Angkor Wat Trip

Dear Parents,

I am writing to you with a few reminders regarding the Grade 4/5 Angkor Wat Trip.

Training Sessions

Training sessions started yesterday and will continue on Tuesday and Friday lunchtimes at 12.10pm on the Basketball Court. We expect all students going on the trip to to participate. I will be writing to you next week with details regarding the bike ride training sessions.

Deposit

A $50 deposit was due in yesterday, payable to the Finance Office. When we have an accurate number of students participating we will then be able to calculate the final price.

Parents' Email list for the trip

There will be numerous times when we want to contact the parents of the students going on the trip with information. In order to do this we have requested that you please complete the parental contact form found on the PE Blog.

Important Date and Information

The PE Blog also contains lots of important dates regarding the trip. You will also find on the blog a copy of the presentation made during the parents' meeting regarding the trip. If you did not attend the meeting I would ask that you please take the time to go through the presentation. 

All the best,

Ben

Photos next week

Dear Parents

Next week, the school photographer will be on campus to take both individual and class photographs. Each day’s shooting begins directly after roll call. Homeroom teachers and teaching assistants will accompany students and be on hand to ensure hair and clothing is neat and tidy. These photographs will be used for the ISPP Yearbook and also to update our school database.

The schedule is as follows:

Tuesday 7 October EY students individual photographs

Wednesday 8 October ES students individual photographs 

(If you want students can come in their own clothes and change into PE uniform after they have their photo taken. PE is not until after lunch)

Thursday 9 October All class photographs

(We are having our photo taken before swimming)

If your child is absent from school on the day of the individual photographs, we will let you know the date of the make-up session and make every effort to ensure that your child has his/her individual photograph taken on that day. However, it will not be possible to re-shoot the class photograph.

Please contact the Elementary Office if you have any further questions about your child’s school photographs next week.

Grade 4/5 persuasive writing - Samples of good writing

Today we tried another persuasive writing topic 'Towns should provide free, high speed internet'.

We brainstormed together to come up with good ideas. Students then chose which side they wanted to write about and planned their writing.

Here are some good examples I read today - Thesis / Opinion, 3 Arguments and Conclusions.

Thesis - Opinion examples

I believe towns should provide free, high speed internet. I think this is a great idea.

Issarak

I believe that towns should not provide free, powerful internet. Free internet everywhere is a bad idea. Here are three reasons why.

Moneth

I believe that towns should provide free, high speed internet.

Bunleng

First Argument examples

My first reason why towns should not provide free internet is because weak internet can lead to major problems. If there was free internet the whole country would be on internet checking facebook, Instagram, twitter and other websites. The internet would become weak and cause arguments and problems. The Government cannot pay for stronger internet for everyone to use at the same time.

Lyka

The first reason why internet should not be free is connection problems. If everyone is on it there will most likely be a problem. The internet will become very slow and maybe not work at all. If it does not work you cannot pay to have it fixed as you are not in control of your own internet connection. This could be a problem if you are doing something important like homework when the internet goes off.

Ellie

Second Argument examples

Another reason why there should be NO free internet is you shouldn’t always use the internet. There are other things you can do besides the internet. The internet can help you find answers and talk to your friends and family, however lots of people are spending a lot of time on the internet. People are becoming lazy and inactive. It is good to be active and be healthy.

Champei

Another reason we should have free internet is because a lot of people are going to use it. The internet could become weak because so many people will be using it at the same time. The internet will start to slow down and people will become frustrated because there is nothing they can do about it.

Molly

The second reason towns should have free internet is so they can be safe. People can message, see maps and use other applications to know where they are. Free internet helps us be safe and find family and friends.

Arthur

Third Argument examples

My third and final argument is that towns should provide free internet because it is convenient and safe. If you were in a foreign country that you have not been in before and you want to go somewhere you might not know where to go. If you had free internet you could use google maps and find your way around town. If you were lost and needed to go somewhere you would have free internet to help you find your way.

Julian

The third reason we should not have free internet is there will not be a secure network. If there is not a secure network it will make it easier for hackers to access your personal information. This could include your bank accounts and credit cards.

Ella

Conclusion examples

In conclusion I believe that the internet should not be free to all. If we are all accessing the internet it will be weak and cause stress and increase our chance of being hacked. We do not need internet all the time. Internet SHOULD NOT be free to all.

Hee Joo

Class persuasive writing - voting age

Class persuasive writing - voting age

The Grade 4/5 students tried their own piece of persuasive writing on Monday.

We read through all the essays and picked out strong words and ideas to create a class piece.

This writing is an example of how we can organize our writing so it is clear, makes sense and presents a strong set of arguments.

We have a thesis - opinion at the start.

Then we have three arguments, each one in a paragraph with an example or evidence to back up our ideas. Finally we have a conclusion - to sum up what we have said.

SHOULD THE VOTING AGE BE LOWERED TO THIRTEEN ?

In my opinion the voting age should not be lowered to thirteen. I think this is a horrible idea.

The first reason the voting age should not be lowered is because votes may be manipulated. This is not fair for the children and not helping achieve a fair result.

During elections some people get very defensive about the party they are in favor of. They may try to get as many people as possible on their side. Children could be forced to vote for them by people that are older than them. They may be bribed to vote for a candidate or punished if they vote for another candidate. Children are easy targets because they are smaller, have less power and are not very strong.

Another reason why the voting age should not be lowered is that children from the age of thirteen are too young to understand important information about political parties and policies. Children often do not read the newspaper or watch the news. They may not understand the issues involved and who will be the right leader for the country. They might be swayed by what a person looks like or sounds like. They may chose someone that is richer. They may waste their vote because they are not informed.

My third and final argument as to why the voting age should not be lowered to children aged thirteen is because voting is going to become complicated. There will be thousands, maybe even millions more people voting. The queues will be crammed with people. It also takes a lot of time for staff to process all the votes and tally up the results. The election will become time consuming and expensive. We will have to wait longer for the result which could also lead to anger and dissatisfaction.

In conclusion I believe that the vote should not be lowered to thirteen. Maybe it could be lowered a bit but thirteen is too young. Thirteen year olds are still children. They can be easily controlled by adults, often do not understand the policies of the different political parties and it will make the election a long, complicated process.

How the World Works

We are starting a new Unit of Inquiry this Monday.

It is a short unit but will be lots of fun with a lot of experiments, research and group work.

Unit dates: 29 Sep – 4 Nov

How the World Works

An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; the interaction between the natural world (physical and biological); and human societies; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and on the environment.

Central Idea: Energy exists in different forms and works in many ways.

Concepts: Form, Function, Causation

Lines of Inquiry:

1) Different forms of energy

2) The ways we use energy

3) The impact of energy on our world.

Learner Profile: Principled, Risk-taker.

Attitudes: Integrity, Independence.

Weekly Homework

Our weeks holiday has sped by. I hope you all had a wonderful break.
I am looking forward to seeing all the Grade 4/5 students and hearing about all their adventures on Monday.

Here is the homework for the week.

Home Learning Activities Grade 4/5 – MS ALISON Due: Friday 3rd October

	Unit / Writing This week we are reviewing persuasive writing. Your task is to come up with 3 ideas / arguments why homework is good for you OR 3 ideas / arguments why homework is not good for you (check your HW book to see which task you have to do). You will share your ideas with the class on Friday and will then plan and write a persuasive essay in class.
	Math - Practicing multiplication Choose one or two of the two digit multiplication methods we have looked at in class. If you have forgotten have a look at the link on the class blog and watch the videos. http://isppgrade45msalisonsblog.blogspot.com/ Use your chosen method/s to answer the following questions. Show your working out so I can see what you did step by step. 36 x 42 73 x 25 If you want a challenge create a three digit multiplication sum and calculate the answer using on the the methods. For additional multiplication practice play a game or do some work on line - IXL, Mathletics, Frontrow.
	Beliefs and Values Write a reflection on your blog about our first Unit - Beliefs and Values. Include ... What was an interesting fact you learned? Which was your favorite field trip? Why? Describe three things you value / believe are important.
	Reading Read each day for at least 20 minutes. Recommend a good chapter book you have read in the last two months Put this recommendation on Biblionasium. On Friday you will share your recommendation with the class. You will explain why this book is a good read.

http://isppgrade45msalisonsblog.blogspot.com/

alisonstanton@ispp.edu.kh

Reminders

• Monday  29th Sept - Music, IT lab - blogs

• Tuesday 30th Sept - Bring your library books - book swap, PE
• Wednesday 1  Oct -  PE
• Thursday 2 Oct - Swimming, Art
• Friday 3rd Oct - Elementary Assembly at 7.45 am, buddy reading, Homework due, IT lab (Gdocs).

• Friday 3rd Oct evening - Lip Synch and cake auction - Secondary gym at 6pm ($4 a ticket)
• Saturday 4th Oct - Swim meet at NISC

• Monday 6th Oct - ISA testing
• Tuesday 7th Oct - ISA testing

Time management plan

What is my homework plan for this week?

How can I organize my time so I am not stressed on Thursday night,  trying to finish all my tasks?

This week there are 4 tasks you need to do - in addition to reading each day.

Which task will you do each day?

Make a plan and tick it off when you have finished the task.

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

The students researched Pchum Ben for their homework and presented information to the class.
Some students put a lot of effort into their posters.

Students also worked hard trying to improve their Mental math skills.
Here are some pictures of them playing a round of Flipper.
This is a good game that can be played anywhere. All you need is a deck of cards.

Holiday

No school Monday September22 - Friday September 26


Enjoy your break during the Pchum Ben Holiday 

School & Offices Closed
No After School & Mother Tongue Programme

Selecting books to read

Today in class the Grade 4/5 students selected books they are interested in reading from a range of group sets brought into the classroom. The books chosen by students are listed below.

Jack London - The call of the wild and white fang.

Millicent Min - Girl genius

Sylvie Well - My Guardian Angel

Kate DiCamillo - The miraculous journey of Edward Tulzane

Susan Cooper - Over sea, under stone

Kenneth Oppel - Silverwing - How one small bat became a noble hero

The plan is students will start reading their book after the Pchum Ben holiday (we do not want books left at holiday locations). The students will read this book in class during the month of October. The students can take the book home to finish it off in the last week if they are falling behind.

During the month of October students will work with other students who are reading the same book and make predictions, discuss the plot, characters, and make personal connections.

The students will try to read something different and may find a new favorite author.

Multiplying numbers

Tomorrow we will start looking at different ways we can multiply two numbers.
There are many different ways we can do this.

The Grade 4 students will watch these different methods.

The Grade 5 students will try these and see which method they prefer.

There are short videos explaining each of these methods.
The students can click the link and watch these if they are interested and want to do some additional practice at home.

http://nrich.maths.org/5612

Today students from Liger School came to talk to the Grade 4/5 students about 3D printing and Entrepreneurship.

The Liger students have designed a product and plan to make this product using a 3D printer. 

The group of students from Liger (11 years of age) came to ISPP to share their learning, make a short presentation, and promote their products.

The Grade 4/5 ISPP students were fascinated. I am sure there will be many interesting comments and questions arising from todays presentation.