Ms. Braat's Fantastic Fives

  February 23-26 Learning Outcomes Wellness Personal well-being is supported through positive relationships built on communication, collaboration, empathy, and respect. What Did  Students Do? This week, our Grade 5 class recognized Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, February 25th by engaging in meaningful conversations about kindness, inclusion, and the impact of our daily choices. As a class, we read our anchor text I Am We , which helped guide our thinking around how individual actions contribute to a stronger, more caring community. Following our reading and discussion, students participated in a CSI activity (Colour, Symbol, Image) to represent their understanding of the message I Am We . Students were asked to choose a colour, a symbol, and an image that reflected what the message meant to them. This activity encouraged students to think deeply about how small actions, like including others, showing kindness, and how making thoughtful choices can have a big impact in our clas...

  February 16-20 Learning Outcomes English Language Arts and Literature  Examine figurative language that can be experienced for its beauty or emotion. What Did  Students Do? This week in our Grade 5 classroom, we began our new poetry unit, and students have already been diving into the creative and expressive world of poems. We started by exploring limericks , learning about their unique structure, rhythm, and playful tone. Students enjoyed reading and identifying the patterns that make limericks fun and memorable. Building on this introduction, students participated in a poetry stations activity where they rotated around the room, reading a variety of different poems. At each station, students focused on identifying the emotion and beauty within each piece. They discussed how word choice, imagery, and rhythm help create feeling and meaning in poetry. This activity encouraged students to think more deeply about how poems make us feel and what makes them powerful. It ...

  February 9-11 Learning Outcomes Physical Education  Students analyze and apply strategies and tactics that support improved decision making in physical activities. What Did  Students Do? This Wednesday, our Grade 5 class had our final field trip to WinSport , where students spent the day skiing and snowboarding on the hills. It was wonderful to see the excitement as they put on their gear and prepared themselves for a day of challenge, growth, and fun. It was awesome to see students encouraging one another, celebrating successes, and supporting classmates who needed extra confidence. They demonstrated thoughtful decision making as they applied strategies to stay safe and improve, showing awareness of their surroundings and control of their movements. By the end of both days, students showed noticeable growth in both skills and confidence. We were so proud of how students persevered and did their best on the hills. The confidence, resilience, and teamwork they showed ...

February 2 - 6 Learning Outcomes Social Studies  Students examine how geographical features and environmental changes contributed to the settlement and trade of ancient civilizations. What Did  Students Do? This week in our Grade 5 classroom, students have been learning about how ancient civilizations had to adapt to extreme weather conditions in order to survive.  To deepen their understanding, students researched extreme weather conditions. Using their research, students created a visual journal entry to share their learning. Each entry included a clear title , two pictures to represent the environment or adaptations, and three key pieces of information . This activity helped students practice identifying important information, organizing ideas visually, and showing how humans adapt to their surroundings. It was exciting to see the thoughtful connections students made between geography, climate, and daily life in the past. Ask your Child - What did they play in our ...

  Jan 26 - 30 Learning Outcomes English Language Arts and Literature   Students analyze information, contexts, and perspectives, using a variety of comprehension strategies . What Did  Students Do? During guided reading time, students work in small groups. Each time we meet in guided reading groups, students read together and engage in meaningful discussions about the text. This allows students to practice important reading skills while receiving targeted support. As students read their novel, each child focuses on one comprehension strategy for approximately two weeks. These strategies include making predictions, determining the author’s purpose, visualizing, drawing conclusions, making connections, and asking questions. Students use strategy bookmarks, like the ones shown in the pictures, to help guide their thinking and stay focused while reading. Ask your Child - If they learned anything new while answering our wonder questions in science - Which guided reading ...

  Jan 19 - 23 Learning Outcomes Science  Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened by investigating natural systems and their interactions. What Did  Students Do? This week in our Grade 5 science class, we began an exciting new unit on  space . To introduce the topic, students worked in small groups using chart paper to record what they already  know  about space and what they  wonder  about space. This activity encouraged students to share prior knowledge, ask thoughtful questions, and build curiosity about the universe. Recording their thinking helped students see how much they already know and identify questions they are eager to explore. This introductory activity set a strong foundation for our space unit and sparked excitement for the learning ahead! Ask your Child - What did they learn in our introduction to our space unit - Their preferred method of answering 3 by 2 digit multiplication questions - What would be a g...