student samples

This unit uses diverse written and visual texts to help students understand aspects of who they are by exploring other people’s experiences and perspectives. Students have opportunities to understand how they’re connected to the land and to consider their sense of place. Students analyze and synthesize written and visual texts to inform and inspire the creation of their own written and visual texts.

The quantity of 5 is an essential benchmark number for young students, and a strong understanding of 5 will contribute to their understanding of 10, another significant benchmark number in our number system. As the complexity of number increases, the importance of understanding the decomposition of 10 in higher-level operations becomes evident. 

We use patterns to represent identified regularities and to make generalizations. This lesson extends patterning concepts taught in Kindergarten and Grade 1, where students learned to identify and extend patterns with multiple attributes. It is essential for students to describe, extend, and make generalizations about patterns that seem to be the same or different. This kind of categorizing and generalizing is an important developmental step on the journey toward algebraic thinking. 

During the first week of classes in September, students are given a nameplate template (attached) with some simple survival phrases and basic question words (e.g., Who? Why? How?). The activity supports the goals of using French for self-expression and communicating effectively and authentically in French in the classroom. 

Through the exploration of text, discussion, and the activities of the lesson, students have opportunities to respond to the inquiry question with an informed and thoughtful voice. As students engage with text, collaborate with one another, create personal responses to text, and finally reflect on the process of their learning, they are doing so purposefully, considering the inquiry question.