As we continue inquiring into how we can get along with others, we took some time to do some collaborative work in art and music. As somewhat of stand-alone lessons, we also began inquiring into the elements of art and music.
In music, we began by looking at rhythm (also known as the beat) and then form. With a partner, the students created beats using objects found around the classroom. Next, they worked on the form of the music by creating patterns using their two different objects found within the class. They created their own music score by writing down their musical patterns and followed their created musical scores when it was time to share them with the class.
In art, we also began learning about the elements of art. Coinciding with our line of inquiry on feelings, we began with a discussion on the symbolism of certain colours, such as how green means jealous, or red means angry, and blue means sad.
We also discussed what makes them feel those different emotions.
Getting back to art, the students worked on some aspects of colour theory, by mixing their own colours for their colour wheels. Students then got into groups and used their new knowledge of primary, secondary, warm and cool colours to create a group abstract art painting.
We have been off to a busy start these first few weeks, and I have been very busy sorting out all of our club activities for this term. If you haven't signed your child up for a club, but are still interested, you can do so online here.
Sports Day is on Monday!
Our first big event of the year, Sports Day will be on Monday, September 16th! It looks like it will be a hot, sunny day so please make sure that you and your child have lots of water and don't forget your hats and sunscreen! See you there!
It was so hot earlier this week that Mr. Waite had to keep the 2nd Graders inside for PE.
Oktoberfest is Coming!
Speaking of special events...a reminder that DSKI's annual Oktoberfest (October 12th) is just a few weeks away! This year, the Grades 1 and 2 families are tasked with helping Ms. Rost with the Tombola. Please make sure you sign up for a time to volunteer. Many volunteers are also needed on the day before Oktoberfest (Friday, October 11th) to help set things up.
Music, Feelings and Artistic Interpretations
As we have been discussing the central idea of our first unit, "We can get along with other people by learning about their thinking and feelings, and communicating our own" we looked into how music has the power to make us feel different emotions. In our art lesson, we listened to four different songs and drew pictures of what the music made us feel or envision.
Here is what the students came up with:
Homework
The first homework grid for the year was sent home with your child on Friday, September 13th. The goal is to complete 2 lines or more on the grid over the next 2 weeks and is due on Friday, September 27th. Along with this, the students should be reading, and completing their reading logs each night. If you have any questions about these, please let me know.
A new group of students joined the Grade 2 class at DSK today. I was happy to welcome back many familiar faces from last year's first-grade class, as well as two new faces! In the morning, they spent some time working with a partner to do a scavenger hunt around the classroom to find out things about their new classroom and weekly schedule. We also had our first music lesson of the year together and practiced singing a couple songs for the Preschool Enrollment Party next Monday.
You can find out important information about things such as the class schedule for the year via the links at the top right corner of this page.
After lunch recess the Grade Two students had Japanese and then a few periods of Unit of Inquiry time where we listened to the story, "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?" before making some little buckets of their own.
To find out more about what they will be doing this year in Grade Two, I look forward to meeting many of you at Parents' Night, next Tuesday evening.
Together with Grade 1, the Grade 2 students finished the year with an Art Exhibit to display and share all of the wonderful works of art that they created during our final unit on How We Express Ourselves. This was a great unit for the students to finish off the school year with as it allowed them to share their interests and express who they are. It was great getting to know all of them this year, and I'm excited to see what they will do next year in Grade 3 with Mr. Justin! I wish them all the best, and am looking forward to a new group of Second Grade students in a few weeks!
Here's a look at the wonderful Art Exhibit from the end of June:
Enjoy the last few weeks of your holidays everyone and see you on the 22nd!
The schedule is set for Student Led Conferences next Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, please check over and record your allocated time slot for your child's SLC. Please note that BOTH you and your child must attend the conference as they will be leading you around the room/ school to show you their work. If there is a problem with your scheduled appointment, then please let me know ASAP.
Grade 2 STUDENT LED CONFERENCES Schedule 2019
Tuesday, June 11th
Thursday, June 13th
Friday, June 14th
15:45 – 16:30
Aruto, Richard
(Richard - with Mr. Brabant first, then to Ms. Rose)
Stella, Tiago
(Stella & Tiago - with Ms. Rose first, then to Mr. Brabant)
The busiest time of year is upon us now as the end of the year quickly approaches! The last few weeks have been really busy with preparations for the International Kids Day (IKD)last week and the upcoming Student Led Conferences (SLC) and End of the Year Party (and new member joined Mr. Brabant's family on May 23rd)!
Student Led Conferences - June 10-14
Coming up next are the SLCs between June 10th and 14th. For the second grade students, we will offer SLCs on Tuesday, June 11th, Thursday, June 13th and Friday, June 14th. Please follow this link to a Google Form to sign up. Complete the form by choosing a couple possible times by next Monday, June 3rd and Ms. Rose and I will arrange the schedule and get back to you with a confirmed time for your child's SLC early next week.
International Kids Day / Lion King Preview
Thanks to all that took part and supported the performances at the IKD last Saturday, the kids put on a great show this year with a mix of songs and club performances.
If you joined the IKD you had a sneak peak at some of the songs that the Grade 3 and 4 learners will be presenting in their performance of The Lion King as the culminating project for their year-long drama unit (How We Express Ourselves).
All DSKI learners and staff will have the opportunity to attend the full dress rehearsal assembly on Wednesday 19 June 2019.
The main performance will take place on Thursday 20 June at 19:00 (doors open 18:45). This production is open to DSKI parents, friends and previous learners. If you would like to join us please complete this Google Form to support our planning.
End of the Year Party
From 11:55 am you are invited to join other families and staff for a buffet style lunch. Each class will be responsible for bringing food to share. Look at the list below to find your child's class. Please make sure you provide enough food for 4 - 5 people. If you are bringing more guests, kindly provide an extra portion for them. Your child can bring the food to school in the morning and hand it over in the hallway to the PTA members who will be in attendance. Alternatively, parents can bring the food with them before the start of the program. Please bring a picnic mat to sit on in the outside area too.
● Pre-K & Pre-school Drink(2Lx2) & fruits
● Kindergarten Rice or bread
● G1, 2 & 3 Main dishes Final Unit of the Year - How We Express Ourselves
Our final unit of the year has us focussing on the different ways we can express ourselves so it has brought out the artist in all of us! We have had several special art lessons with guest teachers, for example Ms. J worked with Grades 1 and 2 for dance lessons, Ms. Faye taught them how to do watercolour painting, I covered mask making and we have two more special guests coming in to teach photography and sculpture. You'll be able to see all of the art we've been creating at our mini-exhibition during the Student Led Conferences, but here's a fun preview of what we've done so far!
I hope everyone had an enjoyable Golden Week holiday and is ready for the final month and a half of the school year. This is an incredibly busy time of year with many events popping up as the school year starts to wind down.
Although the year is coming to an end, we actually had a new student start last week. We are extremely happy to welcome Miller to our class! She has been busy getting to know the other members of our class and has been making her presence felt in by actively joining in the lessons and she hasn't been shy to share her thoughts and ideas.
Before the holidays, we had completed our unit on shelters, and the students demonstrated their learning by creating some shelters of their own out of materials found in different environments. Their amazing models are on display at the top of the stairs on the second floor, please take the time to check them out if you happen to be in the school.
Last week, we also began our 6th and final unit of the year under the transdisciplinary theme "How We Express Ourselves." Throughout this unit, the students will be inquiring into how "Our uniqueness is expressed in creative and artistic ways." We began by defining the word uniqueness, and then drew self-portraits and wrote about what makes each of us special. Then we compared ourselves to a classmate to find similarities and differences between us, to truly uncover what it is that is so different and special about each of us.
