The Lion Dance

The lion dance troupe came to school on Friday 27 January 2012. It was Fardhu Ain class when we heard the sound of the drums and cymbals of the lion dance. We had to stop the class as all the children were craning their heads to look for the lion dance. All was forgotten and excitement as well as SOME fear filled the school.

The lion dance was at the school gates! We quickly put on our shoes and rushed outside. The children were enthralled and in awe watching the moves of the 'lion' . Those who were frightened were kept indoors.

The musicians accompanying the lion dance troupe. This troupe is from Pei Min Secondary School Miri.

The 'brave' children from Junior 1 and teachers posing with the lion !

We are looking forward to more lion dance troupe dropping in our school next week. It's still Chinese New Year celebration!

Chinese New Year Special Topic

Chinese New Year is a very significant festival in our country. Every year we do this topic and the children love it ; they look forward to wearing the traditional Chinese clothing, eating the noodles or mee, oranges and most of all ~ to watch lion dance performances. We have always welcome lion dance group to visit our school and perform. Obviously, some children are frightened of the lion dance and the sound of the the fire crackers. We had one lion dance group in our school last Friday and we are hoping another group to visit us next Tuesday.

Theme Goals

Through participating in the experiences provided by this special topic, the children may learn :
1. Chinese New Year colours
2. Chinese foods
3. Chinese symbols
4. Chinese traditional dress/clothes
5. Chinese New Year sounds, music and songs

Concepts for the children to learn :
1. Red and gold are Chinese New Year colours.
2. Ang-pow packets, lanterns, oranges, fire-crackers, lion dance are symbols of Chinese New Year.
3. 2012 is the DRAGON year.
4. Chinese eat with chop sticks and noodles are Chinese food.
5. Fire crackers and lion dance are important Chinese traditions for Chinese New Year.
Arts and Crafts : Chinese dragons, lion head, dragon head bands

Maths:
1. Chopsticks are in pairs.
2. Counting Oranges
3. Dragon puzzles
Cultural Studies :
1. Eating noodles with chop sticks.
2. Oranges
3. Chinese traditional clothes
4. Gifts of money given in red packets called ang-pow.
Dramatic Play :
1. Lion dance performance

Chinese New Year Greetings

Tokoh-Tokoh Pengasas Pendidikan Awal Kanak-Kanak

Tokoh-Tokoh Pengasas Islam

1. Imam Al-Ghazali

Dilahirkan pada 450 Hijrah (1058 Masehi) di Parsi. Dilantik sebagai Naib Canselor Universiti dan pensyarah Universiti Pengajian Tinggi Nizamiah pada tahun 484 Hijrah. Pada tahun 489, beliau meletak jawatan dan pergi ke Syria dan ke Mecca. Kitab beliau yang termashur ialah Ihya Ulumuddin.

Pandangan Imam Al-Ghazali :

• Seorang anak harus dididik dari lahir. Seorang bayi jangan diberikan kepada orang lain menjaganya kecuali wanita yang kuat agama dan mulia tingkah lakunya.
• Didik kanak-kanak dengan pelajaran agama, adab sopan, adab makan minum, mencuci badan, berwuduk dan bersembahyang.
• Didik kanak-kanak supaya memperolehi tingkah laku yang mulia, merendah diri, tidak berbohong, bersederhana dalam perlakuan, tidak berkawan dengan orang jahat dan tidak berbangga.
• Sikap tegas dengan kanak-kanak, jangan biasakan mereka bersenang-senang, jangan berseronok atau bermanja-manja apabila bergaul dengan mereka.
• Tidak boleh keterlaluan bila mendenda kanak-kanak. Jangan mencemuh dan menimbulkan kebencian mereka.
• Suruh kanak-kanak bermain kerana main pada kanak-kanak dapat:

-membantu perkembangan fizikal serta menguatkan otot.
- sifat semulajadi kanak-kanak memang suka bermain.
- dapat menggembirakan mereka serta memberi kerehatan selepas penat belajar.2. Ibnu Khaldun

Seorang pemikir Islam dan beliau telah banyak memperkatakan mengenai persediaan untuk belajar, pemerhatian, motivasi, berusaha, pengukuhan, perbezaan individu dan latihan. Pendapat beliau pada peringkat permulaan :

• Jangan diajar kanak-kanak dengan perkara-perkara yang susah.
• Belajar dari mudah kepada yang lebih susah secara:

- berperingkat-peringkat.
- mengadakan latih-tubi.
- menggunakan benda-benda maujud.
- menggunakan bahan-bahan bantu untuk mengajar.

• Kanak-kanak jangan dibebankan dengan perkara-perkara yang diluar kemampuan mereka. Ini boleh menyebabkan mereka :

- tidak mahu belajar
- mencerca pengajaran yang diberi.

• Beliau mencadangkan kanak-kanak diperingkat prasekolah hendaklah diberi contoh-contoh yang konkrit yang boleh difahami melalui pancarindera mereka.

• Ibnu Khaldun juga menyarankan pembacaan Al-Quran harus diajar sebelum menghafalnya. Apabila sampai umur tertentu dan sesuai dengan daya pemikiran barulah diajar tafsir, hukum dan lain-lain.

• Jadual pembelajaran harus disusun dengan baik supaya kanak-kanak dapat memahami apa yang disampaikan.

• Kanak-kanak harus dibentuk dengan penuh kasih sayang, lemah lembut dan bertimbang rasa bukannya dengan cara kekerasan kerana ini boleh menyebabkan mereka menjadi pemalas, pembohong, berlagak untuk menyembunyikan yang sebenar, membuat tipu helah dan tidak berperikemanusiaan.

• Masa belajar jangan terlalu panjang kerana boleh menyebabkan lupa, sebaliknya dalam waktu yang pendek serta cara yang betul bagi mendapat hasil pembelajaran yang baik.

• Bahasa adalah asas kepada semua kanak-kanak semasa pembelajaran. Mulailah dengan membaca, menulis, kemudian kaitkan dengan makna.

(Dipetik dari Program Latihan Guru Prasekolah, 2011. Bahagian Pendidikan Guru, Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia)

2012 Theme : Myself

Introducing some of our 6 years old children. In these first few days of school, they are learning about themselves; getting to know their friends and new class teachers.

Welcome to Junior 3, class of 2012.

First Few Days of School 2012

Some of the younger children had difficulty when parting with their parents in the first few days of school. But in this second week of school, the children are beginning to participate in the activities and enjoying themselves ~ less crying during the partings. One good way to cheer up the 'unhappy' children is to let them outside and allow them to try what they like to play .......... as seen in these photos ~

Trying out the climbing bar!

Jumping for pure joy!

Jumping on the spot - the children loved it and don't seem to get tired at all. Then they were all running to the slides.

Learning to take turns going down the slide.

Welcome to school and may you have many friends!