This week’s newsletter brings together learning highlights from different departments across BIS—from imaginative early-years activities to engaging primary lessons and inquiry-based projects in the upper years. Our students continue to grow through meaningful, hands-on experiences that spark curiosity and deepen understanding.

We also have a dedicated wellbeing article written by our school counsellor, published separately. Please find it in this week’s other post.

Nursery Tiger Cubs: Little Weather Explorers

written by Ms. Julie, Nov. 2025

This month, our Nursery Tiger Cubs became “Little Weather Explorers,” embarking on a journey into weather wonders. From changing clouds and gentle rain to breezes and warm sunshine, children experienced nature’s magic through observation, creativity, and play.

From Books to Sky- Discovering Clouds

We started with the book Cloud Baby. The children learned that clouds are like shape-shifting magicians! In a fun “Playful Cloud Train” game, they floated and tumbled like clouds, while using their imagination with phrases like “The cloud looks like…”. They learned to identify four common cloud types and made fluffy “cotton candy clouds” with cotton—turning abstract knowledge into hands-on art.

Feeling & Expressing:-Learning Self-Care

While exploring “Hot and Cold,” children used their whole body to feel temperature changes in games like “Little Sun & Little Snowflake.” We encouraged them to express when they felt uncomfortable—saying “I’m hot” or “I’m cold”—and learn simple ways to cope. This wasn’t just science; it was a step toward self-care and communication.

Create & Interact – Experiencing Rain, Wind & Sun

We brought “rain” and “wind” into the classroom. Kids listened to The Little Raindrop’s Adventure, sang rhymes, and drew rainy scenes with paper umbrellas. After learning that wind is moving air, they made and decorated colorful kites.

During the “Sunny Day” theme, children enjoyed The Little Rabbit Looks for the Sun and “Turtles Basking in the Sun” game. A class favorite was the “Weather Forecast” game—where “little forecasters” acted out “wind-hug-a-tree” or “rain-put-on-a-hat,” boosting their reaction skills and learning weather words in Chinese and English.

Through this theme, the children not only learned about weather but also developed a passion for exploring nature—strengthening their observation, creativity, and confidence to speak up. We look forward to next month’s new adventures!

Year 5 Update: Innovating and Exploring!

written by Ms. Rosie, Nov. 2025

Hello BIS Families,

It has been a dynamic and exciting start in Year 5! Our focus on innovative learning methods is bringing our curriculum to life in engaging new ways.

In Maths, we’ve been tackling adding and subtracting positive and negative numbers. To master this tricky concept, we’re using hands-on games and number lines. The “chicken jumps” activity was a fun, visual way to find the answers!

Our Science lessons have been filled with inquiry as we explore sound. Students have been conducting experiments, testing how different materials can muffle noise and discovering how vibrations affect volume. This practical approach makes complex ideas tangible.

In English, alongside lively discussions on topics like malaria prevention, we’ve dived into our new class book, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. The students are enthralled! This brilliantly links to our Global Perspectives unit, as we learn about Greek myths, discovering stories from another culture together.

It’s a joy to see the students so engaged with their learning through these diverse and interactive methods.

Learning Pi the Ancient Greek Way

written by Mr. Henry, Nov. 2025

In this classroom activity, students explored the relationship between a circle’s diameter and circumference to discover the value of π (pi) through hands-on measurement. Each group received four circles of varying size, along with a ruler and a piece of ribbon. Students began by carefully measuring the diameter of each circle across its widest point, recording their results in a table. Next, they wrapped the ribbon once around the edge of the circle to measure its circumference, then straightened it up and measured the ribbon’s length.

After collecting data for all objects, students calculated the ratio of circumference to diameter for each circle. They soon noticed that, regardless of size, this ratio remains approximately constant—around 3.14. Through discussion, the class connected this constant ratio to the mathematical constant π. The teacher guides reflection by asking why minor differences appear in measurements, highlighting sources of error such as inaccurate wrapping or reading of the ruler. The activity concludes with students averaging their ratios to estimate π and recognizing its universality in circular geometry. This engaging, discovery-based approach deepens conceptual understanding and shows how mathematics emerges from real-world measurement – real-world measurement actually performed by the ancient greeks!