CGK Times

Our Mountain A and Mountain B students recently visited Earth Plaza (あーすぷらざ) for a special field trip that brought together many of the ideas we explored in our recent Units of Inquiry, How We Organize Ourselves and Who We Are. Throughout these units, the children learned about the importance of rules and routines, working together, being inclusive, and caring for ourselves and others. Our visit to Earth Plaza provided a wonderful opportunity to connect these ideas to the wider world and reflect on how people live and care for one another in different ways.

Earth Plaza was also a meaningful place to explore our understanding of diversity and inclusion. The children had opportunities to discover different cultures through musical instruments, traditional clothing, and other displays from around the world. As they explored, they were encouraged to notice both the similarities and differences between people and cultures. These experiences helped us extend our conversations about being open-minded, respecting others, and recognising that everyone has a place in our shared community.

The trip also gave us a natural introduction to our new Unit of Inquiry, Sharing the Planet. As we begin thinking about how we share our world with animals and care for the living things around us, we will also explore the idea that we share our world with other people. The children had a wonderful time exploring the play area and, of course, enjoying the lunches lovingly prepared by their families. It was a joyful day of playing, discovering, connecting, and learning together, while bringing our previous learning into a real-world experience.

Mr. Josh & Ms. Brandi

Our 4-year-old classes are currently learning about the environments around us and the living things that inhabit them through the unit Sharing the Planet. We began by exploring the word “habitat” and considering which living things can be found in places such as deserts, the Arctic, oceans, and forests. Using illustrated reference books and sorting animal figures by habitat, each child explored questions such as, “Where does this animal live?” and “Why does it live here?”

Next, we considered the “homes” of animals, insects, and other living things. Each has a place to live that suits its size and way of life. The question “Are animals the only ones who live in homes?” led us to think about human homes too. By considering what is inside a home and how people live there, the children discovered similarities and differences between the places where humans and other living things live.

We also observed plants and considered what they need to grow and how they connect to our own lives. Looking closely at familiar plants encouraged the children to ask “Why?” and “How does that work?” about things they might otherwise pass by without noticing.

Through these inquiries, the children are beginning to recognise that humans and other living things have environments that suit their ways of life. We will continue to value their connections with nearby nature and living things as we extend our learning towards the question, “How are we connected to the many different living things on Earth?”

Ms. Arisa

Rainy days have been keeping Jungle B indoors, but that certainly hasn’t stopped us from having fun! We have been staying active with lots of running, jumping, dancing, and movement games around the classroom. We have been developing our physical skills, coordination, and body awareness while giving our young learners plenty of opportunities to make choices, take risks, and enjoy being active together. Even when the weather says “stay inside,” Jungle B says “let’s move!” 

Our indoor time has also been filled with creativity and exploration. Through a variety of crafts, Jungle B has been experimenting with different materials and tools while developing their fine-motor skills and expressing their own ideas. We love seeing the different ways each child approaches a creative experience, as there is never just one way to make something!

We have also been putting on our little scientist hats during painting experiments! The children explored how moving a paintbrush in different ways can create different patterns and marks. Swishing, tapping, dragging, and making big or small movements all produced different results. Through this hands-on inquiry, students were encouraged to observe, experiment, make predictions, and discover what happens when they change their movements.

Another exciting experiment involved tissue paper and water. We discovered that when we add water to colorful tissue paper, the color can transfer onto blank paper, creating beautiful and unexpected designs. It was a wonderful opportunity for our young inquirers to explore cause and effect, while developing their curiosity, creativity, and willingness to try something new. Rainy days may keep us inside, but they certainly haven’t stopped Jungle B from being active, creative, and curious!

Ms. Emily

Congratulations Ocean friends on successfully navigating through our first unit “Who We Are”. Though we are moving on, a big part of IB is making connections and exploring the interests of our young learners. This allows us to make deeper connections with some of our previously loved topics as we journey on. 

We started the month by exploring the changing seasons, with a focus on fall, noticing changes in the weather, leaves and the world around us. We also became curious about the wind, observing how it moves the trees and other objects and wondering, “How does the wind blow?”

We gently ushered them into the inquiry “How We Express Ourselves” through our exploration of minibeasts. We started by touching on our first unit of “Who We Are” creating a connection between past concepts such as features of the face and body. Our Ocean friends were able to express their knowledge by reflecting on what we covered and producing the vocabulary in English of what they observed. They developed their thinking and inquiry skills by paying attention to detail to notice the similarities and differences between themselves and minibeasts. 

Through these explorations we were able to discover that we differ in size and features but we also share some features and they even have a family, just like us. We took some time to contemplate on what that could mean for the way we play with and take care of them. When we see minibeasts can we step on them? How would that make them feel? As we continue exploring this unit our Ocean friends will be encouraged to notice changes, explore why things happen and consider how their actions can affect others and the world around them. Here is to more wondering, exploring and discovering!

Ms. Mary

The autumn breeze has become pleasant, and we are gradually beginning to feel the arrival of the season. Time has passed quickly, and the children now have about half a year left in Ocean Class. As the outdoor temperature begins to fall and we head towards the colder months, the children are still full of energy and enjoying outdoor play despite the changing temperatures. In September, we spent plenty of time connecting with nature. Through living things such as ants and butterflies in the green spaces near City Hall and in local parks, as well as the changing colours of leaves, the children have been gradually noticing seasonal changes. During Japanese lessons, we used colour charts to observe leaves and expressed their colours by painting on a large piece of cardboard. Calling out “Red!” and “Yellow!”, the children enjoyed the changes in colour and showed an interest in observing the nature around them.

At the park, the children searched for living things, asking “Where are the ants?” and calling out “A butterfly!” On windy days, they felt the strength of the wind with their whole bodies, looking at their friends and laughing together as they enjoyed nature through their senses. Questions such as “Do ants eat leaves?” emerged, and their curiosity about “Why?” and “What will happen?” led into our lessons. We also saw the children observing ants for themselves and describing what they noticed in words.

We will continue to connect the children’s small questions and discoveries to learning, valuing the interest in their immediate environment and the ability to notice, think, and inquire for themselves that are also important in IB learning. By cherishing each child’s feelings of “I want to try!” and “I want to know!”, we will continue to offer warm support so that they can enjoy their school life.

Ms. Mai