After brainstorming the role of helpers in our community, I asked my preschoolers, “How many people eat bread?” Nine little hands went up. “Who makes the bread we eat?” Someone called out, “My mommy” another child responded, “The pizza man.” Another said, “The supermarket man because my mommy buys them from the supermarket and brings them home.” I explained that a Baker is also someone who helps us in our community. He makes the bread we eat, and sends them to the supermarket or bread shop where they are sold.
At story time I read the book, Bread Bread Bread by Ann Morris. Then they realized that people all over the world ate different kinds, shapes and sizes of bread. Next, they colored a picture of a baker and discussed his uniform.
In the afternoon, the classroom was transformed into a miniature bakery. Everyone was dressed in a baker’s hat made of paper, and an apron. The children had an opportunity to make their own play dough. Taking turns, they measured 5 cups of flour, 2 cups of salt, 4 tablespoons cooking oil, and water, into a bowl and mixed the dough until soft and smooth. There was great fun and excitement as they rolled out, cut and shaped their dough into cakes, pizza, cookies, pies, fat loaves, long thin loaves and loaves with a hole in the middle.
The following week, they visited Noreska Bakery at Juba Hill where they observed, participated, and interviewed bakers on the job. They brought some of the bread dough to school. The next morning they noticed that each piece had doubled its original size. The loaves were baked in our classroom oven.
Many thanks to our resource parent, Mr. Katib Iscandari, Ms. Jennifer Cole and Mr. Sahr Mbayo our parent chaperons, also, Mr. and Mrs. Gilpin for providing transportation to the trip.
Audrey Mason, Teacher Preschool
Greetings, Awoko family! I'm pleased as punch to have the privilege of being part of your family. So, by way of introducing myself, here's a bit about me. I am a trained teacher / trainer, for over 15 years. I have always worked in education, and in many different capacities. I have enjoyed the different challenges that I have undertaken over the years.
Being the class teacher for Kindergarten and First Grade has been interesting. We quickly got to know each other as we worked together.
Their zest for life keeps me energized; their thirst to learn keeps me motivated above all their curiosity keeps me laughing.
Thanks to Mrs. De’Cataldo for accepting the nomination as our parent representative for this school year 2009/2010. She has started as she means to go on as she is presently helping to organize our first field trip. Thanks to Ms. Abigail for her support and co-operation in all of this.
Please do not hesitate to stop and say hello, to the learning class as you are always welcomed. Thanks to all the staff members for making me feel a part of the family. Thanks to you and you and you.
Frances Greene, Kg and 1st grade Teacher
At least half of the students reading this article are hoping that it will create a miracle and show them how to quickly and painlessly create a winning science fair project for the 2011 entries.
In this year’s science fair program, all our students generally followed the steps for each experiment, provided the materials they needed and we were on hand to ensure that the procedure is carried out safely and properly- thus a successful 2010 science fair program. Some of the projects were fairly easy to do while others were quite complex. We found out about our students who perform well only when they have a fast approaching deadline, with more work than they can reasonable handle to the frustration and panic of their parents and teachers.
We were also pleased to see how our students got organized to begin their experiments, bought, begged, borrowed or built their supplies and materials.
Many of our students approached the science fair program with the same mixture of fair and uncertainty. However, with open minds, lively curiosity and a willingness to dig in and work they created effective, scientifically acceptable project. We are proud of you all.
We are pleased to announce the winners for this year.
Category 1 - 3rd grade:
First place -Tara Nally
Second place- Erin Bode and Beerend Honkoop
Third place- Anesu Chikembero and Leoni Almaz Reusing.
Category 2 – 4th and 5th Grades:
First place -Ifunanya Ezechukwu and Sean Gabriel Dean
Third place- Jasmijn Hookoop
Category 3 - 6th – 8th Grades:
First place -Luigi Muci
Second place-Yankaday Fallah
Third place- Jandeh Fortune
Like any other project, this year’s science fair program was filled with many short victories, false starts, bursts of activity, periods of procrastination, sleepless nights and stomachs full of butterflies. Through it all, regardless of awards or grades and pizza, everyone who completed a project is a winner.
Edward Gembeh
Fourth and Fifth graders rounded up their last Literature Theme We are the World with an interesting and informative field trip to the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Here are some of their thoughts:
“On a Thursday, my class and I went to Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. I saw and learned many interesting things. Their feet look like our hands! When chimpanzees are friends, they hug each other!” Mazmoon
“I learned that chimpanzees are closer to humans than to gorillas. Chimpanzees don’t have tails just like humans and are smart like humans. One example of chimpanzees being smart is that they can make their own tools for opening nuts. They put a nut on a flat surface and get a big rock and throw it on the nut until it breaks. Chimpanzees are only found in Africa. But they can only be found in zoos if you go to Europe, South America, North America, or in Asia.
I think Tacugama is a safe place for chimpanzees.” Jasmijn
“Chimpanzees are cured by vets in the sanctuary, but in the wild, they cure themselves with different plants. Chimps can catch ‘flu, cough, and malaria just like humans. If the chimpanzee shows you all its teeth, it means that it is angry at you, but if it shows you some of its teeth, it means it is friendly and happy. I have also learned that chimpanzees are one of the smartest animals in the world and that if they are taught something, they will not forget. Chimpanzees can do things as humans by observing and listening. When it rains the male chimpanzees dance and make a lot of noise with logs.” Rosi
“I saw a chimpanzee cleaning and cutting his fingernails.” Norman
“Wild chimpanzees are killed and cooked in soups. There are only 2,000 chimpanzees left in the world so they are endangered. An interesting thing I saw was a chimp throwing a rock at us. Maybe it thought that we were invading its space. Chimpanzees are 5 times stronger than human beings. I thought they were 3 times stronger. Another thing is that chimps have 98.6% the same DNA as humans. I thought it was 99% similar but I was wrong. I guess we all learned something new!! I loved the field trip very much!” Kudzai
"Chimpanzee shows their feelings. Chimpanzees show their teeth when they’re angry” Ifunanya
“Chimpanzees communicate by screaming, hand motions, combination of gestures, facial expressions, and sounds. I learnt that Philip is the strongest and the boss of all of the chimpanzees. Bullies are caged so they would not harm the smaller chimpanzees” Neyata
“A female chimpanzee named Mama Lucy is a leader in one group. This is unusual because Mama Lucy is a female and it is usually males that are leaders.” Gaby
Duro Harleston, Language Arts/Literature
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF FREETOWN
