Grade Five Newsletter

Harmony Week was celebrated from March 17th to 23rd, with Harmony Day on Friday 21st.  We're excited to share our learning about diversity and world cultures as part of Harmony Week 2025. This year's theme was "Harmony - We All Have a Role to Play."

What We Learned

We explored the diversity of world cultures, including:

• Food
• Clothing
• Celebrations
• Music
• Languages
• Art
• Homes
• Games

Interesting Facts

• Orange is the official colour of Harmony Week
• In Japan, it's polite to slurp your noodles, it shows that you are enjoying your meal!
• There are over 7,000 languages in the world
• Aboriginal dot paintings in Australia represent Dreamtime stories
• Japan created the game Rock, Paper Scissors
• The Chinese New Year is celebrated in February or March, with fireworks and red lantern decorations
• In some cultures, it's polite to take off your shoes before entering a home, while in others, it's not necessary
• In Scotland, men wear kilts for special occasions
• In Japan, a kimono is a traditional Japanese dress worn during special occasions such as weddings and tea ceremonies

Cultural Differences and Similarities

We discovered that while cultures have many differences, there are also similarities. For example, many cultures have harvest festivals, even though they're celebrated differently.

Remember, Harmony starts with understanding. We all have a role to play in creating a world where diversity is celebrated. Let's continue to learn from each other and appreciate the beautiful tapestry of world cultures!

We have created a pattern of people to show many cultures, interwoven with Grade Five students, holding hands to show unity.