CISH MAPLE DRAGON (April Week 1 , Part 2)

Grade 1

G1 Leads the Way in Our Final G7 Collaboration! This week marked the final session in our G1–G7 collaboration series for our How the World Works unit, and it was truly something special. After weeks of learning together and exploring the world of animals, this last session flipped the script: Grade 1 students became the teachers! In our previous collaboration, Grade 7 students took the lead, helping G1s understand how to compare animals and fill out March Mammal Madness brackets. This time, it was G1’s turn to shine.

Grade 1 students proudly shared their expertise by teaching the G7s how to turn their creative animal designs into Pokémon-style playing cards—just like the ones G1 has been working on for their summative project. They explained how to include features like habitat and diet symbols, special abilities, and unique traits that make each animal card one-of-a-kind. It was a joy to see the confidence, leadership, and collaboration on display as the younger students took charge, guiding the older students through the creative process. Moments like this highlight the power of cross-grade partnerships and how much students can learn from one another. We’re so proud of the growth, creativity, and teamwork shown by everyone involved. What a way to wrap up a fantastic collaboration!

Grade 2

This week was full of outdoor learning! In Math, we embarked on an exciting journey into the world of measurement! Students explored how to measure length and width using unconventional, everyday objects such as books, balls, pencils, and even their own bodies. These playful experiences are helping students build a strong foundation in understanding why we measure and setting the stage for our exploration of standard units. As we move forward, we are beginning to investigate the importance of conventional units, such as those in the metric system, and how they help us communicate measurements more precisely.

We also launched our new Unit of Inquiry with great energy and curiosity! This week, students visited BeiYuan Lake as part of our tuning-in activity. During the field trip, they observed different aspects of the environment—particularly focusing on water and air pollution. This hands-on experience helped spark meaningful questions and allowed students to connect personally with the issues we’ll be exploring. In this unit, students will take more ownership of their learning by designing and leading their own guided projects. We’re excited to see where their inquiries take them!

Grade 3

This week in Math, students continued their exploration of measurement with a focus on capacity. They practiced measuring and estimating liquid volumes, converting between milliliters and liters, and applying strategies to multiply and divide by 10, 100, and 1000. Through hands-on activities and word problems, students strengthened their understanding of metric conversions and developed strategies for estimating capacity in real-world contexts.

In Language Arts, students reviewed the use of simple past, present, and future tenses, with a particular focus on the spelling rules for forming the past tense of regular and irregular verbs. They also continued working on information writing, learning about the key features of informational texts such as headings, subheadings, diagrams, and factual language. Students applied this knowledge in a scavenger hunt where they identified elements of information texts in books from the library.

During Inquiry, students investigated the layers of soil and the types of creatures that live within it. They explored how these organisms can benefit or harm soil health and examined different types of soil through hands-on exploration. To deepen their understanding, the class conducted a filtration experiment to observe how water moves through various soil types, drawing conclusions about texture, absorption, and drainage.

Grade 4

This week in math, Grade 4 have been learning all about time! We have been thinking about different units, solving word problems and reading schedules. In Language Arts, we have continued our exploration of figurative language techniques to create descriptive imagery. The children have been investigating how artists use these techniques in song lyrics to create imagery through music.

In Inquiry, we have begun learning a bit about the science behind light – students have been thinking about how light travels, how it acts and the different types of light on the Electromagnetic spectrum. Next, we’ll move on to learning about the science behind sound.

Grade 5

PYPX is finally here! Grade 5 students have spent eight weeks working on these projects and they are beyond excited to share with the school community. On Thursday evening, our showcase for the parents was a perfect time to practice public speaking skills and let all the families see our amazing projects. Friday (all day!) was the exhibition for all the other students. The grade 5s were in top form, selling their products, raising awareness of important issues, and sharing knowledge with students from grade 1 all the way to MYP.

It’s been an amazing journey, and in the end, all the grade 5 students were able to really express themselves through various formats, and with the incredible research they have done. Thank you to all the teachers, mentors, parents, and other students who have helped us make this a fun and successful PYP Exhibition!

Pre-K

This week we repeated the skills from last week on the first meeting and we continued we introduced fundamental frisbee skills, including proper grip, throwing techniques, and retrieval. Our focus was on exploration and enjoyment. We practiced "roll and chase," where students rolled the frisbee on the ground to their partners and then pursued it. We also worked on gentle push rolls and basic retrieval techniques. To familiarize students with the frisbee, we continued with free-throwing exercises, allowing them to become comfortable with its flight characteristic.

K1

This week, we introduced fundamental frisbee skills, including proper grip, throwing techniques, and retrieval. Our focus was on exploration and enjoyment. We practiced "roll and chase," where students rolled the frisbee on the ground to their partners and then pursued it. We also worked on gentle push rolls and basic retrieval techniques. To familiarize students with the frisbee, we continued with free-throwing exercises, allowing them to become comfortable with its flight characteristics. We also enjoyed free play to improve our social skills.

K2

This week, we introduced fundamental frisbee skills, including proper grip, throwing techniques, and retrieval. Our focus was on exploration and enjoyment. We practiced "roll and chase," where students rolled the frisbee on the ground to their partners and then pursued it. We also worked on gentle push rolls and basic retrieval techniques. To familiarize students with the frisbee, we continued with free-throwing exercises, allowing them to become comfortable with its flight characteristics.

K3

This week it was the first day of swimming class for K3.3. We began with water familiarization to help the children feel safe and comfortable in the water. We discussed safety rules and continued with blowing bubbles and getting faces wet by splashing water and slowly submerging. The main lesson focused on practicing basic floating techniques and kicking exercises. Students held kickboards while practicing flutter kicks. At the second meeting, we will continue exploring and getting more comfortable in the water.

Grade 1 & Grade 2

This week, we wrapped up our term with exciting games and fun activities. The children had the opportunity to play and showcase the skills they have learned throughout the year. It was a great way to celebrate their progress and teamwork. We are looking forward to seeing everyone back, well-rested and ready for more sports after the holiday. Enjoy the break!

Grade 3 & Grade 4

This week, our Grade 3 and 4 students began their golf course, which will run for a few weeks with weekly training during PE lessons. The first session was a success, as students had the opportunity to learn basic golf techniques. In addition, we played various games, allowing students to showcase the skills they have developed throughout the year. It was a fantastic way to celebrate their progress and teamwork. We look forward to seeing everyone back after the holiday, well-rested and ready for more sports. 

Grade 5

This week, Grade 5 did a fantastic job in PE! They demonstrated great enthusiasm and collaboration, embodying key PYP attributes such as risk-takers and communicators. Throughout our lessons, they reflected on their progress and supported each other in developing new skills.

We also wrapped up our badminton unit, where students worked on hand-eye coordination, footwork, and strategic gameplay. They showed significant improvement in their rallying ability and understanding of positioning on the court. It was wonderful to see them applying tactics and demonstrating sportsmanship during gameplay.

I am looking forward to more great learning ahead!

Grade 6

This week, Grade 6 students concluded their badminton unit with a series of mini-games that allowed them to showcase everything they have learned over the past few weeks. Students were split into teams and participated in both singles and doubles matches, applying the various skills and strategies they have developed, including serving, drop shots, smashes, and positioning.

The games provided an excellent opportunity for students to demonstrate their progress in technique, communication, and gameplay awareness. There was noticeable improvement across the board, with students showing more confidence, better decision-making, and increased consistency during rallies.

This fun and competitive finish to the unit highlighted not only technical growth but also teamwork and sportsmanship, as students supported one another and reflected positively on their development throughout the unit.

Grade 7

This week, Grade 7 students wrapped up their Ultimate Frisbee unit by participating in a series of self-officiated games. These matches gave students the opportunity to showcase the skills they’ve been working hard to improve, including throwing techniques, offensive movement, and team strategies.

A key focus during the games was on communication and conflict resolution, two core values in Ultimate Frisbee. With no referees, students had to take responsibility for making fair calls, resolving disagreements respectfully, and maintaining a positive spirit of the game.

They also demonstrated strong teamwork, using cutting runs, spacing, and support play to maintain possession and create scoring opportunities. Overall, the games highlighted excellent progress not only in physical skills but also in leadership, decision-making, and respectful collaboration on the field.

Grade 8

Grade 8 students concluded their Target Games unit with engaging group presentations and peer-led gameplay sessions. Each group showcased their creativity by designing unique games and effectively teaching them to classmates, fostering an environment of collaboration and mutual respect. The activity emphasized communication and teamwork as students refined their leadership and organizational skills. Reflecting on their performance, students discussed game strategies and group dynamics, reinforcing the importance of cooperation in physical education. This unit has laid a strong foundation for their next module, where the focus will shift to performance and movement analysis.

Grade 9

This week, Grade 9 students were fully engaged in their sport psychology project, which challenged them to apply their understanding of mental skills in a real-world context. As part of the task, students conducted interviews with athletes, which included peers, school athletes, or even athletes from abroad. These conversations helped students identify specific areas where the athlete could benefit from psychological support—such as focus, confidence, motivation, or coping with pressure.

Based on the information gathered, students began designing a personalized project to help teach the athlete effective psychological techniques. These may include strategies like visualization, positive self-talk, goal setting, or relaxation methods. The goal is to create a meaningful and practical resource that the athlete can use to improve their mental approach to sport.

This project has given students a deeper appreciation of how sports psychology applies beyond the classroom, while also developing their research, communication, and empathy skills.

Grade 10

This week in Grade 10 IB MYP PHE, students focused on preparing for their summative assessment in the Flag Football invasion games unit. The week began with a review of the expectations, assessment criteria, and key skills necessary for success. Students engaged in discussions and drills to refine their passing, catching, positioning, offensive and defensive strategies, and teamwork. They also analyzed game tactics, reinforcing their understanding of how to effectively apply different plays in a real-game setting.

In the second half of the week, students took advantage of the great weather and moved onto the school field to complete their assessment in a game of tag football. Throughout the game, they demonstrated their technical skills, decision-making abilities, and teamwork while applying their knowledge of the sport. Students took responsibility for organizing themselves, ensuring fair play, and showcasing their understanding of game rules and strategies. Their ability to communicate, collaborate, and adapt to different game situations was commendable, highlighting their growth throughout the unit.

G1 Intermediate EAL

This week in Grade 1 EAL was focused on conjunctions and writing skills! On Monday, we introduced conjunctions (and, but, or) and discussed how they connect words and sentences. On Tuesday, we engaged in interactive activities to practice using conjunctions in sentences. On Thursday, during writing class, we applied our knowledge of conjunctions by writing sentences that included them. To finish the week on Friday, we reviewed our homework and practiced with IXL to reinforce our understanding of conjunctions.

G2 Intermediate EAL

This week in Grade 2 EAL was focused on conjunctions and writing skills! On Monday, we introduced conjunctions (and, but, or, so, because) and discussed how they help connect ideas in sentences. On Tuesday, we played interactive games to reinforce our understanding of conjunctions and how to use them in sentences. On Wednesday, during writing class, we practiced connecting multiple sentences using conjunctions to create more complex thoughts. On Thursday, we had a spelling test to reinforce our vocabulary, followed by peer reading sessions to practice reading fluency and comprehension with classmates. On Friday, we reviewed our homework and practiced with IXL to further reinforce our understanding of conjunctions.

G3 Beginner EAL

Grade 3 focused on conjunctions (and, but, or,so, because), emphasizing their function in sentence structure. Students first reviewed these conjunctions through discussions and interactive activities, then practiced joining pre-written sentences on the board. As they gained confidence, they progressed to creating their own sentences using scaffolding techniques to support their writing development. This allowed students to practice forming more complex and meaningful sentences. By the end of the week, many students displayed strong improvements in their ability to write extended responses with greater fluency. Their progress in constructing more sophisticated sentences will serve as a foundation for further writing development. To ensure continued practice, all students have been assigned holiday homework: writing about their holiday experiences. This task will reinforce their sentence-building skills and keep them engaged in writing over the break.

G3 Intermediate EAL B

This week in Grade 3 EAL was dedicated to exploring conjunctions and refining our writing abilities! On Monday, we delved into conjunctions (and, but, or, so,because) and discussed how they help link ideas in sentences. On Tuesday, we participated in fun interactive games designed to enhance our understanding of conjunction usage. On Wednesday, during our writing class, we concentrated on connecting several sentences using conjunctions to express more complex thoughts. On Thursday, we conducted a spelling test to reinforce our vocabulary, followed by peer reading activities to boost reading fluency and comprehension among classmates. On Friday, we reviewed our homework and engaged with IXL for further practice on conjunctions.

G3 Intermediate EAL A

In Mr. Marionni’s G3 Intermediate EAL, students read the short story “Snow Flowers”, discussed the story in detail, answered story questions (both verbally and in writing), and focused on story vocabulary using visuals. On Wednesday, students focused on irregular past tense verbs and used IXL for extended practice. Students are doing good work both memorizing and applying irregular past tense verbs when writing, and we will continue to practice further. On Thursday and Friday, students completed a one-paragraph writing assignment connected to the short story and grammar focus of the week.

G4 & G5 Beginner EAL

Grade 4/5 also focused on conjunctions (and, but, or, so, because), working to refine their ability to create complex sentences. After reviewing these conjunctions through discussion and interactive exercises, students applied them in structured writing tasks. They demonstrated a solid understanding of how conjunctions link ideas and create smoother sentence flow. Additionally, students categorized new vocabulary under nouns, verbs, and adjectives, helping them expand their word banks and deepen their grammatical awareness. By the end of the week, students showed significant progress in their ability to form more elaborate and well-structured sentences, demonstrating improved writing fluency. To maintain progress over the break, all students have been assigned a writing task about their holiday experiences. This will help them practice sentence construction and reinforce the skills they have been developing in class.

G4 & G5 Intermediate EAL B

This week in the EAL class, we focused on conjunctions while enhancing our writing skills! On Monday, we discussed the role of conjunctions in connecting ideas within sentences and how they improve our writing. On Tuesday, we engaged in interactive games to reinforce our understanding of using conjunctions effectively. On Wednesday, students practiced writing paragraphs, incorporating various conjunctions to create more complex and coherent thoughts. On Thursday, we held a spelling testto solidify our vocabulary, followed by peer reading sessions to improve reading fluency and comprehension. On Friday, we reviewed our homework and used IXL for additional practice on conjunctions, helping to reinforce what we learned throughout the week.

G4 & G5 Intermediate EAL A

In Mr. Marionni’s G4 & G5 Intermediate EAL, students read the fable “The Fox and the Little Red Hen”, discussed the fable in detail, answered fable questions (both verbally and in writing), and focused on fable vocabulary using visuals. On Wednesday, students focused on irregular past tense verbs and used IXL for extended practice. Students are doing good work both memorizing and applying irregular past tense verbs when writing, and we will continue to practice further. On Thursday, students played a vocabulary game where speaking and listening skills were also a focus.

G6 EAL

This week, Grade 6 EAL students explored the fascinating principles of aero dynamics by assembling Bernoulli kits. Using small fans, they observed how fast air flow and low pressure can suspend foam balls mid-air - a hands-on demonstration of physics in action! The lesson concluded with a CanGlory quiz, reinforcing key terminology and scientific observation skills. Students also began investigating Part 2 of their Felix Baumgartner case study, analyzing how this daredevil's record-breaking skydive exemplified forces like lift, gravity, and air resistance. In I&S, they continued working on their research projects, verifying citations and refining their work. To wrap up the week, Grade 6 reviewed concepts on IXL and ensured their CanGlory tasks were up to date. Their diligence shone through in every activity - what a fantastic way to head into the holidays! Keep soaring, Grade 6!

G7 EAL

This week’s AI-enhanced EAL sessions focused on targeted grammar correction, structured speaking development, and science-integrated language acquisition. Students engaged with adaptive AI tools to refine capitalization accuracy, develop complex sentence structures, and improve coherence in written assignments. Despite progress, persistent gaps in Mandarin vocabulary retention were noted. Through scaffolded AI-driven learning, students applied academic English in a cross-curricular Science Showcase project, synthesizing ecological concepts with language development. AI-powered differentiation provided real-time formative feedback, guiding students through self-paced learning pathways. Common EAL errors—misused capital letters and inconsistent noun capitalization—were addressed via personalized IXL assessments. As AI reshapes language acquisition, emphasis remains on ethical AI use, fostering metacognitive awareness and linguistic autonomy. Responsible engagement with AI will be key to sustaining authentic language mastery.

G8 EAL

This week, students built on their knowledge ofbody systems and strengthened their EAL and critical thinking skills through amix of interactive science activities, assessments, and source evaluation strategies. On Monday, students continued working through the interactive Edpuzzle video on body systems, allowing them to review and reinforce their understanding at their own pace. On Thursday, the class shifted to Individuals and Societies, where students learned how to evaluatehistorical sources using the OPVL method (Origin, Purpose, Value, Limitation).This activity helped prepare students for future research and analysis tasks. On Friday, students collaborated on their summative lab activity on body systems, applying their scientific understanding to a hands-on task. To wrap up the week, they participated in an EAL-friendly game designed to improve speaking and reading skills in a fun and supportive environment. Overall, this week provided a well-balanced blend of science, ELA, and social studies content. Students had opportunities to review key knowledge, develop academic language, and practice both analytical and communication skills.

G9 EAL

We had a busy week in G9 EAL, reviewing and reinforcing concepts and vocabulary from a number of Science and I&S topics. Learners began with a quick review of the CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) process, and how it can be used in both science writing and inhigher-level analysis and evaluation in general. We followed this with some paraphrasing practice, as learners rewrote key concepts about Photosynthesis in their own words. Learners also continued our independent reading comprehension task about the Spanish conquests in Mexico and Peru, as well as working 1-on-1 with Mr. Mike in our Reading A-Z series, covering topics as diverse as fossilfuels, trees, and undersea food webs. As part of our ongoing study of Meiosis, we also read and discussed an article explaining why siblings can look sodifferent. Finally, for speaking practice this week, we played a “Hexagonal Thinking” game that challenged learners to identify and explain connections between key Photosynthesis vocabulary.

G10 EAL

Ms. Najuma’s grade 10 EAL class focused onwriting by reviewing teacher feedback and revising their PEEL paragraphs accordingly. To support I&S, the teacher modelled how to use AI to build background knowledge on their summative topics, providing a solid information base for students to use over the holiday. Lastly, students practiced their comprehension skills on the new platform, Read Theory.

Grade 1

This week, we introduced and practiced the letter J/j. The children worked on different exercises to recognize, write, and find the letter in words.

Additionally, we started a new chapter in the reading book. The children examined a detailed picture and read and wrote related texts. The focus was on intensive reading and completing tasks to understand the text.

Grade 2

This week, we focused on the spelling strategy for verbs by practicing how to extend them to ensure correct spelling. The children completed various exercises to reinforce this concept.

In the reading book, we started a new chapter about family. The children carefully examined a picture scene and read the first texts from the chapter. Additionally, they worked on related tasks in the workbook.

Grade 3

This week, we worked on verbs with prefixes. The children analyzed different verbs and explored how their meaning changes with different prefixes. In addition, we read and discussed various texts from the reading book.

Another focus was creative writing. The children developed and presented a role play. They also planned and wrote their own stories, applying different writing strategies.

Grade 4

This week, we focused on adjectives, especially comparison forms, suffixes, and typical endings. The children completed exercises on comparison words and rewrote sentences to better understand the differences between adjective forms.

In addition, we read and analyzed various texts from the reading book. As part of this, the children continued working on their own stories by revising the structure and adding appropriate words.