<p class="ql-block">The three Rs have been a cornerstone of K2C’s learning, emphasising their importance as fundamental actions humans can take to help protect our planet 🌎.</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:18px;">Reduce- use less!</b></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:18px;">Reuse- use again!</b></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:18px;">Recycle- old things made into new things! ♻️</b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">From this, K2C delved deeply into the various impacts of human actions on our planet. Topics explored included global warming, water pollution, plastic in the ocean, deforestation, air pollution, light pollution, noise pollution, and wildfires.</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">Let’s take a look at one of our inquiry activities, where the students used their creative art skills to depict the effects of global warming. K2C learned that the Earth is getting hotter, which can lead to severe consequences such as wildfires, the destruction of habitats and homes for both animals and people, and the melting of polar ice in colder regions. This, in turn, affects habitats and causes flooding.</p> <p class="ql-block" style="text-align:center;">In this section, we explore the various types of pollution and the impacts caused by human actions on our planet. K2C has shown great curiosity and interest in this topic, developing an understanding of how these types of pollution have come about. After engaging in several circle-time discussions to build their knowledge, the students were tasked with creating an image representing a human impact they learned about in class. Let’s take a look…</p> <p class="ql-block" style="text-align:center;"><b style="font-size:22px;"><i>Such wonderful creations! ✏️</i></b></p> <p class="ql-block">This inquiry activity involved reusing materials in our classroom, such as paper, to decorate a sea turtle. The class was divided into two teams: one team tore the different coloured paper into smaller pieces to prepare them for sticking, while the other team worked on sticking the paper onto the turtle’s shell in a dark-light-dark-light pattern. 🐢</p> <p class="ql-block">Next, we had a fantastic activity focused on reusing plastic water bottles and turning them into art! Over the course of a few weeks, the students collected used plastic water bottles from their homes. Once enough were gathered, K2C transformed them into fish, creating a wonderful display of reusing and recycling materials. These beautiful fish were showcased alongside the sea turtle as part of our ocean-themed learning journey display. </p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">This activity not only helped the students make meaningful connections—showing how something as simple as a water bottle can be turned into artwork they will cherish—but also delivered a powerful message about the large amount of plastic in our oceans and its harmful impact on habitats and sea animals.</p> <p class="ql-block">After exploring the various types of pollution and the devastating issues affecting our planet, K2C learned about the many ways we can help protect it! These included saving energy by turning off lights and electronic appliances when not in use, walking instead of driving when possible, taking public transport, turning off taps while brushing teeth, using reusable bags, and recycling.</p><p class="ql-block">For this task, K2C identified five actions they felt would help the Earth and illustrated them in their drawings.</p> <p class="ql-block"><b><i>RAZ: Learning to Read</i></b></p><p class="ql-block">The students have shown great focus and dedication to their reading program! Every day, they practice reading with me, making remarkable progress and gaining confidence with each session.</p> <p class="ql-block"><b><i>Phonics Programme</i></b></p><p class="ql-block">Let’s not forget our delightful phonics programme! The students have been working hard on blending sounds, which is greatly enhancing their ability and skills to read RAZ books with confidence.</p> <p class="ql-block">Christmas 🎄</p><p class="ql-block">Although Christmas has come and gone, what a wonderful, jolly time it was in K2C! Before we say goodbye in this newsletter, we wanted to share an activity that brought the students lots of cheer every day. Each student had the opportunity to open a toy advent calendar as a reward for being wonderful students in class! From Christmas LEGO and Christmas ducks to Mario and his friends, K2C certainly had a very Merry Christmas!</p> <p class="ql-block">Thank you all for reading, we hope you have a great weekend and wonderful 2025! </p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block" style="text-align:center;"><b style="font-size:22px;">Happy New Year! </b></p>