MATHS AND GOOGLE EARTH

As we learn about scale and mapping, our class opened Google Earth. Google Earth is a great program that you can download from Google. Within the program, we can see geographical aspects throughout the earth. Even we can see our own neighborhood.

The best parts related to learning are the features within the program. It helps us to know about the daylight movement, mapping (as we can apply grid within the globe), longitude and latitude, and many more. In our class, we learn about everyone's house position. The students are looking closely at the area where they live. Then they start using the grid to know exactly the longitude and latitude.

The learning process keeps progressing as the students learn to map their school. They apply the grid system to know where their friends position within the school. It's so amazing when one of my students asked,"is it similar with the way GPS (Global Positioning System) system works?". Here we go, they started to get the point. Well, you may try with your class!


280209

COLLABORATIVE WORK : BAHASA INDONESIA

Dear all,
It's been a while since my last post. It feels like ages to me! Frankly speaking, the workload is getting bigger and bigger. Now, I have my 10 minutes to write about our Bahasa Indonesia lesson.

Before Christmas holiday, I tried to get all the students to feel what we called "collaborative writing". I offered them to write a report writing. "What will be the theme?" one of them asked. I replied back with raising my eyebrows. "You decide!" Then the whole class tried to discuss. When one of them asked whether they can report their last unit researching about colonialism, the whole class agreed at once.

Without any hesitation, I divided them into four groups. They wrote within their group. The result was excellent! The four writing was there. I helped them by editing the diction and gave the opening. Then we collaborate the four writing. Wow! it was becoming powerful report writing. Each group had their own strong points that could be contributed perfectly!

When it had done, I told my partner Jane Ross. She gave us an idea of sending it to the newspaper. Fortunately, we have children newspaper in Indonesia. Jane Ross made a contact and sent the writing. After holiday, we got news that our class writing would be issued in January. WOW!

The newspaper, KORAN BERANI, gave us one page. It was Friday, January 16, 2009 and one of beautiful Fridays in my life. Here we are, in the newspaper. We are spreading the spirit of language, friendship, technology and internationalism. Thanks to Jane Ross, KORAN BERANI and thanks to Mrs. Elizabeth Van Kampen who always becomes our inspiration! and of course, thanks to all students!


180209 - Mr. H

FATAHILLA MUSEUM

Dear all,

Our second unit is about to finish. This week, we have to wrap up everything and make our reflection. Before it is ended, we had an extremely interesting trip to Fatahilla Museum. The museum was located in the part of olden city Jakarta. You can see many old buildings built by the Dutch. Most of the buildings were built in 18th century.

The museum, once, was the office of the governor general. It was mentioned that Jan Pieterzoon Coen, one of the famous governor general, had used the building. The building itself truly just great. You can say that the Dutch really good in making an everlasting building. It is true that the building was not the original building as it had been built in 1707. Through wars, the building had been renovated to be exactly as the original shape.

Governor General Joan van Hoorn was the man behind the erection of the building. However, Governor General Abraham van Riebeeck was the man behind the launching of the building. You can imagine how happy the Dutch were to have this building as the representative power of the Dutch Royal.

All right, I am the teacher. I don't want to dominate the report. If you want to know what happened there, go to our class blog powered by my partner Mrs. T. Hoorraayyy!

Grade 5 SWA blog is: http://www.gr5swa.blogspot.com


blessing,

Mr. H

MATHLETICS!

Hey there!

Our class has our new virtual book. It's mathletics! Yes, it is an interactive online maths website. To go to this website, we must be a member. Our class is quite lucky. We are the first Indonesian School subscribing the program.

Another thing to be proud of is this one; just in two days, our class has reached number 21 out of more than  3000 schools all over the world using the web. It's not that easy.

Mathletics really gives the students power to love maths. It does not offer maths games but also offers the support. The students can go to the support page before doing the tasks. Wow, I cannot tell you more, just see and try!