Windhoek International School Primary Years Programme Newsletter Unit 4

An International Community of Learners

Year 5 PYP NEWSLETTER Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers of Year 5, Reflection of previous Unit of Inquiry: Thirsty! Our previous unit investigation looked at water as a limited natural resource under the theme of Sharing the Planet. The students explored the different problems that some communities face when trying to resource “clean” drinking water. Some also looked within their school community and found a problem, the effect that it had and tried to find solutions towards fixing the problem.

New unit of inquiry Our next Unit of Inquiry, falls under the Transdisciplinary theme of, “Where we are in Place and Time.” We will be investigating cities and their slow and rapid change over a period of time. The students will explore the reasons to move or leave a city, as well as how cities re­invent themselves through buildings, culture and entertainment. The Central idea is: Cities change over time The children will inquire into:

Cities around the world share certain characteristics People migrate between rural and urban areas for different reasons Cities evolve and are transformed over time

Students will discuss and select the Learner Profile and Attitudes that they feel best suit the inquiry. During this investigation students will explore and expand their skills further in the following areas: Social Skills: Planning and group decision making Communication: Writing to inform and persuade Self­management skills: Organization (personal) Research and Planning: Collecting and understanding data

Windhoek International School, Private bag 16007, Windhoek, Namibia. Tel. 061 241 783 Fax 061 243 127 website: www.wis.edu.na

Windhoek International School Primary Years Programme Newsletter Unit 4

An International Community of Learners

Language skills will include: Listening & Speaking: Student will explore the following:

Listen appreciatively an responsively, presenting their own point of view and respecting the views of others.

Understand that ideas and opinions can be generated,developed and presented through talk;

they work in pairs and groups to develop opinions. Writing: Students will continue to develop skills in the following areas:

Write independently and with confidence, demonstrating a personal voice as a writer.

Write for a range of purposes, both creative and informative, using different types of structures and styles according to the purpose of the writing.

Spelling: Students will be issued with their spelling words from a differentiated list to support, develop strategies and skills for their spelling.

Reading:

Students will continue to receive their independent readers on a weekly basis. They will assist the younger readers of the primary years on a weekly basis to support their learning.

Windhoek International School, Private bag 16007, Windhoek, Namibia. Tel. 061 241 783 Fax 061 243 127 website: www.wis.edu.na

Windhoek International School Primary Years Programme Newsletter Unit 4

An International Community of Learners

Math skills will include: Number:

Continue developing skills and developing strategies for all the number operations (addition, subtraction, division and multiplication).

Developing mental maths strategies. Fractions: Developing an understanding for the language used, sorting fractions to find the

equivalent and using fractions in real life situations.

Social Studies strands: Continuity and change through time;

Related Concepts: Migration, Innovation

Personal, social and physical education (PSPE) IDENTITY: Developing qualities and a greater understanding towards the Learner Profile and Attitudes. ACTIVE LIVING: Inspiration and innovation. INTERACTION: People are interdependent with, and have a custodial responsibility towards, the

environment in which they live.

Windhoek International School, Private bag 16007, Windhoek, Namibia. Tel. 061 241 783 Fax 061 243 127 website: www.wis.edu.na

Windhoek International School Primary Years Programme Newsletter Unit 4

An International Community of Learners

In specialist subjects your child will be learning

French: (Ms Catherine Mousseau) During this unit, we will talk about what we eat and what we drink for breakfast. We will revise the vocabulary for food items and beverage and we will learn how to order in a restaurant. At the end of this topic, students will participate in a role play, acting as waiter/customer in a French café in Paris.

In connection with the Unit of Inquiry they are working on in their homeroom, we will also explore the topic of the changes happening to a city over time. We will more specifically work on the example of Paris, with the website www.parisavant.com. Students will compare pictures from the beginning of the XXieth century with pictures from nowadays. We will learn how to describe using “il y a / il n’y a pas”, the basic vocabulary for a town and the different type of transport used: “cheval, voiture, moto…”

Portuguese: (Mr. Naftal Chivure) During this unit we will explore the topic of food and drinks. The Year 5 students will learn the vocabulary about food and drinks through different activities:

Each student will prepare a list, in PowerPoint, of things to eat and to drink in Portuguese and will present to the colleagues;

In different groups, the students will experience role­play in a restaurant with one child playing the waiter and one playing the customer. The customer will have to ask for food and drink and the waiter has to provide it. During this role­play students will take the opportunity to use vocabulary to greet. This role­play will be recorded with iPad by the students.

In connection with the Unit of Inquiry the students are exploring in their homeroom, we will explore the topic of the changes happening to a city over time. Students will present two or three cities that already visited then they will show the differences between old photos and recent photos. They will also learn how to describe using “Aqui há / Aqui não há…”, the basic vocabulary for a town “predios, ruas” and the different type of transport used: “cavalo, carro, moto…”

Windhoek International School, Private bag 16007, Windhoek, Namibia. Tel. 061 241 783 Fax 061 243 127 website: www.wis.edu.na

Windhoek International School Primary Years Programme Newsletter Unit 4

An International Community of Learners

ICT: (Mr. Danai Maramba) During this unit, we will speaking about Good Digital Citizenship and how to conduct ourselves and stay safe online. We will create Google Documents together and see how Google Docs allows us to share and collaborate on documents.

CREATIVE WHEEL: (Ms. Michelle) During our next unit learners will continue on their recorders. We will focus on recorder duets (2 players) and trios (3 players) playing in an ensemble and explore with melody and harmony. Learners will also have the opportunity to create their own song to describe their City,making use of instruments in class or their own choice of instrument.

Physical Education: (Mr. Fernando Beukes) In this unit, learners will inquire into the effectiveness of working together as a group, rather than a set of individuals. This unit will also prepare them for sports day, which includes team based activities.

Library: (Ms Astrid zu Bentheim) During this term, the students will do research about different authors.

Windhoek International School, Private bag 16007, Windhoek, Namibia. Tel. 061 241 783 Fax 061 243 127 website: www.wis.edu.na