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This week we start the really exciting part of the Unit of Inquiry “A World of Trade”. We will be preparing the goods and services for each group as well as planning an advertisement. More details are below.

Reflections – 17th – 21st November
Students continued keeping a ledger of the money they earned to spend at the trade fair. They also experienced the pain of being taxed for different offences (such as the noise pollution tax, the bad manners tax.) They all realise now that taxes and fines are a part of adult life!
Students were organised into their trading groups and started to discuss the goods and services they may sell at the fair.
Students also watched a video about fair trading and the specific case of the small banana growers in the Caribbean struggling to keep their businesses going because of the power of the multinational companies.

Unit of Inquiry
This week students will continue the preparations for the goods and services they will sell at the Trade Fair in the last week of term.
For the Trade Fair it is important to remember two things:
1. Each student can spend no more than €10 on buying goods for the fair. We would like students to keep spending as low as possible and use recycled materials etc or items they already have at home
2. Students from years 3 to 6 will be buying goods at the fair using our year 6 currency (the Bargo). No real money will be used.
If you have any questions regarding the fair please send a message to Mr Barrett in the school diary or via email.

Mathematics
This week we will continue to focus on multiplication, including multiplication of decimals in our number groups. We will practise multiplying various two and three-digit numbers using whole numbers (eg. 48 X 78) and start to multiply using decimals. It is important for students to develop a sound knowledge of decimals before they enter Year 7. And decimals, of course, is the basis of most systems of measurement and currency throughout the world.
It is very important that your child is fluent with all timestables. We will continue with regular tables practice.
We will also do some revision testing of work covered so far this term.

English
Our major focus continues to be on persuasive texts, particularly the structure of such texts and the language companies use to convince consumers that they ‘need and/or desire’ certain products. Reading groups will continue to work hard at improving reading and comprehension skills in relation to non-fiction texts about trading.

What can I do to help?
• Don’t forget to check the class blogs to find links to sites that will support your child in their class work. There are two new sites to help with spelling to make homework more fun.
• Look at the homework tasks for the week to make sure your child knows what to do. Please make sure all homework is neat and well set out. Remember, work that is not neat and signed by a parent or guardian will not be marked.

Upcoming Events and Reminders:
• Holiday – 1st December
• Christmas Fair – 6th December, 2008 at SDIS. Don’t forget to bring in goods for the baskets. They can be left in Reception.
• Toys etc for the Student Council collection should be left in the classroom.
• Junior School Concert, Celebrations Around the World – 17th December, 2008
• End of Term 1 – 19th December (classes finish at 12:00pm)

With thanks,
David Barrett, David Gocentas and Ms Isabel Costa Pereira