Marble Run

We have such an amazing group of inquirers in our class!  They love to work together to figure out how to make things work.  This week I set up a provocation using the marble run pieces.  The children started working together coming up with different ideas on how to make it work, and then together, tested out their creations.  We talked about how gravity helps make the marble go down, as well as the different slants in the marble run.  

All working together, exploring the materials.

Testing out how different pieces work.

Connecting pieces with each other.

Testing and trying to figure out which tunnel the marble will go down.

Checking out what others are doing to see if they can replicate or build upon theirs. 

Roto Copters

Today we made Roto Copters.  You can find the link to make your own here https://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/roto-copter.html

This blog post has been written by the class!

The first thing we did was color our roto copter template.  We used crayons.  Then we cut.  And then we put a paper clip.  Then we got to play with it. 

Malath is testing her roto copter by throwing it from up high.

Retal is cutting her roto copter, ready for it to be assembled.

Testing out the roto copters

We went outside to test our roto copters.  What did we find out?  We found that the wind helped blow the roto copters, which made them fly. 

We found out that the wind will help us fly the roto copters if we throw it into the wind.  If we threw it against the wind, it went back to us. 

We found that we pushed the roto copters, and the wind also pushed them.  

When we throw them they spin

Islamic Studies Update

Dear parents,

During our Islamic Studies class we covered the following:

• Revising surrat AlFatiha and AlEkhlas
• Recite surrat AlNas and AlFalaq

• We learnt the concept of honesty

(Saying the truth and giving back the stuff that is not ours to the owners)

• We learnt the importance of helping others

الأهالي الأعزاء،

في صف الدراسات الإسلامية قمنا بتغطية التالي:

• مراجعة سورة الفاتحة و الإخلاص
• حفظ سورة الناس و الفلق

• تعلمنا مفهوم الأمانة

(قول الصدق و إعادة الممتلكات لأصحابها)

• تعلمنا أهمية مساعدة الآخرين

K2 Field Day!

Today was our Field Day! What an AWESOME day we had! The morning went by so quickly- full of activities, fun and laughter!

Mrs. Laura also took some pictures that you can see here
https://drive.google.com/a/thekaustschool.org/folderview?id=0BwFeTDfWg-lIZUVUSEEwN2RUT28&usp=sharing#

Exploring Clay Techniques

This week we have been exploring how to make spheres (balls), cylinders (snakes) and circles (squashed balls) with clay.  We talked about the different ways that we have to move our hands to get the desired shape.  

There are many benefits of children using clay.  Arreola (2013) says the following three reasons are some of the benefits of children using clay:

"1. It's therapeutic. Simply the act of molding clay in one's hands whether you're a child or an adult can be very calming. Remember those stress balls that were once so popular? Manipulating the clay can help relieve stress or even be an outlet for young children who physically express their emotions.

2. It's an outstanding sensory development activity for little hands.Young children are still working on fine motor skills and dexterity. Rolling, squeezing and forming the clay helps them in this area.

3. It's play based learning. You might not realize it, but playing with clay is promoting those little minds to get busy by thinking about what they're going to create and how they're going to create it. This type of creative play promotes imaginative problem-solving skills."

http://www.chicagonow.com/new-abides/2013/06/3-reasons-your-kids-should-be-playing-with-clay/

Tissue Paper Art

We have been exploring different materials and textures in our class as well as coloring combining.  This week we looked at how tissue paper changes when water is added to it.  We also explored how two different colors of tissue paper can make a new color.  The results involved colored hands and beautiful individual pieces of art.

Exploring Forces in PE

In Mr. Win's class the class has been applying their knowledge from our class to their physical activities.  In PE they were exploring how they can push or pull different objects.

K2 Field Day

15^th January 2015

Dear Parents/ Guardians,

On Thursday 22^nd of January 2015 K2 children will participate in the KAUST School annual ECC Field Day. This event will take place on the Harbor West field. The event will start at 8:30am and will finish at approximately 11:00am.

K2 children will demonstrate the skills that they have been learning during PE lesson. The main emphasis of this event is enjoyment and participation in a variety of challenging activities. Over the past weeks pupils have been practicing the activities with a focus on personal best and sportsmanship.

Students should come to school wearing the designated color T-shirt or appropriate clothing to move (please see color chart for each class below) and sport shoes. Students will also need a change of clothes, as this year a couple of the activities will be using the water.

K2 - Alex: (Red)	K2 – Alanud:  (White)	K2 – Michael: (Yellow)	K2 - Rukhsana: (Green)	K2 – Amnah:  (Dark Blue)	K2 - Sonita: (Black)
K2 – Naketa: (Grey)	K2 - Alice: (Pink)	K2 - Katie:  (Light blue)	K2 – Karen: (Orange)	K2 –Claudine: (Rainbow/ multi color)

Depending on the weather, it may be advisable for your child to wear a hat. Also, please help your child apply sunscreen before he/she comes to school and send along more so that they can reapply it throughout the day. The school will provide the children with water throughout the event, however students must bring a water bottle. The school will provide tents for shelter from the sun. Our nurse will be on standby on the site at all times.

To add excitement and to show your support, we encourage you to come along and participate in a running event where your child will have the chance to cheer for you!

We look forward to seeing you on the Harbor West Field.

The Field Day Schedule is attached.

Your Sincerely,

Win Agustina

The KAUST School

ECC2/K2 Physical Education 

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

E-mail: erwin.agustina@kaust.edu.sa

Event Schedule 

8:15 – 8:25          Students assemble at the Harbor West field getting ready for the event.  

8:30 – 8:40          1^st Rotation

8:42 – 8:52          2^nd Rotation

8:54 – 9:04          3^rd Rotation

9:06 – 9:16          4^th Rotation

9:18 – 9:28          5^th Rotation

9:30 – 9:40          6^th Rotation

9:40 – 9:50          Recess (water break, toilet, etc.)

9:52 – 9:55          Students ready to start in the next station

9:55 – 10:05        7^th Rotation

10:07 – 10:17     8^th Rotation

10:19 – 10:29     9^th Rotation

10:31 – 10:41     10^th Rotation

10:43 – 10:53     11^th Rotation

10:55                    Finished

10:57                    Walking back to K2 building

Station Activities:

1.     Station #1: Olympic Torch Run

2.     Station #2: Beanbags Toss/throw

3.     Station #3: Bouncy/ Happy hopper relay

4.     Station #4: Frisbee Throws

5.     Station #5: Tricycle Ride

6.     Station #6: How Long Can You Jump?

7.     Station #7: Balloon rocket / Water blasts

8.     Station #8:  Water bottle carry

9.     Station #9: Tug-O-War

10. Station #10: 25 meters running (Sprint)

11. Station #11: Obstacle course

Exploring Forces with Balloons

Mrs. Katie asked the class the question "how can things move?" the children came up with the following responses:

Throwing         Walking/Feet

Blowing with our mouth, fan, and the wind

Dropping        Kicking         Pulling

Swiping       Slingshot     Pushing

Wheels     Rolling

Catapult

When you let go of a balloon before tying it

After the last was said, we tested it.  I took a balloon and we tried  all the different ways we could make the balloon move.  The only one that we couldn't do was rolling.  Juwana said "you have to blow it up first".  So we blew it up and I tried to roll it but it blew away.  What had we forgot to do? Tie it.  So we tied the balloon and found that we were able to make the balloon move through all these different types of forces.  The children really enjoyed this inquiry, so we took it outside. We blew up dozens of balloons and they tried to make the balloon move using different types of forces.  It was so much fun!     

A Provocation About Forces

On one of the tables 5 blocks were placed and 3 cars.  One of the big blocks had a slope as well as one of the small ones.  The others were all flat. 

Immediately after seeing these items, Sean and Hashim started playing.

They moved the blocks around and started having the cars roll down them.

Mrs. Katie: What’s happening here boys?

Sean: The cars are going down.

Hashim: Down.

Sean: Vroooooom.

Mrs. Katie: How are they going down?

Sean: ‘Cuz they have wheels.

Hashim: Vrooooom.

Mrs. Katie: How can you make them go down faster?

(both boys push them harder)

Mrs. Katie: How did you make them go faster?

Sean: I gave them some more power.