that page 52 is completed for class tomorrow as well.

I was delighted with the Public Speaking outlines and handed these back with my feedback. Tonight, I'd like you to begin working on your draft speech. Bring it back tomorrow for more feedback. It is imperative that you keep all speech work in one place, together, so that we an see the progression of your thinking.

Good night, 5D!

Wonderful Wednesday

The sun burned away some of that fog and we had a beautiful afternoon up the hill!

Tonight, Math students will complete page 269 in their Comparing Fractions booklet, due Thursday. It is a wise idea to be bringing home your Math binder to keep all of your material in one place for your nightly review sessions. The Fractions Quiz Part One has been moved to Tuesday, February 2nd, although we will forge ahead and dive into Part Two this week -- adding and subtracting fractions (regular, improper and mixed).

We have seen absolutely brilliant Poem Reports thus far this term - students have chosen wonderfully rich poems to analyze with their classmates, and the PowerPoints have been phenomenal. Working away on these now will help you to stay on top of your work load (and allow you to present early!)

Last call for 1 litre plastic bottles - the Science lab is tomorrow. Be sure to bring in your materials!

Super Speller Assembly Surprise!

Making Blood!

We finished off our Circulatory System unit by making blood today -- it was wild and hilarious, especially when Mrs. Dearborn forgot the red food colouring and we had to use ketchup. Do you remember the four parts of blood, their function and relative amount in your blood stream?

Tonight, please be sure to finalize your speech topic and outline to be handed in tomorrow. It's class picture day, so sharpest Number One uniforms, please!

Enjoy this incredible weather!

Only 18 days until the Olympics begin!

We had a wonderful Monday together -- we all noted that the day flew by! We worked away on our Poetry Portfolios, and I am so excited to see the final products of student's hard work!

Tonight, students are very likely reviewing Math skills for the two tests this week -- Problem Solving on Tuesday and Fractions Section One on Thursday. Students should be sure that their materials are organized and that any questions are carefully noted and dealt with on Tuesday!

We continued working on our Speech topics and outlines in class today. Finalized speech topics and a rough outline are due on Wednesday.

Here are some handy reminders for the weeks to come!

• Problem Solving test Tues Jan 26 (Making a Diagram)
• Class photo day on Wednesday -- sharp Number One uniform!
• Fractions Test Part One Thurs Jan 28
• Poetry Test Mon Feb 1
• Circulation/Respiration Science Test Wed Feb 10
• Poetry Portfolio due Thurs Feb 11 (early submissions welcome)

Fabulous Friday!

We completed our gorgeous bamboo paintings today - they look wonderful!

Please remember to practice your Recorder songs (2 of 4), to review for Math and enjoy the sunshine!

The Student Ambassadors were excellent tour guides this morning to prospective families - they certainly made me proud with their confidence and knowledge as they showcased our great school!

For Friday, please remember to come in your uniform and bring your recorders and library books. To introduce our upcoming Respiratory System unit, please bring an empty 1 or 2 litre plastic bottle to school on Monday. I have found that the Bolthouse Farms bottles (or similarly shaped bottle) work well for the activity we'll be doing. Any extras are appreciated.

We played around with the relationship between a hexagon, a rhombus, an equilateral triangle and a trapezoid today. This worked we ll to create models of mixed numbers and improper fractions, as well as solidifying understanding of what "one" means. We began by making the hexagon equal to one, but as we played around and made the trapezoid be equal to one whole it was clear how the relationship changed. Tonight, please complete page 213 in Jump!

We were really grateful to see Mrs. Deighton today - she brought in her newborn son to show off how adorable he is! Mama and Baby are blissfully happy and healthy!

Best of luck to the Basketball Boys tonight!

Wednesday

What a beautiful day on the mountain! Spirits are bright and we are accomplishing so much! Thank you all for your hard work and continued organization.

We are hosting an Open House tomorrow, so students must come in their sharpest Number One uniforms! The Boys have an exciting away game, but their Basketball clothes will be packed separately to be changed into before the game.

Science: We intended to MAKE BLOOD today, but the day slipped away. We will aim for this tomorrow. To continue your exploration of the circulatory system, please complete Section 5.6 in your booklet.

Our Fractions Unit continues to roll along, and today students focused their attention to areas for improvement, as well as making specific goals of how to achieve this prior to the test next week. Strategies include visiting lunch time study halls, sitting close to the front of the class, asking questions and being diligent in homework completion. Tonight, please complete pages 211 and 212 in Jump, due tomorrow. There are also many additional pages in your binder that focus on the specific areas, should you wish to review. Be sure to check your understanding against the review sheet!

Tuesday

Good luck, Basketball Girls!

Here are just a few quick reminders for you tonight (after a long absence!)

Tomorrow will be a Civvies Day for Hope for Haiti - $2 donation, please. Be sure to bring your Spirit clothes.

Science: Circulatory System Section 5.3 in textbook and corresponding page in your booklet, due Wednesday

Language Arts: Yellow Spelling due Thursday

Poetry: Continue working on Poem Report

Math: Problem Solving Test next Monday Fractions: page 205 and 206 in Jump due Wednesday

PROJECT HANDS PENNY DRIVE!

Scholastic orders due Jan 27
Yearbook orders due Feb 11

Upcoming dates:
Problem Solving test Mon Jan 25 (Making a Diagram)
Circulation/Respiration Science Test Wed Feb 10

Homework!

Reminders:
Come in PE kit. Bring recorder! Bring uniform! Bring library books!

Language Arts: Take home "Best Things in Life Are Free". Mark it at home with your parents using the Personal, Impromptu Writing Rubric (highlight where you think you fall). Bring back tomorrow!

Poetry: Continue working on Poem Report

Math: Complete Problem Solving booklet - Making a Diagram due next Monday, January 18th
JUMP BOOK 2 PAGE 204 DUE FRIDAY

PROJECT HANDS PENNY DRIVE IS IN FULL FORCE! GREAT JOB EVERYONE!


Aquarium forms due Friday Jan 15
Scholastic orders due Jan 27

Upcoming dates:
Problem Solving test Mon Jan 25 (Making a Diagram)


Thank you! Good night, 5D!

Tuesday

There's not much new to report today - another great day filled with learning and laughter. Student's model of the heart should be nearly complete, and these will be an invaluable resource as reference when describing the path of blood through the heart. We worked on writing in partners after an independent persuasive writing activity -- students shared their responses and feedback and went on to create a "super final copy" by using the best of their own work to create something even better! We discovered that partner writing is difficult but fun.

We began our Fractions unit today by covering prime and composite numbers, Greatest Common Factor and Prime Factorization. These foundational skills will make reducing fractions, finding common denominators and converting improper fractions to mixed numbers so much easier! Please complete pages 42 and 43 in your Fractions booklet tonight.

5D homeroom children can continue working on their Poem Reports and keep up their solid studying for the Skeletal and Muscular Systems test on Thursday! Please come out to help with Legacy in the morning!

Monday, Monday

We had a great (although very indoor-recess-y) day. We studied the poem The Road Not Taken and re-examined William Blake's The Tiger (we had a full class today - hurray!) We began building a model of the heart to help our understanding of the circulatory system and we will complete those tomorrow!

Here are your reminders for tonight:

• Come in PE kit, bring uniform. Bring your recorder for Music class in the morning!
• Spelling: Salmon sheet due Thursday
• Review Skeletal and Muscular System Study Notes -- Test on Thurs Jan 14
• Science: pages 54 and 55 in Circulatory booklet (due Tuesday)
• Poetry: Continue working on Poem Report

Math: Complete Problem Solving booklet - Making a Diagram due next Monday, January 18th

PROJECT HANDS PENNY DRIVE BEGINS TODAY! Begin collecting your pennies for the big house competition!

Aquarium forms due Friday Jan 15
Scholastic orders due Jan 27

Thursday

We had a great day today that flew by! Here are some reminders for tonight:

Come in PE kit, bring uniform

Continue working on Poem Report

Create Skeletal and Muscular System Study Notes The test will be written on Thurs Jan 14

Math: 5D Venn Diagram Problem Solving (and Roxy Theatre question) due Friday

Bring recorder for Music class tomorrow!

Good night, 5D!

Wonderful Wednesday

We had another great day together!

Students continued to develop their Persuasive Writing Skills, helped their Grade 2 Buddy with Researching Skills, played a great game of Bone Bingo in preparation for the upcoming Skeletal and Muscular Systems test and delivered a great Assembly to the school!

Tonight:
Continue working on Poem Report
Create Skeletal and Muscular System Study Notes
Science Sheet MUSCLES due Thursday
Complete Spelling
5D Math: Complete Venn Diagram Problem Solving sheet and the Roxy Theatre question for Friday

Aquarium forms due Friday Jan 15
Student Leader forms due Friday
Scholastic orders due Jan 27
Return Library books

Legacy Help Needed!

Thank you!

Tuesday

Our trip to Science World was wonderful today! We watched a fantastic movie about the Human Body, explored the exhibits and had a great workshop on Grossology with Jaime, who taught us everything GROSS and EXCITING about our bodies! Click here to check out their website! http://www.scienceworld.ca/



Tonight, please be sure to complete the yellow Poetry sheet creating eight metaphors and similes for your given topic. This brainstorm will undoubtedly help you with a poem of your choice for your final portfolio.

5D is currently looking for help with our upcoming Legacy mornings. Please contact our Class Representatives if you are available to help! We really appreciate it!
Please come in your Sharp Number One uniform and be sure to pack your Spirit clothes, and of course, your track suit. Dressing for the weather is an important way to stay healthy!


Aquarium forms and Student Leader Applications are due by Friday -- I was thrilled to see so many children get the yellow Leadership forms today. Your enthusiasm is wonderful!

Quick reminders

Welcome back, 5D! I know that 2010 will be an amazing year for you as you continue to grow and shine!

Here are some quick reminders for you tonight:

Come in Number One uniform for field trip to Science World tomorrow
No Gym clothes (Girls basketball bring clothes for game after school)
Brown Bag lunch -- no microwave!
Clearly label your lunch bag with your name and class

Spelling -- complete sheet by Thursday

Poetry -- yellow sheet due Wednesday

Math -- parent sign test, return on Wednesday
Math -- finish pages 1, 2 and 3 in Review Booklet

Work on Poem Report

Aquarium forms due on January 15th (Sleepover on Friday, January 29!! It's going to be great!)

It's the final countdown!

I cannot believe that our holiday is almost here! Enjoy your night tonight, and please remember to come in your best Number One uniform in the morning for the Carol Service!

Good night, 5D!

December in Review

We had a wonderful time at our Class Party this afternoon, and I was touched to see such a thoughtful gift exchange among the students!

Please arrive in your sharp Number One for Assembly, and be sure to pack your Spirit (and all of those great new Spirit Socks!). A thank you card for your Secret Santa would be a great idea for tonight, as well.

Enjoy the slideshow -- another great month together, indeed!

The final Monday of 2009!

Wow! I cannot believe how quickly time has flown by! I'll prepare our final 2009 slideshow after the Class Party tomorrow, so be on the look out!

Please come to school tomorrow in your complete track suit for PE. Pack your PJs and bring your Secret Santa gift for our exciting class party in the afternoon!!

If you find yourself with extra free time tonight, you could spend it in various ways...writing in a journal..practicing your Skeletal and Muscular Systems knowledge for 2010...working on your Poem Report...building something wonderful and artistic out of material in your recycling -- the ideas are endless and I hope you have a wonderful night!








On a sadder note, it is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of Charlie the Class Dog - beloved 5D mascot and trusted friend. The treacherous waters of Friday were no match for ol' Charlie, and he will be greatly missed. We will treasure the memories. 5D sincerely thanks Monique for helping us through this difficult time with her thoughtful gift of Marley the Monkey - no replacement, to be sure, but a welcome addition to our classroom. We look forward to building memories with Marley, and are thankful for his cleanliness and germ-free attitude towards life.

Wednesday

Please remember to come to school in your black pants tomorrow for the Concert Rehearsal in the morning. Be sure to bring your uniform so that the black pants do not get dirty before your stage time! Wrestling is canceled in the morning so there won't be any need for your gym strip. BLACK OR GREY SOCKS ARE EXPECTED!

Please note that you need to be back at the school on Thursday evening between 5:15 and 5:30 pm. :)

There is a Math quiz coming up, and today we made some review notes to distinguish between mean (or average), mode, median and range. You can practice these concepts at home easily to help prepare!

Please complete your Science sheet for tomorrow's class.

Good night, 5D!

Agenda

We will be having Spirit tomorrow, so please come in your Number One uniform and pack your Spirit - but be prepared to go outside!! This means that track suits are mandatory.

Poetry: Please complete the Personification page for tomorrow.

Spelling: the green sheet is still due on Thursday.

Math: Please complete the "Interpreting Graph" pages (front and back of one page) and the Data Management #1 and #2 (all on the same page) for Thursday's class. This will help you to prepare for the Math quiz on Friday on bar graphs, line graphs, mean, median, mode and range! You are stars!

I am so looking forward to your Concert on Thursday evening! The culmination of your hard work will undoubtedly be impressive!

Good night!

Monday

We had a great day today! We learned about a new poetic device - personification! We practiced this skill by giving human qualities and characteristics to the four seasons, after reading a personification poem about Winter. The final copy of this exercise along with our metaphor and similes self-portrait will surely be a stunning display.

For homework:

• Please remember that PE is canceled tomorrow, so you will arrive in your uniform.
• Spelling homework (more work with analogies and suffixes!) is due on Thursday.
• Read for 20 minutes -- perhaps 20 minutes with an excellent novel? Perhaps time spent lost in a Poetry Anthology? It's up to you!
• Return Socials tests with signatures as soon as possible.
  

Good night, 5D!

Thursday, December 3rd

Time certainly is flying by!

Please finish up your pink Poetry self portrait with metaphors sheet - I can't wait to turn your hard work into a great art lesson and display in the hall!

In Math today, we reviewed our understanding of mean/average and it is imperative that students have mastered that skill. We applied our knowledge of graphs to interpret the information, and for homework tonight students should complete pages 142-143 in Jump I to clarify the difference between continuous and discrete data. This is due on Friday!

Please be working away on the two Problem Solving questions that are due on Monday - draw diagrams, make a chart and start with something simple (i.e. substitute in 10 for one value and see how the question would work out. This way you can make adjustments to your next Guess - it's a great way to begin your thinking!)

Come in PE kit, bring your uniform, and keep smiling!

Congratulations to Parvin!!

Parvin competed against other Spellers from Grade 5 to 8 in the Spelling Bee this afternoon, and I am happy to report that she WON!! Congratulations, Parvin -- we will be rooting for you in March as you compete at the next level at UBC! 5D is so proud of you! A big thank you also goes out to Mrs. Brown who organized the Spelling Bee at Wentworth and who will be coaching Parvin for the next level! WOW!

The view from our classroom...

We are very lucky people...

Wacky Wednesday

What a wonderful day in 5D! We are loving this sunshine!

Please complete the yellow sheet for Thursday, and the pink self-portrait with metaphors and similes for Friday. Math students - please complete page 141 in your Jump book.

Have a great night! We wish you the best of luck in the Spelling Bee Round 4 tonight, Parvin!!

Terrific Tuesday

It is so wonderful to have the sun shining down on us - spirits certainly are bright!

Tonight:
Spelling - complete yellow sheet by Thursday
Poetry - complete pink sheet by Wednesday
- be working on your Poem Report!
Math - We practiced our Venn diagram skills today to improve our understanding of classifying data. Tonight, please complete Jump book pages 138,139 (we worked on this in class) and page 140.

Come in your best Number One uniform and bring your Spirit clothes!

Good night, 5D!

Monday!!

Have a wonderful night, 5D!

We began our Poetry unit today and learned about and played around with three poetic devices: similes, alliteration and onomatopoeia! Tonight, please work together on the pink poetry page -- building a "Silly Side-by-Side Poem"! Make sure to make your couplets rhyme! This will be shared with your classmates on Wednesday - be sure to have it completed!

Also coming home tonight are the guidelines for the Term Two Poem Report. Make note of your presentation date and plan your time accordingly! I am so excited to see the types of poems you are drawn to and to hear your analysis. More information will follow - including how to indicate the rhyme scheme and how to create a Power Point presentation! We will practice this computer skill before the Christmas holidays.

We are attending the Festive Store tomorrow, so be sure to bring your money, shopping slip and bag!

Spelling - the yellow sheet is due on Thursday, please.

Math - Problem Solving for 5D - complete question 8 (Dominic has twice as many...) and question 12 (Katy is 16 years younger....), due next Monday. Come to see me for extra help between now and then if you have tried your strategies of diagrams, labels and charts and still aren't sure how to solve it!

Come in your full PE kit, and bring your uniform. Enjoy the sunshine!

Happy Thursday!

We had a wonderful day in 5D, and we spent the afternoon working on a top-secret Science project that will be unveiled shortly!

Here are a few reminders for this evening:
- Enjoy the sunshine and get some fresh air.
- come in PE kit, bring uniform.
- return Library books.
- There may be Math homework from your Set tonight -- complete thoroughly and diligently. No homework for 5D.
- Science : practice your songs
: "A Joint Effort" (in booklet) due tomorrow- Practice your songs

Have a great night!

Wet Wednesday!

5D should be so proud of our Assembly presenters -- everyone has done such an amazing job and I'm excited to see everyone have a turn in front of the microphone!

Tonight:
-- review the details of the Secret Santa/Class Party sheet sent home tonight. There is a $15 limit and the goal is to be thoughtful and secretive!
-- review the lavender sheet outlining the upcoming Winter Concert!
-- Science: complete the "Spine-Tingling Experience" sheet in your Skeletal/Muscular booklet
-- Math: page 100 in Jump I due Thursday!

Good night!

Marvelous Monday

We had a wonderful (albeit rainy) day today -- we watched a slideshow from Alex about the Canadian Olympic Athlete, Steve Omichle who is an aerial and freestyle skier! Alex did a wonderful job, and now we will brainstorm how 5D can show our support for Steve!

Tonight, please...

Practice words to “Power of the Dream” and “Canadian, please.” 

Practice lines to audition for Winter Concert. Boys will audition first recess on Tuesday, and the girls will audition at lunch!

Spelling homework: The Purple spelling sheet due Thursday, and please complete page 20 in white book tonight.

Please complete the Festive Store ordering form and follow the directions -- return the sheet to school on the day we attend the store - Tuesday, December 1st!

Come in PE kit (full track suit, bring uniform)

Return Library books

Read for 20 minutes


And, last but not least...it's time to get excited for our Skeletal and Muscular Science unit - we officially begin tomorrow! We watched some quick videos about skeletons today, put together a bulletin board and took a quick glance at our booklet for this exciting unit!! Check out the links to the left for more information!

Good night, 5D!

Fabulous Friday

Ms. Ninan spoke to us at the end of the day today about the upcoming auditions for the Winter Concert. Ms. Ninan handed out one page of the script for children to practice for auditions (auditions will likely be held on Tuesday). Choose one or two characters and begin to get comfortable with the lines. Expression, enthusiasm and confidence all count! You do not necessarily need to have the lines memorized.

For the weekend:
- practice your Music lyrics to "Canadian, please" and "Power of the Dream".
- find an outstanding Library books at home and return!
- have a great weekend!

Thrilling Thursday!

We had a great day in 5D! Students mastered the program 2Create to make great timelines for our in-class Socials project. The test is tomorrow - please spend some time tonight reviewing.

The Music department has sent home a small notice and booklet for your fun at home! Tonight, please practice the lyrics to “Power of the Dream” and “Canadian, please” for class tomorrow (at the back of the booklet!)

A few reminders:

Come in PE kit (full track suit, bring uniform). Many children have been under-dressed for the weather -- it's cold and rainy, so come prepared!

Return Library books, and begin to be excited for the Book Fair! We have heard amazing book reports this term, and I am sure we will all have a few more books on our wish lists as a result of these great presentations.

We watched a brief video on Operation Christmas Child today - this is an incredible program and the joy on the faces of the children as they opened their box was so inspiring. The shoe boxes are due tomorrow, please. Click here for more information of this worthwhile initiative: http://www.samaritanspurse.ca/occ/

Good night, 5D!

Wild Wednesday

I'm back! I missed the class yesterday and am glad to be back with you today.

5D hosted an incredible assembly, where we learned about an exciting trip Grade 12 student Megan Ursic took to the Arctic Circle last year. Megan told us about the small decisions we make that are impacting the lives of the animals and people who live in the Arctic. She encouraged all students to research this topic to empower themselves to make changes.

For tonight....drum roll, please...

- be sure to bring in your Completed Operation Christmas Child boxes by Friday. The recipients of your thoughtful boxes are going to be so grateful that you took time from your day to think of them.

- review for your Math and Socials tests.

- Have a wonderful night with your family and friends -- perhaps you could cuddle up tonight with your parents for your 20 minute nightly dose of reading!

See you in the morning!

Magnificent Monday

We had a brilliant morning at the Vancouver Symphony - perhaps you could sing "Siyahamba" for your family tonight!

Reminders:

--Come in full PE kit (track suit), bring uniform
--Socials - review for test Friday. Complete drawing for Tuesday
--Math - review for test Thursday
--Scholastics due Thursday
--Practice Assembly Script
--Operation Christmas Child due Friday
--Girls Soccer and Volleyball must return uniforms
-- return Photo Retake orders as soon as possible.

Good night, 5D!

Name the Baby Beluga!

The Vancouver Aquarium is looking for a wonderful, Arctic-themed, Inuit culture-esque name for the baby Beluga born in June. You can watch the Beluga on the 24-hour webcam to get a feel for her personality before you submit an entry (which is due before November 22). If you're interested, go to visitvanaqua.org!

Super Spellers Sweeping Success!

Congratulations to our Super 5D Spellers! You did an incredible job on Thursday, and the whole grade was so proud of your performance! You should be so pleased with yourselves and proud of your hard work!

Mr. Harder - Torch Bearer Extraordinaire!

Thank you so much to Julian's Grandfather who came to 5D to share his incredible experience of being a torch bearer for the Olympics! He taught us about the design and significance of the torch, and explained the great honour associated with being asked to do this important task! Thank you for sharing your time with us! We really appreciate it!