Enter our Primary I classroom and you'll feel like you are in an international center of learning. Here are some of the class's activities:
Cultural Studies
This year we will be focusing our cultural studies on Europe. We have already talked about animals that live in the mountains. In addition, we are identifying and naming the countries of Europe on a puzzle map as well as on the globe. So far we have identified Italy, Greece, Spain, Poland, Russia, Findland, Norway, Sweden and France.
Circle Time
During circle time, we read Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth. Later, the children all shared something they felt was beautiful. This included trains, mom and dad, stones, fire trucks, sisters, art etc.
Books
We have recently read and discussed the following books:
Learn more about The Renaissance School's programs at our Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School Information night on October 25. Call 510-531--8566 to RSVP.
There's been a flurry of activity in our French Primary class. We have welcomed four new children and everyone is getting well acquainted at the lunch table, during group work and in the yard. Here is some of what we have been doing:
Builidng A Windmill
Using a kit, the children made a windmill. One of the children read all the instructions out loud to the group. Two chidlren found a bottle from recycling that served as the base of the windmill. This endeavor offered a lesson in the basic principles of physical science and ecology.
Young Inventors
A group collaborated on a report on a book about Benjamin Franklin's inventions. As part of the project, the students decided to recreate inventing invisible ink. They tested the results by holding the paper up to the light. They had documented their steps, writing them out in beautiful cursive. This was a valuable lesson in being inventors as well as how to successfully collaborate with one another.
Learning about Kenya
As part of our Africa curriculum, we had a classroom presentation on Kenya. To accommodate some of our newer class members, who are still getting familiar with French, the French-speaking guide brought in plenty of visual aids, including photographs of animals who live in Kenya, scarves that women wear there, and beans that Kenyans might eat, along with other foods such as goat meat and fruits. One of our older students pointed out on the puzzle map all of Kenya's neighboring countries. This was done from memory. We also discussed the word "safari," and talked about the fact that it is a Swahili word meaning "long journey." And, of course we cooked from from Kenya. The coconut rice was especially popular.
Watch this blog for more news from French Primary and The Renaissance International School's other classrooms.
We encourage students to celebrate their birthdays with their class. Students use photos of themselves to create a timeline to illustrate their lives. They share that with the class during their birthday circle. In addition, everyone in the birthday circle gives a birthday wish or compliment to the celebrant.
Then, holding a globe, the birthday child travels around a sun that ‘s been designed in the center of the room. In the center of the sun is a lit candle. The student travels one revolution around the sun for every year of his or her life.
We look forward to celebrating lots of birthdays with our students.
Our language immersion program teaches children English, Spanish and French. Of course our students know how to say, "Happy birthday! Joyeux anniversaire! and
¡Feliz cumpleaños!"
We encourage our students to celebrate their birthdays with their class. Students use photos of themselves to create a timeline to illustrate their lives. They share that with the class during their birthday circle. Everyone in the birthday circle gives a birthday wish or compliment to the celebrant.
Then, holding a globe, the birthday child travels around a sun that ‘s been designed in the center of the room. In the center of the sun is a lit candle. The student travels one revolution around the sun for every year of his or her life.
Our language immersion program includes English, French and Spanish so of course students know how to say: Happy Birthday, Joyeux anniversaire and Feliz Cumpleanos!
We look forward to celebrating lots of birthdays with our students.
We are often asked about the success stories of our older students and we have some very recent accomplishments that showcase how our students are continually able to go beyond the expected. The story of recently-graduated 8th grader, Sydney, illustrates the exceptional level of achievement that our students can attain.
Sydney applied to the freshman class at Bishop O'Dowd high school and was accepted into the Honors program. In addition, she is the recipient of Bishop O'Dowd's Presidential Merit Scholarship. Bishop O'Dowd received over 600 applicants, 147 were accepted and of the 147, Sydney is the one and only recipient of the prestigious merit scholarship.
Sydney is scheduled to take all honors classes and is eligible to test for Honors Algebra II Trigonometry at the Freshman level. This is a class that is usually taken in the Sophmore or Junior year in HS. She is also eligible for special placement in French because of her strong linguistic background. She scored in the very high 90’s in the entrance examination for O’Dowd.
In addition, we have four sixth-year students who are entering 7th grade at the following schools: Bentley; Head Royce; Oakland School for the Arts; and Redwood Day. These were their first choice schools.
Congratulations to these Renaissance International School students for their hard work and acceptances to the schools of their choice. We wish them continued success and are certain that they will continue to go beyond the expected.