Student-Made YouTube Games

In the fall, a few 3rd graders created games on YouTube to help people all over learn and practice homophones. We are currently creating an "epic episode" to review all of the words, but in the meantime, check out the other episodes. Please play on a laptop or desktop computer (the games won't work with tablets or phones). Enjoy!

G3 Advanced Japanese class: Plants Unit

3rd graders are busy inquiring into how dandelions grow!
たんぽぽのちえについて調べています。

Exploring Ways To Make Dances

There are many ways to create a dance.  Some people watch YouTube videos and learn those movements. Others listen to the music and create their own ideas.  Some people dance about an important message.

Our Grade Three students are beginning to explore "Chance Choreography" using a strategy similar to the choreographer Merce Cunningham.  Students are currently getting to know the various elements of movement and exploring ways each element, such as making puzzle shapes from positive and negative space.  They also did an activity where they took turns changing each other's sculptures, creating a freeze frame dance at the end. 

This is our museum.  Students dance through the museum and create a sculpture by filling in the negative space.

This was a fun way for students to explore the element of "SHAPE" in dance.

We find ourselves in unusual shapes

                                         

Exciting . . . engaging?  Yes!

In the "Erosion Dance" students make one change to the sculpture, creating a sequence of poses at the end

If you're interested in watching any of Merce Cunningham's choreography, check out "Oceans."  This was filmed in my home town in a granite quarry.  The orchestra played in a ring about the dancers.  They did not have a conductor--just a clock.  

Sakura Book and Art Votes

Congratulations to all the girls who have read from our selection of English and Japanese picture books, English chapter books, and graphic novels. Thanks also to those who entered a piece of art in the Sakura Art Competition.

This week is VOTING week. Students from all over Japan, including SIS, are voting for their favourite book in each of the Sakura book categories and also for student art work.

Many girls showed commitment,  perseverance and integrity during the months we held the event. Congratulations to all those who achieved or surpassed their reading goal.

For those who did not reach their goal there will be another opportunity in the new school year when we will have a new set of great books, selected by the school librarians of Japan.

We will publish the results in the first week of May.

SPA Luncheon Performances

Last Thursday, the 3rd graders performed with other grades at the SPA Luncheon. First, the grade 2-4 choir sang a Native American song, "Blue Waters of the North":

Later, students from all elementary grades did a "flash mob" to the song "Better When I'm Dancing". Look for 3B on the left side and 3A on the right:

Thanks to Ms. Kampa, Ms. Swain, Ms. Hashimoto, and Mr. Dallaire for getting the performers ready so quickly after Spring Break.

Decimals (tenths and hundredths)

In math students have recently started exploring decimals and learning about the tenths and hundredths place value. 

We have explored these concepts with games, photos, and measurement. Where can you find examples of decimals in the real world?