Upper Elementary

During the month of January, we were given an assignment to do a country project that is to be all handwritten without using computers or the Internet.

The Grade 4’s gave an assembly on the topic of “Sportsmanship” along with an awesome song on how to show good sportsmanship.

We also learned about the four spheres of the Earth: the atmosphere, the biosphere, hydrosphere and the lithosphere.  We also researched the layers of the Earth: the crust, mantle and the core. To show how much we learned, we had to make a clay model of the Earth showing all three layers.

The Grade 6 class had a bake sale at the Grand Caymanian. They raised over $100 for their trip to Cuba!

Later in the month, a new student arrived from France. Her name is Molly, and she is in grade 5. She seemed to fit right in, as if she has been here since September.

The grade 5’s and 6’s were given a project to do, about finding the mean, mode, median and range of the heights of one of the Montessori classrooms for Math Class. Also in math we are learning about the area of a circle, complimentary angles, and division with decimals.

This month in Language we began essay writing.

Written By:  Anja van Genderen (Grade 6 Student)

Upper Elementary- November

This month we were busy going to interesting places and had some nice visitors.

The first activity we do every month, is our assembly and this month the Grade Fives hosted it. The topic was teaching the school not to litter.

Just about a week ago our class went to the Ritz to watch a tennis game.  It was very entertaining and I think everyone enjoyed it.

Just after that, Rich the juggler came. First he was showing us his skills and then he was teaching us how to get as good as him.

Math
This month the Grade 6s focused on their ‘Movie Night Analysis’ project. The project really helped us understand how much money we raised and what we could work on to raise more money next time.  The Grades 5s were taught volume this month. From what I observed they were really fascinated with it. The grade 4’s were learning about integers.

Culture
During November, the Grade 5s and 6s were assigned ‘Astronomy’ projects, with each person focusing on a different topic. First we presented our projects on either PowerPoint or poster board, and while watching the presentations, we took notes. Then later on in November we had a game show, with questions from the presentations. We were split in two teams and the first person to buzz in had a chance to answer. The Grade 4s began learning about bones and how the body works. Also in Culture, everybody was busy trying to finish their Ancient Civilization project.

Language
For the month of November the Grade 6s started learning different reading strategies and how to visualize pictures while reading. The Grades 5s were busy learning new types of grammar. The Grade 4s were learning about Pete’s Pirate Party.

By Christian Dyer (Grade 6 student)

We have a very eventful October in Upper Elementary!

Dr. Guy Harvey came into the class and talked to us about the endangered Nassau Grouper.

The Grade Sixes hosted the October Assembly and did skits on respecting others, self and environment.

The Upper El class was invited to do “Kids C.A.R.E” two groups on Tuesday and two groups on Thursday. They went to the Humane Society and are going to the Pines Retirement Home in November.

The Grade Fives and Sixes practiced their measurement by baking delicious cookies, a brownie pizza and a smore pie.

The Grade Fours learned: Commas, Adjectives, Similes, Reading Techniques and Goals in Language. In math they learned: IXL, Fractions, Greater than less Than, 24 hour time clock, integers, decimals and geometry. They even learned Solar System, Ancient Egypt Cards, Ancient Civilization and Geography Booklets in Culture.

The Grade Fives learned: IXL, Percentages, Geometry, Long Division, Fractions and Measurement in Math. In Language: Novel Study, Fact or Opinion, Metaphors and Poetry. They also learned Hieroglyphics, Science Research Topics about Space, Ancient Civilization and Ancient Egypt Cards in Culture.

Grade Sixes learned: Bases 7, 6, 5 and 4, Square Roots of Perfect Squares, Integers, IXL, BEDMAS, Algebra, Countdown and Fractions. In Language they learned: Goals, Reading Techniques, Prepositions, Cause and Effect, Fact or Opinion, Alliteration, Onomatopoeia and Business Letters. In Culture Ancient Egypt Cards, Ancient Civilization projects, Geography Booklets and Mapping Worksheets.

We all spent some time creating an educational board game that we enjoyed playing in groups.

By Alex Cummer, Grade 6

This past Monday, the Grade 6’s performed a wonderful assembly on respect; respect for others, respect for yourself and respect for materials and environment. They even came up with a song!

Please see the following footage from the assembly:  Grade 6 assembly 2011- respect

Upper El Team

September Blog
By: Nyah Francis~ Grade 6

During our first month of school, Grade 4, 5, and 6 had 2 field trips and learned tons of new and interesting things. On our first school field trip we went to the library to borrow books for research on our ‘Ancient Civilization’ projects. We had so much fun at the library and learned so many things about our civilizations. It was a great start to the year. For our second field trip some of us went swimming at the beach. We had a great time and saw many different creatures. This is going go to be the last Friday of each month.

In Geography, we started mapping booklets and Ms. Lauren informed us that we are going to have a BIG HUMONGOUS test (the date is still to be determined). We also learned about Ancient Egypt, by watching videos, reading stories and answering questions. In the Geography booklets, we have learned about lines of latitude and longitude, all types of maps and map features.

In Math we’ve been learning about fractions, quadrilaterals and Mr. Chad started giving us weekly questions called “Challenge Questions”. We have also been learning area of a triangle and rhombus. We also worked on the sexagesimal system and non-decimal bases. We’ve done quite a lot on roman numerals too. We worked on geometric solids and were also introduced to the fraction cards. We worked on measuring angles and measurements, where the grade 6’s even baked us cookies!

In Language Arts we did parts of speech, conjunctions and prepositions. We also worked on vocabulary cards and reading comprehensions. We also learned how to write a proper story with a theme, plot, setting and characters.

We have had a pretty exciting start to the year and we look forward to the rest of it.

We would like to welcome all of our returning grade 5 and 6 students, and our new grade 4 students to the MBTS Upper Elementary Class!

The teachers of the Upper Elementary team– Ms. Lauren, Mr. Andre and Mr. Chad – have worked busily and eagerly throughout this past week to set up a stimulating, engaging, and exciting new learning environment.

In preparation for the new school year, we would like to cordially invite all parents to attend the Parent Orientation Evening on Tuesday, September 6th, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. This evening will be an opportunity for parents to connect and re-connect with members in the community, including the new Upper Elementary teachers, familiarize themselves with day-to-day classroom routines, policies and procedures. Topics will include homework, field trips, and an overview of the academic curriculum. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at upperel@mbts.ky.

We look forward to a dynamic year full of exploration, discovery and achievement for the students.

Ms. Lauren, Mr. Andre and Mr. Chad

During the Grade 5 trip to Little Cayman, lots of exciting things happened!

When we first arrived at CCMI, we got settled in our dorms and made our beds (for some of us, I think this was a first! LOL). After we made the beds, Ms. Savannah and Ms. Morgan, our hosts, gave us a tour of CCMI. They showed us the bath-house and told us about the composting toilets (everyone thought we were going to fall in!) and the timed lights. Then they gave us a lecture and we learned some cool things about the ocean and the things that live there. Then we went snorkeling and saw lots of Queen Conchs and even a lobster!  After dinner, we went to the classroom and watched two movies on coral reefs. Then we had our showers and it was so hectic!  Afterwards it was LIGHTS OUT! (Lights out = 11pm for some chatty friends.)

For breakfast we had bagels and/or cereal… yum! We had another lecture after breakfast. Then we all got on the bus and went to do a beach clean-up. The beach clean-up was at Point of Sand. Mr. Brent and the boys even found a gas tank! In the end we collected 8 bags of garbage, and there was still so much garbage left.  After the beach clean-up, we went to the National Trust Museum and got ice-cream and learned about the booby birds. When we got back, we played a few games, like Mancala, Scrabble, Tug-o-War, this cool marine wild life game, and a great scavenger hunt on the beach. After that we took our showers and went to bed.

The next morning breakfast was again bagels and/or cereal.  After breakfast we got a lecture on threats to marine wild life.  Then we went snorkeling on a different beach and some of the class swam to Owen Island. We also saw lots of sea cucumbers and they even peed on a few people. They were disgusting and interesting at the same time. When we got back we all rinsed of in the cool freshwater showers that were made out of tin cans. Then we went to the post office/fire department/police station/airport and got on a plane and sadly, our Little Cayman adventure was over.

Enjoy some of our pictures from our trip below!

by Nyah Francis (on behalf of the Grade 5 Class)

Another month has come and gone and we’ve been so busy here in Upper Elementary, that we’re just getting around to spreading the news!

The month started off quite busy after our mid-term break in October.  We got straight to work, focusing on our writing skills, Math follow-ups and Science units.  We also got started with our Holiday Projects, beginning with Mishka’s Halloween presentation.  Since then, Miralda has taught us a lot about the holiday Diwali; Bryce informed us on the meaning behind Remembrance Day; Electra got us ready for Pirates Week; Christian taught us about the history of International Children’s Day; Vanessa got us in the Thanksgiving mood and Zoe shared the traditions of Ramadan with us.  In December, a few of our classmates have been selected to present their holidays as well, with Eliseo focusing on Hanukkah, Samantha recognizing World Peace Day and Eden giving us a bit of a background on the holiday many of us will be celebrating in only a few weeks…Christmas!   We have learned SO much listening to these presentations and we look forward to the coming months when our friends will teach us about some of the other holidays celebrated around the world!

We were also lucky enough to have visitors come to the school to spend time talking with us and sharing some really important information.  These visitors included…

• Pirates!!  This was really neat, because a couple of pirates came in and presented monologues about their travels and allowed us to ask lots of questions about what it was like to live the life of pirates in the past.
• A film maker who showed us one of the films he created here on Cayman…this discussion was very informative and we were so excited to “pick his brain” to learn more about the film making process.
• Sinterklaas came back!!  As always, we very much enjoyed his visit and we’re looking forward to working towards meeting the goals he suggested to us, including: consistently listening to teachers, helping our parents around the house and always being kind to one another.

On another note…

After everyone’s hard work collecting phone books, our class ended up with the greatest number of books collected throughout the school and because of this, we were presented with a class pizza party!!  We’re so thrilled that all schools  were able to help give to this wonderful cause and we’re happy that there is now going to be lots of insulation being made for houses!

We also want to hand out a HUGE “congratulations” to Zoe Conolly Basdeo for participating in the National Spelling Bee Finals this year.  She worked so hard to prepare for this event and we are very proud of her for what she has accomplished! 

Thank you for reading and we’ll talk to you all again soon!

The Upper Elementary Classroom

Hello parents, students, teachers and citizens of the world!!  Just a quick update on the Upper El. Program at M.B.T.S.

Well, we bid farewell to our friends from our last year’s Grade 6 class who have now moved up into the Middle Years Program.  It looks like they’ve been quite busy since they’ve started but we’re glad to see they’re having a great time up there!

I’ve had a few interviews with fellow classmates discussing how they feel about starting this new school year, now that we’re well into October.

Daniel Champoux, a Grade 4 student, says, “I enjoy more challenging work in Upper El. and I like the playground because it’s a lot bigger!”

One of our Grade 5 friends, Kali, says, “ I’m excited because I have never gone away on a trip with the school before and this year, we get to go to Little Cayman!  One thing that I think would be neat to have at this school is a cafeteria, but other than that, things are great!”

Sixth Grader Marianne says, “I enjoy being at the top of the class and getting to help teach the younger kids.  It gets busy having 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th Grade all in one class but I am extremely excited that we get to go to Cuba this year!”

So we have a lot of ‘thumbs-up’ and a few things we would like to add here in Upper El., but overall, we’re loving it all!  Everyone is excited for this year and everyone thinks it is going to be great!!

On another note…

Here’s what we’ve been up to over the last few weeks!

In Language we’ve been studying a variety of tales like fables, fairly tales and legends.  Grade 4 has recently written their own fables, Grade 5 is currently working on comparing different legends from around the Caribbean area, and Grade 6 is currently working on rewriting their own versions of ‘Cinderella’!

In Science and Cultural studies, all grades are busy working on and learning about different things like the solar system, water cycle, stars, flowers, cells and people of the world.

Like always, we continue to practice our Math skills daily and we are learning new concepts all of the time.

Thanks for reading and we hope you all enjoy the rest of your October!!

Eden Bowyer (on behalf of the Upper Elementary Class)

For the past couple of weeks we have been busy learning many new things!  Recently, we have been doing class experiments with solids and liquids and just this week we turned cream (in liquid form) into butter (a solid).  It was really interesting to watch the cream transform during our group experiments and we made some great observations that we were able to discuss before, during and after we followed each step carefully.  We have learned that the cream can look like butter if you shake it long enough, and that after you shake for a while, the cream separates into two parts; butter and butter milk. It smells like cream, it looks like soft butter and it tastes like unsalted butter.  What a success!!

Each grade has also been busy keeping their brains warmed-up with math work and in Social Studies we are taking trips around the world to study different islands, mountains and some of the important people who have influenced the world a great deal throughout their lifetimes. 

In Language, the Grade 6’s have begun their study of Cinderella across cultures and are very excited to continue with this unit over the next few weeks.  Our Grade 5’s are learning more about the all important paragraph and have set the goal to be writing in 5 paragraph essay form before the term is out!  Grade 4’s are also doing paragraph work, focusing on the parts of a paragraph and how to write strong topic sentences.

Overall we have all had a great time learning and sharing our learning with others and we are looking forward to what the weeks ahead have in store for us!