Week 4 - Summer School - Day 3, 4 and 5

Hi parents,

This week we looked at the arts and discussed a different artist and art form every day. On Wednesday we looked at one of Japan's most famous female artists, Yayoie Kusama. Her work involves lots of mosaics and dots paintings, so we created our own mosaics, using our favourite characters. The students created mosaics of Minion characters, Daffy Duck, and Mickey Mouse. It was time consuming work, but the results were fantastic!

On Thursday we looked at some of Renoirs most famous landscape paintings and portraits. We then discussed 'Figurative Composition', and a few volunteers acted as models and the class drew them. Then using our drawings as a guide we created statues out of foil and craft wire. It was a little tricky getting each statue into the right pose, but the students had a good time.

On our last day of summer school, we finished with the famous American alternative artist, Andy Warhol. we looked at screen printing technique and then reproduced some artwork using common household objects, such as vacuums, fruit, hamburgers, and chairs.

It was a great summer school period. The students made lots of new friends and had lots of fun. We thank everyone for attending and making it such a great month.

Cheers,

Mr. Palmer.

Week 4 - Summer School - Day 1 and 2

Hi parents,

This week we looked at the arts and discussed a different artist and art form every day. We started on Monday with a look at the incredibly talented abstract artist, Pablo Picasso. We discussed some of his most famous pieces and then played a silly game called 'Roll a Picasso' where students would roll a  dice and choose a certain body part to include in a portrait that they would later create. We painted them in the afternoon. I was amazed with some of the exceptional talents the students had.

On Tuesday we moved right back to 15th century art and some of Michelangelo's famous pieces. We looked at the 'Sisteen Chapel' and then some of his sculptures, such as 'David', 'Moses', and 'Lorenzo'. Then it was the students turn to try their hand in sculpting. Each student was given a bar of soap that they would sculpt into a work of art. We created flowers, love hearts, fish and elephants. It was a little messy but the students really enjoyed themselves.

Week 3 - Summer School - Day 4 and 5

Hi parents,

This week we looked at science and nature, tackling a different part of this fascinating topic everyday. To conclude the week on Thursday and Friday, we looked at climate and the seasons, and created a few devices to record the weather. We made windsocks and rain gauges, and also used thermometers to get accurate readings of the daily weather patterns. In the afternoon's craft session, we made beautiful paper tree models, which displayed the leaves changing on every different season.

On the Friday, Mr Dustan explained the different states of matter and we conducted a few experiments to see changes in the states. We predicted how each state would change, and how long it would take. In the afternoon sessions we played a few games in the classroom and outside on the play area. It was a really enjoyable few lessons and the kids had a lot of fun. Next week we will look at different types of art and what effect it had on society. I think the students will really enjoy it.

Week 3 - Summer School - Day 1, 2 and 3

Hi parents,

This week we are looking at science and tackling a different part of this fascinating topic everyday. On Monday and Tuesday, we looked at the Natural Environment, took a stroll down to the local creek to draw and discuss what makes up the natural environment compared to the man-made environment. On Tuesday we looked at the food chain, we played a few games looking at herbivores, carnivores and omnivores. We then made some fantastic food chain display to put up around the class.

It was a really enjoyable few lessons and the kids had a lot of fun.

Week 2 - Summer School - Day 3, 4 and 5.

Hi parents,

This week we are looking at foreign countries and tackling a new country everyday. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, we looked at the countries of India, Egypt and then finished off with Brazil. The students, drew and learnt about the flag, the history of the country, looked at different landmarks, the currency, the money and played some fun games that are popular in each country.

In the afternoon sessions, we created some beautiful arts and craft pieces. On Wednesday, we created our Mandalla drawings, where students created circles on paper and then drew symmetrical shapes to create some beautiful pieces. They turned out really well.

On Thursday afternoon as part of our Egypt day, we looked at the steps of preparing a body for mummification and then recreated the steps on a little popsicle friend! It was a little messy, but the kids had a lot of fun.

Week 2 - Summer School, Day 1 and 2

Hi parents,

This week we are looking at foreign countries and tackling a new country everyday. We started on Monday with the country where I am from Australia, and then followed on Tuesday with another great country, Italy. The students, drew and learnt about the flag, the history of the country, looked at different landmarks, the currency, the money and played some fun games that are popular in each country.

On Monday, we created our own paper / origami boomerangs, we carefully folded and then painted them and then took them outside to throw around and try and get them to spin back towards us. It was really entertaining.

Then on Tuesday afternoon, we recreated the Leaning Tower of Pisa. They turned out really well and the students really enjoyed the activity.

Week 1 - Day 2, 3 and 4

Hi parents,

We had a great finish to the week at Primary Summer School! One of the favourite early morning games we played was charades. Students had to perform the actions of a typical activity, for example, doing the dishes, washing the car, riding a horse, and students would guess what they were doing. It was very entertaining. Then we got into our work on our topic on Outer Space!

Over Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we looked at the stars, astronauts and finally we delved deep into the earths crust. Student created their own star constellation patterns and also made clay replicas of the Earth. At the end of the activity we cut them open to see all the various layers that made up the Earth.

On the Friday, we had the older guys present their group projects. We heard about different planets, like Mars, Neptune and Jupiter. It was really interesting to listen to.

We look forward to seeing the kids again next week, when we look at foreign countries.

Day 1 and 2 of Week 1

Hi parents,

We had a great first couple of days at Primary Summer School! We started with a fun icebreaking activity called Space Fruit Salad to get the kids talking and making new friends. Then we got to work on our topic on Outer Space!

We spent the last first two days discussing the moon and the planets. The students worked on an art project of their favourite planet.

Then on the Tuesday after a discussion about the moon, we created our very own moonviewer to understand the phases of the moon. After lunch we created a great poster that showed all the different phases of the moon, as it passes around Earth.

Welcome HJIS Summer School for Week 1

Welcome to HJIS Summer School for Week 1 (July 10 to 14)!

I am Steven Palmer, and this is my first time teaching summer school at HJIS. I am originally from Australia, and have lived in Japan with my wife and son for about 3 years. I have been teaching in a number of different parts of the world such as Australia, Malaysia and now Japan. I think Japan is a wonderful place to teach as I have found the students to be incredibly hard-working, but also really caring and considerate to their classmates. My favourite subjects to teach are Maths, History and Physical Education. 

I look forward to having meaningful and rewarding experiences with your child over the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at spalmer@horizon.ac.jp.

Thank you, Mr. Palmer.

Pool Time
Don't forget pool days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Students can bring their own water toys but they are responsible for them. Instead of pool time, students can also play sports like basketball and soccer on the playground.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Main Teacher

Steven Palmer spalmer@horizon.ac.jp

Assistant Teacher

Mr. Koc (Pronounced Coach)

Helpers

One high school student from Horizon

One high school student from Hakuho Girls' High School

School Secretary <hjis@horizon.ac.jp> Please send questions about school lunches, payments, and school buses to the secretary.

Topic for the Week Our theme for this week is Space and the Solar System.
Here is the newsletter for Session 1.