Getting To Know Our Audience

Know where to find the information and how to use it --- that's the secret of success. 
-Albert Einstein 

This week, our Grades 5/6 class was filled with engaging activities as the students continued their inquiry on media and its influence on our thoughts and decisions. Coming back from the autumn break, the children were eager to share their experiences, and what better way to do it than through creativity and collaboration?

Creating Vacation Posters
Our first activity had the students creating posters about their autumn break adventures. The goal was to entice their classmates to consider trying these activities the next time they go on vacation. The children used powerful images and compelling words to showcase what made their experiences special. After presenting their posters, the students voted on their favorite activities they would like to try in the future. This exercise not only fostered creativity but also encouraged critical thinking about how visuals and language can influence decision-making.

Understanding Target Audience with Ms. Priyanka
We were thrilled to have guest speaker, Ms. Priyanka, an experienced marketing professional, join us this week. She imparted valuable insights on the importance of understanding your target audience. Ms. Priyanka emphasized the significance of gathering information about potential consumers and tailoring messages to meet their interests and needs. The students participated in the discussion, asking questions and sharing their thoughts on marketing strategies.

The Spy Game: Observation and Product Creation
The students participated in a fun and educational spy game. Each child selected a classmate as their target audience and spent the day observing them to gather information. This activity encouraged the students to think critically about the preferences and behaviors of others. After gathering their observations, they were tasked with creating a product designed specifically for that classmate based on their insights.

Expanding the Project: Class Observations
Taking the concept of understanding a target audience to a larger scale, the students were paired up and assigned a specific class to observe. They gathered information through both observation and interviews, enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of their schoolmates’ interests and needs. This project not only developed their observational skills but also enhanced their ability to communicate and collaborate with peers.

Halloween Celebration
To wrap up the week, we celebrated Halloween in style! The students donned their creative costumes and enjoyed trick-or-treating around the school. It was a delightful way to foster community spirit and have fun together as a class, bringing the week to a festive close.

This week was a wonderful blend of creativity, learning, and community engagement. The students engaged in important skills in media literacy, observation, and marketing, all while enjoying the process. 

Have a wonderful weekend to all of you.

Your homeroom teacher, 

Ms. Pam

Exploring the Power of Media

"Whoever controls the media, controls the mind."

-Jim Morrison

This week in our Curious Classroom, we continued inquiring into the concept of media and its impact on our lives. 

We began by tapping into the Grades 5/6's prior knowledge by asking them thought-provoking questions: 

What is media? 

What forms of media do you often use?

Why do people use media?

The students eagerly shared their insights through word clouds that were generated immediately through an online platform. This activity allowed us to understand what they children know so far about our unit concepts and an overview their experiences in using them

Next, we explored the power of media in shaping our understanding of current events. The students examined a series of news-worthy images from the past decade and engaged in an activity called Caption It. They observed the images, made inferences, and crafted headlines that highlighted their varying interpretations. Through this activity, the children were able to reflect on the importance of critical thinking when consuming media.

As we dove deeper into the tuning in stage of our inquiry, the students examined the art of advertising and its ability to influence our purchasing decisions. Each student selected an advertisement poster that they believed was well-designed and effective in promoting the product. Their classmates then analyzed the advertisements, considering whether they would buy the item based on the visual details, rather than personal preferences.

The last activity from this week allowed the children to find out the purchasing preferences of the school community through a series of surveys. The children were paired with a partner. Each pair was given one product with 4 different brand advertisements which they shared with different members of the DSKI community to vote on. This activity allowed the children to understand that the way messages are shared, whether through pictures or words, affect the way consumers think and decide.

Through these engaging activities, our Grades 5/6s are developing a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of media. They are learning to critically analyze the information they encounter, recognize diverse perspectives, and make informed decisions about the media they consume.

As we continue our exploration of media, I am excited to see our students' curiosity and critical thinking skills blossom. By empowering them to navigate the ever-changing landscape of media, our Grades 5/6s will be equipped with the tools they need to become informed, responsible, and discerning global citizens.

Have a wonderful autumn break to all of you.

Your homeroom teacher, 

Ms. Pam

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P.S. Have a look at the other events that happened this week:

Grade 4 Assembly

Posture Session with Mr. Didier

3D Model Making

Outdoor Maths

How We Express Ourselves

"Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening."

-Nelson Mandela

This week, our class began a new unit under the transdisciplinary theme of How We Express Ourselves. The focus of this unit is examining how media and outside influences shape the way we think, make decisions, and express ourselves.

We kicked off the unit with a "chalk talk" activity, where students responded to the question "How Do We Express Ourselves?" on the classroom whiteboard. Students were able to silently write and build off each other's ideas about the different ways people express themselves, such as through art, music, writing, dance, and my personal favorite -- by just being ourselves.

In their notebooks, students then reflected on their own personal methods of self-expression and identified which ones were influenced by external factors like social media, advertising, or even their peers and family members. This activity helped students become more aware of how outside forces can impact the way we choose to express ourselves.

We also looked at a series of statements about media and its role in shaping our thoughts and behaviors. Students shared their initial reactions and opinions on these statements. At the end of the unit, we will revisit these statements to see how our thinking has evolved.

Through these activities, students are developing a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between media, self-expression, and decision-making. As we continue exploring this unit, students will gain valuable critical thinking skills to navigate the influence of media in their daily lives.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.

Your homeroom teacher, 
Ms. Pam

Growth and Life Lessons

Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.

-George A. Sheehan

As we wrap up our latest unit of inquiry, our students have been taking time to reflect on the personal goals they set for themselves at the start of the unit. The central idea for this unit was "Our mindsets and understanding of the process of learning enable us to build skills and habits to reach our goals."

Throughout the unit, the students were encouraged to identify areas they wanted to grow in and set specific, measurable goals to work towards. These goals spanned a wide range of academic and personal skills - from improving their reading fluency, to becoming better collaborators, to practicing more effective time management.

Now, as the unit comes to a close, the students are reflecting on their progress and evaluating whether they were able to reach the goals they set for themselves. This reflection process is so valuable, as it helps the students develop a deeper understanding of their own learning process. They're considering questions like:

What strategies did I use to work towards my goal? Which ones were effective, and which ones weren't?

What obstacles did I face, and how did I overcome them (or not)?

What have I learned about myself as a learner through this process?

In what ways have I grown, and what is my next step for continued improvement?

By reflecting deeply on their goal-setting journey, the students are building crucial metacognitive skills. They're learning to think critically about their strengths, weaknesses, and learning preferences - insights that will serve them well not just in this unit, but throughout their educational careers and beyond.

Some students have found that they were able to make great strides towards their goals, while others are still working to get there. But regardless of their level of progress, the process of reflecting, evaluating, and planning next steps is invaluable. It's helping them develop a growth mindset - the understanding that abilities are not fixed, but can be developed through hard work and effective strategies.

As we wrap up this unit, we're so proud of the students for their commitment to their personal growth. They've demonstrated resilience, self-awareness, and a deep investment in their own learning - qualities that will serve them well not just in school, but in all areas of their lives. We look forward to seeing how they continue to apply these lessons as they move into new units of inquiry.

Have a wonderful weekend to all of you.

Your homeroom teacher, 
Ms. Pam

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Here are some photos from our trip today: