Friday Fun!

This morning we had a fabulous opportunity to watch the grade nine drama students present their version of events from Peter Pan. They scripted ideas on how Hook and Pan came to be enemies. The children adored their humorous and animated performance.

Then we burnt some energy off in PE. It is always great to get active!

In class it has been a hive of activity as groups began trying to solve a simple problem like; ringing a bell, popping a balloon, lifting a cup of water, or pushing a ball into a hole by inventing a Rube Goldberg machine. They tested, reflected, made adaptations and tested again. Plenty of perseverance training today! Here's Mimi and Hana's example.


We have had to do a little classroom redecorating in order to have invention spaces for our creative classmates. We also have lovely new carpet throughout Elementary so the place looks fabulous!

Trip to the Playground

On Tuesday we visited Wat Botum Playground to explore how simple machines are used in everyday life. As a reflection, students drew posters and are working on a visual 'green-screen'  presentation which demonstrates their understanding.

Taking Learning Outdoors

This morning we had our math session in the shaded areas of our playground. We are learning mapping skills and have been learning about coordinates.  It was fabulous to be outdoors.

While we were there, we reflected on our school environment. Recently we walked around our school and noticed the sights, sounds, and smells. Then we wrote some wonderings about our discoveries. Today we took our ideas further, and identified an area in the school we felt could be modified in order to meet the need of our school community both now and in the future. They took a photo of the area they wanted to adapt and drew their changes on a piece of overlay paper.

Mimi - Melted Crayon Art

Artist Statement - Mimi

“ My art was melted crayon art. I decided to call it rainbow because it kind of looked like the colours of the rainbow. I chose to do this because it makes me feel happy, reminds me of a colourful rainbow, and I just liked the way melted crayon art looked. My big idea was that it would look like it was raining colours”.

How We Express Ourselves

Last week we wrapped up our learning from this fabulous unit. Children are eager to share their inspiration boards and and completed art works with you this Thursday evening at Spotlight on the Arts. Here's a sneak preview of our fabulous creativity!

Pixel Art

Today we had our second session creating pixel art using mine-craft. Children drew a plan using squared paper, and then had to recreate it using coloured blocks in the virtual world Mr Matt created for them. When they shot up into the sky and viewed their work from a birds eye perspective, they could see their art from a different view.

I don't Have Your Eyes

" I chose this book because it tells us that everyone is different. That is the message the artist is giving. I like it because it gives me a nice feeling and reminds me of my family"

By Mimi

Puppetry

Today the form of art we looked at was Puppetry.

Puppetry is... the making and manipulation of puppets for use in some kind of theatrical show. A puppet is a figure—human, animal, or abstract in form—that is moved by human, and not mechanical, aid.



We had visiting performers come from the Sovanna Phum Art Association. They presented a one and a half hour show in the Black Box Theatre. It was a combination of small puppetry, storytelling, dance and traditional music. Wow! What a show! The children were really engaged by this traditional Khymer art form.

I have uploaded 3 short clips from todays performance. As part of your homework choose which is your favourite and explain why. What story do you think was being told? What art forms were being used?
                                                                           Example 1:

Example 2:

Example 3:

Not a Box

On Friday we had the early years team visit us to look at our 'not a box' creations. It was wonderful to see the younger children interact with us, asking questions and studying our own creations. What innovative learners we have in grade two! The related concept to out unit of inquiry was 'imagination'.

Scratch Jnr

Today Mr Matt came and worked with us on an app called 'Scratch Junior'. This is a very early introduction to computer programming. It will be a useful tool when we come to present our narrative writing, as it allows us to present our information in a new and imaginative way. Today we experimented with the tools on this app and then worked collaboratively with a partner to programme our own imaginative scene. This week we may use it to further explain our thinking of one of our unit vocabulary words 'perspective'.

Provocation 'How We Express Ourselves'

This week we launched into our new unit of inquiry. We are currently tuning into the unit, and on Tuesday moved around the grade two classes completing a provocation designed to spark our thinking about different art forms and their purpose. Learners made notes using the visible thinking routine 'I See, I Think, I Wonder'. There were carvings, artworks, sculptures, dances, poems, music, and dramatisations for them to look at...all to provoke their thinking around the question 'What is art?'.

Healthy Snack

To conclude our unit of inquiry, we had our shared 'healthy snack morning' on Friday. Children had planned and prepared their snack and confidently explained to the class why it was a healthy choice. Even the 'not so healthy' snacks, were presented by the children as 'occasional' foods. They explained how you need to be eaten in moderation along with a balanced diet.

Then we got a chance to tuck in!

The classroom still smells like sweetcorn!

Children throughout this unit have been 'taking action' to lead to healthier life choices. During Friday's team time, children shared some of the small steps they have taken. These included:

• Going to bed earlier to ensure they have enough sleep and are well rested for the following day.
• Choosing a more 'colourful' plate at the cafeteria each lunchtime.
• Trying to drink more water, in order for feel less sluggish and improve concentration.
• Washing their hands more regularly (and more thoroughly). 
• Practicing ways to calm down when they are upset or frustrated (listening to the Mind Master - Not the head Hassler).

Guided Reading Rotation

In reading, we participate in a variety of tasks to build our reading fluency and comprehension. Tasks vary depending on our needs, our current unit of inquiry, and the specific skills we need to acquire.
These pictures were taken during today's reading session.


Collage 1: Guided reading sessions with a focus on building comprehension and being able to make meaning form the story.

Collage 2: Using online tools (in this case Raz kids) to listen to, read, and engage in questions about the story.

 Collage 3: Building vocabulary. Here children are using the magnetic letters to create word lists related to our unit of inquiry.

Collage 4: In these pictures, learners are investigating their own unit of inquiry questions...seeking answers using unit books, and online websites and videos.

We Love Swimming!

We love our swimming sessions every Tuesday afternoon. We apologise if we are sometimes a little slow to get changed! If we don't turn up on time to our usual pick up location, you may like to meet us by the pool gate.

Why Do You Come to School?

Explain Everything

Mr Matt spent some time in our class this week teaching us how to use the app 'Explain Everything'. This will be a fabulous tool to share our learning. We experimented with the tools today, so that we can use this app to successfully share our thinking with others.

Provocation

The central idea in our unit of inquiry is 'Learning about balanced lifestyles helps us understand how the choices we make can affect our health.'

Last week, we formed opinions around provoking statements, selected to encourage our thinking about this. First we did this as a class...placing ourselves on a continuum from 'Strongly agree, to Strongly Disagree', and giving reasons for our choices.

Then we moved around the class and placed our initials on each of the statements, showing whether we agreed of disagreed with them. There was some fantastic discussion!

The Shape of my Imagination

Discussions in our unit of inquiry 'Who We Are', highlighted the fact that we are all unique and have original perspectives of the world and how we think. We decided to illustrate this by drawing 'the shape of our imaginations'. They looked at how they could use designs and patterning to create an interesting and original artwork.

Friday Photos

It was wonderful to see the children out and about at break times, enjoying the playground and facilities. 

We finished our name tags to label our cubby holes. 

 We enjoyed our free lunch by Epicure at the cafeteria. These free sample lunches will also be available on Monday and Tuesday. From Wednesday, children who have not signed up for the epicure lunches will need to bring their lunch from home, or have it delivered to the baskets at school by 11.30. Children still need a healthy snack for recess.