18.11.2008

On the 18th we had a ceremony where our students sang songs in our partners language, gave presents which they had made themselves. Our students were delighted when they received gifts from our partners.





After having lunch at school we had a tour of the school where our students were the guides. Our first project meeting was held just after the coffee service.


The meeting agenda was:
· Presentations of the countries and the schools.
· The steps followed in procedure until the acceptance of the project.
· A detailed presentation of the report cards given at schools.
· The differences in acquisition from one country to another.
· To form the skeleton of the multilingual evaluation program which will develop throughout the project.
· Requests
· To determine the steps and dates for conference meetings.



Following the meeting we went to a shopping centre in the area.
After dinner we were invited to one of parents house (Mr.and Mrs. Dönmezer) for coffee.

17.11.2008

We greeted our guest at the airport on 17,11,2008 and took them to their hotel with our schools
school bus.



The same night our founder and general manager gave a welcoming dinner where traditional Turkish cuisine was served.

November Activities

The photo´s show the presentation of the presents from you , your children and from us to our children. The children open the presents. Then we told them about our trip to Istanbul and about your school and Minik. Then we eat turkish olive, bread and cheese. After this we smell the taste of turkish delights. Our turkish children talk also about their homeland, the cultur and the religion.

November Activities

Janet explaining to the children about Istanbul and showing some of the sites.

Kallum showing how to hold and play the drum

3 of our children playing with Turkish instruments.

Children modelling Turkish headwear for the rest of the school to see.

November Activities

Theme: Sleeping Can Be Fun
Activity: Pyjama Party
Materials: Popcorn, pillows and a DVD
Aim: To explore the idea that getting ready to go to bed can be fun.
What we did: If we want to be healthy, we need to get proper sleep. Our focus was to show our students that sleeping can be fun. First, the school sent a letter to the parents. In the letter we introduced “Pyjama Party” (which is a fairly foreign concept here), and what the children needed to bring to the class. They brought their own pyjamas to school. Then we changed into our pyjamas and popped some popcorn and watched our favorite cartoon show, afterwards, we had a short pillow fight! Finally, we got our students to settle down and told them it was bed time and we read our favorite fairy tale.

November Activities

Theme: Exercise to Stay Healthy
Activity: Children’s Yoga
Materials: Real or imitation candles (Glade type), incense.
Aim: To get a little understanding of the benefits of relaxation and positive thoughts.
What we did: (NB. Because there are candles involved in this activity we recommend 5-6 students to one teacher, and we also appreciate that in many countries the use of real candles would not be permitted). First, we started out with a natural effects CD., (example: birds chirping, waterfall, wind sounds, etc), 6 candles, and 1 incense stick. Then the students came into the class room and they were seated according to the already set candles (example: first row 3 student, then two students come between 1-2 and 2-3, than the sixth student comes between 4-5, total of 6 students).
For example:

#6
#4 #5
#1 #2 #3

Afterward, the students sat in a yoga position and the teacher explained what yoga was and the rules of yoga. Then the teacher lit each one of the candles and dimmed the lights. With all the children seated in front of their candles, the teacher gave the instructions to close their eyes and used guided fantasy to bring them to a peaceful place. When we had finished doing yoga, the students opened their eyes and blew out their candles. Finally, the teacher asked students how they felt, and we talked about the purpose of relaxation and positive thoughts.

November Activities

Theme: Healthy Eating
Activity: Kitchen Activity
Materials: A selection of healthy food.
Aim: To get the idea of what color different vegetables and fruits are, and how important it is to eat vegetable and fruits to stay healthy
What we did: First we set up a table with healthy foods with cheese, butter, honey, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots and milk. Then, the students gathered around the table with their teacher and talked about fruits and vegetable. Afterwards, they shared ideas amongst themselves. And finally, they feasted on all of these foods that they need to eat to stay healthy.

November Activities

Theme: Germs and Hygiene
Activity: Microscopic Organism Experiment
Materials: Toys, glitter, soap and water.
Aim: Children realize that the only way to get germs off of their hands is by washing with soap and water and to compare dirtiness and cleanliness.
What we did: First, the teacher sprinkled a small amount of glitter over the toys before the children came. Afterwards, the children came and played with the toys for ten minutes. Then the teacher asked the children to look at their hands. There was glitter all over their bodies. Then the teacher talked to them about germs. She explained that they are very small and cannot be seen. Next, the teacher asked them how they could get rid of the germs from their hands. They thought for a while, and then they come up with a few suggestions. First, they rubbed their hands together to shake off the germs. They realized that the germs were still on their hands and they came up with a second idea. Then they decided to wash their hands with soap and water.

November Activities

Theme: My Body
Activity: Organizing the Body parts
Materials: Scissors, glue, body template
Aim: Children learn about their body parts and where their arms, legs, feet, head, etc. belong.
What we did: First we got the children to cut out the body parts. Then they put the cut pieces together and afterward they glued them on a blank piece of paper.

November Activities

Theme: Autumn
Activity: Leaf Observation
Materials: Magnifying glasses, dried leaves, pumpkins and chestnuts
Aim: Children get an idea of the changing seasons and what changes appear along with that season; such as, dried leaves and their colors, the association of pumpkins and chestnuts with autumn etc.
What we did: We prepared an autumn corner. First, we gathered dried leaves from the garden and spread them on the floor of the school hall ways along with a few pumpkins and chestnuts. There were hidden mysteries (pieces of a home-made jigsaw puzzle with an autumn theme) under the leaves along with magnifiers. Then the children came and they explored the leaves with the magnifying glass and they found the puzzle pieces and tried to complete the puzzle.