​For our final science task in this unit, we learnt all about sight!  We considered why sight was so important at the fairground. How would our experience be different without this sense?   Then we learnt new knowledge about the parts of our eye and how they work so that we can see. Finally we investigated an aspect of light, concentrating on asking and answering scientific questions through our investigation.

​For our next task we were learning all about magnets.  Lots of us had not learnt about magnets since we were in MP1 so needed a refresher on some basic knowledge before we began!  

We then worked on our investigative skills, especially our skill at posing scientific questions and explaining our findings.  We needed to plan and conduct a scientific investigation, posing scientific questions, all based on the properties of magnets. We are making great progress with our investigative skills and ensuring that we are conducting a fair test which is both reliable and accurate!

This week Year 5 have been learning how to represent and interpret data from tables and graphs. We consolidated our knowledge by reviewing what discrete and continuous data is. We have improved our understanding and can show this by explaining why we would use a certain type of graph - bar or line - for these 2 different types of data. We have practised creating line graphs and are going to gather our own continuous data next week to show in a line graph!

In Year 6 this week we have continued to learn about the area and perimeter of shapes such as parallelograms, rectangles and triangles. We then moved onto learning about 2D shapes. We looked at how to classify them using their properties and recapped vocabulary like quadrilateral and polygon. We looked at what angles shapes had and how we could use these. Lastly, we created flowcharts so other learners could use these to work through step by step to identify what shape they had.

This week in Literacy in Year 6, we have planned our own fantasy stories. Before we wrote them, we learnt how to plan using notes and then acted out our ideas so we were clear before we wrote them. When it was time to write them, we focused on using the correct tense, using a range of punctuation or connecting paragraphs depending on where we were in our learning. We all used a checklist to make sure we had included all the key features of a fantasy story. In Year 5, the children have produced brilliant explanation texts. They have been using thesauruses to find synonyms and practising using a range of punctuation for parenthesis.

Milepost 3 brought in another amazing selection of enrichment tasks but this has to be the yummiest task so far. We learnt loads about Khmer food as well as lots of treats from other learners' home countries. It was so interesting to hear about how the learners had made the food and what ingredients they used. A big thank you to families for sending in sensible portions and remembering plates, forks, chopsticks,etc. We also enjoyed seeing all the creative resorts that had been designed. 

Friday 12th April- International Day and last day of the learning block.  

Task 2
We had a bead and some plastic tubing and needed to observe what happens when the bead is dropped into the tubing. Did the height of the curve make a difference?  What forces were acting? We wrote what we observed.

Task 3
We continued to use our plastic tubing and bead to investigate loop the loops!  We needed to investigate what factors are important in achieving a loop the loop.  Does the position of the loop make a difference? Does the angle of the tube going into the loop need to be a certain size? Does the size of the loop matter?  We recorded our attempts and considered the forces that were acting to achieve a successful loop the loop.

In Year 5, we have been having lots of fun in literacy this week comparing traditional fairy tales to Roald Dahl's versions in Revolting Rhymes. We have been making predictions and comparisons as well as acting out the fairy tales. We are looking forward to planning our own 'Twisted Fairy tale' next week.

In Year 6, we have carried on reading The Jungle Book and asking inference questions as well as learning new vocabulary as this book has some excellent language. We also recapped our possession apostrophe skills. 

For Book Week, Milepost 3 has focused on Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. We started the week with a whole primary assembly where Miss Rosie shared all the exciting activities the learning facilitators had planned. 

On Monday, we started to plan and decorate our class doors in a jungle theme to go with our book. If you come and visit the Milepost 3 corridor you'll find you have to dodge monkeys, tigers and bear, oh my! 

During the week, different learning facilitators shared stories at lunchtime that the learners enjoyed. On Thursday morning, the learners had the opportunity to choose to visit a different class and hear a story in a different language. We had Chinese, Bahasa Malaysia, Dutch, German, Spanish, Khmer, French and Sinhalese. Here are some of the things our learners said about the experience:
Tina: I liked how at the end I got to speak in Chinese to other people who can also talk Chinese (Miss Mei).
Signe: I liked how Ms Beverley wrote down the words first and then when she read we knew some of the words already.
Daffyd: I liked that it was a book I kinda knew but in a different language (Miss Sofia).

On Friday, the whole school paraded our amazing costumes and WOW! We had all sorts of costumes and a huge well done to all the learners and families for making such an amazing effort. Everyone looked amazing and it was so much fun seeing each other dressed up. We had superheroes, manga characters, fairy tales, animals, witches and all sorts. 

Congratulations to our Milepost 3 costume winner, Nina dressed as Gangsta Granny. 

Learning Journey
We all know that fairground rides are designed to thrill our senses, through fear, excitement and the unexpected. How are these rides powered in a way which enables them to speed up and slow down at just the right moments, whilst staying on a track that twists upside down? These mysteries will be revealed as we learn more about the science behind energy, forces, sound and light.

For our Entry Point we worked in our home base teams to create fairground rides out of junk. We were really imaginative and creative with our ideas and created some great rides!  We are now very excited to learn about our new unit!

During our Knowledge Harvest we thought about: our senses at the fairground; what forces might act on the rides; any questions we would like answered this unit and what connections there are between different rides.  We know some things already but there is SO much more still to learn!

​On Tuesday, Milepost 3 visited the National Museum of Cambodia as part of our Here and Now, There and Then topic. We started the day with a fantastic dance workshop where we learnt about the different traditional dances and saw professional dancers in their costumes performing. We also got to see examples of traditional Cambodian music. We all got an opportunity to go onto the stage and we all tried out some of the warm up routines as well as some of the special hand movements.   

After a snack, we moved to the museum and did an artifact hunt. We have been learning about primary and secondary sources so we enjoyed seeing such a range of Cambodian primary sources. It was exciting to see such old and beautiful work as well as some strange items like a moon rock and a world record breaking loom. 

All the learners were very principled and respectful of the artifacts and the other visitors so we felt very proud of how they represented iCAN. Well done Milepost 3. 

This brings a close to the Here & Now, There & Then unit. We look forward to starting our new unit Fairgrounds after the break!

What a Creative Arts Week! MP3 have been having a ball with the circus theme! We have participated in juggling workshops, balloon shaping, mask making, face painting, carnival games, trampolining & gymnastics, devil stick creation and performance, music, clowning and then showed all of our new found skills in the CAW assembly! Phew, MP3 you need a holiday. Take next week off  ;- )

25th February: First day of Learning Block 5

25 Feb - 1 Mar: Book Week!
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We are now almost at the end of our Here and Now, There and Then unit. We have looked at where we have come from, where we are now, and all of the things that we bring with us when we move around the globe.

​We have looked at the physical differences between home and host countries in Geography, and the current and historical links in History. This week we have been looking at how one event can cause an impact all over the globe. In Society and International mindedness were have studied the stories of refugees fleeing war and oppression in search of safety.

This week in Learning Journey MP3 have been reflecting on the number of different sources of information that they have used to find out about Cambodia. So far we have used: internet, books, photos, video clips, interviews, audio archive, documentary, and art. We also thought of a number of possible sources of information that we have not tapped into yet, including artifacts and music.

Using the information gathered, MP3 set to making either a poster or a leaflet about Angkor Wat. They needed to ensure that their work was factual, included pictures and a timeline, and was from a number of different sources. I think they did pretty well...

Friday February 8th: Year 1 - Year 9 Sports Day @ NISC
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February 13 - 15: Creative Arts Week