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Welcome to the fantastic world of Upper Primary 1: In Blog, Edition Four!
We have ended the Spring Term with beginnings as we said hello to our new intern, Agnese. She has joined us from Italy and we are very excited to welcome her.
Now, for the most recent highlights:
Time Travelers
Upper Primary packed their lunch boxes and we headed to Brussels to visit the Royal Museum of Art and History. We were led through an Islamic exhibition, learning about the technology and culture of one of the empires that we focused on in our IPC topic, 900 C.E.
Quiz Masters
Half of our students went back to Brussels for the International Quiz at BEPS International School. They spent the day mingling with students from schools around Belgium, and testing their general knowledge in friendly competition.
Crime Scene Investigators
Upper Primary put on their forensic scientist hats in our IPC specialist unit and solved the kidnapping of our class mascot, Michael. Investigating the scene of the crime, our students performed several scientific tests on our suspects to find our culprit, presented their evidence to the Head of the School, and facilitated the safe return of our beloved Michael. Well done Upper Primary!
That’s all for now folks. Find us back here at the end of the school year. We wish you all a wonderful and restful holiday, full of adventure!
Warm regards,
Miss Kelsey
Welcome to the adventurous world of Upper Primary 1: In Blog, Edition Three!
The new year has kicked off splendidly in UP 1, and I'm thrilled to share some of the memorable moments from our exciting learning journey. We have said goodbye to our intern Natalia, who certainly left an impression in Upper Primary. Thank you Natalia for all of your kindness, and making everyone of us feel special!
Let's dive into our recent adventures:
Ancient Civilizations with a Modern Perspective
As the New Year unfolds, so does our exploration of the latest IPC topic. We began with an engaging Entry Point Game Show, drawing upon Upper Primary's previous knowledge of ancient civilizations. Since then, our journey has the mysteries of the Maya and Benin empires. We explored their society and culture, celebrated their achievements, and pondered the reasons behind their decline.
Connecting theories on the collapse of the Maya civilization, students wrote and recorded persuasive speeches as Maya priests advocating for change.
Drawing from accounts of visitors to the Benin Empire, students built a model depicting its prime before it was destroyed without a trace.
Finding Inspiration in Extraordinary Stories
In literacy we are exploring the world of biographies through the book "Rise Up: Ordinary Kids with Extraordinary Stories." Our focus has been on understanding the literary features commonly used in a biography. Moreover, we have investigated the qualities that make these narratives inspirational and have considered how they might personally inspire each of us.
Guided Reading with ISG+
To deepen our understanding of literature, we've teamed up with ISG+ secondary school for weekly guided reading sessions. Students are collaborating with each other to read and analyze leveled books.
With eager anticipation…
Thank you all for an excellent start to the spring term! We have sought opportunities to collaborate, and show respect and empathy to each other. We have grown together, and we are excited to see you back after Crocus Vacation, to continue learning together!
This term has been a whirlwind of excitement, and our class has undergone some big changes. First off, we bid farewell to the amazing Ms. Narissa, sending her off with our best wishes for her new adventures back in Australia. She'll be dearly missed by the entire ISG family, students and staff alike. My name is Ms. Kelsey, and I am joining you from the state of Texas. I am thrilled to embark on this learning journey with the fantastic Upper Primary 1 group! Thank you all for the warm welcome into your classroom.
Now, let's dive into our recent adventures:
In IPC: Extinct, Endangered, and Existing
We've just wrapped up our first IPC topic, delving deep into the diverse environments of our planet, the incredible creatures that inhabit them, and the ways humans are shaping these landscapes. Our Upper Primary students showcased their newfound knowledge in a special presentation to Middle Primary last week. The hard work put into honing their research and presentation skills truly paid off, making the showcase a resounding success. Kudos to our budding biologists for their dedication and outstanding efforts in this unit!
In Literacy: Fourteen Wolves
Our literary journey took us into the heart of 'Fourteen Wolves,' a tale of the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park. Upper Primary immersed themselves in analyzing the text and illustrations, uncovering the author's purpose through her unique writing style, illustrations, and carefully chosen words. At the end of this unit, our students used their knowledge of food chains from the IPC topic, as well as the information from the book, to plan and write a persuasive letter explaining the importance of the wolves in the park.
As we wrap up this term, we hope everyone had a joyful and restful holiday season. We are looking forward to the new year, ready for more adventures and learning together!
Welcome to the first Upper Primary 1 blog for the year! And what a fantastic start to the year it has been. The students have been on two field trips, learnt about each other, the natural world and have made new friends.
In September we were able to explore a bit of Gent city together on a scavenger hunt – learning more about the city and sharing the knowledge that they already had. In October, the students brought the new IPC unit into focus with a trip to the Antwerp Zoo – discovering animals they hadn’t seen before and marveling at those that they always wanted to see. Special highlights were the penguins, sharks, lions and small primates.
The students have carried this interest into their IPC unit ‘Existing, endangered, extinct’, as they delve deeper into studying biomes, animal classification, invertebrates and vertebrates and the 7 characteristics of living things.
In literacy they have been exploring poetry based on works from a book called “Poems from a green and blue planet”. They have been studying poetry about Snow Leopards, Elephants on the River Thames and the ocean and it’s vulnerability. They have written poetry about animals out of place and practiced describing various fruits.
In Numeracy Year 5 have been honing their times table skills and looking at measurement, 2 decimal point places among other subtraction and addition practices. Year 6 have been exploring place value, algebra and multiplication.
In September we celebrated Chihiro’s birthday and unfortunately on the day before the holidays we have to say goodbye to Taeyoon who we will miss very much! We wish you and your family Taeyoon a safe and pleasant journey and many happy returns for your next step!
So, this is Ms Narissa – signing off for the Autumn break – enjoy the falling leaves, some pumpkin spice and some cozy time away from the elements. See you in November!
And here’s an update from Mr Francis.
Students in the bilingual program have started off well. They got used to the routine where they come to the Dutch classroom four times a week during morning break and lunch break, and they are all doing really well with communicating only in Dutch in the classroom! Apart from our inquiries into biomes, animal classifications, food webs and human impact (part of IPC), students have also set up good routines to study Dutch language skills in two different groups – thanks to ms. Adinda for her support in teaching reading and spelling! Finally, we are really glad to see that many pupils are active in Dutch outside school as well (clubs, reading, watching TV, etc.) Our class has also visited the public library recently, so everyone definitely has some books they can read at home. Dankjewel iedereen voor de fijne sfeer in de klas en fijne vakantie gewenst aan iedereen!!
As we bid farewell to another action-packed academic year in our Upper Primary classroom, it's only fitting to reflect on our vibrant Summer Term. This term has been nothing less than an exciting voyage, taking us from the wonders of our solar system to the development of lifelong skills.
Our exploratory journey commenced with the 'Mission to Mars' IPC unit. This module catapulted us into the farthest reaches of the cosmos, the classroom morphing into a spacecraft of sorts. The students, our brave astronauts, launched into their inquiry of our solar system. They traced humankind's quest to conquer space, spanning from ancient star-gazers to modern astronauts.
This celestial voyage also ignited a creative spark in our young scholars. Encouraged to envision an out-of-this-world narrative, they crafted enchanting poems, their words reflecting the infinite beauty of the cosmos. It was indeed fascinating to watch them delve into the art of poetry, mastering its techniques while spinning tales of interstellar journeys.
In addition to academics, our Summer Term centred around developing vital life skills together with Ms. Eirini – our intern from Greece! Our students took on various responsibilities, honing their leadership skills. Social skills and friendship took the centre stage, setting the tone for a nurturing and supportive classroom atmosphere. Learning to identify and express emotions was another valuable lesson that made our term a holistic growth journey.
As a graduating class, we ventured beyond the confines of our classroom to celebrate our Year 6s. We navigated the stunning canals of Ghent, marvelled at the wonders in 'The World of Kina' Museum, and enjoyed the serene beauty of the Blaarmeersen. Our students also tried their hand at graffiti stencils! A highlight was our overnight camping experience on the school playground, under a sky painted with stars.
The grand finale of our Summer Term was the heartwarming graduation assembly for our Year 6 students. The ceremony was peppered with touching interviews and advice exchanges between the graduating Year 6s and the eager incoming Year 1s. It was a testament to the caring, supportive community we've nurtured in our school.
To our departing Year 6 students, and indeed all students as they transition to their new academic levels, I wish you the very best of luck. Remember, every step you take is a stepping stone towards incredible achievements. Embrace each new challenge with the same zest and enthusiasm you've demonstrated this year.
Have a fantastic summer break, and here's to new beginnings in the coming school year. See you in September, bright-eyed and ready to learn!
Hello friends and families!
We are excited to share with you our latest adventure as we continue to nurture the creativity and curiosity of our young minds. Recently, we had the pleasure of visiting the Royal Museum of Art and History in Brussels, where we explored their fascinating exhibition on past civilizations. This immersive experience allowed our students to delve into the rich history and artistic expressions of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, expanding their understanding of the world and its diverse cultures.
During our time at the museum, our children embraced their inner "classical architects" by noting some of the most iconic and celebrated buildings from these ancient civilizations. With enthusiasm and teamwork, back in class they built impressive models of the Circus Maximus, the Coliseum, the Pantheon, and the Parthenon, demonstrating their creativity and newfound appreciation for the architectural genius of the past.
In our History lessons, we delved deeper into the stories that these magnificent structures tell about life in the past. Our students learned about the everyday lives of Ancient Greeks, the power and discipline of the Roman Army, and the significant historical figures who shaped the course of history, such as Alexander the Great.
The Art classes provided an opportunity for the children to explore Greek and Roman art styles and techniques. They learned about the unique characteristics of these two artistic traditions and discovered how to recreate them in their own work. From intricate pottery designs to elaborate mosaics, our students were captivated by the beauty and skill of ancient art.
After conducting research, sketching, and exploring various concepts, each student embarked on a journey to create their own piece of artwork in a Greek or Roman style. They drew inspiration from various aspects of ancient life, such as important sporting events, myths, legends, and famous figures from the period. This creative process not only allowed them to showcase their artistic talents but also helped them solidify their understanding of the historical context.
During this time we had the delightful company of an intern, Ms. Alexandra, who joined us all the way from Spain. Her unique approach and personal experiences helped to broaden our students' understanding of the world, fostering a sense of global citizenship and appreciation for diverse cultures. We are deeply grateful for her time, energy, and dedication, and we wish her the best as she continues her journey in education after the break.
We would also like to thank ms. Romy, who is a great intern during the Dutch lessons for the BP program. She has taught the class very useful words and phrases about two topics, food and presentation, and she has been a very creative and motivating addition to our class. The near-native group has focused on their writing skills and have written excellent short stories. Children in the BP have a great home learning task this holiday, which is to watch more TV in Dutch! Veel kijkplezier!!
We are incredibly proud of the hard work, dedication, and passion our students have demonstrated throughout this project. We believe that the knowledge and skills gained from this experience will enrich their perspectives and inspire them to continue exploring the wonders of history and art.
To all our parents, thank you for your continuous support in our educational endeavours. And to prospective students, we hope this glimpse into our learning journey has piqued your interest, and we look forward to welcoming you into our vibrant community!
Until our next adventure,
Mr. Jamie, Mr Francis
We jumped into the new year with the best of intentions, reminding ourselves to be wary of making promises to ourselves that might be difficult to complete - but it doesn’t have to be this way! Students came up with their own single word to make 2023 INCREDIBLE! Take a look at our word cloud below! What would your word for 2023 be?
Children read poetry written on the theme of Black Lives Matter, exploring the context and history through a range of writing. They explored poetry features using Michael Rosen’s secret strings, studying and performing poetry by established and up-and-coming writers of colour. Lemn Sissay’s ‘Let There Be Peace’ was the inspiration for a class poem that UP students then performed at assembly alongside their illustrations. Take a look at their presentation here: https://tinyurl.com/peaceupisg
The hot glue guns and staplers were out for this term’s IPC entry point into our new unit - ‘The Great, The Bold and the Brave’. In an afternoon students were challenged to become ‘classical architects’ recreated some of the famous and most celebrated buildings from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Can you guess which buildings were represented?
We welcomed new faces to our growing class too! Families from Poland and America as well as our intern from Spain Ms. Alexandra, became part of the ISG family and we have so enjoyed getting to know them.
The Dutch group also welcomed an intern, Ms. Romy from Belgium. Children in the bilingual group studied all about food and restaurants, and as a highlight they baked waffles in the classroom. We have also visited the public library (De Krook) and we joind the stip-it action again bullying (see picture with four dots on your hand).
Best wishes for a restful and safe krokusvakantie!
Mr. Francis & Mr. Jamie
Coming back to school after a wonderful Halloween holiday was something special for Upper Primary - we said goodbye to one student and warmly welcomed another from South Korea! To get to know each other better and further explore our city, we visited the centre of Ghent. In this way, we dived into our new unit in Literacy – ‘Fake News’! We had the opportunity to ask people on the streets about some articles and tested their fact-checking knowledge! To our surprise almost all the people fell for our made-up stories, believing them to be real. After some research we were able to recognise what fake news looks like online and in a variety of formats – from clickbait to propaganda. Later, students created their own satirical piece along with a guide on how to stay safe online. Finally we also had the chance to chat with a newly-graduated journalism student all the way in Croatia to get the ins and outs of the industry.
Chromebooks are a daily feature in our learning and this term students asked themselves just how these appliances can function - the answer was all to do with electricity! And so began our IPC unit of learning “Full Power”. We found out how to light up a bulb with a battery, investigating different types of circuits. Children discovered which materials are electricity’s ‘friends’ (conductors) and those which are not (insulators) and that electricity can be produced from different sources of energy. Students put all their knowledge together in the end to create a thrilling ‘steady hand game’ of their own design.
During November we were trying to be resilient, supporting each other and encouraging one another to be the best version of ourselves. We also started counting down until holidays with the Secret Friend Advent Calendar 2022! Each day we were showing kindness to our secret class friends, our family and school staff! On 6th December Sinterklass visited us with sweet treats and thank goodness all of UP were on his ‘good’ list in the big book. Just as fast as we were counting down, students were excited for the winter break and so too was Ms. Dominika who completed her Erasmus internship this term. A BIG thank you to her for everything she helped us with!
Happy holidays and see you in the new year!
Welcome to Upper Primary! A big warm welcome to our new students, families and interns joining the ISG family this year. A special shout out to our considerate, kind and joyful intern Ms. Dominika who joins us this term from Slovenia.
To kick off the academic year we spent the night in De Panne along with Middle Primary for an unforgettable experience at the coast. Students had the chance to explore the town with a scavenger hunt, roam the dunes with an expert guide and get caught up with friends old and new.
Back at school we jumped into a classroom filled with bread! As part of our IPC unit of learning, ‘Bake it!’ students explored the appearance, texture, taste, purpose and rated breads from around the world. It was an exciting entry point into the science of states of matter. Click here to watch our video! https://fb.watch/grhjtTRRlF/. We have investigated solids, liquids and gases, looking at the role of yeast and how we know it’s alive. Students also tested for solubility and researched the role of bread in different cuisines around the world. Finally students brought their knowledge of Science and International together in an assembly research project, ‘Breads From Around the World’ and ‘How to Bake a Baguette’ - complete with particle diagram actors!
Through our Literacy studies we travelled to Sri Lanka, following Chaya in the book ‘The Girl Who Stole an Elephant’. Students prepared a Reader’s Theatre performance in groups and we were blown away by the commitment to the role of our fine actors! Well done!
Students enrolled in the bilingual program had a nice start of the school year. We have two groups this year, one beginner / intermediate group and one near-native group. For some students Dutch is entirely new, but it is nice to see that they too are starting to use their first words in Dutch. This year we call the Dutch group the ‘weerwolven’-group, as they love playing this language game if they have some spare time!
Wishing you a safe and restful Autumn break and looking forward to seeing students on Monday 7th November.
Dear Upper Primary pupils, we wish you a wonderful Summer holiday!
What a year Upper Primary pupils have had! They have experienced that it is true that 'Together, Everyone Achieves More' when they work together as a TEAM. And they have done so many fun things together this year. Pupils have enjoyed learning through IPC. From the Art-based unit 'They see the world like this' they moved on to the Science-based unit 'Extreme survivors'.
Just before the Christmas holidays, they finalised their very own non-fiction books about animals. Rising Covid-numbers affected school activities just before and after the Christmas holidays, but that didn't stop Upper Primary pupils from learning. During an exciting ICT- and computing based unit, 'Switched on', pupils learned how to code using Scratch and Lego We Do. That unit was followed by a Geography-based unit, 'Going Global', and pupils moved on the last unit of the year, 'AD900', a History-based unit.
Pupils have written auto-biographies and biographies. They have researched and written explanations. Upper Primary pupils have written exciting adventure stories with historically correct facts woven into the plot. And they ended the year by writing and illustrating Creation Myths (traditional tales) and presenting their stories using Kamishibai theatres.
Pupils have grown. They have exercised and built healthy habits during the whole school year. Thanks to the Swimming and PE programme at ISG, they have become faster, stronger and healthier! They have challenged each other to bring healthy snacks to school. They have also learnt about Online safety, what to do and what not to do online, and they have learnt many good lessons about how words can be misinterpreted in chats etc. Upper Primary pupils have therefore also learnt how to solve problems, and how to use words and actions to end conflicts, instead of making them worse. We believe they leave this school year behind a bit wiser and a bit kinder.
Upper Primary pupils really have enjoyed our school trips, to Sealife, to the Port of Antwerp, to the MSK-museum in Ghent etc. And of course, the School Camp to Mambaye in June was both exciting and lots of fun!
During Bilingual programme lessons, the Bilingual group has worked on vocabulary and grammar, reading and writing, talking and listening - all in Dutch. They have improved and they showed their Language skills both during Assembly presentation, a visit to a local school, and the exciting Kamishibai story in Dutch that they presented this last school week.
The last week of school this year, Upper Primary pupils had lots of fun. Monday was Art Day, Tuesday was Fun Run Day, and Wednesday was Marble Reward Day (= ice-cream and games in the park). The weather was lovely! Thursday was our Sad Day, saying goodbye to each other after a lovely year together. Year 6 pupils leave Primary behind and start Secondary School next year. Some year 5 pupils move away and some start year 6 at ISG in September. Upper Primary class will be a different group next year. Some pupils (and Ms Jenny) leave Belgium and move to another country. Goodbye and good luck!
Saying goodbye is a hard thing to do, and there were many hugs before pupils left the playground for the last time this school year. And now they are off on Summer Holidays! Teachers and pupils will enjoy these lazy weeks off! Enjoy sunshine, books, beach life, games and play!
See you in September,
Kind regards,
Ms Jenny, Mr Francis and Ms Ana
