“We are all researchers!”
Primary School
Unit 1 presentations
This week the primary school had presentations on research Units. After five weeks of research, the students were excited to share their knowledge and discoveries with the children and teachers from other classes. The students enjoyed talking about their topics and presenting projects, models, and posters to guests from other classes.
Preschool students of the younger group studied the Unit "Who we are". The children got acquainted with the physical characteristics and abilities of people, their feelings and preferences. They found the similarities and differences in each other. The children examined their own height and weight and reasoned about what they could do already. Together with parents they made handicrafts and posters about themselves and their families, about their skills and feelings.
In pre-school, children in the older group explored the theme " Journey". The children used their previous travel experiences to make posters about the places they had been to during the summer vacation and enjoyed talking them about them. The children sang songs, read books about travel, and watched videos. The older students now know that trips can be different, also what to take with on a particular trip and what transportation people use to travel.
In Kindergarten, the students explored the Unit of people's relationships, how they develop, and the responsibilities of people in a relationship. The children played role-playing games on the Unit of Inquiry, such as how to meet a new student, help other children on the playground, in the cafeteria, and in the classroom, drew pictures, read books about friendship. They also made a collage about good behavior. This Unit will help children to build friendly relationships with each other and the world around them.
In the first grades, students worked on researching their personal stories. They prepared booklets, posters about their favorite fairy tales, toys, songs, and created a museum of artifacts from their lives. For more in-depth research, students and teachers visited the Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where they became acquainted with the collection of artifacts of historical and cultural heritage of Kazakhstan.
In the second grade, the Unit of Inquiry was about people communities, their customs and cultures. The students investigated: what cultures means and how communities form. They prepared presentations about different countries. This research Unit helped to develop international mindedness in second graders. The study of the cultures of different countries and peoples through traditions, customs, language, state symbols, cuisine, national costumes, literature, art, sports gave the children a deeper understanding of the importance of friendship between peoples, respect for the cultures of different countries, preserving the traditions and customs of their families and their people. As part of the study of the Unit the students visited the Begalin library and children's theater.
Students of the third grade studied the Unit of natural forces and their impact on the people lives and the environment. For a more in-depth study, an Inquiry lesson was organized in the school theater with the school safety engineer. He told the students about natural disasters, their consequences and the rules of conduct in emergency situations. Students prepared many interesting questions for the guest.
Together with teachers, students conducted a series of experiments and were able to see and analyze the process of a volcanic eruption and the emergence of a tornado. They then described these event in their essays. The students also prepared posters, booklets about the forces of nature, and models of natural disasters.
The fourth graders studied types of organizations, their structure and functions. The students looked at the school as an organization. They took a tour of the school to learn about its structure. The students then wrote an essay on "How the school system works." Also, for a fuller understanding of the topic the students prepared interviews for parents to learn from them what organizations there are in Kazakhstan and in the world. For their final presentations students researched organizations, their purpose and functions. The children prepared conceptual tables and models of organizations.
While researching, children learn to think, analyze, reason, work in a team, and acquire invaluable experience in knowledge of the world around.
We are proud of you, our little researchers!
PYP coordinator
Elena Holina