Representing Objectives (Grade 5)

By the end of grade 5, most students convey thoughts and ideas using a variety of media. Students use drama, drawings, dance, diagrams, music, dioramas and other three-dimensional objects, posters, cartoons, maps, graphs, photographs, pictures, charts, and video to express thoughts and ideas. Students use computers and authoring software to compose texts and graphic representations. Students present information clearly and appropriately for each medium and recognize that the conventions of language and the medium are designed to help the audience understand what is said or presented. Students explore various ways of representing their understanding and consider which media are most appropriate for various tasks.

By the end of grade 5, most students will:

Foundational Objective: Represent to express information, thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a variety of forms for a variety of purposes and audiences.

convey ideas and information using a variety of media and formats including illustrations, dramatizations, tableaux, diagrams, posters, videos, maps, graphs, cartoons, dioramas, and charts
use graphic organizers (e.g., story map, time line, summary chart) to clarify and shape understanding
experiment with a range of media and conventions including charting, webbing, and video taping
choose images, words, and sounds appropriate to audience, purpose, and effect
use appropriate visual aids to enhance spoken and written communication
prepare organized multimedia presentations using pre-established organizers and criteria
recognize information gaps and locate additional information needed for a particular audience, purpose, and effect

Foundational Objective: Learn about and practise the skills and strategies of effective representers.

Before Representing:

use personal experiences as a basis for exploring and expressing opinions and understanding
seek others' viewpoints to build on personal responses and understanding
organize ideas and information in ways that clarify and shape understanding
record personal knowledge of a topic and collaborate to generate information for additional inquiry or research
gather, record, and organize information and ideas using a plan
consider a variety of forms and genres

During Representing:

share information on a topic using print, audiovisual, and dramatic forms to engage the audience
experiment with visual elements and ways in which they convey meaning
select words, sounds, and images for appropriate meaning
use appropriate formatting and graphics when presenting ideas

After Representing:

revise for content, organization, and clarity
evaluate effectiveness and limitations of various forms
appraise representations for clarity
seek and reflect upon response from audience

Foundational Objective: Assess strengths and set goals for future growth.

set goals to enhance development of own representing skills and strategies

Assessment Techniques for Representing (Grade 5)

Sample assessment techniques include:

observation and developmental checklists (p. 193-194)
anecdotal records
rating scales (p. 196-198)
self-assessment (p. 195).

Instructional Suggestions for Representing (Grade 5)

Sample instructional activities include:

provide opportunities for students to experience different forms of representation that use a variety of oral, print, and other media
model and discuss representing strategies and forms
model and discuss the successful use of elements and conventions associated with each medium
support students in developing their understanding of particular topics through engaging in a variety of representing activities
provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their understanding through a variety of representational forms
encourage students to choose forms that best represent their understanding for a particular topic/assignment
use representing activities as an opportunity to develop arts education objectives (in dance, drama, music, or visual art) in conjunction with English language arts objectives
provide opportunities for students to reflect upon the effectiveness of their representations
use activities such as:
- mini-lessons
- multimedia presentations (both video and electronic)
- dramatizations
- charting and graphing
- drawing and sketching
- storyboards
- displays
- tableaux.