A letter to parents

January 18, 2013

Dear Parents,

Our Unit of Inquiry for third term, 2^nd semester beginning January 28, 2013 is,

“Air, Food and Water”

The central idea is: 

                 “We share resources with other living things”!

Our inquiry is into: 

What living things need…  (air, food & water)

How our resources can change

Show responsibility for our resources

We encourage all parents to discuss this unit at home.  Some things to try: 

• Share stories about air, food and water.
• Discuss the different ways you use air, food and water as a family (such as breathing, eating, drinking and washing).
• Where does our air, food and water come from?
• Discuss ways your family can protect and save our air, food and  water in your home and in our environment.

Please have your children think about the above questions and please help them to collect pictures, photos or information about air, food and water to show and tell about.

Your support for your child’s learning is greatly appreciated.

Thanking you,

Kdg. 1 Team

หัวข้อที่นักเรียนจะได้ศึกษาในเทอมนี้คือ อากาศ อาหารและ น้ำ ซึ่งภายใต้หัวข้อนี้นักเรียนทุกคนจะได้เรียนรู้ว่าสิ่งมีชีวิตต้องการอะไร อากาศ อาหาร และน้ำสามารถเปลี่ยนแปลงเป็นอะไรได้บ้าง การแสดงความรับผิดชอบต่อการรักษาสิ่งแวดล้อมนั้น(อากาศ อาหารและ น้ำ) ควรทำอย่างไร

                                                                                                                     ขอบคุณค่ะ

Air, Food and Water

UNIT OF INQUIRY    SEMESTER 2 TERM 3              JANUARY 2013             

TRANSDISCIPLINARY THEME: Sharing the Planet

TITLE:  ‘Air, Food and Water’   

Central Idea:  ‘We share resources with other living things.’

(8 weeks)

An inquiry into:    

What living things need ….. (air, food and water)

How our resources can change

Showing responsibility for our resources (air, food and water)

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

January  28  –  February  8       

Tuning in:

1.  What is alive and not alive?  (living things and non-living things)

2.  What do living things need?  And why?      (2 weeks)

Mind map of what we need and why?

What do other living things need and why? (animals and plants)

Exploring air, food and water

Plant and animal life – in oceans, ponds and on land

Preparing flowers in water and not in water

Planting beans and watching them grow –

Make a magic water bottle!

Observation and discovery road trip to MBC for International Day Friday Feb 1^st, 2013.  What did I learn about the air, food and water resources in the area. 

(Reflection picture of road trip to MBC)

February  11 to  March  1

1. How do living things use air, food and water and where do they come from?   (3 weeks)

a.  Mind map of how living things use air, food and water?

Air –  breathe

Food – Eat to live/grow – Food chain

Water - Drinking, cooking, washing and cleaning

Watering plants and crops 

Living creatures in oceans, ponds (salt water and fresh water) and on land

b. Finding out where air, food and water come from;    

Air - What is it? Where is it? Can you feel it? Can you smell it? When is it good and bad.  (smell)

Food – Where do you get your food from?  Farms, markets – Food chain

Water - Simple water cycle principle.  Clouds - rivers - oceans

    

March 4  - March 8   

3.  How do air, food and water change?  (1 week)

Liquids changing – physical, shape, gases and solids – (ice, steam) 

Experiments 

Fruit juice smoothies

Dehydrated foods

How food/plants/animals decay (circle of life)

March 11 – 22   How can we look after what we need (air, food and water)?  (2 weeks)

Assessment                                                                         

Talking about and reflecting on;

 How can we help to keep the air clean?

 How can we help to save and protect food sources?

 How we can save water and keep it clean?

Classroom focus:  Tell our families NOT to light fires

Recycle your paper, plastic and bottles

Don’t put rubbish into rivers and canals

 Reflect on unit: What we have learned/discovered

Students will choose pictures and match them to the Teacher Questions on a mind map.

 Evaluated with a rubric and self assessment rubric  

CLOSURE

End of term March 29,  2013

4^th Term begins April 22,  2013

Mark your calendar:   Student Led Conference May 1, 2013

Children having fun on Christmas Day with their parents, friends and Santa!!

News from K1/Hummingbirds December 20th 2012

 Santa Claus is coming to town!  The children are very excited about Santa’s           coming visit. We have been practicing our songs for our performance at the concert.  From the rehearsals it was evident that all the grades have great fun dancing and singing on the stage.

·        The children have made some decorations to adorn your homes for the festive season.   Their body cut-outs in festive clothes will also make a great welcome decoration in your homes.

·        We are very grateful for your contribution to our Christmas Charity Project.  It promotes awareness in our children of the people who are less fortunate.

·        The children have enjoyed this term’s UOI Dress Up Time with the central idea being; ‘Clothes can reflect who we are, where we live and what we do.’ Thank you to parents for sending in different clothes and fabrics for show and tell.

          

Show and Tell for the first 2 weeks of January 2012 will something your children received or bought during the Christmas and New Year holiday.

·        Our Unit of Inquiry for the 3^rd term beginning at end of January 2013 will be Air, Food and Water; under the Trans disciplinary theme of Sharing the Planet. 

The central idea is:  ‘We share resources with other living things’ 

      An inquiry into: What living things need (air, food and water)

           How our resources can change

           Showing responsibility for our resources (air, food and water)

      Please have your children think about the above inquiry over the holidays and please collect pictures, photos or information about air, food and water ready for show and tell next year.

      We would like to say a special THANK YOU to Ms Tamsin who has been a tremendous help to our class this term. It feels like she has been with us always and we could not have completed the activities without her.  We wish her the best with her continuing studies in Child Psychology and hope to see her again during her University holidays.

Th                                 Thank you also to parents and friends for your help and support during the first semester, we really appreciate it.  We look forward to your participation again next semester beginning Monday January 14, 2013.

Ple                                 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2013!

K1 Team Ms Ray, Ms Ng, Ms Cheryl and Ms Tamsin

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all students

Nurse Pranee Visits K1 students!

News from K1/Hummingbirds: Monday 19 th November to Friday 7th December 2012

• During our second unit of inquiry, Dress Up Time! The central idea is:  ‘Clothes can reflect who we are, where we live and what we do.  We have certainly had lots of opportunities to dress up and see how others dress.  The children have developed an awareness of how people dress for different cultures, weather conditions and different jobs.  Captain Weaver, a pilot, visited the class once again this year, dressed in his smart uniform and talked to the children about flying a plane.  He had many interesting things to show us and tell us about.

• Nurse Pranee, in her uniform, made a visit to the classroom and showed how to heal each child’s ailment.  Most children showed they were risk-takers and went to be checked by Nurse Pranee.

• The policeman who directs traffic in front of our school also visited us again and explained about his duties and talked about his uniform and his gear.  This is 5th year he has been coming to visit the K1 class.

• The children were excited to begin to colour their Tshirts. They are looking very festive and the children will wear them at the Christmas concert on December 21st, 2012.  We would like the girls to wear leggings with skirts if possible in red, green, blue or white.  The boys can wear denim jean long pants or shorts.

• Thursday 22nd November was Thanksgiving day when we gave thanks for our blessings.  The children were encouraged to think about what they were thankful for.  A traditional lunch of turkey, potatoes and cranberry sauce was enjoyed by children and staff.

• Loy Krathong day was a fun day again this year with games and lots of delicious Thai food to eat.  Thank you very much to parents who had stalls and parents and friends who attended.  We appreciate your support.

• At music class the children have been practicing our songs for the Christmas concert on Friday 21st December at 9.00am.   K1 will sing; Mr Sun, Mr Golden Sun and We’ve got the whole world in our hands. This  year’s theme for the Christmas concert is ‘The Seasons of Christmas’, reflecting upon the different seasons that Christmas time falls on in different countries of the world.  K1’s song represents the Summer season.

• This year’s family art project theme is ‘The Seasons of Christmas’.  You will receive the framed paper soon.

• Show and Tell is finished for this year.  Show and tell for 3rd quarter will be relating to our UOI ‘We share resources with other living things.’

• The gift for your child which Santa will give to them needs to be in by Monday 17th  December.  More information about our Concert day to be announced.
                                                        No candy or imitation weapons please.

• Donation items for charity for K1 will be:      
                      K1 - soap and shampoo

                                                                          Thanking you.  K1 Team