Thoughtful Thinkers, Exploring Energy

Energy and persistence conquer all things. 
-Benjamin Franklin

What a fantastic week we've had inquiring into the concept of energy! 

We started by revisiting the marble track that we designed and created last week. Using the track, we explored two important types of energy: potential energy (the stored energy of the marble waiting at the top) and kinetic energy (the energy of the marble as it zooms down the track). It was impressive to see the children's thought process at play as they explained their reasoning behind why they designed the marble track the way they did. 

Next, we moved on to some hands-on experiment stations—all about different forms of energy. At each station, students got to try out experiments that showed how energy can appear in many different ways. The children answered questions, wrote down their own questions, and made guesses about what form of energy they were observing. By the end of these stations, everyone brainstormed and named all the different forms of energy, from light and sound to thermal and mechanical energy.

Close to the end of the week, the opportunity to have a Thinker Thursday was too tempting to resist. I asked the children to answer a thought-provoking question posed by their classmate: "Where does energy come from?" One insightful student said energy is everywhere—it’s stored and always changing its form. It was wonderful to understand how the children think and perceive the world through these little thinking exercises that allow us to learn from each other. 

Building on this idea, we experimented with a basketball. We observed what happens to the energy when the ball bounces on the ground. From this, the children created an energy transformation timeline showing how energy changes from one form to another during the bounce.

Finally, we did an energy transformation timeline activity where the kids thought of actions that start with potential energy and transform through different forms as the action unfolds. I challenged the class to come up with the longest chain of energy transformations they could imagine—and they rose to the challenge with some creative and thoughtful examples.

I’m so proud of how curious, engaged, and thoughtful everyone has been this week. 

Keep up the great work, Grade 5/6!

Have a wonderful weekend to all of you.

Your homeroom teacher, 
Ms. Pam

 

Setting the Stage

Culture is the glue that binds people together and determines how they relate to one another.

-Author unknown

What a great first full week we’ve had in Grade 5/6!

We started the week by turning last week’s culture lesson into our own Essential Agreements. Basically, we decided together what kind of classroom environment we want — one that’s respectful, supportive, and ready for learning. Along with that, we created routines that we'll stick to every day, making sure our classroom runs like a well-oiled machine (or at least close to it!)

Midweek, we switched gears and got a taste of something a little louder and definitely rhythmical. The Christian Benning Percussion Group from Germany came to visit DSKI and offered to teach the children about their craft. The children learned about different percussion instruments, how to create beats, and even got to perform on stage after the workshop. It was a fun reminder that learning can sometimes sound like a jam session.

The last two days were all about diving into our first inquiry unit. Using a See-Think-Wonder routine with some intriguing pictures, the children pieced together what we’ll be exploring this term, as well as share their wonderings about the concepts. After checking out different transdisciplinary themes, they deduced that we’ll focus on How the World Works, with a special spotlight on energy. 

To end the week, we threw out a challenge focused on potential and kinetic energy. The task? Build a marble run that sends a marble from point A to point B—but with a catch: to make the marble travel as long as possible. It was great to see their problem-solving and creativity in action, all while thinking about energy in a hands-on way.

All in all, it was a fantastic week of setting the stage, making some beautiful noise, and kicking off an exciting new unit. 

Have a wonderful weekend ahead. 

Your homeroom teacher, 

Ms. Pam 

Creating and Cultivating Our Class Culture

And suddenly you know: It's time to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings.

-Meister Eckhart 

The start of a new school year often brings a beautiful sense of renewal and a chance to start fresh. It’s an opportunity to set new goals, make new friends, and approach learning with excitement and a positive attitude. We can think of it as opening a blank page — one full of hope and endless possibilities.

In our class, we began this journey by focusing on one big idea: We create and cultivate our class culture. Over the first two days, we engaged in activities designed to help us get to know each other better and build a foundation of trust, respect, and collaboration — all while sharing with them bits and pieces about who I am, and the things that I am passionate about.

Jedi Numbers: Learning to Work Together

As a Star Wars fan, I introduced the class to a game called Jedi Numbers. The challenge was to count aloud to 20 without two people saying the same number at the same time, without any patterns or plans. If that happened, we had to start over. It was fascinating to see how we never gave up, even when we kept failing to achieve the goal. The game taught us important lessons about working together, communicating — even without words — and paying close attention to one another. This activity showed us how much we can accomplish when we listen and support each other.

Acting Exercises: Shining Our Personalities

Next, we explored our personalities through acting exercises inspired by my love of the stage. We formed a circle — a special “circle of trust” — where everyone had the chance to express themselves freely. Whether quiet, silly, or funny, we learned that being ourselves is not only okay but celebrated. This activity helped us embrace our unique qualities and understand that our class is a safe and accepting space.

We also discussed the difference between acceptable silliness — which is fun and inclusive — and unacceptable silliness — which can be disrespectful or hurtful. Recognizing this helps us create a positive environment where everyone feels valued.

Alliterations and Character Traits: Discovering Who We Are

To deepen our understanding of ourselves and each other, we introduced ourselves using alliteration with our names, like Peaceful Pam.  Then, we explored a list of character traits and picked the ones that best describe us individually. We placed these traits inside a circle representing our inner selves.

Surrounding that, we identified traits that describe our class as a whole — showing how our individual qualities come together to shape our collective culture. This visual helped us see the power of who we are as individuals and as a community.

By starting with these activities, we are laying the groundwork to create and cultivate a class culture that will make this school year not only successful but also meaningful and memorable. Together, we will build a space where everyone feels welcome, respected, and excited to learn.

Here’s to a fantastic year ahead — full of growth, friendship, and discovery!

Your homeroom teacher, 

Ms. Pam 

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Class schedule:

TIME	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
8:35 am	Unit	Unit	PE 5/6	Unit	Unit
9:25 am	Unit	Unit	PE 5/6	Unit	Unit
10:15 am	Break/Snack
10:45 am	Unit Math/Lang	Unit Math/Lang	Unit Math/Lang	Unit Math/Lang	Unit Math/Lang
11:35 am	Unit Math/Lang	Unit Math/Lang	Unit Math/Lang	Unit Math/Lang	Unit Math/Lang
12:25 pm	Lunch (25 mins) // Recess (25 mins) [50 mins total]
13:15 PM	JFL/Kokugo	JFL/Kokugo	Music 5/6	JFL/Kokugo	Music 5/6
14:00 PM	Unit IT	Music 5/6	Unit	PE 5/6	JFL/Kokugo
14:45PM	Unit	Art	GFL 5/6	Art	GFL 5/6
15:30 PM	Dismissal

Events to note:

Parents Meeting - Friday, 29th August 2025 

Musical Performance

Here is the RSVP link for the musical performance by the Christian Bennin Percussion Group from Germany on August 27th, 6:00-7:30 pm, at the MPR.