Greetings!
Our new Unit of Inquiry under the transdisciplinary theme Sharing the Planet has begun with great excitement and curiosity. Our central idea, “People’s choices can help care for the Earth,”guided us as we explored how our actions impact the environment.
To spark students’ thinking, we began with a provocation—a messy classroom! Students entered the classroom with garbage around, observed and shared their thoughts and feelings about what they saw. This led to meaningful discussions about responsibility and care for our environment. Afterward, students expressed their understanding by drawing two scenes: a messy classroom and a clean classroom. Their illustrations clearly showed their growing awareness of how our choices affect the classroom. We then introduced the concept of waste through a fun cut-and-paste activity where students sorted items into “waste” and “not waste.” This helped them begin to think critically about what we throw away and why. It was wonderful to see students demonstrating their understanding and becoming knowledgeable learners. One student shared a meaningful idea: she explained that old clothes can be reused by sharing them with others. This thoughtful insight showed not only her understanding of reuse, but also her awareness of caring for both people and the planet.
We visited the Rainbow class where students confidently introduced themselves. They were then given the special task of choosing one student, remembering their name, and taking them to the birthday party, which was held in the music room. This activity encouraged students to build connections and practice their social and communication skills. One of Milky Way students turned 6, and everyone had a wonderful time during the celebration. She confidently answered questions about her name and age, showing that she is a strong communicator. It was lovely to see her express herself so clearly and proudly in front of her peers. Thank you, Shooting Star teachers for hosting the birthday party!
We conducted an earthquake drill, where our five Milky Way students showed great responsibility by leading the safety reminder “o-ha-shi-mo.” The drill went smoothly, and students demonstrated good listening and cooperation skills.
In our Phonics lesson, students watched a CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) video, read CVC words together, and completed a worksheet by writing the correct CVC words for the pictures shown. They are becoming more confident in recognizing and writing simple words.
During our writing activity, we reviewed “falling letters” to support correct letter formation. Then, students practiced writing their full names on the baseline. They focused on using uppercase letters at the beginning of their first name and family name, leaving appropriate space between them.
In our classroom, something exciting is growing—our Wonder Wall. More than just a display, it’s becoming a space where curiosity comes alive and students are encouraged to think deeply about the world around them. The teachers have introduced a powerful way to ask questions using the “5W and 1H” approach: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. These simple question starters help students explore ideas more fully and think from different perspectives. Instead of just looking for answers, students are learning how to ask meaningful questions—and that’s where true learning begins. By encouraging students to ask questions, we are helping them become Inquirers—learners who are curious, engaged, and eager to discover more.
Our very first reading session in class was a special and meaningful experience. It marked the beginning of our journey as readers, full of excitement, focus, and discovery. To start, the teacher introduced to students the book “We Look”. As the teacher read aloud, students listened carefully, following the story and observing how words flow together. This modeled how reading sounds and looks, helping students build confidence. Next, each student received their own copy of the book. With great care and concentration, they began reading independently, using their fingers to point to each word. This simple action helped them stay focused, recognize words, and understand that reading moves from left to right. After practicing on their own, students worked in pairs. Reading together gave them the chance to support one another, share ideas, and build confidence in a friendly and encouraging way. It was wonderful to see students helping each other and enjoying the process. Finally, when they felt ready, students took an important step—they read aloud to the teacher. This moment allowed them to show their progress and celebrate their learning. Through this experience, students demonstrated that they are becoming knowledgeable readers. Learning to read is not just about recognizing words—it is about building understanding, confidence, and a love for learning. This first step is just the beginning of many more reading adventures to come.
Our students continue to enjoy their tennis lessons, which they eagerly look forward to each week.
Next week, we will continue our exploration of the 3Rs by focusing on REDUCE. Students will deepen their understanding of how making small choices can help lessen waste and protect our planet. We also look forward to more engaging learning experiences in swimming, gym, tennis, and music.
Have a lovely weekend!
