Mathematics:
Standard: We started the academic session by recapitulating the concept of linear equation in two variables and appeared for a benchmarking assessment. We participated in a collaborative activity to solve the equations graphically and algebraically. We discussed inquiry and purpose of our first unit ‘Coordinate Geometry’. We learned about the derivation of distance formula, midpoint formula, gradient, finding the distance of a point from a perpendicular line and their real-life application.
Sciences:
Chemistry: We started our new academic year with enhancing our skills required in Science. We participated in a looping back activity and revised the important concepts. We practiced the atomic structure, calculating number of electrons, protons and neutrons for an atom of various elements, writing chemical names, chemical formulae and balancing the chemical equations. We started the new unit ‘Sorting it all out”. The key concept, global context, statement of inquiry and the inquiry questions were shared, followed by a class discussion. We conducted a starter activity for the unit and watched a video on how the modern periodic table was developed. We observed the modern periodic table and discussed our findings. We analysed the table and learnt to derive important information from it.
Biology: We learned about the negative feedback mechanism for Insulin and glucagon hormones in our body. We designed a table to analyse types of receptors. We drew a neuron, a reflex arc and created a flow chart to understand parts of Human Nervous system. We watched a video ‘Nervous System in Nine Minutes’ and annotated the brain diagram to understand the basic functions and parts of a brain. We conducted a brainstorming session on importance of synapses and neurotransmitters in our body.
Physics: We enhanced our graph plotting and graph analysis skills. We discussed inquiry and purpose of the new unit. We learned about scalars, vectors and discussed various motion graphs.
Language & Literature: The academic year began with activities which helped us recap our prior learning and comprehend command terms, Global Contexts, key concepts and related concepts for the subject. This was followed by an introduction to Modern Literature and its characteristics. We started our first unit ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ and decoded the concepts of a Code Hero, symbolism and allegory. We have discovered that the Code Hero’s journey overlaps the Freytag’s Pyramid and attempted the plotting using a medium of our choice.
Individual & Societies:
We started the unit ‘Resource Management’ by discussing the key and related concepts as well as the global context. We drafted a relevant statement of inquiry and worked in groups to define and categorize resources. We conducted an activity on resource planning and evaluated the need of resource management.
Language Acquisition:
French: Regardless of our current level in French, the interest and motivation to attend French language classes never goes away. All of us knew at the start of the academic year that the benchmarking assessment will be conducted in the second week of August to ascertain our phase levels correctly. Therefore, most of the skill building exercises were predominantly based on improving our reading and listening comprehension skills. We saw videos, practiced grammar and participated in spoken exercises. Now that the assessment has been conducted, we were placed in the appropriate phases and a preliminary introduction to French phonetics, accents and sounds was practiced through multimedia resources.
Spanish: Brainstorming and scaffolding activities were conducted in the class. We revised two past tenses in class and used kahoot quizzes to practice those. Furthermore, we appeared for the benchmarking assessment.
Hindi: We shared our summer vacation experiences and discussed our improvement areas for the new term in terms of language and ATL skills. We discussed the essential agreements of our class and participated in various activities, for example Just a Minute, Pahchan kaun in our class, which were helpful in further developing our communication and collaboration skills. We also read various stories and articles during group reading activities.
Under SEL (Social Emotional Learning) we made cards for our peers, which helped us in understanding each other’s skills and positive aspects of personality.
Furthermore, this week we had our benchmarking assessment.
ePortfolio Subjects:
PHE: We prepared presentations on the functioning of the cardiovascular system and shared them.
Product Design: We have started our journey in Product Design with a unit ‘Creativity in Architecture’. The main intent of the unit is to focus on elements and principles of architecture and finally design an architectural structure which will be the end product for the unit. Simultaneously, we are exploring Autodesk Revit Design software. This software will enable us to create the final sketch of the product with precision. As a class, we have decided to come up with an architectural layout of the Primary School building. We have identified the scope of work for the entire project and each one of us will create one structure related to the Primary School. Through this unit, we will be highlighting social skills, as extensive collaboration is required to complete this project. We have started writing our process journals after the information-sharing sessions and learning activities conducted by our teacher. The task is a challenging one and we are trying hard to achieve the best.
Digital Design: We have started working on a unit where we have to decide whether we want to create an app or a website based on any one sustainable development goal. We learnt how to formulate a design problem, create a research table and analyse products using OPVL format. It was interesting to understand how extra information can be added to an e-portfolio using an appendix. We understood how an annotated bibliography can be a rich source of information and would help us develop better research skills.
Music: We discussed the requirements of an e-portfolio of all the musical works. We discussed major and minor scales, three forms of minor scales, evolution of harmonic and melodic minor scales, identification of intervals – consonance and dissonance, modes and different chord types.
We participated in an activity on the topic of modes, where we had to identify tunes based on different modes.
We also had a formative assessment on the intervals and their aesthetic appeal.
MYP 4C (2018-19) 