Hello Everyone!
Welcome to another week of fun, learning, and discovery in the Milky Way Class! This week was filled with exciting hands-on experiences, meaningful reflections, and wonderful opportunities. We are excited to share some of the highlights from our week with you!
To begin the week, the Milky Way Class joined the Rainforest Class from the Shimauchi Campus for an exciting field trip to EcoNecol. The students were full of curiosity and eagerly asked many questions throughout the visit. The workers kindly explained how different materials are collected, sorted, and recycled, and the children listened carefully as they learned how recycling helps care for our Earth. As we explored the facility, students had the opportunity to see and touch large bundles of compressed paper ready for recycling. They watched in amazement as a forklift skillfully moved piles of paper collected on the ground and placed them onto a conveyor system, where the paper was carried to the next stage of the recycling process. One of the highlights of the trip was getting the chance to sit on a forklift and pretend to drive it! We also visited an area where old televisions and other appliances were being carefully dismantled. Students learned that valuable materials inside electronic devices can be separated and recycled instead of being thrown away, helping to reduce waste and protect the environment. Before leaving, we explored the large weighing scale by stepping onto the platform used to measure vehicles carrying recyclable materials. Students were amazed at how heavy the materials could weigh! Students also had fun going inside the giant Mottainai Box together with the Rainforest students. The children were impressed by its enormous size and excitedly tried jumping inside the box. Throughout the trip, the students demonstrated the Learner Profile attribute of being Principled by remembering and following all the safety reminders discussed during our morning circle. They also showed that they are true Inquirers by asking thoughtful questions and seeking to learn more about how recycling works. Back in the classroom, we reflected on our visit by creating thank-you cards for the hardworking people at EcoNecol. Students expressed their appreciation with warm messages such as “Thank you for teaching us about recycling” and “Thank you for helping our Earth.” It was wonderful to see them recognize how the workers’ efforts help care for the environment and inspire us all to make responsible choices. We are so proud of the curiosity, respect, and care for the Earth that our students demonstrated throughout this meaningful learning experience!
We walked to the park for an important and meaningful learning experience—an emergency earthquake drill. Upon arriving at the park, the teachers explained that a drill would take place while the students were playing. The purpose of the drill was to help students learn how to stay safe if a real earthquake were to happen during outdoor play, while also giving teachers an opportunity to practice emergency procedures and ensure that everyone knows what to do in a real situation.
While enjoying their outdoor playtime, the teacher suddenly blew the emergency whistle to signal a simulated earthquake. The students responded quickly by stopping what they were doing and moving to the safe area indicated by the teacher, away from the play structures and trees. Once they reached the safe area, they practiced “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” The students stayed calm and followed the instructions carefully throughout the drill.
After the drill, the teacher explained why it is important to move to an open space away from structures and trees during an earthquake. The students listened carefully and learned how to stay safe during an emergency.
The students demonstrated the Learner Profile attribute of being Principled by following instructions carefully and responding responsibly throughout the drill. They also showed they were Knowledgeable as they learned important safety procedures that can help protect themselves and others during an emergency. We are proud of how calmly and seriously the students participated in this valuable safety practice.
We had our class photo session! The students did a wonderful job listening carefully to the photographer’s instructions and following directions with great focus and cooperation. We were especially happy to hear the photographer comment that our students were the best because they listened so well and the photo session did not take long to complete.
The students showed excellent self-management and respect throughout the photo session, helping everything run smoothly. We are so proud of how responsibly they represented our class and school. Thank you for making us proud, Milky Way! Your positive attitude and excellent listening skills truly shined.
The students proudly took part in collaborative group presentations about how we can help care for the Earth as members of the ISN school community. Working together, the students prepared presentations on four important topics: keeping our classroom clean, keeping the air clean, recycling, and saving water.
Each group collaborated to decide which lines they would say from the phrases provided by the teacher. It was wonderful to see the students discussing, sharing ideas, and supporting one another as they prepared for their presentations. Standing in front of their classmates took courage, and the students tried their very best to speak clearly and confidently. We were so proud to see them step up, take risks, and share their learning with others. Way to go, risk-takers! We are proud of you!
After the presentations, the students watched videos of their own group presentations and reflected on their performance individually. They thoughtfully completed their assessment sheets, identifying what they did well and what they would like to improve next time. It was a meaningful learning experience that helped the students develop their communication, collaboration, and self-reflection skills while having fun learning how to care for our planet.
Students had a wonderful time playing at the park with their friends. They enjoyed running, climbing, sliding, and exploring the playground together. It was lovely to see the students laughing, communicating, and building friendships while enjoying the fresh air and outdoor play.
We joined the whole school in celebrating the birthdays of students born this month. We were especially excited because two of the birthday celebrants were from our Milky Way class!
The birthday children happily received their special birthday cards from the teachers and enjoyed being celebrated by their friends. One of the highlights of the party was a fun game of “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.” The students took turns being blindfolded and tried their best to place the donkey’s tail in the correct spot while their friends excitedly called out directions such as “left,” “right,” “up,” and “down.” The room was filled with laughter, cheers, and excitement as everyone joined in the fun.
We are excited to welcome a new student to the Milky Way class! Our new friend has come all the way from America to spend the summer vacation in Japan and will be learning with us for the next three weeks. We hope our new friend enjoys his time in the Milky Way class and feels right at home as part of our ISN family.
Next week, we are looking forward to more exciting learning experiences, including Swimming, Gym, Tennis, and Music lessons. The students are also excited to share their learning with the Rainbow, Aurora, and Shooting Star classes through their group presentations. They will teach other students about ways we can help care for the Earth and make a positive difference in our school community.
The monthly song video is attached to this blog. We hope you enjoy listening and singing ROAR along with your child at home!
As another wonderful week comes to an end, we wish all our Milky Way families a restful and happy weekend. See you next week!
