This week’s review counts from April 10th (Today) until April 21st, It is a self-reflection set of papers. Students are expected to look over and fill in what they can from each page. This is to be ready for the STUDENT lead conference.
It is important to be aware that for the conference to be successful the student must be present. They are going to lead the meeting by talking about what they feel they did well with, and what they are having difficulty with. They will be looking over old files and work to explain.
Friday March 29th 2024 was International Day at BIBA, and the school was dressed up for a great time. For this International Day the children of 3B were learning about Ireland.
Guests
Mr. Quinn Explaining Irish Facts to the children.
To prepare for this day the children and I did quite a few things; we learned about Irish culture through our Guest Speaker Mr. Patrick Quinn. Mr. Quinn, BIBA’s Early Years International Curriculum Coordinator, is from Ireland, and he delighted the children with information about the country, and introduced them to the story of the Giant’s Causeway.
Finn McCool Making the Giant’s Causeway.
Myths & History
The children read myths and fables about Ireland, learning about the Giant, Finn McCool, his wife Oonagh, Saint Patrick, leprechauns and other myths and monsters. The children discovered that Ireland is the origin of one of their favorite foreign celebrations, Halloween.
Multimedia & Interactivity
Irish Dancing through Ireland.
The students made a video where they explained some interesting things they learned. We had a class on Irish Dancing. Some volunteers: Joy, Emily, Audrey, Michelle, Vivien, helped me make a video of their dancing, which we put together into a class video.
Interviews with the beautiful scenery of Ireland.
The Student who volunteered to be interviewed: Emily, Chris, Oscar, Victor, Michelle and Steve, got to explain their favorite facts about Ireland. They were really excited about sharing, even though they were nervous to be on camera.
The Day Arrives
Trying to put Penguins on the melting ice… -_-!
On The Actual International Day, students and I dressed up in our best Leprechaun costumes, and walked about the school. Our first stop after the performances and parade in the morning, included Antarctica! (Really just the Science Lab) The children learned about what animals are living in Antarctica, and how global warming is causing their habitat to disappear. Some student, who answered questions fast enough earned prizes, and everyone walked out of Antarctica with Ice-cream, Yum!
A stuffed penguin, Excellent Prize!
Our Next Destination was the international Food booths. The children got to try food from all over the world arranged by our Parent Volunteers. We all really enjoyed this. Some of us, myself included, wanted to just skip the next activity and continue to eat. (he, he, he…)
Our next activity was a Tug of War Contest amongst the Grade 3 Nations. I am proud to say, Ireland (3B) came 2nd place in this contest, only losing out to the Netherlands (3F). Excellent work Everyone!
After this we enjoyed our Lunch, and then began our World Tour! We traveled to different countries in the world (Really just other classes), and did activities to learn about those countries. We visited India, Mexico, Papa New Guinea, South Africa, Argentina, and Norway.
At the end of the day we were all very tired, but happy.
BIBA Grade 3’s Cultural Immersion at the Ethnic Park Embracing Diversity: The BIBA Grade 3 Journey Through the Ethnic Park By Mr. Frank Farooq
At Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA), our mission extends beyond the classroom. We aim to cultivate informed and empathetic global citizens prepared to represent our values in every corner of the world. This mission was vividly realized during the Grade 3 field trip to the Ethnic Park. This venture expanded our students’ understanding of cultural diversity and reinforced their roles as ambassadors of BIBA’s ethos.
Destination: A Learning Oasis Choosing the Ethnic Park was a deliberate decision, aligning with our goal to immerse our students in an environment that celebrates the cultural richness of various ethnic groups. This park, a microcosm of global diversity, provided the perfect backdrop for our students to explore, learn, and embody the BIBA spirit of inclusivity and respect for all cultures.
The Cultural Scavenger Hunt: A Pathway to Understanding Central to this journey was a thoughtfully designed scavenger hunt, aligning with BIBA’s belief in active, immersive learning experiences. Students, accompanied by their teachers and parents, embarked on this quest as participants and explorers eager to uncover the stories and traditions of China’s 56 ethnic minorities. This activity was a dynamic illustration of learning through engagement, highlighting the diverse tapestry of cultures that shape our global community.
A United Effort: BIBA in Action The entire Grade 3 cohort participated in this journey, including homeroom teachers, ELD teachers, specialists, Chinese teachers, and enthusiastic volunteer parents. Each participant was pivotal in fostering a learning environment beyond traditional boundaries, emphasizing teamwork, community, and the shared goal of representing BIBA’s core values.
Activities: A Testament to BIBA’s Values Throughout the trip, our students engaged in activities that enriched their cultural understanding and served the community. By cleaning up the park, they put into practice the lessons of respect, responsibility, and care for the environment, demonstrating to visitors the principles that guide us at BIBA. These actions represented BIBA in the broader community, earning admiration and setting a commendable example of proactive citizenship.
Acknowledgments: A Community of Support Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to everyone who contributed to the success of this enriching experience, especially our principal, UES office staff, bus drivers, and the dedicated BIBA staff. Their unwavering support and commitment ensured a safe and productive outing, exemplifying the strong sense of community that BIBA prides itself on. A Unified Voice: Our Song of Identity A memorable highlight of the trip was the spontaneous chorus of our BIBA song, an anthem that binds us together and reminds us of our collective identity.
Everywhere we go, People always ask us, Who we are. And where we come from. So, we tell them, We’re from BIBA, Mighty, mighty BIBA, Mighty, mighty BIBA. And if they can’t hear us, We shout a little louder.
This song, sung with pride and unity, underscored our presence as BIBA representatives, spreading a message of joy, inclusivity, and community spirit wherever we go.
Grade 3 Learning Outcomes from the Ethnic Park Field Trip: Standard 4: Cultural and Intellectual Developments Among Societies 4.5.a. Students compared and contrasted the cultural characteristics of different regions and people, enriching their understanding of global diversity. 4.5.b. They explored how different cultures meet human needs and concerns, appreciating the variety of solutions societies develop. Standard 5: Social Systems and Structures’ Influence on Individuals 5.5.c. The trip allowed students to compare how groups and cultures are similar and different in addressing the needs and concerns of their members, fostering a sense of empathy and global connection. 5.5.e. Students identified and described ways ethnicity and culture influence people’s daily lives, gaining insights into the impact of cultural heritage on everyday experiences.
Looking Ahead: The BIBA Journey Continues The field trip to the Ethnic Park was a vivid illustration of how BIBA students carry the banner of our values into the world, embracing diversity and actively contributing to the communities they engage with. This experience has broadened our students’ horizons and reaffirmed their roles as ambassadors of the BIBA spirit, ready to make their mark as globally aware individuals who cherish diversity and strive for a positive impact in every endeavor.
Written by: Grade 3 Class C, Frank Farooq, Homeroom Teacher, M.Ed.
Special Thanks to Chad Baldwin for his invaluable contributions and support.
This morning, Day B, I had the opportunity to talk briefly with the student who had been on time. I was able to discuss some of the news from this week with them, and feel it is a busy enough week for us to write about here.
Monday:
Today four volunteer students and I practice some Irish dancing in the basketball court. I truly appreciate the help in this from them. I know they enjoyed it, but also Irish Dancing is not easy and requires a very high level of energy that I was having a hard time keeping up with. I am so glad they were able to.
Tuesday:
The Leopard store opens up tomorrow, and so I will probably be giving out the last of my leopard cards in the morning. This store opens only once a month, the children can spend their Leopard cards that they earned through the month on things they wish to own.
Children earn these leopard cards by following the 4 Rs of BIBA, (Rigor, Respect, Responsibility, and Relationships)
Tuesday will also be the day that my volunteers and I video about Ireland. Some will video the dancing, some will be asked to video what they learned in the classes or through their individual research.
Tuesday we will also be using a class to begin our Research into Natural Disasters. as that is what we will be showcasing during the Biba Science Fair in April.
Wednesday:
This is the last day student can use to finish their Ireland Brochures. They have been writing and sending me pictures to put on their brochures. Thursday I will be printing them, but I will also post them here for you to see.
We also have a Maths Practice test on Wednesday. Of course a practice will be sent home.
Thursday:
I will be printing up the students work and final Brochures, we will be putting final posters on the walls for International Day and finishing up all student work that needs to be put up to showcase Ireland. I will also be letting the children view their video that they recorded on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thursday is also a Maths Test. Our final test for geometry.
Thursday we will have our second class on Natural Disasters. We will be learning about Hurricanes and how they are dangerous. We will also learn about how to help people who are victims of hurricanes, and other wind storms.
We will finally get to meet our new student in 3B and welcome him to the class. Lucas will finally be able to join us. We are all looking forward to meeting you.
Friday: International Day
There are so many things happening on this day it is hard to explain. first there will be presentations, performances and parades. Then we will learn about the international community living on Antarctica, and how they survive and meld together. Then we will have the chance to try food from around the world We will have our International Day Tug of War contest, to see which country comes out the strongest. In the afternoon we will be traveling to different classrooms representing different countries from every continent on the world.
Spring Break:
Immediately after the International Day festival, we will have 11 days of no school for Easter, Qing Ming, and Spring break all rolled into one. Classes will begin again on Wednesday April 10th.
“I want more people to be like my mom.” ~Vivien Liao (About her Persuasive Speach)
This week in class:
In Reading Class we learned:
Read Matilda Chapter 4 and analyzed the family’s characters.
Read Matilda Chapter 5, discussing the reasons behind the character’s actions.
In Writing Class we learned:
Information Gathering (Research) for our Writing.
Organize the information we gathered into meaningful chunks for our writing.
In Math Class we learned:
Focus on Arrays and incomplete information in Math related to area.
Different Models of Area in Math. Using new tools.
In Social Studies Class we learned:
Research on Ireland,
Worked on our Brochures for Ireland.
Next Week’s Plan:
In Reading Class we will learn:
Organization of a story using Story Mountian
How Characters React to trouble, and how this is shown in their character traits.
In Writing Class we will learn:
How to show your meaning with examples.
Organizing your work and discarding details that don’t focus on your Thesis.
In Math Class we will learn:
Using the distributive property in area.
Using the Associative property in area
Word Problem Practice
In Social Studies Class we will learn:
About the Gaelic Language used in Ireland
The Beliefs of Ireland
River Dancing
To Support Your Child at Home:
Set aside 15 or more minutes every day for quiet reading.
Set aside 20 minutes to review the Home Review book each night.
Read. Children like to copy what they see, if they see their family enjoying reading, they will be more motivated to read themselves.
Make sure your child is getting 9~10 hours of sleep every night.
Keep a steady routine at home with your child. This will help them understand and appreciate the times they have.
Review the past vocabulary words we learned.
Something Special that happened in class:
Pi Day Math activities happened on Thursday Recesses. Jason Wang won our Relationship Star Award! We learned about e-Safety Joy, Michelle, and Candice Won Music Awards!
We have been working on our thesis statements, and the concept of a call to action. In class some students have done excellently, others are still working on concepts.
Here is the second half of the work from Last week. I have not had time today to finish marking the Power Rangers, Avengers or JLA work, but do not mind if the children check their answers before I do.
“I love Minecraft and want to write about how it can help people. Can you help me?” ~Stephenson Sun
This week in class:
In Reading Class we learned:
to use our Character Analysis Skills on the Novel: Matilda
to theorize why a character acts the way they do.
to Assess our own reading, and gauge how we are doing.
to give ourselves good goals for this unit.
In Writing Class we learned:
to think about our Audience, and what they need to hear to agree with us.
to edit as we go, but if we run out of steam, to go back and read and edit our work.
appropriate abstract nouns to use in our writing.
to assess ourselves, and give ourselves good goals for this unit.
In Math Class we learned:
how to use square centimeters to find the area of a rectangle.
how to use square inches to find the area of a rectangle.
how to find the area of a rectangle from an incomplete picture.
In Social Studies Class we learned:
Learned about the 17 Sustainable goals set by the United Nations.
We learned about Irish dancing, and music.
Next Week’s Plan:
Monday:
Bilingual Book Swap!
Information Gathering for our Writing.
Start Matilda Chapter 4 and decide where we need our individual help.
Review what we have learned in Math class.
Tuesday:
Continue Gathering information for our Writing.
Continue with Matilda Chapter 4.
Focus on Arrays and incomplete information in Math related to area.
Discover Irish Food.
Wednesday:
iPads needed.
Weekly Check in on Reading. AR Quizzes,
Different Models of Area in Math. Using new tools.
Thursday:
Pi Day: Math Activities on the break times!
Begin Matilda Chapter 5
Organize the information we gathered into meaningful chunks for our writing.
Grammar Review.
Friday:
Assembly: Relationship Star.
Learning about the parts of a story.
To Support Your Child at Home:
Set aside 15 or more minutes every day for quiet reading.
Set aside 20 minutes to review the Home Review book each night.
Read. Children like to copy what they see, if they see their family enjoying reading, they will be more motivated to read themselves.
Make sure your child is getting 9~10 hours of sleep every night.
Keep a steady routine at home with your child. This will help them understand and appreciate the times they have.
Review the past vocabulary words we learned.
Something Special that happened in class:
During our Indoor Recess on Tuesday, a group of the students finally convinced me to teach them the basics of my favorite game: Dungeons & Dragons. So, we did a (very) simplified adventure for them. I promised I would do another soon.
Audrey had her Birthday Party With us! Congratulations Audrey!
We celebrated International Women’s Day during the class.
Mr. Chad's class Blog 