Perky Preschool

There are many ways for children to express themselves. Ways to show their creativity and make their imaginations come alive.  This week, the Preschoolers looked back at the whole school year in Preschool.  We have listed down all the different events we have celebrated throughout the year at DSKI. Enrolment Party, Oktoberfest, St. Martin, St. Nicolaus, Halloween Party, Christmas,  Easter, Book and Culture Week, STEM Week, Autumn and Spring Break, and more! Some of these celebrations are also practiced in their own family. These are traditions that have been passed on from one family to the next.  Why are these traditions or celebrations important?  What are ways people express the importance of these traditions and celebrations?  1. Through Music and Movements Music is important in every celebration. Some people may find it difficult to express their emotions verbally. They use music and movement to express their feelings of happiness, excitement...

\ Narrating their own history in a form of a story,  is a way to keep it in their memory. It seems like yesterday when these amazing students joined my preschool class. I remember them - being nervous but excited to find out what primary school would be like.  Since then it has been an awesome school year with them.  They learned so much about themselves and were all brave to write about it.  As young writers, I remember how we started.... letters,  sounds,  stringing sounds,  phrases,  sentences, paragraphs... Now, a book. But this isn't JUST a book.  It is authentically theirs. It is a special book that tells about their journey from where they are now.  It tells about the memories, changes and growth.  It reveals their thoughts, dreams and successes.  It proves that they, who used to only care about milk, sleep or play have grown into marvellous independent young persons.  These stories are treasures. They are pric...

Who we are ... an inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities, and cultures. Preschool's new unit focuses on the transdiciplinary theme, 'Who we are' In this unit, the students will look at the central idea, 'Our relationships with others build our character and personality.' They will inquire about different personalities and characters, relationships with people and how characters and personalities affect our relationship (cause and effect.)  Through the course of the inquiry, we will see how the students' social and thinking process will develop as they dig deeper into the concepts of form, connection and causation.  As an IB learner, they will aim to grown and develop as caring, reflective, and open-minded individuals who value personal relationship and with others. To start off the unit, our TUNING IN was a story about... Bye-By...

  Let the children teach us   something new about things that we  (think) already know... - Ms. Faye - Sorting Out Moving forward in our unit, the Preschoolers started putting ideas to answer big questions.  The 3 Key Concepts: change, perspective and connection help the students be guided towards deeper understanding of the central idea. They brainstormed ideas about their knowledge of the 3 key concepts.   As a class, we came up with a definition for each: Change: From one thing to another; not the same Perspective: What we think might be different from what others think Connection: Things that are the same as others; Like a line - one point is connected to the other point.  After, they answered the prompt questions. They provided personal examples for each key concepts.  They will continue adding on to this visual tool until as they continue with the sorting out stage of the Inquiry Cycle. As inquirers who ask questions, group discussions ...

Literacy: Writer's Workshop The preschoolers wrote a personal narrative to tell a story about the important milestones and events that happened in their life.  Following the Writer's Workshop, they planned, wrote a draft, edited and wrote the final story.      Here is the finished book ready for publishing! Unit of Inquiry (UOI) Celebrations, Cultures, Values, and Beliefs The Preschoolers explored different celebrations. During the picture walk, they signed up their names on the ones that they celebrate with their family.    We even played charade and acted out words that are connected to our topic!  The preschoolers had so much fun!  The preschoolers had so much fun!  COAT OF ARMS ... The shield of our family... ... The symbol of things that we value in our family... The Preschoolers initially created a word cloud of ideas. These words are to what they believe are things that are important in their family. They then chose the ...

UNIT OF INQUIRY Preschoolers are very lucky to learn and understand the last Line of Inquiry  on "different factors that affect change and growth of animals" from someone who have actually worked with different animals!!  Veronica Anzuay , a Veterinarian came and shared with the Preschoolers her experiences and expertise about different animals.  She talked about the different reasons why animals don't survive, become endangered or extinct.  The preschoolers realised that some reasons are:  1. Predators  2. Health / Sickness 3. Lack of food and water 4. No shelter  or home 5. Dirty air to breathe 6.  People  They asked several questions and even came up with their own "Action Plan" on how they can help save the animals!  Thank you so much, Veronica for the wonderful presentation!  LITERACY After a week of planning, drafting and editing, Preschoolers are writing the final draft of their Animal Story.    Th...