Grade 5

How We Express Ourselves

by Mrs. Sarah Dotulong

This year, the Grade 5s How We Express Ourselves (HWEO) unit was new for both teachers and students. Our Central Idea was: Our experiences and imagination can inspire us to create. We had some guest speakers, including some trainers from KREartURE. So much learning and creativity was happening in Grade 5 this term. This unit was definitely a hit for most of the students. Here are some reflections from our students:

This unit is a very fun and exciting unit. Out of all the units, I would have to say this one was my favorite I had a lot of fun designing my own product and hearing about other people's products. I learned about how the process of making someone is very complex, much more than I thought it was. I loved that we could make anything we want and we could design how it looked This unit really brought out my thinking skills but also a lot of excitement with it. (Madison Korompis, 5A)

This unit was definitely a fun one I made an invention, did a presentation, learned how to write a good persuasive essay, and did a lot more We even got to do a presentation about the inventions we worked very hard on. I also learned a lot of things from this unit, like about the design process I didn't know about the design process before this unit I also learned how to create better things. I knew that it would be presented, so I tried my best to create a product that would solve my problem, which was forgetting things. I liked that there were many things we did in this unit, such as doing the Krearture activity. We made a wooden pencil basket in the Krearture activity, and I found it really fun I also found making the invention enjoyable I thought that being an inventor was pretty fun. I personally enjoyed this unit, and it was one of my favorite units. (Asa Sitanggang, 5A)

There was a lot of inspiring things I learned during this unit One of the thing I found the most interesting was making a prototype and learning the design thinking process. Although there were lots of things required in this unit, we did finish a prototype, and a shark tank presentation In English, we learned to write a 5 paragraph essay and all the steps into it: hook, introduction, conclusion, main ideas, reasons, body paragraph, linking words and so much more! In art, we made sandals and an artist statement with our friends To me, this unit was really enjoyable and fun! (Avery Tjia, 5A)

This unit is fun that we can solve our problem by what we design I learned that we can solve our problems by the things we make. I liked when I made my gadget because I could make however I want to make it and it was fun that I made something with Lego bricks. I want to say that this unit is the best unit that I ever had in my whole life. (Segang Lee, 5A)

This unit I liked when we made our own products that can solve many people's problems. We were allowed to make any product and that is what I like about this unit. I made an extension for your pencil which allows you to have more grip area and see what you are writing We had to go through all the steps of the design thinking process except repeat because that is optional. I learned about how we can be inventors and that it isn't that hard I liked how we were allowed to let our mind go free and be creative In conclusion, I think this unit was very fun and enjoyable for everyone. (Caitlyn Kusnadi, 5B)

How We Express Ourselves has been an amazing unit. I learned the design thinking process which, as it turns out, was actually useful for my product I liked the fact that I had freedom of what to do with what I want to make, except for some age-related restrictions Although my product was clearly not the best out of my peers, I take this unit as a practice for future projects later on in high school! Overall, How We Express Ourselves has been a challenging but also amazing unit for me. (Isaac Alexander, 5B)

I have learned the different steps of the design thinking progress, and I got the chance to develop my designing skills in different ways. This unit was hard and interesting, I really enjoyed it and got to try new things I love the part that I got to design and make my own invention that could solve a problem I faced in my daily life I like presenting in front of people and get to tell them what I learned, so I really enjoyed the assembly. I would like to make more inventions in the future that can solve other people's problems I thank my parents and teachers for supporting me throughout this unit, I got to learn a lot of different things and experience different things. (Marietta Nunez, 5B)

This unit was exhilarating for many students We learned about the design thinking process which is a 5 step process for designing something I really liked building my prototype and seeing what everyone's inventions were. This unit really grew me and many others' creativity It might have even inspired some of us to make a real product of our prototype This unit has been really fun to go through with friends and teachers. (Paul Sompie, 5B)