AUTUMN THROUGH THE SENSES

Research shows that sensory stimulation is critical in the first few years of life. Over the past few weeks, the Pre-Nursery children have participated in a range of Autumn inspired sensory experiences. The children have used their senses to explore pine cones, chestnuts and Autumn leaves. They explored different sized pumpkins; first, they had fun washing them, then they discovered the pulp and the seeds. The children experimented with ears of corn and paint to make interesting patterns and marks. They also observed pomegranate seeds and quickly learnt that by crushing them with our fingers we can make interesting red marks.

Ms Paola Perosa

Un orto per la scuola

Quest’anno The Udine International School ha intrapreso un grande progetto al fine di rendere la nostra scuola “più Green”. Grazie ad un’idea, nata dalle menti attente e innovative del Green Committee, le classi delle elementari e medie si sono impegnate nella preparazione dell’orto scolastico. In questa prima settimana gli studenti sono stati guidati dalle insegnanti nella pulizia e preparazione del terreno, e, nonostante i giorni di pioggia, una buona parte del lavoro è stata già portata a termine. I bambini amano fare lezione all’aria aperta, tenere le mani impegnate e scoprire i segreti che la terra e la natura hanno da insegnare…
Continuate a seguire gli sviluppi di questo nostro piccolo angolo verde anche negli articoli del dipartimento di inglese e, se volete, aiutateci portando a scuola vecchi vestiti o attrezzi che a casa non usate più!

Maestra Elisa

3D Digestive Systems

One of the challenges when teaching Science is to find ways, other than experiments, to make the work practical. Recently Grade Seven were set the problem of making three-dimensional models of the digestive system. All the students chose ‘poster’ versions of their models, hanging them on the wall. Some are more successful than others! This week we have developed the theme of digestion a little further, and the students are investigating ‘alien visitors’ or parasites of the digestive system. Nice! We have seen a marked improvement in the washing of hands since the start of this unit.

Mr Green

Using imaginative play to celebrate a birthday

Last week the Nursery 3 children came together to celebrate the first birthday in our class. It would have been like any other birthday, except for the fact that the one turning 3 years old was our special soft toy called Lupo Mannaro (a toy werewolf)!

From singing ‘happy birthday’ in different languages, to sitting together eating cake and celebrating the joy and fun of a birthday, our students had their first chance to get the feel of what happens at school on the day of their birthday. By understanding that everyone has, as we called it, their ‘special day,’ we not only acknowledged diversity but also allowed ourselves to dream and let our imagination take the lead through fantasy play… And the party was a blast!

Ms Adriana
N3 teacher

Vedo Doppio!

Eccoli i nuovi studenti di Grade 6! Sono vivaci, propositivi e proiettati con il giusto entusiasmo all’anno scolastico appena iniziato. Molteplici attività e un programma corposo e variegato li attendono: dalla grammatica all’analisi dei testi in antologia, dallo svolgimento del tema settimanale alla lettura dei tanto attesi miti e poemi epici. Non mancheranno inoltre gli approfondimenti e i momenti di confronto.

I primini della Middle School sono tanti, 31 in tutto, e per la prima volta dalla nascita della The Udine International School, sono divisi in due sezioni. E’ questa la novità! Sintomo di una scuola che sta crescendo, non solo sul piano numerico, ma anche a livello qualitativo, attenta alla didattica e alla formazione dei suoi allievi.

Sono orgogliosa di aver preso in carico entrambe le seste e, con lo stesso entusiasmo dei miei studenti, sono pronta anch’io ad un ricco e mi auguro fruttuoso anno! In bocca al lupo ragazzi!
 
L’insegnante
Paola Bazan

Turning our Mums’ and Dads’ toys into museum pieces!

In Grade 2 this term, we have been comparing the past and present. We started with things we know a lot about, such as what we do, what we eat and what we play with.
We talked with our families, about why learning about the past is important and shared these ideas in class, which was a great discussion. We also asked our parents to share toys that they used to play with. Some Mums and Dads still had some of their toys!

We enjoyed seeing these toys from the past and other items that people shared from the past and it has really helped us to see real things and compare them with modern things.
We would be really happy if anybody else has some interesting things from the past to show us!

Grade 2
Ms Katharine Knott

A varied beginning

Grade 6 has already started to demonstrate their varied skills in English Literature this term. They started with visualization; reading is not just words on a page but should create images in our mind and even actual pictures. They started by illustrating a poem by Roger McGough. They also showed off their dramatic skills by bringing their reading to life. However, amidst all this, they also survived being assessed for guided reading.

Mrs Nevin
Grade 6 Literature teacher

WE ARE DIFFERENT! WE ARE THE SAME!

It’s common, when creating a self-portrait, to focus on external features, color of skin, shape of face, texture of hair… everything that is seen with the outer eye. The Grade Five class tried to shift their perspective, expressing their vision of themselves as seen with their inner eye. The focus was on using color and shape to represent the feelings, emotions, and passions that live deep inside. “We are all different!” commented one student. “Yes, and we are all the same!”  replied another. It was eye-openingto hear the students sharing the reasons behind their choices: “I chose blue here because I love to be by the sea. It makes me feel calm.” “This is the color I would love to be.” An interesting chat followed about a hypothetical world in which each of us could choose our own color.
 
Mara Tramontin
Grade 5 teacher

Exploring our World

Grade 6R and Grade 6G are learning that Geography is not just about maps, but it entails all aspects of our planet: its populations, resources, economies, climate and many others.

It is natural for children to be curious regarding the world that surrounds them and so they have researched natural and man-made disasters. They were quite shocked at the gravity of some of these, caused by man’s carelessness and laissez-faire attitude!

This lack of respect for Mother Earth and its inhabitants puts many creatures e at risk of extinction.

The students observed that if humankind does not move quickly on improving the situation of global warming, we also might one day just disappear…

Milly Savoini
MS Social Studies

ECC Assembly

Last week we had our first assembly of the year in the ECC! Students from Nursery 3, Nursery 4 and Kindergarten joined forces in the foyer and came together to discuss ‘helpful hands’ when tidying up.

Assembly is a cherished time in the ECC as both students and teachers enjoy this shared learning opportunity. Through books, storytelling, role plays, guest visitors and conversations, we explore some big topics across the year, and as the students grow, we see them become more confident in participating actively.

We look forward to discussing friendship, taking care of others, helping the Earth and being safe in the upcoming months and we look forward to welcoming our youngest Pre-Nursery peers when they are ready.

Ms Nilva