Hello, everyone, and thank you for following our blog. We have had an exciting 2 weeks.
On October 30, the students’ day started with a lesson in Design thinking with Mr. Frith. They walked around the school area and then worked to think of what a perfect classroom in nature would look like, followed by designing their own with resources available in the Gojo area.
In the afternoon, it was time for our Halloween Party! Everyone came to school in a costume and we’ve seen some amazing dinosaurs, police officers, witches and wizards, athletes and scary monsters, on top of those worn by other classes.
The students walked around the school trick-or-treating, trying to find teachers hidden around the school and ask them for candy and other goodies. After this, this year’s best costume competition winners were announced.
The following Wednesday, after a long weekend, the entire school gathered in Gojo Skyroom this morning, excited for the all-school assembly, led by Grade 5 students. The students did some stretching while virtually jumping on trains, got to hear about Grade 5’s upcoming trip, and guess the teachers and students from their baby pictures.
Following this, inquiry into a new Monthly Concept has started. The students tried to define art together through discussion, ultimately agreeing on describing it as “a way to express your feelings by imagining or creating something”. We talked about if art can be subjective, and how can we express that a work of art is objectively good, and students shared many ideas. Finally, we listed different types (forms) of art and made connections between them. This is all in the service of our next Monthly concept we will inquire into, “Painting and sculpture”. The students will inquire into these art forms and representative artists, mainly focusing on the concepts of expressing one’s identity and culture through art. We will talk about artists local to our area as well, connecting the learning to the topic currently inquired during Japanese lessons – how Japanese writers expressed their culture through their work. It will be exciting!
On Thursday, our morning started with P.E. lesson at the gym and a game of blitz ball, the students’ new favorite. The weather cleared in the later morning hours, though, so we were able to enjoy a little bit of sunshine later. The students’ double period of Music was focused on further improving their planned performance for next month’s Music concert. The students watched footage of their performance and discussed the things they did great, what needed to be improved, and how to improve it.
In our last period before lunch, discussion started on the students’ ideas for their Perfromance day performance. Working in groups of continuously increasing size (snowball groups), the students discussed their ideas and seemed motivated to do their best. There are four months of intense practice before us, but we look forward to everyone seeing our play on March 3!
Afternoon was reserved for Japanese in Grade 6, whereas Grade 7 focused on grammar and literacy: gaining new vocabulary by reading on the history of anime, and practicing pronoun agreement.
The class’ Friday lessons began outside in nature, taking a hike up the hill and consolidating their ideas from last week regarding their ideas for classrooms in nature. On next Friday, November 13, the students and Mr. Frith will take a half-day trip to Nakayama, to observe autumnal changes in nature in a new environment. Other than the student’s drink bottle and hat, please also pack appropriate footwear and clothes that is comfortable for hiking and okay to be dirtied.
After a delicious lunch, the students’ discussion regarding their Performance day performance continued. Through lengthy discussion, deliberation, voting process, and inquiring into the perspectives of their audience, a decision was almost made regarding the topic of the play. We will start preparing next week already, but we will keep the play a secret for a little while longer.
This week’s Monday started with a programming lesson. Today’s lesson was a bit of challenge for the students, being more programming- rather than design-focused. The students worked together with Howard in Godot, figuring out how to program the islands they created (their own individual game levels) to connect into a full game with several locations (levels). Grade 7 had their Japanese lessons after the morning break, while the literacy lesson had students exploring two different ways of expressing oneself through art – impressionist painting and hip-hop music. The students read books on the topic, researched new vocabulary and tried making new sentences using it, and discussed.
Our Tuesday started with a P.E. Lesson at the gym, and the students stretching and enjoying a game of Net-ball. The gym was a tad cold, but the students were quick to warm up and enjoy. We also discussed possible ways of staying safe and healthy, as the weather got colder. Keep eating healthy foods, sleeping well, and washing your diligently, everyone! What followed was a lively discussion about our performance.
During the morning break, a photo of the students was taken by the Shinano Mainichi newspaper, as part of their reports on graduates from Elementary schools across Matsumoto city. It will be published together with an introductory article written by the students themselves, as part of their Japanese lesson. Please look forward to it.
While Grade 7 had a Japanese lesson, Grade 6 read more about the topics of impressionist painting and hip-hop music started yesterday. We defined new vocabulary, practiced using it, and compared the two art forms. Seemingly very different from one another, the students were able to identify their shared elements: both require a certain level of skill, explore deep emotions or problems, and started of as rebellious underground movements that were popularized later.
On Wednesday, we were able to wake up to a beautiful sunny day! The students used it to spend time outside, mostly playing soccer with their friends.
Our AI lesson took place today with Mr. Hirabayashi and Ryan. The students continued working on their projects, at the same thinking about how to present their work to others, which they will be doing after the winter break. Some of the students were able to practice today already, and we saw an example of amazing work on a personal study planner.
Through a lengthy debate, the students’ performance topic for March’s Perfromance day has been decided. We will start our preparation next week. The students will be performing an adapted version of Netflix’s hit TV show “Wednesday”, in turn based on the popular “The Addams Family”. We have also practiced the students’ songs to be performed at the Music Concert in December. Please find the links to the songs below for students who would like to practice at home.
In the afternoon, Grade 6 joined their Japanese lesson, while the three Grade 7 students worked together to prepare a presentation on the topic they have been learning about (the history of anime) for younger students.
In Thursday’s P.E. Lesson, the students played a game of soccer and divers, rounds of jumprope, stretching their bodies for their Music lesson, in which they practiced moving in sync to the song they will be performing. The students reflected on their practice last week, noticing that while they are able to sing most beautifully, the cheerfulness of the song they are performing requires movement as well.
During our Monthly Concept learning, the students did group presentations based on the books focused on art that they have been learning from during the past week. One group tackled the topic of Hip-Hop music, another impressionist paintings, and the last one the history of anime. We talked about how all of these are ways to express the artists’ feelings, societal issues they encounter, and creativity.
In the afternoon, Grade 6 has had another fun Japanese lesson activity, playing together with Grade 1. Grade 7 students watched a video and shared their impressions of the work of an artist who creates message boarda for equality marches, on topics such as racism, sexism, poverty, and police brutality. The students created their own art with a message, and friends tried to identify the message and discuss its possible reach.
Ou week finished with Friday and the students going on the first of our three bus excursions scheduled for this week – to Nakayama with Mr. Frith as part of their nature studies. Everyone had a fun time climbing up the mountain and looking at the beautiful autumnal landscapes with their binoculars, as well as capturing them with their cameras. Have a great weekend and see you again soon!
