EYES NEWS

Toddler Understanding the World

Written by Ms. Mary Ann

In understanding the world, the toddlers focused on the theme "Opposites." The children explored the day and night sky through interactive activities, identifying various elements in the sky such as the sun, moon, stars, and clouds. They enthusiastically echoed these words in both English and Indonesian languages.

To introduce these topics, the children engaged in creating representations of the blue and black sky using flour. They actively participated in mixing and sorting the sun, moon, clouds, and stars according to the right time. The class also enjoyed listening to the story "Little Cloud" and, inspired by it, crafted their own clouds. Using a pipette, students squirted black ink onto the clear clouds to turn them dark.

Furthermore, the students reenacted the story "Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me" by pretending to climb a ladder to reach the moon. To simulate the experience of the night sky, a large box was covered with black on the inside and adorned with glow-in-the-dark stars and a moon. The students, curious and eager, willingly entered the box and used flashlights to gain a clear view of the simulated night sky.

These engaging activities provided the toddlers with a hands-on and imaginative exploration of the opposites within the context of day and night.

Nursery Chinese Language

Written by Ms. Biqin

这个学期，我们和Nursery小朋友们一起探索了有趣的动物世界！我们学习了动物们的叫声、中文名字，还了解它们喜欢吃什么，以及哪些动物是不能靠近的哦！

我们通过讲故事、唱儿歌、学动物叫声、模仿动物走路、跳舞，还有做手工等活动，让学习变得超级有趣！在我们的课堂上，小朋友们会和各种各样的玩具动物亲密接触，了解它们的生活习性和特点。可爱的小狗和小羊，威风凛凛的老虎和狮子，它们都是我们的好朋友！小朋友们不仅学习了语言，还培养了对动物的好奇心和爱心，引导幼儿尊重和保护小动物们。

This term, we explored the fascinating world of animals with the nursery children! We learned about the sounds animals make, their Chinese names, what they like to eat, and which animals to avoid getting close to.

We made learning super fun by telling stories, singing nursery rhymes, imitating animal sounds, mimicking how animals walk, dancing, and doing crafts! In our classroom, children got up close with a variety of toy animals, understanding their habits and characteristics.Cute dogs and lambs, majestic tigers and lions, they're all our good friends! Children not only learned language but also developed curiosity and a love for animals, guiding them to respect and protect the little creatures.

PreK Indonesian Language

Written by Ms. Val and Ms. Pingkan

You surely traveled often, didn't you? When you wanted to go to places near or far, we needed vehicles. With vehicles, we didn't expend much energy. Also, the time we spent traveling became faster. There are various types of ground vehicles or ground transportation , for example: cars, bicycles, buses, trucks, three-wheeled taxis (bajaj), pedal-powered rickshaws (becak), motorcycles, horse-drawn carriages (delman), and trains.

In the past, animals were the main means of transportation for humans. Horses, cows, donkeys, camels, and elephants were used as vehicles. Nowadays, the use of animals as transportation can still be found in some areas, one of which is the horse-drawn carriage (delman) that uses horse power for transportation. There are also vehicles that use human power, such as pedal-powered rickshaws (becak). Because they use human power, pedal-powered rickshaws (becak) move very slowly, but they do not cause pollution to the environment, just like bicycles.

The topic of discussion in the Indonesian language class this week is about ground transportation (Alat Transportasi Darat). The most widely used ground vehicles are motorcycles and cars. By using motorcycles or cars, we can reach our destination more quickly. The power used in motorized vehicles comes from fuel called gasoline or diesel. The purpose of learning this topic is so that children can recognize and distinguish the transportation used in the air, on land, and in water.

In Indonesia, there are various types of ground transportation, ranging from traditional to modern ones. The difference between the two types of ground transportation is their speed level. Traditional ground transportation tools like pedal-powered rickshaws (becak) and horse-drawn carriages (delman) will move more slowly because they use human and animal power. Meanwhile, modern transportation tools are definitely faster because they use engines. One of the fastest modern transportation tools is the train.

This week, the children were introduced to trains, they learned to recognize the sound of trains, see the contents of trains, and make train crafts. After they finished making their crafts, the teacher invited them to explore their creations by playing with trains made from used cardboard and colored paper. The children were very happy and enthusiastic about learning and playing with trains; they shared many stories about their experiences riding trains. Hopefully, what they learned this week can help them understand when they encounter ground vehicles on the road. See you next week in a new Indonesian language topic!

K1 ICT

Written by Ms. Diane and Ms. Lorely

The kindergarten 1 kids are up for some exciting adventures in our ICT (Information and Communication Technology) class. 🚀 They are ready to embark on a journey where they learn and play with awesome stuff!

In ICT, the kids get familiar with fantastic applications  like Raz-Kids and Khan Academy Kids that let them explore and have fun while they learn.

To read like champions is one of the goals in K1. With Raz-Kids, the students can enjoy cool stories that make their minds grow bigger and stronger. 📚 Additionally, Khan Academy Kids lets them play all sorts of educational games that feel just like playing but are secretly making them incredibly smart! 🎮🧠

So, buckle up, K1 Kindness explorers! Our ICT class is a journey full of fun, learning, and exciting adventures! 🚀🌟

K2 Music 

Written by Ms. Melissa

In the lively music class of Kindergarten 2, the students are immersed in a world of sounds and rhythms, exploring the foundations of music through interactive and engaging activities. The focus of the current sessions revolves around introducing the enchanting world of xylophones and delving into the basics of reading musical notations, with a special emphasis on understanding high and low pitches. The lessons begin with the concept of high and low pitches using the xylophone. To reinforce the lesson, the students take turns playing the xylophone, giggling with delight as they explore the range of sounds. They are also introduced to the magical world of simple musical notation with high and low pitches that is divided into one line with the corresponding bars on the xylophone. 

Incorporating a sense of rhythm into the lesson, the class listens to the catchy rhythms of Ta and Titi. The teacher guides the children in clapping and moving to the rhythm, fostering a kinesthetic understanding of musical timing. The students eagerly join in, developing a keen sense of rhythm through play and movement. For rhythm understanding, they not only read the given rhythm, but they also explore it in composing and listening. 

Grade 1 PSD - This is Me Journal!

Written by Ms. Lecya

The grade 1 students have gone through an exciting journey to get to know themselves better by doing journaling! We explore different parts of ourselves through a variety of activities. ​​The act of putting pen to paper initiates a process of introspection that lays the foundation for self-awareness.

To start the process of improving self-awareness, students started by identifying their physical characteristics. By looking into a picture of themselves and re-drawing it, students observed the shape of their faces, the colour of their eyes and hair, and named one thing they liked about their facial features. It was a fun way to be aware of our uniqueness. Students also discuss strategies to protect themselves, especially those related to private body parts. Furthermore, students reflect on themselves; their strengths and weaknesses, acknowledging areas that they can be proud of, while also recognising how there are always areas for improvement. The activity also incorporated a mindfulness session. Students took a moment to practice deep breathing while looking into their surroundings and acknowledging things to be grateful for. 

Hopefully, this experience will promote fun ways of self-care for students. Giving them space to take a break, discover new things about themselves, and appreciate the world around them.

Grade 2 Mathematics

Written by Mr. Christian

Grade 2 students at SWA have immersed themselves in the world of measurement. Through a series of hands-on activities and engaging experiments, they explored the details of mass measurement.

One of the key activities involved utilising a weight balance paired with unit blocks to determine the mass of various objects. With a keen eye for detail and a steady hand, students added or removed unit blocks until they reached level on the balance. Through this process, they honed their skills in measuring mass with accuracy.

Another stimulating activity centred on using handheld scales (spring scale) to measure the mass of objects. Armed with portable scales, students eagerly selected objects of different shapes and sizes to assess. They carefully placed each object on the scale, interpreting the readings and documenting their observations.

By actively engaging in these mathematical exercises, Grade 2 students not only enhanced their understanding of mass but also sharpened their measurement proficiency. Through critical analysis and problem-solving, they developed a solid foundation in mathematical inquiry and application.

Grade 3 Chinese Language

Written by Chinese Team

在中文课上，我们不仅仅是学习语言知识，还学习跨文化交际的能力，这是学生在学习如何向别人介绍自己的国家。通过课堂活动，制作明信片和拍卡片游戏，我们能够在轻松的氛围中增加兴趣，提高口语表达能力。在游戏中，每个学生都会收到一张明信片，上面有一些有趣的问题，例如“你的国家有哪些特色食物？”或者“你的国家有哪些有趣的传统节日？”我们需要用中文回答这些问题，并将卡片交给另一位同学。学生在这种互动式的学习里能更加熟悉口语表达，学以致用。

In Chinese class, we are not only learning language skills but also cultivating the ability for cross-cultural communication. This involves students learning how to introduce their own countries to others. Through classroom activities like creating postcards and playing card games, we can effortlessly enhance our interest and improve our oral communication skills in a relaxed atmosphere. In the game, each student receives a postcard with interesting questions, such as "What are the characteristic foods in your country?" or "What are some interesting traditional festivals in your country?". We need to answer these questions in Chinese and then pass the card to another classmate. Through these interactive learning methods, students not only become more familiar with oral expression but also apply what they've learned in practical situations.

Grade 4 ICT

Written by Mr. Aldrin

In a transformative learning experience, Grade 4 students delved into the world of technology by creating their own compasses using Micro:bits. This hands-on project seamlessly integrated coding skills with practical applications, as students programmed the Micro:bits to display cardinal directions based on accelerometer data. The initiative not only enhanced their understanding of technology but also reinforced concepts of spatial awareness and cardinal directions through engaging activities like scavenger hunts and map reading. The collaborative nature of the project emphasized teamwork and problem-solving, culminating in a practical outdoor testing session where students compared their Micro:bit compasses with traditional magnetic ones. Overall, the Grade 4 Micro:bit compass project showcased the potential of integrating technology into the classroom, fostering a dynamic and interactive learning environment.

Grade 5 Arts

Written by Mr. Ezard

In a creative endeavour, Grade 5 students have embarked on redesigning traditional wayang character costumes, breathing new life into ancient Indonesian art. With a choice between iconic characters like Arjuna, Bima, Gatotkaca, and Srikandi, these young minds are infusing modern elements into the rich cultural tapestry of wayang performances. Through this project, students not only showcase their artistic talents but also gain a deeper appreciation for the intersection of tradition and innovation. The initiative encourages a dynamic exploration of cultural heritage, fostering a connection between the past and the present in a vibrant display of creativity.