Dear Parents and Families,
Warm greetings from Milky Way Class!
What an exciting and meaningful week of learning we had together! Our young learners have been deeply engaged in exploring how we can care for our Earth and protect our environment. Through thoughtful discussions, collaborative activities, and inquiry-based learning, students showed wonderful growth not only in knowledge but also in the IB Learner Profile attributes.
One of the highlights of our learning journey was our field trip to the Matsumoto Clean Center. Students had the wonderful opportunity to visit the waste treatment facility where garbage from homes, schools, and other buildings is safely processed to help keep the city clean and protect the environment. As we explored the different areas of the facility, students listened carefully while the guide explained the important work being done there. It was wonderful to see many students confidently asking questions that came to their minds like, “How long does the waste burn?”, “Why does the big crane have tires around its claws? showing that they are becoming true Inquirers, Thinkers, and Communicators. We ended our tour with a happy group photo and a heartfelt thank-you to the staff for their hard work.
Back at school, we shared our reflections about the visit and students worked together to create a beautiful thank-you poster filled with kind messages such as “Thank you for your hard work,” “We learned how to recycle,” and “Thank you for showing us the Clean Center.” Students also made meaningful promises including “We will recycle,” “We will throw trash in the bin,” and “We will help keep the Earth clean. As students worked on the poster, the classroom became full of excitement and collaboration. Aside from writing their individual messages, students were busy coloring the Earth, cutting out recycling bins and other decorations, and thoughtfully discussing together where to place their messages on the poster. Some students happily drew sun, trees, flowers, and nature to make the poster even more beautiful and meaningful. It was truly heartwarming to watch the students share ideas, help one another, and work together toward one common goal. Excellent work, Milky Way!
To continue our inquiry into the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), we moved into our second line of inquiry: How waste affects the environment. After discussing what an environment is and learning that it includes land, water, and air, we explored the topic of land pollution through videos, class discussions, and visual aids. We learned about the causes and effects of land pollution as well as ways to help protect our planet. To strengthen their understanding, students excitedly played a sorting game using the Word Wall app, which they absolutely loved! Through teamwork and collaborative thinking, the class proudly achieved a 100% score together, showing great Teamwork, Thinking Skills, and Communication. Students then worked independently on a matching worksheet activity where they matched land pollution problems with their solutions. We are so proud of our Milky Way learners for their enthusiasm, curiosity, teamwork, and growing sense of responsibility toward caring for our planet.
Our young learners had a wonderful and engaging reading session with the book “They Look.” We began by reading the new high-frequency words together on the board to build confidence and familiarity with the text. Then, as the teacher read aloud, students carefully followed along using their eyes and fingers to track each word being read. The excitement continued as students practiced reading with their friends, encouraging one another and building teamwork and confidence. Finally, they read together with the teacher, showing growing independence and enthusiasm for reading. It was amazing to see their focus, participation, and joy throughout the activity. Students are Risk-Takers as they showed courage and confidence in practicing their reading and trying challenging words.
Milky Way had an exciting tennis lesson this week! One of the school activities they always look forward to, the students eagerly prepared for the adventure with towels around their necks and water bottles in their hands. Full of excitement, they happily boarded the bus on their way to the tennis lesson. After an energetic and fun-filled session, the students returned to school with big smiles, happy hearts, and wonderful experiences to share. It was truly a joyful day of learning, movement, and fun!
Through leading the Morning Circle and participating in Show and Tell activities, students have shown significant growth in confidence as they expressed themselves clearly, shared their ideas thoughtfully, and spoke in front of their classmates with increasing confidence and enthusiasm. It was a joyful week filled with meaningful learning experiences, growing confidence, and wonderful moments that continue to inspire our young learners to explore, communicate, and shine.
As we look forward to another exciting week ahead, students will be participating in their swimming lesson and our Emergency Pick-Up Evacuation Drill. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. Have a wonderful and restful weekend, everyone!
