Can we visit - Field trips for new Unit ?

Dear Parents/Caregivers of Grade 4 Students

RE:  MARKETPLACE UNIT

We will soon be starting the unit of inquiry “Marketplace”, under the trandisciplinary theme of 

“How We Organize Ourselves,” and we value your input. In this unit the central idea is:

‘Markets operate in response to supply and demand.’  

We are keen for the students  to visit different organizations/businesses and talk to experts to learn about these topics.  Later in the unit, students will put into practice their learning as they work in groups to create and market their own products before selling them to each other (using imaginary currency) at a market day.   

Students can visit the organizations in either single classes (17 students per class), or as a whole group (51 students).

If you have a Business or access to a Business in Phnom Penh we would love to visit. 

If you can help us please email your student’s teacher or complete the form below. We look forward to your valuable assistance.

Kind regards,

Grade 4 Teachers

Mr. Simon  simontempleton@ispp.edu.kh

Ms. Alison alisonstanton@ispp.edu.kh

Ms. Bridget bridgetbrian@ispp.edu.kh

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Return Slip for proposed ‘Marketplace’ field trips

Name of business/organization   ……………………………………………..……..

Name of parent/caregiver ……………………………………………………

Phone ……………………………………………………

Email …………………………………………………...

Thank you - Conferences

Thanks to all the families for coming to school today.
The students shared their favorite pieces of work and showed how they are improving and achieving their goals.

Sharing stories and preparing for conferences

The students have been sharing stories.
We ran out of time to listen to all the stories today. We will continue sharing on Monday.

The students have also been busy preparing for the conferences tomorrow.
They have reflected on their learning this year and selected work they want to share with their parents.

Note our student portfolio's are their blogs. They are not in a folder this year. Students will show samples of their work on their blog, on Google docs and around the room.
The students and parents can make a blog post and can even use the iPads to make a short movie, Green screen clip, Explain everything or Audio blog interview if they are feeling creative.
The students can also play math games with their parents if they wish.

Readers theatre

The students performed 3 plays today.

• SOS Titanic
• The Amazing Laundry hamper
• Haste makes Waste

We focused on speaking clearly and reading with expression. 

Thank you to Nikor, Jayco and Lyka for being Directors. 

Sharing research

The Grade 4 students shared information about their endangered animals with other students.
They then tested their listening skills and wrote down everything they remembered from the presentation they listened to.
Some could answer the 5 questions ... other could only remember one or two facts.

• How many (of your animal) are there in the wild? In captivity?
• Where in the world are these animal found?  
• What are the factors that are causing them to be endangered?
• What can we do to minimize the harm to these animals (be specific).
• Is there anything you can do to help these animals?

Drama performance

We watched the Grade 10 students perform a mystery this morning.
The Grade 4 students loved it. Here are some of their reflections.

What did you like about the drama performance?

• It was exciting and scary. It was fun trying to work out who was the murderer.
• I loved the mystery. It was interesting and funny.
• I loved EVERYTHING
• The acting was great and the play was so funny. I laughed out loud.
• I love reading and watching mysteries
• It made me laugh and pay attention. I liked the way the stage moved to different parts of the room.
• I liked the way we saw all the possible situations. This helped us think about who did it.
• The actors were very funny but did not laugh. They were professional.
• The writing was very catchy. We were very interested in solving the crime.
• It was fun being on stage - looking for evidence.
• I really liked the scene with Mary and her boyfriend. She was so jealous that he was talking to his ex-girlfriend. I love the drama.
• I liked the clues and audience participation.
• I liked being on a mission to solve the crime.
• I liked trying to figure out who was the murderer. I kept changing my mind.
• I liked the twist. I liked the blood on the shoe and the way the detective fell off her chair.
• It was a bit silly and a bit realistic at the same time.
• I love mysteries.

If you could describe the performance in one word what would it be?

• Amazing
• Incredible
• Awesome
• Amazing
• Professional
• Awesome
• Outstanding
• Brilliant
• Awesome
• Interesting
• Funny
• Confident
• Mysterious
• Funny
• Entertaining
• Awesome

Who was your favorite character and why?

• The detective. She was a good actor and very funny.
• Carol because she was nice, funny and a good actor.
• I liked Carol. She spoke to the crowd and was very funny.
• Marie. She was very funny in the first scene.
• Chris. He was in all the interesting parts of the play and had a funny sound.
• The scenes were short and very interesting. I liked the way the scenes were set up. The picnic scene was very pretty.
• The detective spoke very clearly. She thought out loud when trying to solve the case.
• The detective - Carolyn?
• The detective was so enthusiastic. She made me smile.
• The detective was so confident .
• The girlfriend was very dramatic.
• The detective did funny intro’s when she went on stage.

Questions …

• How did you chose this story / plot?
• Was there more evidence we missed?
• How long did you practice for? The transitions were so fast.
• If you could change one thing about the script or performance, what would it be?
• How many hours work was this -  From initial idea to performance?
• Was the cup supposed to break?
• How did you form your group?
• Did one person write the play or did you all work together?
• Who was in charge of props? Where did you get the props and costumes?
• I wonder why the father cared more about the son and less about the daughter.
• How did you not laugh when saying funny lines?  
• How did you come up with the idea?
• Was it hard working as a group - agreeing on the story?
• Did it go to plan? Did you have to change anything? Forget lines?
  

  • Who thought of the story? Is it based on a true story?
  • How many times did you need to practice to learn all your lines?

Perspective writing

The Grade 4 students practiced writing narrative / diary entries.

They thought from the perspective of one of the characters from the story Iggies Place and practiced writing journal entries.

The students will use this example when they write journal entries early next week

Winnie’s perspective

I can’t wait to meet my new neighbours. I hope they are nice and have kids my age. I miss Iggy so so much. I hope I will get to see her again. I will write more soon. Now I need to go and meet my new neighbours.

Why are people so mean to the new neighbours. They should make them feel welcome and happy not sad and angry.

OMG! I can’t believe what Mrs Landon said. “You can’t stay here - you are Negro”. I am basically speechless. Is my mum a racist? Did she not bake the welcome cookies on purpose?

NO NO NO! We are not racist. I am not like those people. We are good people. We are not all the same. I do not believe the things Mrs Landon is saying. I am going to start my wn petition. So there … happy now mum.

OMG I cannot believe what I just saw. Mrs Landon put up a sign in the Gerbers yard. It said ‘Go away we do not need you here”. Mrs Landon is the worst person ever created in the whole universe. She just wants everyone who is different to feel bad. I felt so embarrassed and sad when I saw the sign.

Mrs Landons perspective

Get out of my way you dirty pests. These people are trying to play with my lovely daughter, spreading their germs. This street does not belong to Blocks. It belongs to us. I need to make sure they leave here so we can get back to normal.

Ugh - This is the worst day ever. There are now Black people living on our street. I am disgusted by them. Why did they choose our street.

I have a great idea. I am going to make a petition to kick those people out. I am a genius right?

I am going to kicK this family out. They do not belong here. Why would they move here. It is a place for white people to feel safe. I have tried a petition and have put a sign in the Garbers yard. I think now they understand that they are not meant to live here.

Harvey’s perspective

Dear diary - Today Germ head was back saying racist things to our family. She says we should move back to where we came from. She is always following her mother and creating conflict on the street.

I want to throw Clarice on the trash. Argghh!! I want Clarice and her horrible mother to move.

I am so confused. Why are these white people being so mean? Why is skin color such a big deal? These people need to go to school. Why? Why?  

Dear Mrs Landon

I think you should stop being so rude. I hate you. You are so racist. You even stuck a poster in the ground that said ‘We hate you here. You are disgusting Negro’s’. I feel so cross with her. Mrs Landon is the one that should go and never come back.

Thanks to Mrs Landon I think we are going to have to move again. I wish we were in the time of Martin Luther King. He would teach you a lot. I hate your stupid ideas, your stupid child Clarice … your stupid everything.

Dear Diary

Today some girl came to our house and asked if we were from Africa !!Africa !!
I wanted to shut the door on her face  but Glenn said that we were from Detroit and it was okay. Then we went to the park and played softball.

Sharing Peace and Conflict games

Some students created games about Peace and conflict for their homework.
We played these games today.

Congratulations - Best Screenplay

CONGRATULATIONS BORANAY!

Boranay won the Best Screenplay award at the Phnom Penh Youth Film Festival on the weekend.

Boranay, wrote and directed the film. Teppi and Vattanak were actors, stuntmen and technical advisors in the short film.

Here is a link to all the films that won awards.


Phnom Penh Youth Film Festival Winners

Home learning - Due Thursday 31st March

Grade 4     Home learning tasks         Due  Thursday 31st March, 2016

Email: alisonstanton@ispp.edu.kh                   

Blog: http://isppgrade45msalisonsblog.blogspot.com/

	Personal reading 15-20 minutes each day and record your reading in your reading log each day. Reading narratives Select a time to read your chosen story on the shared google doc. You will need to practice reading the story at home so you are fluent and read with expression.
	Blogs Are your blogs up to date?  Have you published your recent writing?   Finish choosing the writing/UOI learning you wish to share with your parents/caregivers at your student-led conference.   Write a comment on the post explaining how it shows your learning, or an improvement in your learning, and why you are proud of what you achieved.
	Math Practice your math facts and work on your math goal. We will have a math facts quiz on Thursday to check for improvement. For additional practice you can use Mathletics and Front row.
	Unit Inquire into your chosen endangered animal. Answer the questions that are listed below and share information about your animal on your blog. Write in paragraphs - making sure you have answered all the questions.   Ensure you have completed this by Thursday as we will discuss humans and animals sharing resources and living together.

Reminders:

Monday 28th March: Book swap 1, Swimming

Tuesday 29th: PE, Music

Wednesday 30th - PE

Thursday 31st - Book swap 2, Art, Homework tasks due

Friday 1st April: Student-led conferences - no classes today

Endangered animals - Research Questions

1. How many (of your animal) are there in the wild? In captivity?
2. Where in the world are these animal found?  
3. What are the factors that are causing them to be endangered?
4. What can we do to minimize the harm to these animals (be specific).
5. Is there anything you can do to help these animals?