Sports Day and Structures Step-by-Step

 This week we wrapped up our unit on structures with a research project on how structures are built, step by step. Working on their own or with a partner, the second graders found videos and did some reading to find out how things were built in the past and today. After gathering information, they were given a choice of different ways to present their research to others: a book, poster, slideshow or video. You can check them out on their Seesaw accounts. Here are a couple of the physical books and posters:

For PE on Tuesday, we had some fun playing balloon volleyball in class as it was rainy outside.

On Wednesday, Mr. Hartmann joined our class for a movement lesson. With the rainy weather all week it was nice to have some fun indoors.

In music class, Ms Azusa invited Ms. Masamichi and a friend to play the Shamisen for the students. It was a nice treat for the students to hear live music and they also sang along to the song Sakura.

Our big event this week was our annual Sports Day, which was held on Friday. The grade 2 students all participated and really tried their best. It was a fun day and the weather was perfect! Thanks to all of the families for coming to support the children. It was nice to see so many of you there!

Grade 2 and Lower Primary Sleepover

 The highlight of this week was definitely the Sleepover event last night. Calling it a sleepover for Grade 2 might be a bit of a misnomer as there wasn’t all that much sleeping happening! 

After setting up their bedding, we said goodbye to moms and dads and then went downstairs to chop the fruits and veggies for salad.

After dinner the fun began with flashlight tag on the playground, some stargazing with my telescope and hide and seek in the dark in the lower primary end of the school. 

Then it was time to get ready for bed!! Once they were ready for bed, they weren’t quite ready to settle down in the classroom as some of the students had brought snacks and were full of energy and excitement so the girls started playing a handmade board game that Leon brought while the boys read books or watched a couple short videos before the lights went out for grade two at 10pm. Unfortunately, that was not enough to calm them down and after a couple hours of tossing, turning and some help from Ms Ida the last finally fell asleep around midnight…

Their deep slumber didn’t last very long as the first early risers woke up around 4am and then started moving about and woke up the others, by 5 am all but one or two of the second graders was up! (Despite reminders that they should stay quiet until 6am).

After tidying up the classroom and packing all of their things away we had a nice breakfast of cereal and fruits to help us have some energy for the day ahead!

Finally after a bit of outdoor play it was time to start a new school day and the sleepover was over!

Aside from the sleepover, we inquired into our third and final line of inquiry for our structures unit as we looked into how the design and building of structures has changed. We did this by comparing pictures of homes today with traditional Japanese homes from the past, as well as other structures such as bridges and roads built by the ancient Romans.

In math we worked on our measurement skills and learnt a new math word: perimeter (the distance around the outside of an object).

As for PE, we continued working on our athletics skills in preparation for next Friday’s Sports Day. We look forward to seeing all those who can attend it next Friday at the Green Field