Unit 2: How the World Works

 How the World Works

We have reached the end of our second unit and our first term!  It has been a busy few months as you can see.  Here are some more details about what we have been up to and tons of pictures showing students in action.  

Unit of Inquiry (UoI)

Central Idea:

Conducting experiments helps us make sense of our world

Lines of Inquiry: 

• Form - Scientific Method
• Causation - The effects of changing variables
• Connection - Real-world applications of the principles learned through scientific method

This unit has gone by so quickly!  Luckily, we were able to conduct a good number of experiments to help solidify our lines of inquiry and practice the scientific method.  One of the first experiments we did as a class involved flying paper airplanes.  The initial test was one evaluating airplane design while the second part involved testing material components as variables.  Not only did students practice making a good hypothesis, but they also utilized measuring skills, calculating averages, comparing and contrasting results, making predictions, and using critical thinking skills to back up their research.

Students also conducted group and independent experiments to demonstrate their understanding and inquire further into topics of their choice.  One such experiment involved an egg.  While all students used an egg as the base component, each experiment was unique including tests on eggshell strength, chemical reactions to vinegar, buoyancy, and many more.  As students progressed through the unit, we got to see more experiments involving dry ice, carbonated drinks responding to mentos, tests in liquid density, chemical changes to coins using ketchup, and even different pitches created from varying water levels in glasses.  Check out some of the amazing experiments!

English

To better understand the term "experiments" and what that actually means, students created a word cloud highlighting the main idea, key details, and supporting details by varying word size based on importance.  Themed around our Unit of Inquiry material, English skills were also used to connect the two subjects.  While exploring inference, teams of student detectives worked to create a case file including clues left at a crime scene, what they know about these clues, and what they can infer to guide peers through solving the crime with the information provided.  Sometimes the answer can be difficult to find, but inference clues help students to discover what is not explicitly stated.

Goal setting was another important skill used to help students with self-management.  Students analyzed their strengths and weaknesses to help them formulate an improvement plan of goals and steps on how they would accomplish them.  Cause and effect skills were at use and students were able to implement positive changes.

Math

• Students reviewed addition/subtraction mental strategies of whole 4/5 digit numbers.
• Next were fractions. They knew how to add and subtract but expanded their understanding by learning how to multiply and divide fractions. They also learned how to use the cancellation operation. 
• Then it was time for decimals.  After reviewing long addition and subtraction with decimals, students learned how to multiply and divide them.  Long division and movement of the decimals were challenging at first, but students were able to improve with practice.
• And lastly, students explored new material in geometry:
• Line properties (horizontal, vertical, diagonal, parallel, perpendicular)
• Angles (acute, obtuse, right, straight and reflex). Students practiced using a protractor to measure angles accurately.
• Polygons-->Regular/Irregular
• Circle (radius, diameter, circumference, chord, arc, center)

Japanese

Students were able to put their Japanese language skills to good use by creating a pamphlet of a country of their choice.  Using Canva to help format their designs, students used colorful pictures and descriptive Japanese writing to provide detailed information, cultural facts, and key features about the chosen location.  To sum up their knowledge, students gave a speech to the class about what they learned.

Japanese Culture Day--what a fun way to celebrate the beautiful culture of Japan!  Many were dressed in traditional yukata or other clothing honoring Japan in some way.  There were many traditional games and music all around.  Some of the activities included folding paper cranes, a tic-tac-toe game featuring takoyaki, creating and shooting a rubber band gun made of chopsticks, fishing for marbles, a chopstick challenge, and a blindfolded face sort (fukuwarai).  Everyone had a wonderful time and wished we could have played even longer!

Art

Making use of negative space, students created reverse images utilizing contrasting qualities of black and white.  Students used construction paper to make unique images that display these design concepts.  After gluing string to cardboard and covering with a layer of aluminum foil, students applied paint to the top layer to create a unique stained glass effect in another project.  Students also utilized watercolor techniques by painting gemstones and crystals, and by adding salt to the wet paint, they were able to apply texture to their work.

Music

During this unit, students began to create their own music using handbells and reading music.  They were able to implement elements of tempo, sight reading, and coordination with their group to create a song.

ICT

Students continued honing their digital skills through video editing and coding. 

• Students covered the basics of video editing including using the online editing platform called Clipchamp:
• Uploading videos that need to be edited
• Split and merge different videos
• How to use layers for video, audio and text
• How to insert subtitles and main title
• What is the fade in/fade out effect for video and audio
• How to export/render video

• Next was a Scratch, an online platform that allows for programming with blocks platform:
• We learned how to use a program with blocks for creating a zombie game
• All the students really enjoyed it because they saw the direct result of their actions through the game they created
• Some of the students went further by themselves to add extra details which was an indicator of understanding scratch at a more advanced level
• Students will continue to develop their skills with Scratch in the next trimester

Physical Education (PE)

Students are continuing to develop their coordination skills through various dribbling, passing, and bouncing techniques.  After practicing these skills individually, students are able to put them into practice in handball matches.  Another game that students have begun to practice is Four Square which is a fun way to improve control and passing.

Teambuilding in PSPE

An important part of PSPE is the socialization and group collaboration aspect that is pivotal to teambuilding.  Students have done a number of games involving hula hoops such as chain linking and relay challenges.  In the former, students have to pass the hula hoop while arms are linked and not allowed to use their hands in the process.  During the relay portion of the challenge, students worked in teams to run the hula hoops to their teammates but were only allowed to hold the hula hoop with index fingers.

In another activity, students had to collaborate with teammates to create a visual representation of positive things that students could do during the summer break.  Each group came up with some good ideas and have displayed their results to inspire others.