Historical characters from different time periods pay Year 5 a visit.

Mr. Piddock masquerading as a Roman soldier.

A Victorian governess spoke about etiquette and manners.

Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, descended from the Acropolis for the day.

Queen Elizabeth 2 entertained the children with stories about her great-grandson.

Florence Nightingale popped in for a quick visit.

IPC - TIME TUNNEL

Dear Parents,


As you are aware, we at BISAK, are using the IPC (International Primary Curriculum) this year. Our first IPC topic in Year 5 is “The Time Tunnel” which begins with the children’s own life (timelines of their life and family trees) and then expands to various civilizations/periods in time.

All of the work we are going to do has been specially written to help your child reach  learning goals. Children will be reading, researching, writing and illustrating, working independently and in groups during IPC lessons. Tasks and activities will be assessed using specific criteria.

Please help your child with creating a timeline of their own life history and a family tree to be handed in on Sunday 15th September. (The time line should include key and memorable events in your child’s life e.g. first step/ tooth etc.) Look at photographs and other objects that you might have collected to remember important events. It would be helpful if you would help build your child’s knowledge of your family history. (The family tree should include information about themselves, parents, grandparents and further generations if information is available.)

By the end of the unit, we hope your child has achieved all of the learning targets as well as participated enthusiastically in all the activities.

Another way in which you may help is to ask your child to explain the learning activities they are undertaking during the topic. You could also show your interest by helping with the research, without actually doing the work for your child. 

If you have any comments about the work your child has done, please get in touch with the teacher.

Kind regards,

Year 5 Team

WELCOME TO YEAR 5

Year 5 teachers introducing the new IPC topic "Time Tunnel"

Since last year there has been some changes to the Year 5 team. Still part of the team is Ms. Govender and Ms. Kinghorn. We would like to welcome Mr. Christopher Piddock, who has been teaching in the Middle East for the last five years, to BISAK.

We are looking forward to a wonderful year filled with lots of exciting and fun learning activities.Do visit the blog often and catch up with what your child has been doing and participate by including your comments. We look forward to hearing from you.

VILLAGES IN INDIA

This summer term, 5C has been busy making puppets of people living in the Chembakoli region of India- an activity that crosses over with our Geography topic of ‘Villages in India’.

They have written play scripts about conflicts in the region, which will be  performed as a puppet show in front an audience. The backdrops for the puppet shows were completed by year 5 children, using pastels.

They thoroughly enjoyed the activity and had to design clothing, “style” hair and solve problems of how to attach or join various parts together. They rose to the challenge and surprised and impressed each other with their creative and problem solving skills.

 

Break a leg!

After weeks of rehearsals, the day of our first performance has arrived. This evening, KS2 will be performing The Wiz.  Year 5 have been actively involved by singing 4 songs in the musical. We also have some very talented actors who are part of the main cast, as well as dancers.
We look forward to the shows, tonight and tomorrow night.

That's it folks!

Yesterday saw our party of 25 make our way back to KSA. After a late start, breakfast and checking out of the hotel, we made our way to Athens airport.

At the airport, few hold ups like checking the validity of some multi-exit/entry visas, gave Ms Naidoo a few anxious moments. But after a while we were given the go ahead to have all in our party checked-in on our Qatar Airways flight. After this delay, there was no time for a Happy Meal, as has become the tradition. The children were determined to spend whatever money they had left and bought as much junk food as possible at the kiosk at the boarding gate.

The air stewards and stewardesses usually had big, welcoming smiles as we entered the plane. Frankly, after 10 minutes with 21 bouncy children and Mr Gray, asking for nuts, fizzy drinks and why their entertainment systems were not working, I don't know if those smiles were still genuine. The wishes of 'good luck' to the adults as we were departing could have been an indication of what they really were thinking.

Two smooth and uneventful flights later and we were back at Dammam Airport. Our intrepid party once again attracted the attention of onlookers. We were moving along swiftly through Immigration control till it was discovered that Areesha had lost her exit/entry visa. A few words from Mr Gray with Saudi Immigration officials and a quick stamp in the passport and she was sent through with the rest of the party. Ms Naidoo once again gave a huge sigh of relief.

It was a fantastic learning experience for all those on the trip, one not long forgotten. A big thank you to all those that helped to make this trip successful. A very big thank you go to Mr Gray, Mrs Hull and Mrs Roberts!

What is that?

The four adults were grateful for the later start this morning, with an 8am wake-up call. The plan of action for today was a tour of the main sights in Athens.

The first destination was the first modern Olympic stadium built in 1896. Mr. Gray was given a history lesson by Karam who reminded him that the first games were actually held in Olympia and not at this stadium.

Then it was off to the New Acropolis Museum to see some of the artifacts from the Parthenon. One of the first questions asked as we entered the museum was, “Can we buy anything?”

A scorching day, the sun shone on us as we then made the trek up to the Acropolis. “What’s that?” asked Diana, pointing to the temple ruins on the hill. It was of course the Parthenon, something that has been pointed out these past four days as we have gone past it towards our hotel. Lois’s most amazing discovery whilst at the foot of the Acropolis was that she had found a Wifi connection. The children certainly had lots of questions for Anna as they tried to complete their workbooks.

Lunch in the Plaka followed...another feast of a four course meal. The potato chips were devoured, not only by the children but by Mr Gray and Mrs Roberts too! Areesha has found a new favourite food – tzatziki. She loved it so much she actually asked Anna what it was called.

The long awaited shopping in the Plaka followed, with the children very eager to spend what was left of their money and to get souvenirs and presents for family and friends back home. Parents, despite our best efforts, there will be slingshots and swords coming home. Mr Suter, please note that Ms Naidoo did not have any encounters with shopkeepers that had you rolling on the floor with laughter like last year.


Dinner and an evening quiz, testing knowledge gained from the week’s sights and sounds, was also held.


After a night’s entertainment, it was off to bed for our last sleep in Greece. Our evening prizes included the following:

Most random comments – Aya
Biggest spender – Youssef
Best worker – Sahil
Best casualty – Diana
Allergy queen – Areej
Biggest complainer – Mohamad A
Wisest spender – Emilia
Biggest daydreamer – Omar
Biggest Drama queen – Nicholas
Most eager to learn – Mikail
Biggest hair – Paul
Best smile – Wian
Loudest voice – Areesha
Best businessman – Karam
Best group captain – Sara (Captan)
Best runner (chasing Mr Gray) – Munisa
Most junk food consumed – Lois
Best waster of food – Aastha
Fussiest eater – Farah
Slowest eater – Kate
Messiest eater – Mohammed D.
Bonus prize: Smelliest room – Karam and Mohamad A


That’s all for tonight folks. Spare a thought for us teachers who will be overseeing the packing of smelly, dirty laundry and souvenirs tomorrow morning. I would like to reassure you all that the following comment of “Party all night” from Lois for “What has been the best moment of the trip so far?” has absolutely no merit to it! There was also definitely more to this trip than Paul and Wian's, "Looking at the room!"