First Nations Masks 2014

The First Nations created masks for many different purposes.  One of those purposes was to tell stories. This fall, 5G created animal storytelling masks in the likeness of our First Nations artists using 1L plastic milk jugs, plasticine and some natural elements.  Take a look at the use of colour, shape, line and symmetry. Below is the class display and a few samples.

Mask Display

By: 5G

Fish

By: Carter

Deer

By: Molly

Owl

By: Eva

Wolf

By: Eric

Moonsticks and Poems 2014

This fall the 5G class enjoyed creating Moonstick Poems in the likeness of the book written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by John Sandford called Moonstick The Seasons of the Sioux.  The students were challenged to use words that help their readers see, hear, feel, taste and smell what they were describing.

http://www.amazon.com/Moonstick-The-Seasons-Sioux/dp/B00F7MJSHM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1381865516&sr=8-2&keywords=moonstick+the+seasons+of+the+sioux

What are Moonsticks?

For the Sioux, the year began in spring when the hard winter was over.  They kept track of times passing by counting the thirteen moons, naming them according to the signs of nature around them, their own activities, or the food that was available to them.  One way to “number the moons” was to make nicks in a moon-counting stick, which was cut and kept for that purpose.

The following are a couple of samples written by students in 5G.

The Moon Of The Red Leaves

The wind blows a cold, frosty breath that tells you that winter is coming.

There are piles of brown crunchy leaves everywhere.

The squirrels are searching for food.

The birds are puffed up in the brisk morning and are preparing to fly south.

Geese rest in the empty fields.

Every morning, I hear them honking in the distance as they migrate south to a warmer place, flying in v-formation.

Sometimes I eat pumpkin pie for breakfast and it tastes amazing.  

The Frost Moon

The trees are white with frost.

I have to trudge through a heavy blanket of snow

 covering the ground in the park.

The river is frozen very thick.

The cold air is piercing. I can see my breath, it is steam.

It is the season of SNOWBALL FIGHTS!

My snowsuit

is like armour, my hat is fluffy and warm.

This is my favorite time of year, for I love

the smell of the Christmas tree, the turkey and stuffing.

The Moon Of The Great Flood

It is finally time for the snow to melt.

The sun is so warm.

The ice breaks and shoots

down the river.

Sometimes the river rises and overflows onto the banks, into yards and

over bridges.

This is the time to fly back into Canada with pride, happy to

know that the winter is over.

This is a time of new life.

The time for new animals to be

born.

The leaves sprout back on the trees and new saplings are planted.

The air smells

fresh, birds chirping happily.

By: William

*****

Moon of the Crunchy Golden Leaves

I hear the leaves crunch as I walk.

I feel the fresh brisk air touch my face as I shiver.

Fall has just begun.

The yellow, red and golden leaves are falling every second.

It is like a dream.

I smell the fresh smell of pumpkin pie.

The taste of pumpkin spice touches my mouth as I take small sips.

I run outside and jump into many big piles of colorful leaves.

All the pumpkins are ripe and ready to eat.

The colors are so vibrant and beautiful.

Fall is finally here.  Fall is finally here.

Moon of the Hot Sunny Air

As I look up I see the clear blue sky with the whitest fluffiest clouds.

The grass is greener than ever before.

I sweat as the hot sunny air touches my face.  

I  jump into the fresh cold beach water.

The flowers bloom so bright and the birds soar through the air.

I taste the sunkist oranges and the sweet ripe watermelon.

Summer has come Summer has come.

Moon of the Cold Sparkling Snowflakes

The cold snow sparkles as it falls from the sky.

The gleaming snow falls into fluffy piles.

The brisk North wind howls at my window.

The sparkling icicles so pretty hanging from tips of house roofs.  

With the falling snowflakes like feathers staked like a pillow.

I see families decorating their trees getting ready for Christmas.

The warm taste of hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Winter Winter Everywhere.

By: Emily

*****

Moonsticks on display in the classroom.

                 

Bibles for Fifth Graders

Just recently our family moved to a new home.  In the process of moving, one gets the opportunity to look through a lot of stuff.  One of the storage boxes that I looked through contained a little red Bible that was given to me by the Gideons who visited my classroom when I was in Grade 5 many years ago.  It was probably the first Bible I had every received.

1978 Version

Sadly, the Gideons can no longer deliver Bibles to fifth graders in public school, but they are searching for new ways to get the word of God into the hands of young people.  On Halloween night, many families now hand out Bibles to the the trick-or-treaters at the door, and, of course, you can still find Bibles placed by the Gideons in many hotel rooms.

Our school is not a part of the public system, however, and we can still allow the Gideons to come and give Bibles to our grade 5 students.  On October 31, 2014, a representative of the Gideon organization, Mr. Rempel, came to deliver Bibles to our class.  Many of our students already have Bibles, but Mr. Rempel challenged the students to give the Bible to someone they know that maybe doesn't have a Bible of their own.

2014 Version

Thanksgiving Chapel Performance 2014

5G had the privilege of performing at the Thanksgiving chapel in October.  The class practiced and performed a play titled Thankful...to Whom?  For What?.  The following are photos taken during the performance.  Photo credits go to Mrs. L and Mrs. B.  Thank you for helping us out!