Little SY is back!

12/05/2008 (Monday)

a) Sharings on Mother's Day

Everyone marched to the classroom and was so happy to see little SY back. She was very attached to me and held my hands often. I could understand her feelings.....At the playground, she told me that she also celebrated Mother's Day.

So, we started the day with kids sharing their Mother's Day celebration. I chose a few kids to talk about it. WY said his family went out for a meal. They had KFC but he didn't drink Coke. However, mother bought him the KFC's toys. He said mother was happy to receive his Carnation flower. EG said his family went Taman Rakyat for jogging before heading to KFC. JH said nobody was at home yesterday as they were busy. He went to Sunday school while mother went working. JH left his Carnation flower in school....ha ha ha! So, I reminded him to be careful next time. SY said her aunties celebrated together. They bought her mother a chocolate cake and ate at a restaurant.

b) Let's draw!

I shared with the kids of my Mother's Day celebration. YZ asked me the number of siblings I have. Altogether 6 including myself. They enjoyed seeing my pictures and giggled at my fat brothers.

Then, each kid was given a paper to draw their celebration of Mother's Day. If they didn't celebrate, they could draw what they did on that Sunday.

c) Tea break and attendance

We had donuts today. I gave the kids some of my sausage buns. They just loved them.

Then, I called the kids. They stepped forward to look for their laminated names to be placed at the “Present” column. JW needed some guidance. Some of the kids could even recognise their friends' names.

d) What we did

Next, the kids talked about their drawn pictures. These were some views.

YZ – We went to KLCC for swimming and shopping. I

gave mummy the Carnation flower. I sprayed some

perfume on it.

YW – My mum didn't buy anything from KLCC but daddy
bought something. We were very happy!

J – I gave mother the Carnation flower. After eating, we went
to bed. (He drew his family and grandfather climbing the
staircase to bed.)

XR – We bought a cake for mummy. She loved the

Carnation.

ZJ – I drew a dinosaur picture for mummy. I also gave

her the Carnation.

YP – We had a cake for mummy. We had lots of food.

Everyone was happy.

Little SY drew what was kept in her heart....

SY - This is me and my mother. This is my father

sleeping. He is now in heaven. It is better because

mummy says he can now walk and run. Last time,

his leg swelled like an elephant, she laughed....!

ZY added that when people die, anyone will cry for him. Nothing to be shameful.

e) Revision: Natural Elements

We did some revision on Natural Elements vocabulary. They included sun, water, air, people, animals, air, trees. They were quite good. They explained the meaning of each vocab. They talked about the spinning earth. The trees need the sun to have energy. Water will keep us healthy. Water helps the trees to grow too. The air lets us breathe in and out. Animals could be tame or dangerous. Then, I tested them individually.

I will always love my mother

09/05/2008 (Friday)

(a) Tadpoles
The kids gathered to see the little tadpoles brought up from the pond by Teacher Huang. Frogs like the fish pond. The kids enjoyed seeing their tiny short legs and tails. WY came early today and he held one tadpole in his hand......How daring!

(b) Story-telling: POLO
After drinking water, the kids gathered for the "POLO" story brought over by YZ. The kids loved it so much because there were no words except pictures. It was a story of a smart little dog called "POLO". It lived in a tree, in the middle of the ocean. He travelled up into the sky, sat on the clouds, make some ice-cream from the clouds, went down into the sea to meet the Kingof the Fish and got a lift from a whale. POLO changed every negative situation creatively and deliver wonderful and funny results.

(c) Happy Mother's Day
Next, we talked about this Sunday's special day; Mother's Day. Then they sang "Happy Mother's Day" song. They loved the chorus part: "Oh, oh, oh...who wouldn't know? Oh, oh, oh...who wouldn't know? I will always love my mummy, Happy Happy Mother's Day".

(d) Carnation Flowers
Today, LX brought some Oreo biscuits and seaweed for everyone. They were very happy and thanked LX. Next, we gathered to talk about Mother's Day card. They learnt to read the phrases on: "Happy Mother's Day", "I Love You" and "Thank you". They coloured the words and then cut and paste them onto their drawn colour paper. WY needed more encouragement as he didn't like colouring that much. Meanwhile, I called the kids individually to place their Carnation Flower into a sponge. They then put it in a plastic bottle. They learnt to reuse the bottles rather than throwing away. They were very excited.

(e) Which one can be recycled?
Next, I gave eaveryone a worksheet. They were supposed to colour the items which could be recycled. We discussed together. The recycled items included a bat stick, newsappaer, plastic bottles and apples. The kids learnt that leftover food could be made into compost for our plants. They were quite independent at identifying the items.

Let's Colour Our Carnations!

07/05/2008 (Wednesday)

(a) Story-telling: A Grand Old Tree
Today, WY's mother brought over some books on Trees and Death; so as to help the kids understand more about it. Max's mother too lent us a book on death. I started the class with a story on "A Grand Old Tree". The kids learnt that trees are just like us; the grow form little seeds into taller plants and prosper into big trees before dying. They saw how the Grand old tree's roots absorbed water from the ground. They saw how the tree's flowers grew and later bore fruits. The tree provided homes for many animals including squirrels, birds, eagles, ladybirds and many more animals. After many years, it started whithering its leaves and died. Upon its death, some animals will made homes in its strong trunks including raccoons.

(b) Colours Vocabulary
Next, the kids learnt to identify words of colours. These included white, black, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple and blue. Then, they matched the colours to the words. I gave them a colouring paper of "Humpty Dumpty". SYu, SJ, ZY and JN were among the independent ones who could identify the words and colours.

(c) Let's use water colour!
After tea break, the kids coloured their Carnation Flower. They used the brush to sprinkle the colours on them. Prior to that, they placed newspaper on their tables to avoid stains on the tables. They had to be careful not to sprinkle near their face or shirt. They chose their favourite colour. Some even mixed the colours. They enjoyed themselves as they seldomused water colour. They left the flowers to dry and were quite beautiful.

Carnation Flower Craft

08/05/2008 (Thursday)

a) Warm- up session
The kids marched into the classroom happily as usual. They chose what they wanted to do. Corner Playing, segregating the recycled items into the 3 boxes or drawing. WY, JS, JH, ZYg, J and EG chose for blocks. Today, JS formed an aeroplane which looked more like a spaceship.....cool! Meanwhile, LX and JN assisted me to segregate the recycled items into the correct boxes.

b) Flower and its parts.
Then, I drew a flower on the white board and asked them what were missing. JS said the leaf. So, I drew a leaf and asked them the importance of a leaf. The green element was the reason of photosynthesis; food-making process with the help of sunlight. ZY talked about the roots which absorb water from the ground. J and LX was excited to inform the class about the earthworms in the ground. I also told them about the stem and petals. Then, I gave them some leaves to colour and cut. These would be needed for the Carnation craft later on.

c) Plastic and their numbers
Then, we sang our favourite song; "Happy Mother's Day". They loved the part of "Oh, oh, oh Who Wouldn't Know"...ha ha ha! Then I explained to the kids about the plastic recycled items. There are 7 types of recycled plastic. I shared with the kids that Plastic withe number 3, 6 and 7 are unsafe for us and the earth as they contain unhealthy substance. In some countries, the consumers avoid using Plastic 3, 6 and 7. (.....) Thus, I told the kids that if they go shopping, please choose for Plastic Number 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6.

d) Carnation Flower Craft
After tea-break, the kids gathered in front of the class. I told them that we can recycle the plastic bottles as vases for Carnation flowers. So, I cut a bottle as a sample. I told them that the cutting is suitable for adults as we need to use a cutter. The kids loved share about their mother. Thus, they drew pictures of their mother or things that can make her happy on the colour paper. While drawing, I called the kids individually. They pasted their coloured leaves on the flower's stem. They were very eager about their Carnation Flower!

We Can Help The Earth

06/05/2008 (Tuesday afternoon)

a) Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
This afternoon, I relieved Teacher Hui Ping as she went for a medical check-up. I woke the kids up and told them to bring their matress bedsheet and pillows home. They have to bring a new bedsheet and their pillows again the next day. I later explained to them of the reason which was to prevent the "Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease". We have good and bad viruses in our body. When the bad viruses attack our immune system, we get weak easily. One of the sickness is Hand, Food And Mouth Disease. Now is the season. Thus, the kids learnt (a) to always wash their hands clean, (b) not to share their food or cups for fear of saliva exposure and (c) to bring new bedsheet two days once. They started checking their own hands, feet, tongue and elbows for red spots. They also checked their forehead for fever. Besides that, vomitting and diarrhea are also the signs. Wohh.....they started to be very cautious...which is good!

b) Global Warming
We went down to watch a video clip on Global Warming. It was an interactive story which brought the kids to an Earth Museum The kids learnt vocabulary included: forest, ocean, river, The Artic. In fact, they were very interactive. ZY: "We must not chop trees down!" JN: "We must not throw rubbish into the river." ZYg: "Turtles swallow the plastic bags mistaking them for jellyfish." LX: "Where are the monkeys' homes?"

c) Healthy daily habit
Then, they listened to a video clip song on "Can You Understand?"They enjoyed the cute cartoons. Besides that, they learnt some ways to help the earth: (1) Save the electricity, (2)Do not waste water, (3)Give away our clothes to charity, (4) Plant more trees, (5)Do not throw rubbish.

d) Song: Happy Mother's Day
I gave them a task. They had to remember to melody of the song, "Happy Mother's Day" from the video clip. This song was apoem they read this morning. So, they had to sing the poem into a song now...haaaa! They listened twice. In the classroom, I started the initial melody and they were quite good! We sang with lots of actions and they just love it! Shh...it's suppose to be a Mother's Day song. Parents, below is the lyric. Help your kids if they can't remember. Have fun!

Carnation Flowers

06/05/2008 (Tuesday morning)

a) Humpty Dumpty and Corner Playing

The kids marched from the playground to the classroom. They hid under the tables, behind the door and chairs waiting eagerly for me…..ha ha ha! Some kids played with the blocks. ZY built a canon…wow! The girls did colouring on “Humpty Dumpty”. Meanwhile, I called the kids individually to read the flashcards on colours. We did only 6 colours which were “black, white, red, pink, purple, blue”.

b) Poem: Happy Mother's Day

Next, we formed circle time. I wrote a short paragraph on the whiteboard. It is actually a song but we read together as to reinforce their reading skills. We interpreted the meanings. The kids giggled at the meaning of “hugs” and “kisses” and they asked the meaning of “My Mother Is The Best!”

c) How is little SY?

They were very eager about little SY. In fact, they asked me before I began the class. I told them that I went to her house yesterday with Teacher Huang and Teacher Hui Ting. Her house is in Kapar about an hour’s drive from our school…which is very far. They asked if she cried? I told them that she looked very tired and pale. Of course, she cried for a while when we hugged her. However, she smiled seeing the little pictures which her friends drew for her. In fact, little SY said she wants SYu to draw another picture for her. I asked her what colour Carnation she wants for her mother. Quickly, she said “blue”. I told her that we would make a tissue flower for this Sunday’s Mother’s Day. Deep within myself, I whispered, “Isn’t it wonderful if she could at least celebrate Mother’s Day with her father…”

d) Craft: Carnations

After tea break, the kids gathered eagerly for flower making. Shhh......It's suppose to be a surprise for mothers! First, I introduced them the vocabulary words included "tissue paper, wire thread, scissors, plastic bottle". These were the steps:1) Fold the tissue paper.2) Cut along the middle line.3) Place the 2 parts as 1.4) Fold using your fingers for a bout an inch "in" and "out" like folding a paper fan.5) Use the wire thread to tie a knot in the middle of the folded tissue.6) Unfold the petals as if the Carnation flower is blooming. The challenging part was the folding part. ZY, YZ, JN, SC, SYu and SJ were able to fold individually. I even asked them to help their friends. I reminded to unfold the petals gently as to avoid the tissue being torn. Their flowers turned out to be really pretty and funny though...but they just love it. Tomorrow, we will colour them.

Little SY

05/05/2008 (Monday)

a) A sad news
This morning was a windy one with cloudy sky; as if to respect little SY’s father. Just then, little SY called up. At that moment, I saw Pik Xia’s emotional face turned red with tears. Little SY said, “I can’t come to school today……because my father had passed away.” It must have taken her lots of guts to inform us. Because of her guts and responsible attitude, I decided to share the sad news with her friends. I whispered in my heart, “God…..please guide me through the way, thank you.”

b) Corner Playing and Individual Focus
The kids enjoyed the cloudy weather. They ran around the kindergarten, laughing and feeling exciting. ZY ran 5 rounds and was still asking for more….ha ha ha. However, we went up earlier due to the drizzle. I brought the constructional blocks games for them. They constructed buildings, cars, and guns. Meanwhile, I called the kids individually to paste the words “Plastic, Glass and Paper” onto their hand-made Recycling Bin. They looked for the letters from the newspaper cuttings which they did last Friday.

c) Games and songs
Next, we gathered and formed a circle. We played their favourite game, “How strong are your ears?” This time round, they swapped very fast and more independent. Then, we sang the Hokey Pokey song. They learnt to identify their left hand and left leg. They enjoyed the actions especially when turning their body around.

d) “What I like to do with my mother?”
Next, I drew a picture of my lovely mother which they giggled. Then, I told them about her. I told her that I like helping her to sweep and mop the floor as her knees are not that strong anymore. Then, the kids took turn to share things they do together with their mother. For each kid that stood forward, I drew their cute face. J said he liked baking Apple Pie with his mother. EG said that both his father and himself will cook together with his mother. JN, ZY and M said they like helping her to sweep the floor. Meanwhile, SYu said she likes helping her mother to water the plants. They learned to appreciate their mother.

e) The Life Cycle
After tea break, we gathered. I drew a goldfish which my friend, Jennifer used to have. She named him John. One day, John jumped out from the bowl and died. Then, I asked them to guess how my friend felt. “Sad” was the answer! Then, I told them about SY’s father who had passed away yesterday. They were quite serious and YW said, How can people die. JN said, people die because of old age. YZ said my father died at young age. So, I drew a few pictures and they guessed them. We started with a baby, a toddler, a child who goes to school, a teenager who goes to Secondary school and an youth who starts to work, an adult who gets married and having children and how they old-aged, and an old man. They laughed at the moustache, at the bigger hands and feet and also the hunchbacked body. So, we talked a little bit of how to live longer. We should drink milk, eat healthy food and exercise.
I asked them to think of what we can do for our little sad SY. They said, we can give a present. So I suggested we draw pictures which can make her feel happier. They agreed!
Before drawing, we said a little prayer for little SY. Everyone closed their eyes and said after me despite various religions. “Dear God, Please bless little SY to be stronger. We are sorry to hear about her father. Please guide her father to heaven. Please let little SY know that we will always be there for her. Thank you.”

f) A Supportive Gift
The kids chose either a yellow or orange colour paper. They drew their pictures. Some drew a rainbow, a happy sun, garden, animals. ZY drew how he spent time with little SY. They swept the floor together and poured drinks together. Meanwhile, I called the kids individually to stamp their handprints; as the cover page of her present. While drawing, I could hear them talking about this.
“SY’s father had passed away.”
“Oh….he has gone to the heaven.”
“My mother says, the dead people will be reborned.”
“SY must be sad....”
We really hope that this little gift could lift her spirit.