P.E/Gymnastics

On Monday and Tuesday we have P.E and we warm up by playing games or jogging 2 to 4 laps around the field. Sometimes we do gymnastics instead of sprinting or hurdles after jogging. To warm up for gymnastics, we do stretching and we count from 1 to 8 counts per muscle. We also have teams on how well we do and the groups are divided by our gender. 

We are nearly done!

Let's go!

 Sometimes we play games after we are done with our gymnastics. Yesterday we played a game that involved teams and making your opponents fall down. One time both teams did a performance on their gymnastics. The girls performed theirs first and the boys went second.


       

Hey Look! A Headstand!

OK we're finished!

 

Communication Technologies

The Grade 3,4,5  students have been learning about Communication Technologies. Our Central Idea is: Technological advances have an impact on communication and behavior. For our Summative Assessment we made a

communication device for the future.

The communication device we make will be assessed, this blog will also be assessed by our teacher and our self. Each students will have a chance to take pictures and will also create a post for our class blog as part of our assessment process.

 This is when the devices were displayed on top of our lockers.

 For our communication device, we have to construct and design our own communication device for the future. The reason we are writing posts for our class blog is because a blog is something that can be used to communicate with others. Each of us need to try and do something different.

 

This is when we were typing the steps.

We started our communication device by blowing balloons and then cover them with paper mache. We covered them with two layers to make it stronger when we cut it. After the balloons were dry, we cut them in half. Then we started making sketches of how we want our communication device to look, after we finish sketching them we start constructing the device. We then typed steps explaining how to use each device. After we finished typing them, we made a display our devices on top of our lockers.

Communication Unit

The Grade 3/4/5 have been learning about communication technology. Our central idea is "Technology advances have an impact on communication and behavior". 
For this unit we have been learning about cyber safety. We did a Venn diagram about positive behaviors and negative behaviors on communicating using social media. We also did a brainstorm on different ways on communicating and when we were finished, we sorted them in groups.
For our summative assessment, we are taking control of our class blog and to make our own futuristic communication device. Every students in our class will get a chance to take photos and to start writing a post for the blog. For the communication device, we will have to design and construct our own communication device. The reason we are doing the blog is because blogging is another way of communicating with people around the world.
Each of us  had to think about what our device will do and to try to invent something new. This is the time to show how creative we are.

This is when we were constructing our devices.

We started our paper mache communication devices by blowing up a balloon and covering it with paper mache. We needed to have 2 layers of paper mache or more so it's strong. Then we cut it in half so each of us gets one half each. Then everybody started to design our communication devices. 
After we finished constructing our devices, we have to make a little blurb and a set of instructions on how to use the devices. Then when everything's finish, we displayed it on top of our lockers.

We really enjoyed doing this project.

Literature Sessions

Almost everyday in the morning we do a novel study packages or read our novel. Once we finish reading our novel we begin our package. There are  many components  such as vocabulary and questions. To answer the questions and do a storyboard, we reread our novel to find the answers. There are  5 groups, each in a different level of reading, each group has a different novel we are reading. Once we are done with 1 or 2 chapters we get a new novel study package. But once we are done with our novel our teacher gives us 2 or 3  choices of our level books and we get to choose what we would like to read. Some groups get a different type of novel study work. Sometimes they get a workbook instead of worksheets. We started doing literature sessions since the beginning of term 1 and right now it is term 2. From time to time we take a break from novel study to do other literacy activities.

THANK YOU

An Ordinary Day With The Gr. 3/4/5

Every school morning the Gr 3/4/5 have novel studies. There are 4 groups.   

 Here are the groups.

 

1. The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe.

2. The Indian Cupboard.

3. Stuart Little.

4. The Cricket In Times Square.

We spend 45 minutes every morning to work on it we have to complete vocabulary problems and questions. Every time we complete it we read the next 2 chapters and get the next novel study package.We have to complete our package by the end of the week if not it becomes homework. Not everybody is a fan of homework in our class so we all try to get it done quickly. If we finish early, it we get the next package that won't be for homework on that week until the next week. It's very fun  because we read interesting books, understand them, learn something new, interesting and have great challenges and surprises in every novel study package.

 We have novel studies so we can learn vocabulary, punctuation and new things (like similes and metaphors) and also for the people that don't understand English can improve their English too.

Every afternoon we do unit of inquiry and sometimes art.

We are currently making a communication device for the future from half of the paper mache, creativity is our goal. Everyone's device was unique, colorful and outside the box. Our paper mache project is due on Friday the 6th December 2013. So we have to be quick, neat, unique and not waste time. We had to put our projects in a different room that is not used because our classroom is not that big and we got a lot of things inside. When we are finished we have to make instructions for it, write what it is and what it can do so our teacher can show it outside our classroom for other teachers, students and parents to see our creativity and hard work.

Here they are!

 Our future communication devices.

Every day is an exiting learning, art, vocabulary adventure for the Grade 3/4/5

We can't wait for the next day! :)

Jewawarman Kingdom Project in Bahasa Indonesia

I need to read about King Jewawarman and take notes.

This is our class doing a project in Bahasa Indonesia class about a king named Jewawarman. We are doing this project because we want to make a poster for our Bahasa Indonesia classroom.

We are working on taking notes.

We are working together.

This is the story of King Jewawarman. He fought many kingdoms because he wanted to be the only king. He lost and went away in a boat to an island. That island was Indonesia and then he built a kingdom there.

Lead Up to Book Week

A selection from the works of Roald Dahl.

 ISB Book Week will be from 16-20 September, 2013. The Grade 3/4/5 class will be participating in a variety of events and activities, both within our classroom and the greater whole school community. 
On Monday, we will begin our biographical look into the life and works of Roald Dahl, this will continue until Friday when we will be presenting at assembly with Roald Dahl as our theme. The students choose to focus on Roald Dahl for Book Week because "he has so many different and interesting books and poems for us to learn more about". 

Students are encouraged to dress up like their favourite Roald Dahl character on Friday for the Costume Parade.

Each day after recess one of the classroom teachers will be reading their favourite story aloud to the whole school in the hall. Ms. Trish will be reading the Robert Munsch classic "I'm So Embarrassed" on Friday.
Friday will be a busy day as it is also the day we will have our Book Week Assembly and Costume Parade. The students are encouraged to design and create their own costumes based on one of the characters in a Roald Dahl story. They will also need to be able to state the name of their character and which Dahl story they are from.

The student presentation for the Book Week Assembly will be a biographical glimpse into the life and works of Roald Dahl.

Wednesday will be a chance for students to swap "previously-loved" books with their peers in the Hall during recess. The library will also be accepting donations of books in good condition this week.
If you have any other questions about Book Week, please contact any of the teaching or office staff.

A Busy Week of Inquiry and Exploration

The past several weeks have been busy with inquiry and exploration into the concept of learning. We have participated in a variety of activities including looking at how different people with different learning styles and intelligences learn best. Here are some of our discoveries:

"I am both a visual and auditory learner, I like to watch someone explain something to me while they explain it at the same time."
"I learn best when I am moving, this means I am a kinesthetic learner."
"I think of the reasons I like art so much is because I am a visual learner." (Making connections between the learning styles and their intelligences.)

Below are some photos of what we have been up to over the past week. If you are interested in finding out more, ask you child about the photos and what we were doing in each.

We made posters to share our understandings of the multiple intelligences.

We have been inquiring into words, their structure as well as their meaning.

We have been working together in groups and pairs to learning more about how other people learn.

We have also been learning about circles. As part of this study, we learned how to use a compass (and protractor for Gr. 5s) to create perfect circles.

Interviewing Mr. Scott's Class about their Intelligences

Our current unit of inquiry is all about learning with the central idea "Understanding different ways of learning enables people to respond to their own learning needs as well as those of others." As part of our study, we have been looking at the scientific research of Howard Gardner on what he classifies as Multiple Intelligences (or intelligences for discussion purposes in our classroom). As part of our inquiry into different people's intelligences, we decided to interview different members of our family including older adults in our families as well as young children to see if there is any variation in the activities people enjoy and their "intelligences".

On Friday, 23 August, we interviewed Mr. Scott's ELC3 and Reception students about their activity preferences. We then used the information we collected to find out what kinds of intelligences are their strengths and weaknesses. We will use the data we collected to create a pie chart about their dominant intelligences next week. We will also be interpreting this data, looking for trends.

We also interviewed Mr. Scott and found out that his dominant intelligences were bodily-kinesthetic and interpersonal. We are now wondering how this relates to his choice of career.

We also learned a lot of about working with younger students. Some of these revelations included that we have to be patient because they might not understand our question the first time, sometimes we needed to rephrase our questions because they have not had the experiences we are asking them about yet (for example, writing assignments) and that we need to take breaks so they are able to focus on our questions so they can give an accurate answer.

Please join us at assembly next week (Friday, 30 August). We will be presenting some of the data we have gathered about different people's intelligences and sharing our interpretations with you. We look forward to seeing you then.

Below are some photos of us working with our ELC3 and Reception friends.

We even decided to interview Mr. Scott to find out the things at which he is good.

We are so proud of our new to English friends! They did a great job of asking the questions and writing down the answers.

After we asked our ELC3 and Reception friends the questions, we recorded the answers and calculated the totals for each intelligence.

We think everyone had a good time. It was nice to meet some of our new ELC3 and Reception friends.

Assembly Performance Friday, 16 August 2013

On Friday, 16 August, 2013 we performed our Reader's Theater  The Ugly Duckling. We discovered this play was written by the Scandinavian author Hans Christian Anderson in the 1840s.

Each member of our class had a different part. Our director asked all the members of our class what part they wanted to have before we started. Everyone was happy with the parts they had. We practiced for several days before our performance, both at home and at school.

We also discovered folk tales usually have a moral (this was partly to teach children the difference between right and wrong in the olden days). The morals we think come through from The Ugly Duckling are: don't judge a person by the way they look, believe in yourself and that we need to respect the difference of others.

Below are some photos from our successful performance.

Our narrators and Mama Duck

The chicken, cat, wild duck, friendly swan & the ugly duckling.

The girl and boy who spot the beautiful swan at the end of our story.

Beginning of the Year Letter from Ms. Trish

13 August 2013

Dear Grade Three, Four and Five Families,

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the 2013-2014 school year. I am happy to be part of the ISB community again this year and I am looking forward to working with you and your children during the upcoming months.

I look forward to meeting you all during “Meet and Greet” week from 21-23 August 2013 but also during our first Community Brunch and Open House on 24 August 2013. In the meantime, I have included a short biography for your reference. I am originally from a small community on the west coast of Canada, and attended the University of Victoria.  I graduated with a 5 year Bachelor of Education degree, a double major in Elementary Education and Science.  I am in my fourteenth year of teaching (my eleventh within the IBPYP) and have taught children from Preschool to Grade 8.  I taught in Canada, Germany, China and Indonesia (Papua) before arriving at ISB.

During the first weeks of school I will be assessing your children in the areas of reading, writing and mathematics. This will enable me to ensure the most effective instruction for your child. We will also be developing essential agreements in class for behavioural and work habit expectations. I will be sending home our first unit of inquiry newsletter next week, outlining the order and central ideas of this year’s units of inquiry. We are continuing to work on the class schedule, but this will be forwarded to you as soon as it is confirmed.

At ISB, we are a well-established school and have been authorized in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) since 2002.  The IBPYP is a transdisciplinary curriculum that engages students in relevant and challenging learning experiences.  I am excited by the enormous benefits to children participating in this programme.  Transdisciplinary (meaning to include a variety of subject areas such as social studies, science, language, mathematics, etc) units of inquiry will be the basis for the majority of our programme.  This will run parallel with the teaching of fundamental skills/strategies in language and mathematics.

Again this year I will be taking on the role of PYP Coordinator in addition to being your child’s classroom teacher. This role is primarily in support of the teaching staff at ISB, but I am also responsible for parent education about the Primary Years Programme. Please look for more information in the general school newsletter, but please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding this programme.

Below is some general information about different aspects of the Grade 3/4/5 classroom this year.

Ibu Hasanah

We are extremely fortunate to have Ibu Hasanah Sarkaya working in our classroom with the Grade 3/4/5 students again this year. Ibu Hasanah will be working with all children in our class in a variety of individual, small and large group settings. It is important to note that Ibu Hasanah will be responsible for our class in the event that I am absent. She will also be travelling to the various specialist classes if needed to be further support those teachers as well. If I am unavailable, please do not hesitate to contact Ibu Hasanah directly.

The Exhibition

The PYP Exhibition is a directive from the International Baccalaureate Organization (the IB) in which all PYP schools must participate. We will begin the Exhibition process at the beginning of the year, but the public Exhibition will be in May/June (date to be determined). Please look for more information on what we will be doing for the Exhibition and how you can support your child towards the end of August.

Units of Inquiry

The Grade 3/4/5 students will be inquiring into 5 different units of inquiry as well as the Exhibition this year. We will be reviewing the 6 allocated units of inquiry later this week, working with the students and teacher to develop the order of units as well as the theme for the Exhibition. This is an important component of the Grade 3/4/5 programme, as it provides an opportunity for student empowerment and responsibility for the educational programme they will be participating in this year.

Homework

The students will begin bringing home more formalized homework during Week 2. All homework assignments will be related to what they are currently studying in class. It is important to develop a standardized place for students to work on their homework at this age. This will be especially important with their work on the Exhibition as this is a long-term project, and they may need to have a place where they can leave resources for a lengthy period of time. It is expected all homework will be completed on a daily basis and returned to school for teacher assessment the next day. If you child has difficulty with the homework task assigned, please have them stop and indicate difficulty in an email to me or a written note in their homework folder.

Electronics

Students are welcome to bring their laptop/tablet computers to school to support their learning. These types of electronic devices are appropriate for certain components of our programme (as determined by the classroom teacher), but paper and pencil skills will be used for others. If you would like your child to bring a mobile phone to school, they will need to drop them off in the main office prior to the start of the school day. Students are not permitted to bring MP3 players, etc to school as they interfere with important socialization opportunities before, during and after school. Please note that if your child brings anything of value to school, ISB is not responsible for it loss or damage.

Supplies

The school provides all books, pencils, markers, etc the children need. Each child needs to bring a plastic drinking bottle labelled with their name to school each day. It is important that this bottle be filled with water, not juice, in case of spillage. Children will have opportunities to refill their water bottles from a central source at school as well.

Please ensure your child has a hat as well as it is often very bright and sunny during PE and other outdoor activities.

Birthdays

We enjoy celebrating your child’s birthday.  I have found that a shared treat is a good way for the whole class to participate.  If your child is having a private party, invitations should be given outside of school so that feelings do not get hurt if someone has not been invited. If you are inviting all students in our class, students are welcome to hand out the invitations at school.

I believe home and school communication is essential to your child’s learning, so please do not hesitate to come in and see me or write me an email (trish@isbogor.org) if you have any questions or concerns. Please look for more information coming from the office about “Meet and Greet” week from 21-23 August, 2013. There are a variety of dates and times available.

Kindest regards,

Trish Phyall

Gr. 3/4/5 Teacher & PYP Coordinator