UN Meeting

This week was our last week of How the World Works, our investigation into the world of minerals.  Our summative assessment was a chance for students to showcase their growing awareness of the issues surrounding minerals and mining, including the use, scarcity and value of minerals, as well as their production.  The students each adopted a particular perspective of a mining stakeholder, and took part in a round table discussion about the issue of child mining.  We were fortunate to have students from grade 4 be the moderators for each of the 6 tables.  The students of 3P were quite adept at voicing their opinions and solutions.  Most felt obviously that a child's place is in school, that mines were dangerous places, but on a deeper level, that the various stakeholders should share more responsibility by enriching the communities which are forced to use child labour, by investing in infrastructure such as clean water, housing and schools.  The students played six stakeholder roles-- child miners, parents, consumers, mine owners/operators, manufacturers and the government.

Yesterday we were fortunate to have Mr Jonas Astrup, from the child labour division of the United Nations come speak the students as a guest speaker.  The students were very attentive and had many opinions and connections to make.

In language this week, the students wrote a second diary inscription about Dorsen, the boy working in a cobalt mine in the DRC, Africa.  In addition, most students completed their historical fiction story, so we are able to begin formating our class book for publishing very soon.  This week the students completed a writing assessment, and took some time working on their typing skills.

In math this week, the students continued our investigation with money. Understanding how to add and subtract decimals is key to learning how to purchase and make change. Next week we will have an assessment on their knowledge of money, as well as measuring area, circumference and perimeter.  The students have taken home an exercise sheet on calculating money equations, in order to make corrections and better prepare for the assessment next week.

I hope you had a wonderful week; and an even better weekend coming!

Mr Shawn and Ms. Olga