Reading Challenge

Reading Challenge!!!!

PYP students accepted a challenge to read 1500 books over a 6 week period (from Sept 17th to Oct 27th) and I am proud to say, we have far surpassed it, infact doubled it and with good measure at 3, 287 book :) This exercise has given us a snapshot of the amount of reading being done in PYP and opened our eyes to the voracious appetitie for books at Indus PYP.
For the higher grades 3-5, book reviews written for books read were counted. Students of these grades have in fact, read more more books that they have not written reviews for. These book reviews are evidence of the students' understanding and their reflections on literature, and one can safely conclude that our students are marching towards improved inferential reading through these consistent practices. For the younger grades, it is heartening to see the large number of books are being read to our little ones, starting in Reception.

Grade 4A,B,C and D with a total of 78 students wrote 413 book reviews in 6 weeks, apart from other books read for the love of reading!!!
Congratulations Grade 4! Well Done!!

Survival cooking!!

Students loved the simple fare of rice and vegetables made in the survival cooking demo and licked it clean:)

Cimbing structures!!

Students taking risks on the climbing structures and testing their mettle!!

Leadership camp

On Dec 1-3, 2010, Grade 4 students left for the hills of Yellagiri to Indus' own Leadership Camp. It was an experience in independance and self reliance as well as peer reliance for our students and an opportunity for experincing life with only the important neccessities.
The rain added an extra element of complexity which most students took in their stride in an impressive manner.
The trek, climbing structures, group games, bonfire, survival cooking demo, dormitory style sleeping arrangements, generally elicited an enthusiastic response from students. The pictures are testimony to that fact:)
Overall the experience was fun, very different from normal routines of most students, and close to nature. We saw many students reaching out and helping their peers in very touching ways.

Click on the following album to view Leadership camp Photos

Leadership Camp

ANNE FRANK

In connection with our Novel - The Diary of ANNE FRANK by Johanna Hurwitz, which was well integrated with our 1st unit 'Rights and responsibilities'

Ben Shaibe, parent of Grade 5 parent Nadav Shaibe, came into share his family's experiences during the WW2 on November 10th 2010. Through his talk, students gained a deeper understanding of the hardships faced by the persecuted communities and the shortages of rations. We thank Ben for, yet again this year, helping braoded our students' horizons on so many related topics, including what is meansto be Jewish.

Leadership Camp Updates

Day1, December 1st: The students arrived later than expected. It was a bit wet and sleeping area was moved indoors. Students spent the evening settling into the area.

Day2, December 2nd: The weather was a bit better. The children took part in trekking, survival cooking, climbing cargo nets and fire cracker structures. They ended the action packed day around a bonfire followed by dinner and then it was off to bed. It was nice to see the day had gone as planned.

Day 3, December 3rd: After breakfast there was a debriefing and the bus headed back to school departing at 10:15. The expected arrival time back to campus is between 2-3 PM.

Grade 4B communication Tree

As discussed in the PTM, here is 4B's communication tree to pass on the message if needed.

HW links (Nov 16th - Nov 22nd)

Math Links:
Practice at least 10 problems from each of the following links and send the report totals via email to your teacher
http://www.aaaknow.com/g4_34ax1.htm
http://www.aaaknow.com/g4_27cx1.htm
http://www.aaaknow.com/g4_28cx1.htm
UOI Link
http://www.absorblearning.com/media/attachment.action?quick=9a&att=660 - Labelled diagram of the eye

Math HW links for Nov 9th - Nov 16th
Task 1: Practise times tables 1-10
http://www.mathsisfun.com/timestable.html
Practise according to the questions asked on the following websites
http://www.kidsnumbers.com/apple-baskets-multiplication.php
http://www.kidsnumbers.com/times-tables-games.php
http://www.kidsnumbers.com/multiplication_regular.php
Risk takers:
http://www.kidsnumbers.com/multiplication_missing_number.php

UOI HW - 'Through the lens'
Choose any one photograph that appeals to you, from a media of your choice (newspaper, magazine, internet, your personal photo album, etc). In your UOI HW notebook, write a paragraph of about 75-100 words on :
‘When you see an image, what moves you? Why do you feel what you do? What attracts you to that image? Does it bring back any memories? etc.’
You may find pictures of animals, places, people, etc at: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/photos/

Suggested Grade 4 Reading List

Bionicle Series

Judy Moody Series

Magic Tree House Series

Karen McCombie

Puffin classic Series

Diary of Wimpy Kid Series

Classics abridged

Jules Verne

Anna Sewell

Lewis Carroll

Alexander Dumas

C.S Lewis

L.M. Montgomery

Roald Dahl

Lucy Daniels for Animal Ark Series

Beth Beechwood for Hannah Montana series

Ann M Martin for Main Street series

Jacqueline Wilson

Enid Blyton

Wendelin Van Draanen for Sammy Keyes series

Beverly Cleary for Ramona Series

Lucy Daniels

Jenny Old Field for Home Farm Twins SEries

Harry Potter

Salamanda Drake for Dragonsdale series

Nancy Butcher for Two of a Kind Diaries

Tales of Mulla Nasriddin

Stepping Stone Series

Tree tops Series

The Wizard’s Apprentice

Philip Reeve

Apple Classics

Scholastic Junior Series

Anthony Horowitz

Nancy Drew Series

Hardy Boy Series

Full House Series

Judy Blume

The three Investigators Series

Doll Hospital Series

Jataka Tales

Tales of Tenali Raman

Animal Diaries

Louis Sacher

Horrible History

Horrible Science

Dead Famous

Let’s Discover Classics

Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Walker book of Stories

Just William

Cabin Creek Mysteries

Anastasia

Tove Jansson

My name is America

The Kingfisher Stories of Ballet, Christmas and more…

Just Series by Andy Griffiths

Goosebumps Series

Eva Ibbotson

Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer

Horrid Henry Series

Bone Series

HW links 26th OCT - 9th NOV

Visit the following links everyday to improve your computational skills
http://www.coolmath-games.com/Timernator/addtion/Timernator-addition.html
http://www.coolmath-games.com/Timernator/subtraction/Timernator-subtraction.html
http://www.coolmath-games.com/Timernator/multiplication/Timernator-multiplication.html http://www.coolmath-games.com/Timernator/division/Timernator-division.html

For slow finishers there is no time limit and the following are the links
http://www.coolmath-games.com/numbermonster/addition/number-monster-addition-basics.htm
http://www.coolmath-games.com/numbermonster/subtraction/number-monster-subtraction-basics.htm
http://www.coolmath-games.com/numbermonster/multiplication/number-monster-times-tables-multiplication.htm
http://www.coolmath-games.com/numbermonster/division/number-monster-times-tables-division.htm

STORYLINE - Integrated with Journey through space

The Storyline Method!

The strategy of learning effective storywriting through the creationof 3D puppets and storyboards for telling a story.

Students used immense creativity in converting odds and ends into props and backgrounds for their journey into another solar system - Kanga Banga solar system

Students were given data about possible planet forms and asked to create corresponding planet forms as well as alien forms that are suited to that planet.

Students went on an elaborate journey through both solar systems and solved the problemto save the day!

Students reflected upon what made the presentaions engaging and enticing and they subsequently wrote individual stories as well.

Journey through Space - Research on planets

Student inquire about the nature of Space!

Group presentations of research

Grade 4 students researched the solar system and presented their findings in the form of charts and PowerPoints. They investigated the form of these heavenly bodies and synthesised the information from all the presentations to achieve an understanding of the commonalities and differences between these celestial bodies.

19th-25th Oct HW links

Math
Task 2: Practice number patterns on the below link and email your results after clicking on report totals.
http://www.321know.com/patra10.htm#section2
Task 3: Explore the following links to know more about patterns and mention two important things you learn from these in your review sheet.
See and hear patterns
http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/patterns/patterns.html
People patterns
http://www.learner.org/teacherslab/math/patterns/people/

UOI
Task: Visit the following link and answer the questions that follow.
http://www.engineeringinteract.org/resources/astroadventure/astroadventurelink.htm
Print the certificate at the end of the exercise.

UOI HW LINKS 12th-18th OCT

http://www.universetoday.com/50289/terrestrial-planet/

http://www.universetoday.com/43305/gas-planets/

UOI HW link - 05-10-10 ----- 11-10-10http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/time/seasons.htm

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/time/seasons.htm
UOI HW Link Date 05-10-10

Eng HW links Date: 30.09.10

Anne Frank Quiz: http://www.funtrivia.com/flashquiz/index.cfm?qid=54990

28-09-10 Math and Eng HW Links

MATH-
http://www.aaamath.com/g46a_ex1.htm
http://www.aaamath.com/g46b_ex1.htm


ENG-
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/comic-creator-30021.html

Math HW links-Due on 27th Sept

http://www.aaamath.com/g4_32_x1.htm
http://www.aaamath.com/g4_32_x2.htm
http://www.aaamath.com/g41c_rx1.htm
http://www.aaamath.com/g41d_rx1.htm
http://www.aaamath.com/g41e_rx1.htm
Estimating sums
http://www.aaamath.com/g46a_ex1.htm
Estimating differences
http://www.aaamath.com/g46b_ex1.htm

Spreading awareness on 'Rights' - Street plays on social issues

Child labour

Spreading awareness on "Rights" - Streetplays on social awareness

War and violence

Inequality

Health care

HW due Sept 20th

Essay Writing interactive link:
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/essaymap/

Teacher's Day Celebration

Interactive Map of Europe- animated events of WW2

http://mrsams.wikispaces.com/file/view/Copy+of+WWII.pps

Parent's day Out!

Together time!

Parents and students spent an afternoon in classrooms working on projects together, and getting to know each other. Parents became familiar with their child's environment as well as their friends in class. Grade 4 students made a 'SUPER FAMILY STATEMENT' poster together. It was interesting to see what slogan and symbol they felt represented their family.

Students and parents shared their family pictures and introduced themselves.

Class elections!

RIGHT TO VOTE!

Class elections will provide students an opportunity to take up responsibilities and exercise their rights judiciously. As a part of Rights and Responsibilities unit students will prepare themselves for the specific roles. Each candidate will have to ponder on the various responsibilities that they will have to execute and the various objectives that they would like to achieve in their tenure. Their campaign will have to reflect their high level of commitment and integrity for the task undertaken. While the candidates will have to exhibit thorough understanding of their role, the other students will have to showcase their absolute understanding of RIGHT to Vote. Voting for the candidate must be done without any biases, prejudice or favoritisms. The Right availed must be utilized to make a fair decision. Class elections will thus be an open ground of simulation for each one to understand that rights and responsibilities go hand in hand and with every right comes a responsibility.

Tuning in! Walk through village

Tuning in: Students will walk through the local village and observe the differences between their lives and the lives if the villagers. Students observed the surroundings and interacted with the villagers to inquire into rights that are denied to them, and the consequences of the same.

Upon their return, they made a Venn to compare their lives with village children.

Students made important connections between needs and wants and appreciated many aspects of village life such as the proud decorations outside the modest homes.

UOI: Who we are (Rights and Responsibilities)

UOI Aug -Sept
Theme: WHO WE ARE

Central Idea: Humans have developed rights and responsibilities to protect their needs.

Inquiry points:
• Human rights
• Roles and responsibilities
• Application of human rights all over the world

Concept lens: Causation and Responsibility

WELCOME TO GRADE 4

A Circle of Friends
We've joined together as classmates
as the new year begins...
A year full of learning
while we become friends.
We'll share and be kind
as we work and play.
And our friendship will grow,
with each passing day!