Advent and Chemistry

The Grade 5s are excited to lead our Advent liturgy at Saint Brigid on Wednesday, December 21st this year. We are beginning to rehearse for this event this week. 

Today in Religion class we began to brainstorm some special actions that we can take during this Advent season, to brighten someone else's day. As a class, we are going to be writing Christmas cards to deliver to those within the community. Students are encouraged to brainstorm some other special actions we can do as a class during the remainder of Advent. There is a field trip form that will come home this week, for when we walk around the community and deliver the Christmas cards on Wednesday, December 21st.

In Science class, we kicked off our Classroom Chemistry unit by experimenting with different ways to separate solids in a mixture. We know that a mixture can be described as two or more substances that keep their original characteristics when they are combined.

We tested four methods to separate solids from a mixture: 

1. Magnetism - items that are magnetic will attach to the magnet.
2. Buoyancy - solids that float will rise to the surface of the water. 
3. Strainer/Sieve - larger solids will remain on top of the sieve, while smaller particles will fall through.
4. Funnel - smaller solids will be able to pass through the funnel while larger ones will not. 

Next, we created lemonade from water, lemon juice, and sugar. We tasted the mixture before and after adding in the sugar, and learned that by stirring the sugar in, we were able to create a solution. A solution differs from a mixture because it describes when one substance dissolves into another, and we are unable to distinguish the properties of each individual substance. 

Once we created a solution by stirring the sugar until it dissolved, we then experimented with various ways in which we could separate our solution. We made a hypothesis (an educated guess) about two different methods to separate the sugar from the lemon juice and water. The first method we used was evaporation where we required heat to remove the liquid from the mixture, and the second method to separate a solution included our pouring the liquid into a new cup, through a coffee filter. In this example, the coffee filter acted as a sieve, to separate the solid particles and allow the liquid to flow through. 

Tomorrow we will finish recording our observations, and discussing which strategy was more successful in separating a solution. 

Moving into Term Two

Good evening parents,

This week we have no school on Friday, as we will be hosting parent teacher interviews during the day. Interviews will be on Thursday evening from 4PM-7PM and on Friday from 9AM-12PM and from 1PM-3PM. 

In Religion we have been discussing covenants that we make with God. 
A key theme from this unit is of God's faithfulness in the story of our ancestors. 
This week, we read passages from the Exodus chapter in the bible about the story of Moses and the Israelites. Through these passages, God calls again and again. Students were put into groups, and each group was assigned one of several passages that they summarized and explained to the class. 


In Science class we started classroom chemistry this week. We started the unit by brainstorming everything the comes to mind when we think of the word "chemistry".  First we took time on our own, then we talked to our peers at our table groups, and finally we came together as a whole class and came up with a master list. 

So far we have discussed the various states of matter (liquids, solids, and gasses).
This week, we will continue experimenting with various methods of separating two different solids from a mixture. Your child should be able to tell you the difference between a mixture and a solution.

In Art class we are learning that foreshortening is a concept by which we reduce parts of an object to create the optical illusion of three dimensional space. Students in 5C recently started a foreshortening project where it looks like they are falling away from the camera. In these pictures, our hands and feet are drawn much larger than the rest of our bodies, to give the illusion that these body parts are closer to the viewer than the rest of their bodies. 

A strategy we are learning in Math is called Box Multiplication. This strategy helps us to be able to multiply large numbers by breaking down each factor into expanded form. For example, we can expand 531 x 23 into (500 + 30 + 1) x (20 + 3).  

In Social Studies, we are learning about the ways that First Nations People lived off the land to survive in the Atlantic Region before European settlers arrived in North America. 

Good evening everyone,

WEAR BLUE ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18 FOR NATIONAL CHILD DAY!
On Sunday, November 20, Canada and countries around the world celebrate National Child Day as a reminder of our shared commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC is the most comprehensive treaty in support of children. It is signed and ratified by more nations than any other human rights document in history, attesting to its global significance and the underlying universal values it upholds.

Calgary Catholic is a partner in National Child Day Alberta. Wear blue on November 18 (the Friday before National Child Day) to show your support.

Don't forget, tomorrow (Friday, November 18th) is the final day to hand in forms for hot lunches throughout December and January. This is for Pizza, Pasta, and Chicken Fingers. 

Also, tomorrow is our science Weather Watch unit test. Students all have a paper copy of their study guide, as well as some vocabulary review sheets that we have been going over throughout the week. 

Next week we will be hosting a weather fashion show in our class before we begin our Classroom Chemistry unit. 

Next week (November 21-25) our class will have the opportunity to lead the morning prayer for the school. This means that select students will head down to the office each day at 8:55 to share a short prayer they have written over the intercom with the entire school. Many students are very excited about this. 

The time has almost come for our first progress reports to come out. These reports will be sent home with students on Friday, November 25th. Beginning on November 26th, parents will be able to sign up for parent-teacher conferences for the evening of Thursday, December 1st from 4PM to 7PM or during the day on Friday, December 2nd from 9AM to 3PM. We encourage the parents of all students to find a time to schedule a conference to discuss your child's progress thus far in Grade 5.

Good evening students and parents of 5C!

As we wrap up our first unit in Science - Weather Watch - students in 5C will write their Unit 1 Test on Friday, November 18th. Students have a hard copy of a study guide, and some key concepts they must know include:

• Definitions
• Weather instruments
• Cloud types
• The water cycle
• Temperature movement within a room - warm and cold air
• 4 main types of precipitation
• Seasons (Including the angles of the sun's rays)
• Seasonal scenarios

Here are some important dates to take note of for this week:

• Photo retakes will occur at school on Wednesday, November 16th 
• Food orders for the months of December and January are due this Friday, November 18th. This includes pasta, pizza, and chicken fingers throughout the week. 

During the week before Remembrance Day, students created poppy artwork that turned out looking beautiful. Who knew we had a class full of artists?!

Here are some pictures:

Social Studies Update

As we near the end of October, Room 5C has been preparing for a big debate in Social Studies. We have started learning about the 6 geographic regions of Canada, beginning with the Atlantic region. 

As we have learned, people in the Atlantic region relied heavily on the cod fishing industry to support their livelihood. In 1992 the government put a ban on cod fishing, due to the depleting numbers of the cod population. We have learned that, as a result, 40 000 people lost their jobs.
In our class, students have been divided into opposing groups to debate over the issue: Should the cod fishery reopen? 
After much research and planning, our debate will occur tomorrow morning. We are excited to discuss these issues, and to engage in a respectful and informed debate with our peers. 

Coming soon, we will have a Chapter 1 test about Exploring Canada.
Next week we will be reviewing concepts from Chapter 1, and focusing on what makes each region unique. Students will need to know the names of all 6 regions, and where each region is located in Canada.
Tomorrow, students will be given a study guide, which they may take home for the long weekend if they would like to. 

Good Evening!

This morning in Language Arts, we had a discussion about what it means to be humble. After looking at the quote, "Humility is the foundation of all virtues." by the philosopher Confucius. After our class discussion, students wrote individual reflections including examples of what it looks like to show humility. 

·         In Social Studies we are preparing for a class debate concerning natural resources and how we can protect these resources. Our debate topic is: “If the numbers of cod increase, should the cod fishery re-open?” Students are very excited about this.

·         We have started our next unit in Math on Multiplying and Dividing. Students got their Unit 2 tests back today and we went over them as a group. They will come home tonight to be signed and returned to class. We will begin our multiplication basic facts in class this week, and the remaining addition questions will be available for students to finish on their own time. In grade 5, students are expected to know facts up to 9 x 9 but we will practice up to 12 x 12 in preparation for future years

Upcoming Dates:

Now until Friday, October 28^th – Jacket Racket continues.

Thursday, October 27^th – Family Photo Night in the Learning Commons.

Friday, October 28^th – Black and Orange Spirit Day. 

Friday, October 28^th – Mary Brown’s Chicken Lunch (for those that ordered).

Monday, October 31^st – Professional Development Day – No school for students.

Tuesday, November 1^st – Faith Day – No school for students. 

Wednesday, November 2^nd to Friday the 11^th, students will have an opportunity to bring in any extra candy they have to be donated to the food bank. 

October 17th Update

Good evening students and parents of 5C!

In Math, we will be writing our Unit 2 Test on Wednesday, October 19th, which we will be reviewing for tomorrow. 
Today we were practicing basic addition and subtraction, and estimation using front-end rounding. 
Front-end rounding is a strategy in which we take the first one or two digits of the same place value, and every number to the right of those becomes a zero.
For example, front end round using the first and second digit:
8 729 + 5 493.
Step 1 is to look at the first and second digits of each number.
Step 2 is to change the remaining numbers to the right of those digits to zero. 
Step 3 is to add. 
8 700 + 5 400 = 14 100

Here are the questions we were working on in class today:

In Art class, students of 5C worked on paintings using autumn colours, and fresh leaves that we gathered from the ground outside. By combining a number of painting techniques, we came up with a broad spectrum of works of art that are proudly displayed outside our classroom. 
The incredible thing about art is that each individual has the ability to create something unique. Here are some of the finished products:

In Science, the students have built their own weather instruments, and for the past week they have been observing the weather and recording the data they found. Tomorrow will be our last day to use their instruments to record the weather, and this week each group will share their expert information about their specific instrument with their classmates.

In Science we have started our year with our Weather Watch unit. We have been looking at and predicting the daily temperature, learning about the water cycle, and examining different types of clouds. 

We will be making our own weather instruments, and heading out into the schoolyard to test them out, but there are a few miscellaneous items that we are asking students to bring in to class if they happen to have access to them at home. When we went through the list as a class, we had a few tentative volunteers, so I will include a list of the items we need, along with the potential students who said they may have this sort of thing at home.

Weather instrument materials: 

• Balloons  Eduardo 
• Compass  Hannah 
• Mirrors - larger than a make-up mirror; approximately 5" x 7"  Marit  & _______
• Protractor  Jon 
• Ping Pong Ball  Marit 
• Wire Clothing Hanger  Karen 
• Clipboards (2)  Bryn 
• Shoelace  Marit 
• Thermometer (2) ________ & ________
• Exacto Knife ________
• 2 Litre Juice Bottle (ie. Tropicana Juice Container)  Zac 

If anyone knows that they have any of these items at home, please let Miss Cooke know, and send them in to school as soon as possible. Thank you! 

After writing our mapping review quiz on Monday this week, we began our Grade 5 curriculum with what we call a KWL chart about Canada. We brainstormed What We Know and What We Want to Know about Canada; throughout the school year we will fill in the What We've Learned portion. The students came up with some thoughtful questions for us to consider as we begin to study about the land, histories, and stories of Canada. 

Weekend Update and Terry Fox

Good morning everyone!

We had an incredible time at the Terry Fox run on Friday, walking and running around Citadel to honor Terry while raising money for cancer research through the Terry Fox Foundation. The weather was beautiful, so it was really great to be able to get outside and enjoy the sunshine!
Although we have now finished our run, we will still be doing fundraising for the Terry Fox Foundation for another week. From September 26th-30th, students will be able to wear a hat in class if they donate $1 per day to the Terry Fox foundation, or $4 for the whole week. In addition to the daily in class incentives, each student has received a pledge form in order to raise money for the Terry Fox Foundation. If you are interested in collecting donations via the pledge forms, they are due back to school on Friday, September 30th. 

Friday in class, we learned some details about Terry Fox, and the Marathon of Hope. We discussed why he ran, and began writing a letter addressed to either Terry, or to one of his family members, sharing our individual opinions and interpretations of the marathon that he ran.

5C will be having a Social Studies quiz on mapping review that we have been working on for the past couple weeks. Though the quiz was originally scheduled for Friday September 23rd, but has been switched to Monday the 26th, in order to give students the weekend to review. Each student should have a review sheet that they may use as a guide to help them study for the quiz. 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Today, students were working on writing similes in Language Arts class, as we began learning about figures of speech. A simile is described as a comparison between two different things, using "like" or "as". 

Some student examples include:
My hair is as hazel as a chestnut - Elle
My dress is as purple as a beautiful plum - Bryn
My lips are as pink as a wild rose - Hannah
My hair is dark brown as a boreal forest log - Logan 
My pants are as blue as the ocean - Malcolm
My eyes are as brown as chocolate - Jurnee



In Social Studies we practiced mapping and reviewed material from previous years. We labelled a map of the world and identified all 7 continents and 4 oceans. 
In addition, we learned that the word "hemisphere" breaks down into the prefix 'hemi' meaning 'half,' and the root word 'sphere' which refers to the shape of the Earth. As students have learned in grades 3 and 4, the Equator is an invisible line which divides the Northern and Southern hemispheres; and the Prime Meridian is an invisible line that divides the Eastern and Western hemispheres. 

Students were given class time to work on both of these worksheets, and anything that was unfinished will be due tomorrow. 


On Tuesday, September 20th, students will be bringing home field trip forms which entail the information for our Terry Fox run, which will be taking place on the afternoon of Friday, September 23rd. 
Don't forget, our Terry Fox run theme is NEON colours. 
Keep up the good work with that fundraising! Our goal as a school is to raise $2000 for the Terry Fox Foundation. 

Looking at Whole Numbers with Base Ten Blocks

Today during math class, the students of 5C were using base ten blocks to model various numbers and gain a better understanding of place value. They were asked to show how they could represent 10,000 units, and some of our students really took it to the new heights!

ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen Field Trip 

On September 7th, the students of 5C had the opportunity to enter a professional kitchen and learn some valuable skills to help them to create their own meals that are both nutritious and delicious! 

We made a fruit dip, a veggie dip, some healthy muffins, and an absolutely delicious baked mac and cheese. 

We managed to get a couple snapshots of the students at work!

I trust that everyone is having a wonderful & relaxing weekend! 
With our Terry Fox run coming up on Friday, September 23rd, we have some exciting incentives in the coming weeks to encourage the students of Saint Brigid to raise money for the Terry Fox Foundation. With a daily donation, students will be able to listen to music in class, chew gum in school, or wear a hat inside the school. Below, I have listed the applicable dates that applies to each fundraising incentive. 

Week 1: Sept 12-15 (no school for kids on Friday) – listen to music in class $1 a day or $4 for the week

Week 2: Sept 19 – 23 – chew gum in school $1 a day or $4 for the week

Week 3: Sept 26 – 30 – wear a hat in school $1 a day or $4 for the week

In addition to the in-school fundraising, each student will receive a fundraising pledge form on Monday September 12th to bring home & begin raising funds individually. As a school community, our goal at Saint Brigid is to raise $2000 by the end of the month, and we will all have the chance to do our part in the fight against cancer! 

This past week we began our social studies curriculum by brainstorming symbols of Canada, which will be the overarching focus throughout the grade 5 school year. Here is an image of the many symbols that the students of 5C came up with.

In preparation for our field trip with ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen tomorrow morning, we brainstormed as a class the elements of a healthy lifestyle. Some ideas that the students came up with included:

• eating well 
• nutritional foods
• vegetables
• limited junk food intake
• eating at the right time of day
• treat your body with respect
• drink a lot of water
• take your vitamins
• daily multivitamin
• vitamin C
• vitamin D
• vitamin B12
• fish oil
• go to bed early
• exercise
• work out
• stretch your muscles
• go for a walk
• this reduces stress

It is important to understand that in order for us to live a healthy lifestyle, we must have a balance of these elements. It is not enough to just eat healthy; we also must drink water, take vitamins, exercise, and get enough sleep for our bodies to be healthy. 

With this in mind, we are very excited to head out on our field trip tomorrow & learn how to create healthy meals for ourselves in the Blue Flame Kitchen!

Welcome students and parents to our 5C class blog!

In addition to using email as a main form of communication, I will also be posting class updates and occasional assignments to this blog, for access to students and parents!
If you are ever absent from class, be sure to keep updated with the blog to see what you have missed.


 
To get us started off on the right foot, we went over daily routines with the class, which I have attached here.

This week we have started working on a small art project in which students traced their hands & decorated the manila paper with some strengths/qualities/likes. 

We will display these hands on a bulletin board in the classroom when they are complete.