G5_UnderstandingEnvironment_2019-2020

Science : Students will discover the importance of balance and energy within ecosystems. Many activities will take place at Cat Tien National Park. Students will also look at how humans can positively or negatively impact ecosystems. Math : Students will learn about fractions and the relationships among decimals, fractions, and percents. These concepts will give students powerful ways to interpret statistics related to their understanding in the unit. Social Studies : Students will learn about human impacts on natural ecosystems. They will learn about the relationship between global trade and the local economy. Students will also be learning about how humans use different types of areas for different activities. English : Students will be exploring complex plot structures in narrative stories. They will write a story using one of these complex narrative structures such as parallel story lines, flashback, flash-forward, and multiple points of view. Art : Students will explore mixed-media in a joint project with MS. Greeting cards will be made from the artwork and then sold at Art Journeys (May) to benefit the EAST Primate Recovery Center at Cat Tien. Drama : Script writing helps students develop a stronger understanding of complex story structures. Music : Nature inspires music. Students will be learning to incorporate the guitar to compose an original song inspired by the sounds of the rainforest. PE : Having mental and physical stamina helps us enjoy outdoor experiences. Vietnamese : Vietnamese culture identifies in many ways with nature. Nature plays an important role in Vietnamese beliefs about health and well being. SuperUnit Launch : January - EAST Primate Recovery Center representatives will share their project and assist students in Planting of a Seedling of an endangered species critical to the survival of the Pygmy Slow Loris and Gibbon. Field Trip : Grade 5 students will be going to Cat Tien National Park for several days and nights to learn how communities can help sustain and strengthen this ecosystem. Guest Speakers : Representative from the EAST Primate Recovery Center at Cat Tien, Representative from Wilderness Foundation, Mr. Binh. Project: Students will work with the head arboriculturist at Cat Tien National Park to design, build, and sustain an on-campus nursery that will grow endangered fruit trees critical to the survival of the Pygmy Slow Loris and Gibbon. Future classes of Grade 5 students will transport mature saplings to Cat Tien annually in order to bolster reforestation efforts in the rainforest. Core Values Key Concepts : Academic Excellence, Dedicated Service SuperUnit Celebration : Student work and reflections will be integrated into Learning Journeys at the end of the quarter. Focus on Learning by Subject Sustainable solutions consider ecol Highlights of Learning Experiences