The Class and Blog Must Go On

 Although I wasn’t at school this week, Ms. Renu kept the class going with all the activities that I planned for them and she kept me updated on their progress. 

In unit this week, the students inquired into the properties of sound. They experimented with creating sound effects such as a rainstorm by using their hands and body percussion, and also tried to recreate the bouncing sound of a ball using rulers. 

They also used simple materials (popsicle sticks and rubber bands) to make their own little harmonicas to experiment with how sound is made through vibrations and how they can change the pitch of the sound. 

Next week we will try to make some more stringed instruments on Monday so we ask that all students bring in an empty tissue box, milk carton and, or toilet paper or paper towel rolls. Please bring extra if you have some just in case some students forget. 

On Tuesday, the students celebrated St. Nicholas’ Day and took part in a scavenger hunt to help them track down the missing mikans/ tangerines. They had to find and read the clues which would then give them one letter of the location of the hidden mikans. Once they found and unscrambled all seven of the clues they could then collect their prize!

In math this week, the focus has been on addition and a little bit of subtraction as the students looked at different strategies for adding and subtracting, with a focus on mental math strategies.

In PE we began a new unit on dance and started with some fun Bhangra dance and then some body percussion, making rhythmic patterns of sounds by stopping their feet and tapping their knees, or clapping their hands. This week they thought up and practiced their own short 8 beat routines and taught a partner. Next week we’ll take it a few steps further where they create a small routine with a group to make their own STOMP -style dance.

Finally, this week we had to sadly say goodbye to Isaac as his family prepares for their next adventure! We wish Isaac and his family all the best in the future and know that he will remember DSKI as it has been his second home for the past four plus years!