Students Reflect on the Trip to the Science Centre

Science Centre

Today 5DC and 5SB went on a trip to the Science Centre. At the Science centre we did some activities such as the simulation of the volcano forming round volcanoes or tall pointy volcanoes and looking at the exhibits. I learned many things but the things I will always remember of by heart are that thick lava forms tall mountains and thin lava forms round mountains and the earth was formed 4.6 billion years ago and was called Pangaea.

I think going to the Science centre was not much to me because my landform for my summative is not a single bit near to the things we learned at the Science Centre. I also think it was good because the simulations gave some students their experiment or simulation idea,  we learned some facts about the earths crust and volcanoes and going to the Science Centre was valuable for the people who chose Volcanoes, Crater Plates and the earths surface for their summative because they learned more there.

I felt curious cause I could not feel the tornado and I could not go to the other exhibits. It was amazing going to the Science Centre. Especially the gift shop! But I did not buy anything. I felt pity I did not buy anything and I felt glad I saved the money! I think everyone who went to the Science Centre today with us learned something new at least!

-By Sayma Ahmed Shanta

Emily’s Science center field trip reflection

Yes and No. I think yes because we learned about different types of volcanos and why they were flat and what kind of lava is in different volcanos. For example Mauna Kea in Hawaii is flat because it has slow flowing lava and it erupts slowly. Also we went in an earthquake simulation chamber and learned that if you are in a house or at the tops of a building on soft sediment/rock. Then the earthquake is more rough. But if it has hard sediment/rock then your house was less likely to shake violently. We also did experiments with marbles you are supposed to pretend that your two hands are a large continental land masses pushing against land (marbles) then it creates a mountain. I also think no because everything else wasn’t important except for a volcano experiment. It was unimportant because we learned about tornadoes, cyclones, typhoons and hurricanes and those are not landforms they are natural disasters.

By: Emily Batty

I thought the science center was not part of our project because the science park was only about volcano,plates,earthquake and tornado.There wasn’t any information or clues about my landforms. My landforms are crater lake and mountains. I thought if I go to the science center I will find a lot of information. But all I Heard or saw was only about volcano,plates,earthquake and tornado.So I think is not part of our project. But I think we didn’t waste our time because we had fun there trying the experiment. Also we got some idea of simulation. I had one place I really wanted to go was mathematics. I went to science park with my friend and we had fun in mathematics corner and I wanted to go to mathematics with my class and solve out some problems.

By: Hae Rin

Question:

Is going to the Science Centre a valuable trip for this unit? Explain in detail.

Reply:

Yes, because now we have ideas on what to do for a simulation or an experiment in our assessment.  For an example, now we experienced how to do a simulation, so maybe from that experience, we use our imagination for our assessment ones.

Also, we now know more facts about the Earth. This information is essential for learning about landforms, because it will help us understand how landforms are formed.

Some facts I know now are about the earthquakes. For an example, I know that if you are on hard land when the earthquake strikes, you will not be affected as much. If you are on softer land, you may get greatly hurt. Also, I learned that if you are on a roof when the earthquake happens, you would get really hurt. If you are on a lower floor of the building, then maybe you will not even notice the earthquake!

-Olivia

Not really. Because the science center only had a lots of exhibits. And there was no informations about my landform Tundra. There was many natural disaster informations like earthquakes, tornadoes, and some volcanic eruptions.

But, there was many interesting stuffs there.

Like if you are in the one room, and press the one button, and the room will shake. And there was bunch of machines that making a tsunami.

-Suyoung

I think going to the science center was not that important. However, it connected to our unit when we learned a little about plates, volcanoes and continents, which are landforms. We also learnt a little about form and formations through simulations. But tornadoes and earthquakes are not landforms and we learned about them too.

I thought our trip was a bit boring because we only went through 2 rooms. I also thought that we did not have much time at the gift shop and was disappointed because the baking soda volcano only foamed instead of smoking and erupting like the demonstration.

-Miya

I think that it was good that we went to the science centre today because we got to learn about the earth and some landforms. Also it was a valuable trip because we did some simulations which can get us thinking about a simulation or an experiment for our summative assessment. When we were walking around the exhibition hall I thought that it was really interesting and there were some really cool simulations that we got to experience. I learned some new and interesting facts that I might need for my summative assessment. Some facts I learnt is that earth was formed 4.6 billion years ago and many years ago there was only 1 continent called Pangaea. It was a really good field trip.

-Emellia

Olivia Blog's about the Singapore National History Museum

What I liked about the ‘Singapore History was the part about the, ‘Singapore Stone’. I mean, the stone is very valuable the Singapore history and it got me interested. I have many questions about this stone. How did it get on the island of Singapore? What happened in the past? Why does it have those strange markings? Was it the native language of the people living on the island before Sir Stamford Raffles came? That is why I like it. It makes me very curious.

What I strongly disliked, or what was lower expectations than I expected, was the part about Sir Crowford.
I know that Sir Stamford Raffles trusted him, but how can he be so disloyal? Sir Crowford allowed cock-fighting and woman slave trading on the island that Raffles explored. It was awful listening to what Sir Crowford did. I hope Sir Stamford Raffles punished him!

What I learned from the museum is that ‘Ten Tek Nio’ was a very important person in the making of Singapore. She was born into a very rich Peranakan family, first person in Singapore to go to an English speaking school, first woman to drive a car in Singapore. And she smartly used her wealth to help the Singapore army repair the airplanes that Japan bombed by donating her money. Ten Tek Nio helped the army so much that an airplane was named after her! What a lovely surprise that must have been! I wish I was named after an airplane!

Thank-you!

Blogged by 5DC Student, Olivia

Glogsters from the Field Trip to Chinatown

-Carsen

Student in 5DC have created Glogsters to gather the ideas that stood out to them from the field trip to the Chinatown Heritage Museum. To maintain a reasonable loading time for this blog, I have decided not to embed all of the Glogsters. However, the list below will take you to the Glogster created by that student. Click on the link to be taken to another page.

Chiemi
Vitya
Olivia 1  Olivia 2  
Emily
Alex P
Hanse
Emellia
Ami

Space Academy in Singapore

The Hubble Space Telescope was launched on April 24, 1990. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, NASA have released this image of chaotic activity atop a three-light-year-tall pillar of gas and dust that is being eaten away by the brilliant light from nearby bright stars. The pillar is also being assaulted from within, as infant stars buried inside it fire off jets of gas that can be seen streaming from towering peaks. This turbulent cosmic pinnacle lies within a tempestuous stellar nursery called the Carina Nebula, located 7,500 light-years away in the southern constellation Carina. -Taken from the Daily Telegraph click here for the link

To: ISS Parents (Students in Grades 3, 4 & 5)

From:  Julia Alden, ES Principal

Re:  Singapore Space and Technology Association/Space Academy for Students

At ISS International School, we believe that a broad and balanced education benefits the students. Many initiatives have been developed at ISS to promote this concept, including a balanced curriculum through the PYP and an organized extra-curricular program that offers a wide variety of options for academics and sports.  We are also working to make educational links with the Singaporean community in order to expand upon our educational program.

Recently, I met with a representative from the Singapore Space and Technology Association (SSTA) on the suggestion of one of our parents about a local initiative that this organization offers to students here in Singapore.

The SSTA conducts a two-day Space Academy, conducted by NASA scientists and engineers from the USA.

The objectives of the program are to:

• Inspire and Promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
• Prepare students for rigorous middle school/high school science and technology coursework using challenging problem-based investigations.
• Engage students in public presentation of students’ accomplishments and future goals using 21st century technology.

SSTA is working with students from many local and international schools.  To participate in the Academy, students would need to be out of school for the two days (ISS would grant them leave) and join with other students from around Singapore on the Academy days.

At this point, I am organizing a presentation given by SSTA for parents and students to learn about the program.  Please note that there is absolutely no obligation to attend the presentation or the Space Academy.  ISS is only organizing the possibility for you to learn more about the program and to set up an opportunity for students to be involved in what we think would be an truly innovative science and technology application for those with a particular interest in science and technology.  Please note that there is a fee for the Space Academy and the parents and not the school incurs this.

The workshops are conducted once a year and the next dates will be November 22-23^rd and December 10-11^th.

We have arranged for the SSTA presentation to take place at ISS (3rd floor hall) on Thursday, November 1, at 8:00 a.m. in the ES 3rd floor hall.  We hope you can attend this session to find out more about the initiative.

You may find information regarding the Space Academy at: http://www.space.org.sg/sas/. 

Hari Raya Haji

 On Friday, school will be closed for a Singaporean public holiday.  The day will mark the celebration of Hari Raya Haji, known as "The festival of sacrifice".  Please visit the "A bit of Singapore" page near the top of this page for more details.  We like details in 5DC.  Alternatively, click here to be taken their directly.

On Thursday

Today we got our jobs. I was so worried that I would not be the Police Officer but then a spark of joy came and I found out that I was a Police Officer.The whole classroom was noisy in excitement and sadness. I felt unhappy for the people who did not get there 1st choice. 

By Sayma

Grade 5 Camp

ANNOUNCEMENT

re: Grade 5 Camp

We have tentatively secured a site and time for our Grade 5 camp experience.  It will be at Sembawang Camp, in the north end of Singapore.

The date that we are aiming for is November 5th - 7th, 2012.

Thank you for being patient as the final details are being sorted out.  We are trying to confirm the specific program details before releasing an official newsletter.

More information to come.  Please keep on checking back!