The document provides an update from a Grade 5 teacher at CDNIS. It discusses several activities from the past week, including presentations by students and a parent on new communication tools, poetry writing and sharing, and starting a new unit on how the world works focused on matter and materials. It provides details on upcoming activities like photos of the week's events, class photos, and completing the novel "Holes". It encourages parents to read the weekly updates for information and notes the class blogs are the main form of communication.

1. SEPTEMBER 27 2010
W E E K LY U P D A T E
GRADE 5A @ CDNIS
Art Critics, Data Handlers and Mentors
Dear Parents,
We packed a lot into four days. We started the week off on Monday with a very interesting talk by
Stacy Baird, a Grade 5 father and key initiator into the development of a communication tool called
Intersect. The students benefitted greatly from seeing a new communication tool unfold before their
very own eyes. On that note, presentations of their own self-created communication tools using the
tool Prezi were nothing short of amazing. I was very impressed by the quality of their presentations
and the amount of creative effort they put into their work. I very much hope that by next week the
blogs will be up and running so you can have a first hand look.
I had to spend some time clarifying some data handing concepts this week and I have introduced
the students to Mathletics, a very interesting Math site through which students can compete with
each other across the globe. Number and Operations will start on Monday and our Measurement
objectives will be integrated into our Unit of Inquiry.
Students published their poetry this week, they shared them with their buddies, they’ve recited
their favorite pieces to each other and now we’ve started the reflective process. Again, once their
blogs are up and running I aim to have the students publish them to a global audience and
(hopefully) receive some feedback that way.
The Grade 5 team has initiated an art unit that will culminate in a field trip to Art Jam. More on
that later, but for this week we inquired into the language used to describe and talk about art. In
groups we considered how we can have a constructive converstation about Edvard Munch’s “The
Scream” and now students are working individually on describing their own self-selected portrait by
an artist of their choice (submitted Tuesday).
Our new unit overview, “How the world works,” has been posted under that tab (under Programme
Overview). The Grade 5 team is continuing to work on and finalize the summative task so that has
not yet been posted. Watch this space!
Students proved themselves to be excellent mentors/leaders to their Prep reading buddies today
as they shared their Prezis and poetry.
We’ve also finally completed our novel “Holes” (and here) and we’ll watch the movie before we
break in October.
Photos of this week’s events have been posted under “Photographs”.
Please note: It is very important that you read the weekly updates to receive information
that directly impacts your child’s school life. Virtually all correspondence is being
conducted via class blogs.
Please note: Grade 5A will have class photos on October 13 at 8.20
Kind Regards
DJ MacPherson
donaldmacpherson@cdnis.edu.hk
http://sites.cdnis.edu.hk/teachers/donaldmacpherson//

2. SEPT. 29TH - NOV. 5TH 2010
e g
p rn
a in
t GR. 5 UNIT OF INQUIRY
u a
d
e
L
How The World Works
Key Elements
ernational
Canadian int Ong KOng
s
Hi ghlight
Skills
of H
Communication
Presenting, non-verbal
school
communication and writing to
instruct
Thinking
M AT T E R & M A T E R I AwL S !k
or
Acquisition of Knowledge:
g how things specific facts, ideas, laws and
investigatin
scientific vocabulary.
Research
CENTRAL IDEA Finding data, planning,
Changes in matter pose challenges and recording data, presenting
research findings.
provide benefits
Social
Cooperation and group
- U n i t O v e rv i ew - decision making.
An Inquiry into:
Knowledge
- what causes changes in matter
to occur (concept: causation) Learning correct terminology
- how we use the scientific and being able to identify
principles of chemistry changes that occur in matter.
(concept: function) Students will be able to identify
and explain the properties/
- the challenges and benefits that
can result when we change characteristics of materials
matter to create materials used in the world.
(concept: causation)
Concepts
Teacher Questions
Function - discovering how
1 . A re m at te r an d mater ials th e humans utilize the changes in
same? matter and materials.
2 . W h at are scien tific pr in ciples?
Causation - an investigation
3 . W h at ch al len ges or ben efits into the consequences, as well
t o s o ci et y a nd ou r en viron men t as the cause and effect, which
re s u l t f rom h ow we use matter
can result when matter and
a n d mat er i al s?
materials undergo changes.

3. What you can do with your child at home...
Talk about Attributes
Discuss Scientific Inquiry
Learner profile attributes that
We will be conducting mini- will be promoted through
experiments and practicing learning engagements:
Ask your child what procedural writing. Your child
will gain experience in
they know about developing scientific inquiries - Inquirer
and knowing how to formulate
Matter and design an experiment. - Knowledgeable
Find out what your child knows - Thinker
Let them teach you
about the materials we use on
a daily basis. Ask your child about the
Where do they come from? changes that matter can Talk about Attitudes
How are they made? undergo in the production of
materials. In this unit of inquiry students
will be encouraged to be:
How does matter change in
Ask challenging questions
order to create different
materials used in products we When we model good - Curious
consume? questioning skills, we can help - Cooperative
guide students to also ask more
deep and relevant questions.
UN IT AS SESSME NT
A ss es sm en ts w
ill be
based on:
Learning Engag
ements
• Demonstration of the
V O CABU L ARY enduring
understandings • Experiments
- Matter - Liquid • Communication involv • Procedural writing
ing
correct terminology
- Chemical - Gas and clear • Practicing the Scientifi
awareness of the ch c Method
Change osen
- Plasma concepts • Independent research
- Physical • Ability to articulate an
- Properties swers to • Online games and pro
Change teacher questions gra ms
- State • WebQuests!
- Permanent • Application and deve
- Phase lopment of
thinking skills acqu • Measurement investig
- Temporary ired ati on
- Particle
- Solid
- Atom
Images Used:
http://www.callowayhouse.com/prodimg/states_matterB.jpg
http://www.materialconnexion.com/Portals/0/images/MaterialsMatter.jpg
http://sciencegames.4you4free.com/science_labwork_general.gif
http://skepticscalpel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/E1_ScientificMethod.gif