Primary eNews – December 3, 2021

Preschool Shape Project
Grade 4 – Visual Arts in Inquiry
Grade 4 Indonesian Studies: Cultural Experiences

 

Preschool Shape Project
In Preschool, the students inquired about shapes. We know that we can see different shapes around us. The objects around us were made out of shapes that had names and could be described. The students learned the name and properties of some 2D shapes. They used their understanding of the concept of shapes to create a project. This project is related to the play unit that we are doing at the moment. The students watched a short Pixar movie called “Taking Flight”. Inspired by the movie, the students created a transport using different materials. The first step was making a design. In making the design, the students used their knowledge of 2D shapes to plan the transport that they wanted to have. Once the design has finished, they looked for some materials that look like the shapes in their design. Some could find the objects that look like the shapes they wanted but some needed to adjust their plans. While building their transport, the students also talked about why they chose the shapes considering the properties of that shape. Once they finished building the transport, they needed to present the transport in front of their friends. Below is the link for the project. 

 

Visual Arts in Inquiry
Who We Are includes an exploration into personal, physical, mental, social, and spiritual health. In Grade 4, this exploration was supported through different disciplines including visual arts. During their inquiry into the impact of lifestyle choices on the systems of the body, students identified art as one way to promote the well-being of our minds: our brain and nervous system. Pretty cool, to be able to doodle, design, problem-solve and create AND build a healthy mind. 

Grade 4 thought so! This began our inquiry into the form and shape of the human body. Students used their understanding of the skeletal system to identify the sections of the body, where the main bone and joint structures were. In mathematics, they worked collaboratively gathering measurements to support our observations about proportions. 

Grade 4 created their own Vertruvian Man images to record data and test observations.

When working with geometric shapes, students solved locating the center of a square by using diagonals (intersecting at the center) and practiced using a compass to create a circle. This was our first time using a compass…we look forward to more practice! 

Grade 4 students noticed that a circle can be created using the measurements of a square and are now relating this measurement to the features of 2D shapes.

With so much mathematics discovered in this art inquiry, Grade 4 have made a list of questions to further inquire into over the next week.

Grade 4 applied their new knowledge about proportions: height in comparison to arm’s length, body length in comparison to arm’s length, and leg length, to experiment with drawing the human form. Starting with stick figures to show the location of the joints, and working their way up to creating a shape on these skeletal outlines. Students went further to create human figures in motion, creating original pieces with the illusion of depth.

One of our student interest projects was creating wire dragonflies. This was researched and practiced independently and demonstrated to his Grade 4 peers, who practiced developing their own skills to create wire human figures in action.

Visual arts in inquiry build new skills, supports our learning, promotes discovery and encourages further inquiry…all while being a healthy habit!   Grade 4 can’t wait to create more!

 

Indonesian Studies: Cultural Experiences
There are some traditional ways to maintain your health in Indonesian culture. Two of them are by drinking Jamu and applying Boreh to your body. 

Jamu has been well known as a herbal drink that brings benefits for your body. There are many kinds of jamu with different ingredients and benefits. Grade 4 students in Indonesian Studies class experienced making Jamu in school after inquiring the benefit of its ingredients for the human body.

It was started by observing some ingredients in the classroom. Some students were quite familiar with the ingredients such as lime, cinnamon, and honey. Balinese homemade brown palm sugar was the one that they were not familiar with. Grade 4 even labeled this ingredient with funny names that spontaneously popped in their mind.

The activity then continued by making jamu with turmeric, ginger, lime, and honey. It took place in the school’s staff room. They took part in the process they could, such as squeezing the lime, adding some honey, and stirring the jamu. The boys were excited to taste the jamu they made and the girls preferred to just observe. 

Thanks to Ibu Sari who helped prepare the kitchen and its equipment and Ibu Ketut Indah for documenting the activity. 

Two weeks after the Jamu experience, Grade 4 learned to make Boreh. Boreh is a thick substance made by ground herbs such as galangal, aromatic ginger, or turmeric mixed with ground rice and water. This is applied on to your skin in some parts of the body such as legs, foot, back, shoulders, neck, forehead, and back of your ears.

Boreh is used to help you recover from flu and cold because its ingredients give you a warm sensation. It also helps you to keep the bugs away. They are made traditionally by a grinder. Grade 4 looks like they are enjoying grinding these ingredients manually and making a mess (yes, it’s fun!), but they are only 1 or 2 that can stand the aroma. -Ibu Ina-