IN
THIS
ISSUE
Art & Quilting
"AISF Art Show & Quilting Festival!"
"2nd & 3rd Graders Love Science!"
Preschool
"Take Care of Mother Earth"
Social Studies
"Writing, Creating and Build in Social Studies"
"AISF Art Show & Quilting Festival"
at
Balmaya
The school has just observed its Art Show and Quilting Festival at Balmaya Art Gallery, Congo Cross in Freetown. This year*s has got quilted fabrics as part of the exhibition. You must have observed the colorful acrylic paintings done by every child on stretched canvases, and the captivating parched work done out of our locally dyed gara and batik fabrics. This venture has not only encourage children to complete task on time, but also gave them the opportunity to exhibit their works in one of Sierra Leone's renowned Art Gallery together with other artists.
For those who were not fortunate to witness the show, the paintings will be on display in the School*s hallway before we give them out to the children by the end of the school year.
It all started with stretching canvases on wooden frames. White emulsion paint was used as priming agent before sketches were done on the canvases. Colored pigments were applied in order to create patterns, shapes and forms. The theme was open as it allowed for freedom of expression, and exploration of new media (especially acrylic on canvas). Finishing touches and essential details climaxed the project.
However, we wish to go one more step next academic year by adding fired and glazed pottery and sculpture pieces made out of clay extracted in Sierra Leone. Can you figure how it would look like? It would be amazing to create the opportunity for children to explore their talents not only in producing two- dimensional art, but also three- dimensional art forms. In this regard we shall need some support to procure at least two potters wheel and a one-chambered kiln to make our dreams come true.
ALPHA S. CONTEH, Art Teacher
2nd & 3rd Graders Love Science!
You probably saw the amazing work our third graders did for their science fair projects. Well, did you know that the 2nd and 3rd grade students have been doing science experiments in class all year long?
We have recently experimented with sound as part of our physical science unit. Did you know that all sound is actually vibration? We experimented with a homemade instrument to find that we can create a higher pitch by making this vibration faster. In another experiment we tested the way sound travels through different types of matter. Some of us were surprised to find that sound is louder when it travels through solid matter than when it travels through air!
We also enjoy using science experiments for Health lessons to help us understand how our body works. After learning why our heart is so important for keeping our bodies alive and healthy, we experimented to test how exercise affects our heart rate. We found that when we exercise, our heart pumps much faster because it needs to send oxygen throughout our bodies much faster than it normally does. Exercise not only makes our bodies* muscles stronger, it also makes our heart and lungs stronger so that they do a better job of carrying oxygen and nutrients throughout our bodies all the time!
In other recent science experiment we have investigated different states of matter and ways to make water melt and condense, as well as our bodies* reflexes, balance and breathing. Talk to a 2nd or 3rd grader if you*d like to know more!
Mr. Caleb, Class Teacher 2nd &3rd grade
Take Care of Mother Earth
Earth Day celebration in Preschool took off with a reintroduction the globe model of earth and a poem,
Keep Me Clean
By Dianna Dickson.
Keep me clean and you'll keep me green.
It's important that my skies be seen.
If you have trash, please find a can.
Away with litter, that*s the plan
Save a tree and think of me.
Ride your bike and learn to hike.
Recycle paper, water, and glass
While at home or in your class.
Save my rivers, oceans, and lakes.
A little time is all it takes.
The air you breathe is like your mind.
If it's clean, you're smart and kind.
Take care of me, I DESERVE IT.
It's up to YOU to PRESERVE IT.
I AM your Earth!
After the reading I explained to the class that April 22 was Earth Day. On that day people all over the world are reminded of ways to take care of earth, our environment, our oceans, lakes, rivers, ponds, playgrounds, parks, streets, and compounds. *Why is it important to take care of mother earth*? I asked. Several responses were heard. Someone shouted, *So she will grow strong*. Another child said, *So that she will not get sick*. Others replied, *So that she will be healthy*. *So that she will have strong teeth*; *So that she will be clean.*
We discussed some ways that we could help take care of mother earth, such as:
Recycling trash- plastics, glass, and paper. Turning off lights when we do not need them to reduce the amount of electricity used.Turning off the faucets after we wash our hands to save water.Keeping our environment free of trash.Planting a tree.
The following fun activities were incorporated in the unit:
Recycling Detectives. A variety of recyclable materials (paper, plastic, glass, and metal containers) were placed in the circle time area. Each child picked up a container and searched for the triangular recycling symbol. When he /she found it, he / she showed to the group and received a sticker.
Water Litter.
To demonstrate what water litter could do to clean water in the oceans, lakes, ponds and pools. I filled a clear plastic container with clean water and place some trash (left over food from children's snacks, juice containers, a used drinking straw, bits of tissue, a used tea bag, cucumber peels, and cookie wrappers) in the container and secured the lid . They watched the water turn cloudy and dirty. This activity was intended to promote the children's earth-friendly habits.
Earth- Friendly Art To demonstrate the use of recyclable material the children painted toilet tissue tubes and paper cups with tempera paint and decorated them with glitter.
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