WEEK'S UP FOR WEEKENDING 20 JANUARY 2017

Hello everyone and a very good evening to you!

We trust you had a pleasant and productive week.  Nearly all our children have happily engaged in their activities and things are buzzing in the classes.  A reminder: please refer to our blog of 13 January 2017 for details about our Lunar New Year celebrations on 8 February 2017.   The teachers have sent emails to you earlier communicating their plans for January and February 2017 and we hope you will find it informative.  Do remember to copy the administration at broadrick@montessori.edu.sg for a timely response.

(L-R) - Sewing on a card, cleaning a mirror, sorting, washing a chair, cutting vegetables and making a tangram

IN THE CLASSES:

MONTESSORI :

Exercise of Practical Life (Presentations):

Using the Washroom:

Using the toilet – We reminded the children to go to the toilet should there be a need and to wash their hands after using the toilet.

We introduced the 'toilet chain' - There are only two 'toilet chains' in each class.  When a child needs to go to the toilet, the process is to put on this chain before leaving the classroom.  This way only two children can be out of the classroom at a time.

Washing Hands – we presented the proper way to wash our hands hygienically.  This also helps to develop independence in taking care of oneself.

Walking around the rugs (other's workspace)
This exercise helps the children with developing gross motor control when walking around the class and being aware of and respecting their classmates' work space.

Rolling and unrolling a rug - Unrolling a rug prepares the child's work space while rolling up a rug signifies the completion of the activities and restoration of the materials and rug.  This exercise also helps improve coordination of movement, development of small motor muscles and concentration.

Sensorial:

• Touch Boards (Montessori material) – To refine the tactile sense and to acquire better muscular control through the lightness of touch. The children also learn the difference between rough and smooth surfaces.
• Parts of the body – learning the terminology of the parts of the human body.

Group Topics:

Tennis - the Australian Open (via multi-media presentation) -

The children were given information about this annual sporting event, which started in 1905 and is held over the last fortnight in January in Melbourne, Australia.  This marks the beginning of a new calendar of tennis tournaments played around the world.  So who's your favourite?

Lunar New Year – Explained that this is the Year of the Rooster and related the story of the Chinese zodiac animals.
 
Retold the story of the Kitchen God - a Chinese folk belief.

MANDARIN:

Songs: Wishing You a Happy New Year (Link to a recording of the song)        

Rhyme: The Spring Festival is Here

Introduction: Parts of the Human Body

Discussion: Talked about the Chinese New Year

EXTENDED-DAY:

Exercises of Practical Life (Presentations)

Folding Clothes - The children were shown how to fold different clothes; such as shirts (short sleeves and long sleeves) and a dress.  Through this activity, the child learns to be independent, develop concentration and understand order, in their environments.

Sensorial

• Variations with the Pink Tower and the Brown Stair - the materials present dimensions and designs.

Mathematics

Decimal System - Introduction and Layout of Beads

• Introduction to quantities and place values of different categories, using the Bead material, namely; units, tens, hundreds and thousands.

Language

• Additional activities with the Movable Alphabet: Reinforcement of phonetic sounds and analysis of phonetic words using the Montessori Letter Boxes.

Topic: Famous Artists: We discussed the famous Dutch painter, Vincent Van Gogh's work this week.  This is part of a series of presentations about famous artists.  We chose his painting of Sunflowers at this time, because there is a connection between flowers and the Lunar New Year.  To those who celebrate the Lunar New Year flowers represent happiness, beauty and the resurgence of life. 

‘Sunflowers’ by Vincent Van Gogh - the children created their impressions of this famous painting (what do you think of their interpretations?)

E-Learning:

We resumed our e-learning programme with a new batch, this term, involving the children who stay for full day sessions.

This is only for children in their last year with us and who will be graduating to primary or grade schools.  

BIAN DANG BAN:

• Topic of Discussion: Talked about Lunar New Year - how it is celebrated
• Rhyme: The Spring Festival is Here
• Song: Lunar New Year songs
• Craft: Chinese zodiac animal bracelet
• Activity: Practices for New Year performances

HINDI

Group discussion:

Indian Culture and Heritage: Ancient art forms of India

Tanjore Painting
A South Indian painting style characterised by rich and vivid colours, glittering gold foils overlaid on delicate but extensive gesso work and inlay of glass beads and precious and semi-precious gems.  We are very appreciative to Shirja Nimoh, our co-teacher in the Hindi Milap who created these paintings as a hobby, for bringing in her work and sharing it with the children.

Vocabulary - Months according to the lunar calendar (Indian)

Story time :

गानेवाला गधा 

शिक्षा - अपने शुभचिंतको की सलाह को नजरंदाज नहीं करना चाहिए ।

Word Study 

गधा, कपड़े, नदी, धोबी, तरबूज, नारंगी, खेत                                         

Songs and poems -
 

1. पतंग बड़ी मतवाली, मतवाली, मतवाली,

पतंग बड़ी मतवाली नीली, पिली, काली,

देख सभी होते है दंग, होते है दंग, होते है दंग,

देख सभी होते है दंग, उड़ती सदा हवा के संग ।

2. सर सर सर सर उड़ी पतंग, 

फर फर, फर फर उड़ी पतंग,

इसको काटा उसको काटा,

उड़ते उड़ते, जुडी पतंग ।

  

INFANT COMMUNITY:

The new children are generally adapting to the routine of the Infant Community.  We hope you will enjoy these photographs of them at work and at play. 

The presentations we did this week are:

• Squeezing Oranges
• Drinking liquid from a cup

Songs

• Good morning/Good afternoon to everyone 
• The Wheels on the Bus.
• The Finger Family

We will be back with more next week.