Grade 5 welcomed Tobias Röhner to their distance-learning classroom. Herr Röhner is a business consultant with Mile Two Consulting in Leipzig. He joined us to share his expertise, as students explore their current Unit of Inquiry, “Market Forces”.

Prior to his visit, Grade 5 had been given the task of starting their own businesses. During our virtual lesson, Herr Röhner talked to students about starting a company, explained the role of a business consultant, answered questions and made time to consult with each of the groups on their very own business ideas.

The students had the opportunity to make connections between their own learning and what is happening in the economy. Students were able to see how IB Learner attributes, such as being a risk-taker, knowledgeable, open-minded and a thinker are critical for starting a successful business.

Grade 5 students got an authentic taste of what it’s like to apply their knowledge, skills and creativity, in order to leave their very own mark the market.

FW

The students in grade 8 have been studying interactions between populations, communities and ecosystems as part of their Unit “Silent Spring”.

This unit takes its name from an environmental science book published in 1962 by Rachel Carson. This book helped everyday people see the dramatic ways our impact on the environment, through the use of pesticides, could ripple through ecosystems, worsening over time, and helped ignite a movement for greater conservation efforts.

Grade 8 took a break from their screens last week to observe their local environment and document examples of​​ interdependence and interactions within populations communities and ecosystems.

One student observed:

“The largest green tree is an apple tree, the tree with the white blossom is cherry, the smaller plants with the yellow flowers are wolfbane and the leafy green bush is a pink and wite rose.

There are many plants in the small space which leaves them all competing for space. Even though the plants are struggling for room, they each bring something to the garden.

The wolfsbane sap burns flesh so it stops any cats or people walking through the roses have thorns which stops people from accessing the apples which means they can drop their seeds easily.

The trees and plants give out O2 and breathe in CO2, and the blossoms have a beautiful smell which attracts many bees and butterflies in summer.”

“There is a pine tree, a second cherry tree and a wild pear tree. These three trees each take up a rather big space.

Pine is incredibly tall, cherry’s branches spread out and lastly wild pear has stayed slightly small because it is benign blocked by the two other trees.

The pine casts a huge shadow down on the ground and makes the soil slightly more acidic when the pine cones rot down. Which is the perfect easy for many plants to grow such as; clover, rose, and dandelions.

All three trees give out O2 and take in significant amounts of CO2.”

Wishing everyone time to enjoy the final arrival of spring this weekend!

At a distance, Grade 9 students have worked creatively with mathematical formulas. Well done guys!

The most recent Grade 7 online Science lessons were spent researching the chemical elements of the periodic table and their compounds.

Grade 7 scientists had to prepare a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and letter of motivation for their favourite element, explaining why the chosen element deserves to be in the periodic table.

When the students were celebrating the end of the project, zoom “intruder” Richard Thornley joined the class, as a fun surprise. Well known among IB Chemistry students, Mr. Thornley, currently residing in Prague, shared his knowledge of the chemical elements with the students.

Mr. Thornley and the students enjoyed this fun finish of a Science Teaching Unit.

MM