Experimenting with inclined planes and practicing measuring length; exploring mass and volume; mastering high frequency words with language games; and developing observation skills in the art studio (Click to enlarge!)

Upcoming Dates to Remember

Tuesday May 29th: Student-Led Conferences – A sign-up sheet is now posted outside the KG classroom; please sign up for a time as soon as possible if you have not done so already.

Monday May 28th – Wednesday May 30th: PYP Book Fair

Wednesday May 30th: Book Character Dress-Up Day  – Children are invited to dress up as a favourite book character and will participate in a costume fashion show from 12:50-1:30 pm in the PS library. Parents welcome!

Tuesday June 5th: Field Trip to The Children’s Discovery Museum – 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Friday June 8th: PYP Lower Grades Awards Assembly – 8:15am in the auditorium

Monday June 11th: KG End of Year Party – 1:00 – 2:30 pm; A sign-up sheet will be posted outside the classroom one week prior to the event for families to indicate what food they would like to contribute.

Wednesday June 13th: Last Day of School for Students – 7:50 – 11:45 am

• 8:00 – 10:30 am: KISPA Bake Sale and Coffee for Parents
• 10:30 – 11:30 am: Concert performance in the auditorium
• 11:45 am: classes dismissed, children signed out

Reminder: Please see Ms. Daisy’s request (below) for items that roll. Thanks!

In recent weeks, the children have been working on constructing marble runs in the maker space, with Ms. Daisy and Mr. Eric focusing on both visual arts and tech aspects, and connecting with our inquiry into simple machines. To support this project, Ms. Daisy has asked all children to bring in something that rolls. Creativity is encouraged – anything from steam trains to tomatoes are welcome. These objects will be used to provoke discussion, and are not going to be used to go through the marble run itself, so there is no need to be limited by such practical considerations. Anything that rolls will do!

Thanks for your support!

Last week in Kindergarten, the children’s ongoing investigations into simple machines continued. More machines have been added to our exploration area, including gears, springs, and more types of pulleys, inclined planes, and wheels. All classes have been looking at related concepts in IT and art as well, with Mr. Eric and Ms. Daisy guiding the construction of marble runs in the Maker’s Space. Our aim has been to give the children plenty of hands-on experiences working with real simple machines, in preparation for introducing the concepts of forces and energy, which will be more readily grasped having seen them in action. While the children continue their hands-on free explorations, we have begun to introduce the specialized vocabulary for the different kinds of machines and have also been watching videos to show the purpose of simple machines, including their roles within more complex machines. Once again, we’d like to remind anyone who has not sent in an artifact to do so as soon as possible. The artifacts have inspired a great deal of learning this time, as everyone has been so curious about what their peers have brought in!

Important Dates:

Tuesday, May 29th – Student-led Conferences (families to sign up for appointment times, no regular classes all day)

Tuesday, June 5th – Field trip to the Children’s Discovery Museum (more info to follow)

Wednesday June 13th – Last day of school (half-day); Primary School Concert

Good afternoon

Individual and class photos have arrived and the school will be accepting orders. Orders need to be returned by May 15. When you take the envelope, don’t forget to sign the sheet.

As part of the student’s discovery into Simple Machines, we have been using an iPad Application called Simple Machines by Tinybob. On the iTunes store it is B129. The students do get plenty of opportunities at school to learn about how simple machines work, so it is not necessary to purchase at home.

UOI 6: How the world works – Simple Machines

The kindergarten children are now immersed in our final inquiry for the school year, investigating simple machines in various contexts around our learning space. Many children have brought artifacts to school, which they have been sharing proudly with the group, provoking their fellow inquirers to think and wonder. If your child has yet to bring in an artifact, please support them in making a selection this week. During centre time, the children have been invited to experiment with pulleys and inclined planes in our exploration area, and have been representing their ideas about how these simple machines work by drawing diagrams as well as explaining their theories. They have also been closely observing the inside mechanisms of clocks, and representing their understandings of how these work. Daily journals are also linked to our inquiry, as we present diagrams of simple machines that the children can write about. A math centre connects as well, as we are learning to use a balance scale, yet another simple machine (a lever). The intention for these learning engagements is to get the children thinking about how machines work, to reveal their current understandings in order to guide further instruction, and to develop oral, visual and written communication skills as the children find ways to explain themselves. In the art studio, the children have been building their own machine inventions, encouraging them to consider the purpose and function of machines in our lives. We are seeing a great deal of curiosity and enthusiasm for experimentation: it’s looking like an exciting inquiry ahead of us to wrap up the school year.

Active investigations in KG

How do machines work and what are they for? The children represent their ideas and inventions.

Presenting artifacts from home

Important Dates:

Tuesday, May 29th – Student-led Conferences (appointment time sign-up coming shortly)

Tuesday, June 5th – Field trip to the Children’s Discovery Museum (more info to follow)

Wednesday June 13th – Last day of school (half-day); Primary School Concert

Dear Parents,

It is time for students to select their final artifact of the year! Our new inquiry is ‘Simple machines’ so artifacts should be any personal connection to machines. Please help your child to remember as we would like all artifacts by this Friday, artifacts are a great provocation in the classroom.

Thanks KG team.

Dear Parents,

Next Monday we will be sending home a range of work that your child has created to support their learning mainly in term 1. For safe keeping we will put all of it in your child’s ‘Home Reading’ folder. Please take the work out and celebrate it as you wish.

KG Team.

Congratulations to our KG swimmers for their enthusiasm and sportsmanship as participants in last week’s Swim Gala. The children all tried their best, cheered on their friends, and enjoyed the day. Thanks to Mr. Max for organising, and to all the parents who were able to attend. Have a look at the photo gallery below to see the children in action!

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Coffee Morning

Next Tuesday, April 24th at 8:15 am, KG will be hosting a coffee morning for parents in the KG classroom. We will be looking at the Kindergarten reading program through the lens of the PYP Essential Elements, with the aim of sharing our approach to reading instruction while building understanding of the Essential Elements which are central to student learning in all areas of the PYP program. This is a great opportunity for parents to ask questions, and to have a look around our learning environment. Snacks and beverages will also be served. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Literacy Coffee Morning

We are happy to welcome everyone back to school today for the beginning of Term 3, and hope that everyone had a pleasant holiday with their families.

This week, we are pleased to welcome a new friend to the Kindergarten community, Matthew from Indonesia. Please say hello if you see his family around KIS!

KG Data Collection

Thank you to all of the parents who have responded to our survey about bedtimes. If you have not yet responded, please use the link below to do so – it only takes a minute! This information is part of our inquiry into the systems we us to organise ourselves, as time is one of the systems we have explored together.

https://goo.gl/forms/cs0uEFeWeouC0qiV2

Swim Gala

This Friday, April 20th, KG will be participating in the Swim Gala, which will include both individual and house team events. We are set to begin at 8:50 am, and therefore the children should come to school wearing their swim suits so that they will be ready. Please send the children with swim cap, goggles, and a towel, as well as sun protection such as sunscreen and hats. We are excited for this special event!

Coffee Morning

Next Tuesday, April 24th at 8:15 am, KG will be hosting a coffee morning for parents in the KG classroom. We will be looking at the Kindergarten reading program through the lens of the PYP Essential Elements, with the aim of sharing our approach to reading instruction while building understanding of the Essential Elements which are central to student learning in all areas of the PYP program. This is a great opportunity for parents to ask questions, and to have a look around our learning environment. Snacks and beverages will also be served. Looking forward to seeing you all there!