What's happening in our classroom
Hello Mackellar families!
As we are nearing the end of the year, the Grade 5 team would like to reflect back on some incursions and days of significance we have participated in this term. Here is an overview of these events:
Smoothie Incursion (Week 3)
What a success! The grade 5 students had an absolute ball during our Smoothie Bar incursion. Students were deeply immersed in the hands on activities which enabled them to take on the responsibilities of being a small business owner. Students identified their target market, designed their logo, invented a brand and learned about cost and profit before trialling their delicious and nutritious smoothie blends. They problem solved in teams and took on multiple roles to achieve a common goal. Once the ultimate smoothie was created, students used their digital literacy and design skills to create marketing materials to promote their product and brand to their teachers and support staff. Great work grade 5’s!
Remembrance Day (Week 6)
As part of Special Days of Significance, our school community commemorated Remembrance Day. This led to Grade 5 students analysing the poetry of World War 1 poets during the Literacy hour . Students compared the different approaches the poets took to their depictions of soldiers, patriotism, pacifism and the realities of fighting in the trenches. They also examined elements of poetry and how poets used figurative language, alliteration, imagery, metaphor and meter to chronicle life at the front.
Here is an example of the poems they studied:
IN FLANDERS FIELD
BY JOHN MCCRAE
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row.
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved. and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Talking Money Incurison (Weeks 7 and 8)
Over 2 separate lessons, Grade 5 students participated in the ‘Talking Money’ incursion. The program was a perfect link to our Term 4 Inquiry “Economics and Business!"
Workshop A (Week 7): Focussed on student’s examining how people value money differently and how they can have conversations with family and friends about money. They learnt how to set savings goals as part of managing their money.
Workshop B (Week 8): Examined how to save and manage money and consider different payment options, including the digitisation of money.
These lessons were then followed up in the classroom during both Numeracy and Inquiry sessions. It was great to see the students learning skills that are applicable in real life and they will now be able to take this learning out into the real world!
Thank you again for all of your support and we hope you enjoy a well-deserved holiday, see you next year!
Renee Imeri, Judy Tanner, Rebecca West, Anita Magliozzi and Alecia Mayne.
