Tuesday 26 February 2013

3D contour map models

Our Technology/Geography contour map models are finally finished, don't they look positively tropical?
We'll be using them again later in the year when we learn about pirates.

Group Leader: Nina
Group members: Summer, Fikile & Jawad
 Group Leader: Marzia
Group members: Rizwaan, Kane & Kiona
Group Leader: Imogen
 Group members: Seth, Jesse & Skye
 Group Leader: Tomas
Group members: Matthew, Adin, Khaya & Adam
Group Leader: Zoe. 
Group members: Neo, Jessica and Jarryd

Here is the brief:

General Knowledge 4



1.       What cosmic object exploded over Russia earlier this month? 
2.       At which stadium did the Stormers play against the Bulls in a Super Rugby clash on Friday evening? 
3.       Name the only sea creature that can turn its stomach inside out.  
4.       What colour is usually associated with royalty?
5.       What is the only man-made structure which is visible from space?  
6.       Who was the Dutch pirate who defeated the devil in a smoking contest on the slopes of Devil’s Peak?  
7.       How many keys are there on a piano?  
8.       You throw away the outside and cook the inside. Then you eat the outside and throw away the inside. What are you eating?  
9.       What major Hollywood event took place in the USA last night?  
10.   Which secretive, bad-tempered old man could spin straw into gold?

My Suburb

My class are doing research on their own suburb. The CITY of Cape Town is made up of many suburbs and almost every child in the M9-12 class comes from a different suburb. I am very excited to find out more about the city in which I grew up.


How to write a Bibliography


Wednesday 20 February 2013

Top 25 Kid Bloggers

There are thousands of child bloggers out there and I would encourage my students to explore them with their parents.
Here is just one "top bloggers" list, but there ae many others to google:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4RbG1QIOGec/T6U-RIbgIiI/AAAAAAAAAoU/yjsHPZhZo6Q/s758/Screen%2BShot%2B2012-05-05%2Bat%2B10.50.00%2BAM.png

While researching this topic, I came across a child friendly and safe site called: http://kidblog.org/home/

Tuesday 19 February 2013

Fairy Tale English Theme

Our new theme for the next three weeks is FAIRY TALES. The students are very excited for the puppet show they will be performing later.

Monday 11 February 2013

Five Ideas For Creating Peaceful Mornings Before School


How the morning flows has great impact on the rest of the day.  When we are able to create peaceful, graceful mornings, we are better able to create peaceful fulfilling days, or at least better adept to weather any stress that might appear in the day ahead.  The more peaceful the time at home, the better prepared the child is for learning at school.  Here are some ideas to consider as you begin your day:

1.  Set the Stage
Create a relaxing environment for the morning routine.  Keep the lights low, sounds to a minimum.  Play music that you love.  I play energizing, dance music in the bathroom while my daughters and I shower and get ready.   We sing and jive, getting a jump start on feeling good.   However, I like to wake up to gentle, relaxing music, easing my way into the day with quiet time.  I have downloaded some of my favorite meditation music on my iphone and play it while I am waking up and waking up my daughters.

2.  Gentle Beginnings
Wake up your child with a soft greeting such as “Good morning, love.”  Give a back rub or a gentle massage or snuggle for one minute with your child before getting out of bed.  Remember to note how your child likes to wake up.  You can ask him if he would like to snuggle or not.  Start the day with gentle choices.  Pay attention to your voice volume and rhythm.

3.  Even Pace
Avoiding the morning rush is key to staying calm and promoting feelings of peace.  Make sure any advance preparation, such as laying out of clothes or packing lunches, happens the night before to avoid rush during the basic morning routine.
I have a friend, a single dad, who was having trouble getting his boys to stay on task while getting ready for school.  He noticed that he was repeating over and over what they needed to do and that somehow they had learned to tune him out.  We developed a checklist of morning routine activity steps and engaged the boys in picking a fun ringtone on the phone to signal the end of basic tasks.  There was a duck quack for the end of teeth brushing, a chime for the completion of getting dressed, a horn honking for time to get in the car.  That way both my friend and his boys didn’t have the stress of his repetitive reminders to stay on task and the boys felt a sense of relaxing into self-direction and knowing clear expectations regarding time.

4.  Basic Needs
Getting those basic needs of affection and nutrition met are essential ingredients for the creation of peaceful mornings.  Find ways to squeeze in a hug or two as you are getting ready for school.  If your child is open to it, particularly for younger children, hold hands on the way to the car or into the school.  Remember that touch can be very relaxing when it honors and considers how the recipient wants to receive it.  Ask first, but offer moments for hugs, cuddling, and pausing to connect with your child, listening and tuning into the present moment.   Make sure there is adequate time to spend on breakfast.  Schedule time to sit down and finish the meal.  When our basic needs are met, we feel relaxed and at ease.  Pay attention to what those needs are for your child, meet those needs, and notice how her body and mind relaxes as a result.

5.  Set Your Mind To It
Adding two minutes to the morning to talk with your child about how he or she thinks about the day ahead makes all the difference in how the day will unfold.   Take two minutes to create a vision of the day.  Ask your child what he or she wants to experience, wants to happen.  State it in present tense and in the affirmative.  For example, I am feeling calm and relaxed as I take my spelling test.  I remember just what I need to know.  I stay focused during class and remember to take a mental break when I need to.  I have fun playing tetherball with my friends at recess.   Notice that it is stated in the present tense and explains the parts of her day as she wishes them to happen, stating them as if they are happening in that way.
Sing a couple of affirmations in the car on the way to school or daycare.  Have fun making up a fun or crazy tune to the words “I am beautiful and I am a wonderful friend.”  “I am strong and full of courage.”

Have a beautiful peaceful day!!!
Link

General Knowledge 3


1.       What traditional festival/holiday began yesterday and is observed by Chinese people all over the world? 
2.       Which two soccer teams played in the final of the African Cup of Nations last night? 
3.       Which month is named after the Roman god of war?  
4.       What is the male reproductive organ of a flower called?
5.       Choose the odd one out: Tanganyika; Kariba; Zambezi; Victoria.  
6.       Rhebus puzzle (please write it on the board) earearwet.  
7.       What do we call people who start fires illegally?  
8.       What is the mathematical term for a perfectly round ball?  
9.       Which music awards ceremony is known as “Music’s Biggest Night”?  
10.   What is the name of Wallace, the inventor’s dog?

Friday 8 February 2013

Free February Calendar

I realise that it has mostly American occasions but it's still fun to have. Follow the site address for a new calendar each month.

Did You Know?


Thursday 7 February 2013

Did You Know?

 A frost flower is created on autumn or early winter mornings when ice in extremely thin layers is pushed out from the stems of plants or occasionally wood. This extrusion creates wonderful patterns which curl and fold into gorgeous frozen petioles giving this phenomenon both its name and its appearance.


Wednesday 6 February 2013

A Newsletter from the principal


My apologies for doing it this way, the photocopier is broken and I don't yet know how to send out a group email on the school's email system...CTS


Dear Parents

You will have noticed in the school homework diaries that the full Code of Conduct for learners has been included.  We request that you read through it all and ask that you sign it on the last page (Page 35).

Together with the Code of Conduct, a new merit and demerit system is being introduced.  Children will receive merits for good behaviour and demerits for breaking the school rules.  Merits will result in merit certificates being awarded and demerits in detention as a sanction, the duration of which will be determined by the number of demerits obtained.  Merits can cancel out demerits so the children do have an opportunity of redeeming themselves.

We trust that we will have your full support as we embark onto this new system.

Yours sincerely

Caron Darby-Michaels                                    Valerie Vella
Deputy Principal                                           Principal

...and while I have you here, please note that the blue English and Maths WCED books I sent home in Grades 4 and 6 need to be worked in at your discretion. A few parents asked for extra homework/support material, and I thought these books were a wonderful solution to that request. A government representative will be visiting the school at some point and will want to see a sample of the books. Many thanks, CTS

Valentine's Day is in ONE WEEK!!

I LOVE Valentine's Day! I love the monochrome colour scheme, I love the gifts, the crafts, and frills and the happiness and excitement! I have been gathering ideas on Pinterest for the day:


If there are any crafts you would like to try, please go ahead! On the day we will be wearing red/white/pink, and I would encourage you to pack lunches with only red/white/pink foods/drinks.

Cards and surprises...

...we'll be making pink cupcakes/cookies...
and bunting...I can't wait!!

Here is what I did in my Montessori 3-6 class last year - so sweet!

Monday 4 February 2013

General Knowledge Weeks 1 & 2



1.       What natural disaster has claimed the lives of 40 people in Mozambique? 
2.       How many goals did Bafana Bafana score in their AFCON match against Morocco yesterday? 
3.       Where in London would you find bronze statues of Nelson Mandela, Abraham Lincoln & Winston Churchill?  
4.       Which planet was downgraded to a dwarf planet in 2006? 
5.       Which SA communication company encourages you to Touch Tomorrow?  
6.       What is the body’s normal metabolic temperature?  
7.       Complete the couple: Bonnie & …? 
8.       What are the next two numbers in the sequence: 128; 64; 32…? 
9.       What is the name of the lead singer of The Rolling Stones who was knighted in 2003 for his services to music?  
10.   In the movie Rise of the Guardians which part of your body holds childhood memories? 

 
1.       What natural hazard struck Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido on Saturday? 
2.     How many wickets did Dale Steyn take in Pakistan’s first innings in their first test match against South Africa? 
3.       What on the human body is the mandible?  
4.       If there are two full moons in one month, it is known as a …?
5.       What do we call the use of fluid power to control mechanical devices?  
6.       What would you do with a Stetson?  
7.       What do we call people who start fires illegally?  
8.       The product of two numbers is 36.  What is the smallest possible sum of the two numbers?  
9.       Which social horse racing and fashion event took place at the Kenilworth Racecourse this weekend? 
10.   Because his parents and uncle were dead, Jack Starbright was asked to look after whom?