Grade 6-8 weekly News letter

DUNES INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Volume -4 , Issue –1 ACADEMIC SESSION 2019-2020 1st Sep—5 th Sep 2019  Enrol your ward for ASSET exam as it is man- datory  Access the digital cam- pus on a regular basis for assignments and notices  Send your ward in proper school uniform  Registration process be- gins for 2020-2021 THE MOST AWAITED SECOND HOME-Dunes International School welcomed back all the students and staff back to school after the summer vacation with an innovative way of using a maze. The students were in for a pleasant surprise as they were given a red carpet welcome by their teach- ers and the Principal. Their joy knew no bonds when they saw their favorite cartoon characters greeting them at the school gate. Their pathway to their classrooms were lined with positive and mo- tivational welcome messages jotted by the teachers. Also special assemblies exclusively prepared by the teachers were conducted for all the sections which passed on the message of hope and positivity.

Teachers conducted a special assem- bly to welcome back the students based on the theme hope of positivi- ty. It was a well organized assembly which established a positive tone for teachers and student through skit and welcome song.

TO TEACH IS TO TOUCH A LIFE FOREVER 5th of September marks an important day in the calendar of a teacher as well as a student because this day is the birth anniversary of Dr.S.Radhakrishnan and is observed as Teacher’s Day among the entire Indian diaspora in UAE as well as in India in order to honour and pay respect to our teachers and educa- tors who dedicate their life to the noble mission of teaching-learning. DUNES students also paid re- spects to their educators on Teachers’ Day in a grand celebration conceptualized and put together by them for their ‘gurus’. The Teacher’s day program was an extremely interactive and interesting one which was thoroughly enjoyed by one and all. The students paid their respects to the teachers who have been their friend, philosopher and guide. Also ,senior students donned the role of student -teacher for a day and taught middle school students to give a day off to their mentors and to get a better perspective into their teacher’s lives.

Our school play ground filled with eagerness and motivation as the students of grade 6 up- wards attended their selection trials to represent various CBSE cluster school team on 3rd and 4th September 2019. Almost all the student participated in this selection trials and gave their best .

Role Play Role play will give children the skills to handle problematic social interactions, such as bullying, which may happen as they progress through life. When children are engaged in role playing, it helps to develop their way of thinking and helps them to develop feelings of empathy. Grade 7 students presented role play on the topic Mughal em- pire. Each group selected different emperors and they pre- sented their life and administrative policies through role play. Through this activity they learned about the administrative policies of Mughal rulers and they compared each rulers and their qualities. Grade 7 students enacted the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb’s trade relations with the Europeans. By this activity students devel- oped their confidence, communication, creativity etc. Along with being of a fun activity, it also allows children to get into character and act out real life roles or fictional performances.

Grade 6 students conducted a group discussion on the topic “Is Indian Judiciary Independent of political executive”. After discuss- ing in the groups, students shared their views with the class. This helped them to have a better understanding of Indian govern- ment and the responsibility of different organs of the government in a democratic country. Grade 8 students were asked to conduct a debate based on the topic “ Do you think that any ordinary citizen stands a chance against a politician in this kind of judicial system? Why not?” The students were divided into two groups and asked to discuss on the topic . After ten minutes of discussion each group put forth their views which helped them to think logically and develop better understanding about Indian judicial system.

Students were taken to the biology lab to identify the major level of organization in organisms and to understand how simpler levels contribute to the functions of more complex levels. They came to know that the complex structure of a human body has basic structures, functions and needs . They understood about the various organ systems present in human body and how it functions together in order to maintain life. They developed an understanding of the benefits of adopting a healthy life style. Grade 8 Students did an activity to compare the ignition point of various combustible objects. They learnt that the presences of water can alter the ignition temperature of var- ious fuels. They understood the importance of pouring water to extinguish fire in emergency situations.

Paper Craft Ninja Stars Folding ninja stars with paper is an easy and fun project that can be used as a decoration or craft work. This origami paper craft is an interesting topic and help to develop students’ creativity. Grade 6 students enthusiastically participated in making this craft and show- cased their creativity through their works.

Gr.6 Hindi - Student did Group Activity on Adjec- tive. They learnt different types of adjective and selected 2 types of Adjective with examples. They made sentences using Adjective words and wrote its types. Gr.8 Hindi - Students did individual Activi- Gr.7 Hindi - Student did Activity ty from ‘Bachata high School’. They learn t on kahani Delhi ki. They learnt about history of Notice and Advertisement writing. They made Delhi and did Activity in their own way . They Notice and Advertisement on Dunes Interna- wrote about Delhi’s 7 king and 7 City and the tional School “Admission Opens”. importance of Delhi in India and its history .

Students had a discussion on the topic ‘What is self reli- ance and what is its importance’ . They came to know that Self- reliance is defined by independence. It is the ability to think and act without the help or influence of others, the ability to decide what you should be or do. Dependency is the act of relying on others to make decisions for an individual. They realized that self – awareness is important for achieving our goals as it make us aware of our strengths and weakness, focus on what we need to improve and evaluate our decisions. “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Role playing is defined as pretending to be someone else or pretending to be in a specific situation that you are not actually in at the time. Students enacted the story based on the value of judg- ment. They planned each character of the story in a well manner and expressed it with a range of emotions. This enacting helped them to understand the role of each character thoroughly and it gave them a perception that blind judgment is a destructive tool.

Lab Activity : The mathematics laboratory is a place where anybody can ex- periment and explore patterns and ideas. The activities create interest among students or in anybody who wants to explore, and test some of their ideas, beliefs about mathematics. The math lab provides an opportunity for the students to discover mathematics through doing. Many of the activities present a problem or a challenge, with the possibility of generating further challenges and problems. The activ- ities help students to visualize, manipulate and reason. Students of grade 6 learned the concept of adding a positive integer and a negative integer by an activity using building blocks. They learned an easy way of calculating the sum of a positive and a negative integer by taking positive as one color of the blocks and choose another color for negative. Using the concept of adding a positive number with its negative results zero, they found the answer for their given questions.



Grade 8 Students worked in a team to identify the number pattern given and generalized the pattern into their own sentences. They discussed in groups and identified the consecutive terms of the giv- en pattern and listed the patterns using proper notations and symbols. They framed the statement “ The difference of cubes of two consecutive numbers is equal to one more than three times the product of those numbers” using the key words given and hence generalized the pattern into a meaningful mathematical statement. Competencies like independent learning and critical thinking were inculcated during this activity. Grade 7 students did the construction of triangles using congruence criterion by a group activity. Each group found different measures for the construction and ex- changed with other groups and constructed accordingly. Each group shared their understanding of triangle con- struction.

For and Against Debates in the classroom can help students grasp essential critical thinking and presenta- tion skills. Among the skills classroom debates foster abstract thinking, citi- zenship and etiquette, clarity, organiza- tion, persuasion, public speaking, re- search, and teamwork and coopera- tion. Students articulated the topic - Mobile phones should be completely banned in schools. They outlined their arguments by stating a claim, listing reasons, and providing evidence. They used appropriate expressions to communicate effectively. They were able to compare and discriminate be- tween ideas and recognized strengths and weakness of their argument. CITIZENS' FORUM - THE PROBLEM OF TRAFFIC JAMS IN YOUR CITY/TOWN The students of grade 7 A did the role play on the problem of traffic jams in their cities and towns. The teacher asked the class to form groups and each group got a set of cue cards. Based on their cue cards ,they were allotted their roles to play. They did their role plays in effective manner. The young students came up with new ideas to solve the problem of traffic in their cities and towns, The main objectives of the activity were: 1.Sensitizing students to local issues 2.Generating ideas and using language functions appropriate to stating of problems, giving suggestions, concluding and summarizing.

Descriptive Writing activity: Writing activities activate students learning and allow them to practice what they already know. Prac- ticing descriptive writing can not only enhance their writing and prepare them for future English en- deavors, it can also be a tool for practicing the English language in a fun and creative way. In grade 6 English lessons students were given a writing activity on the topic: ‘Different Festivals in UAE’. Children are asked to write a detailed description about different Festivals in UAE. The objectives of the activity were :  Appreciate culture and heritage better—festivals, art and creativity of the UAE.  Developing sensitivity towards diverse art Children were able to depict culture and traditions of UAE through the description. They could explain the topic with a formal style and a concluding statement. They could also explain the topic and reason out the importance of celebrating different festivals in UAE.

Mes vacances : The activity’s focus was to speak about the vacation and their visit to their favorite places like mountain, park, beaches etc. in French. The students spoke about their experience and places of visit coherently. “J’ai passé de très bonnes vacances ! Je suis allée chez mes grand parents avec ma famille. Ma famille et moi, nous sommes passés voir la cité. C'etait formidable.”

The UAE Government had been taking Never underestimate the power of outdoor play. Run- efforts towards building a tolerant na- ning on the grass, climbing trees, sitting on a swing, tion before the structural changes of and digging in the dirt is good for kids. Outdoor play the Cabinet. Some of these measures can also improve social skills in children. Children who are enumerated below. The Year of increased their time playing outside increased their Tolerance will focus on five main pil- empathy, engagement, and self-control. Kids with lars: better social skills are likely to enjoy healthier relation-  to deepen the values of tolerance ships. and co-existence among cultures Make outdoor play a daily habit. by teaching the youth the values of tolerance Regards  to solidify the UAE as the global capital for tolerance through a se- Sadhna ries of initiatives, projects and dia- logues between various cultures and civilizations  to implement multiple cultural programs and make contributions to build tolerant communities  to focus on legislative and policy- oriented objectives that contribute to mandating cultural and religious tolerance via dialogue  to promote tolerance through tar- geted media initiatives and pro- jects. 8.09.2019-Grand Parents day 12.09.2019-Literary Fest Preliminary Round 19.09.2019-Literary Fest Finals