Was macht man am Ende eines Jahres mit den Wandkalendern? Ich selber habe sie immer gesammelt – mal sehen, was mir mal einfällt. Und nun haben sie Verwendung gefunden.
Sie Schülerinnen und Schüler der 3. Primarklasse hatten den Auftrag, die Kalenderblätter in Streifen zu schneiden, mehr oder weniger 10mm breit. Die Streifen mussten nicht perfekt gerade geschnitten sein. Sodann sollten sie nebeneinander auf den Tisch gelegt werden.
Es gab ein weisses Blatt, und die Streifen sollten in gemischter Reihenfolge, also eben nicht wie das Originalbild, nebeneinander aufgeklebt werden. Dabei konnten sie z.B. verdreht, versetzt oder verschoben werden. Je nach Motiv entstanden dabei ganz ungewöhnliche Bilder: Einerseits war das Thema erkennbar, andererseits war es eben entfremdet.
Die Technik lässt sich variieren. Anstatt nebeneinander können die Schülerinnen und Schüler die Streifen von einem Punkt ausgehend kleben. Der Punkt kann an verschiedenen Orten auf dem Blatt platziert werden.
Man kann auch in bestimmten Farben arbeiten. Dazu werden dann nicht mehr Kalenderblätter, sondern farbiges Papier benutzt. Es können verschiedene Formen, z.B. Dreiecke, ausgeschnitten und ein Mosaik geklebt werden.
Die Schülerinnen und Schüler waren begeistert, dass sie mit Techniken, die sie schon gut beherrschten, etwas Neuartiges und Beeindruckendes kreieren konnten. Die Kalenderblätter waren in kürzester Zeit verarbeitet und ich fand sie so besonders, dass ich sie im Gang aufgehängt habe. Dort fanden sie allgemeine Bewunderung.
Frau Christine Noll (Klassenlehrerin der 3. Primarklasse)
This year, the Secondary students will not only be celebrating their own holiday traditions but learning those of others, specifically of our school community. Our Life Skills unit for this term is aptly named “ My Culture and My Traditions”. The students will focus on the many types of cultural traditions and religious holidays celebrated this season.
Our SIS Pfäffikon community kicked off the holiday season by celebrating Halloween. Students learned about the origins of this “candy giving” holiday. They found it interesting how this tradition has changed over time and how the American holiday is now becoming commonplace in Switzerland. Our Parents Association prepared an extraordinary “Trunk or Treat” event and for many students, it was the first Halloween they celebrated. With so much spooky fun and candy, they were very excited to participate, indeed!
The next school celebration is Räberlichtli, a Swiss autumn tradition in which younger students carve turnips and participate in a parade of lights. Our Kindergarten, and Primary Intro students will be preparing their Räberlichtlis, and our Secondary students will be assisting with the carving. Many of the new students will be preparing turnips for the first time; Another new cultural tradition learned.
The list of celebrations goes on. There will be an in-school Thanksgiving meal, as well as a Sami Klaus visit, complete with a walk to the forest to receive a special message and treats from Sami Klaus himself! Lastly, the students will all be active participants in the Winter Fest, an all school event which highlights student creativity, while celebrating Winter traditions.
With all the holiday events, students will truly experience an “interactive” Life Skills unit, as they learn about the many cultural traditions and actually participate in the celebrations.
Amaia Tollinche
Secondary teacher
In a world brimming with political tumult and information overload, our Matura pupils have embarked on an intellectual voyage into the captivating realm of Athenian Democracy. Our latest adventure was like unlocking an ancient treasure chest, discovering the pearls of wisdom it held.
Democracy Unveiled: Ancient vs. Modern
In this engaging journey, our pupils embarked on a quest to uncover the enigma of democracy - a term frequently used but rarely comprehended. They delved into how ancient Athens laid the groundwork for our modern democracies. Picture a time when democracy was fresher than a crisp autumn morning, a mere bud of what it would become. Our young historians contemplated the evolution of voting. In ancient Athens, it was a privilege bestowed solely upon male citizens. Today, we witness a mosaic of diverse voices interwoven into the tapestry of democratic nations across the globe. They pondered: Has democracy truly evolved or simply altered its attire?
Justice, Harvard, and the Veil of Ignorance
In their pursuit of knowledge, our pupils journeyed into the realm of justice, guided by Harvard's own Michael Sandel and John Rawls. They explored the thought experiment known as the "Veil of Ignorance," challenging us to contemplate justice without knowing our own place in society. A potent tool for igniting empathy and equity, wouldn't you agree?
Fostering Critical Thinking and Challenging the Norms
In this educational journey, we emphasized the development of critical thinking. Our pupils, in a world flooded with information have honed their ability to discern trustworthy sources and navigate the labyrinth of misinformation in the digital age. By debating the merits and flaws of democracy they've recognized the pivotal role of dialogue as the cornerstone of democracy. Moreover, they're not just democracy enthusiasts; they're astute critics, posing probing questions and scrutinizing the very foundations of our democratic system. Is it an unshakable paragon of justice and fairness, or an ever-evolving system in need of constant scrutiny and adaptation?
A Personal Odyssey
In this voyage, our aim was to equip each pupil to shape their own opinions, to be the architects of their beliefs. For democracy to thrive, it necessitates not only participation but an informed and discerning citizenry.
In conclusion, we are nurturing young minds, fostering the future torchbearers of democracy. It's a journey that leads them not just to the past but onward to an illuminated future, where they hold the key to the gates of justice, truth, and a more perfect democracy.
Mrs. Elena Golombek (Matura 1 History teacher)
Im Physikunterricht beschäftigte sich die Maturaklasse im Oktober mit der ältesten Form eines Fotoapparats – der «camera obscura», auch genannt «Lochkamera». Die bereits in der Antike bekannte Technik besteht aus einem lichtdichten Kasten, in welchen durch ein kleines Loch Lichtstrahlen eintreten können und auf einem dünnen Schirm ein Bild der Aussenwelt entstehen lassen.
Eine einfache selbstgebastelte Kamera konnten die Schülerinnen und Schüler eigenständig im Freien ausprobieren. Damit noch weniger Licht durch das Sichtfenster in die Kamera tritt, wurden dunkle Jacken über den Kopf gezogen – damit konnten Gebäude, Bäume und Autos auf dem Kopf stehend und seitenverkehrt auf dem Schirm erkannt werden.
Zur Festigung der Erfahrungen mit der Kamera erstellten die Lernenden in Gruppen eine Skizze und berechneten mit Hilfe des Abbildungsgesetzes die Grösse des Bildes auf dem Schirm der Kamera für den Fall eines 8m grossen Baumes. Dabei wurde gleich die Vorgehensweise beim Lösen einer typischen Physikaufgabe geübt: Nach einer schemenhaften Zeichnung der Situation und der Kennzeichnung der relevanten Grössen in der Skizze mit Variablen wurde die Formel nach der gesuchten Grösse umgestellt und durch Einsetzen der angenommenen realistischen Masse für die Abstände g und b die Bildgrösse B als 12 cm berechnet. Zufriedenstellend ist dieses Resultat insbesondere deshalb, da es mit den Dimensionen der gegebenen Kamera übereinstimmt.
Frau Kathrin Gerhard (Physiklehrerin im College)
The After School Care Team planned a wonderful week of «fall fun» for this year’s Autumn Holiday Club. The theme for this year’s fun-filled week was ‘Welcome Autumn’. We had three excursions during the week, where we visited the Knies Children's Zoo, the Tram Museum in Zurich, and finally, the Indoor Playground “Spring Ding” in Reichenburg.
The week started with a hands-on baking workshop. The children made delicious vanilla cookies as treats for themselves and their families. The workshop consisted of the kids following step-by-step instructions in the baking process, where they learned how to measure ingredients accurately to make a batter for their cookies. They then rolled out the dough and used fun-shaped cookie cutters for a personalised touch. Once the cookies cooled down, the children were delighted and eager to decorate them with various colourful and edible decorations. This enabled them to have fun with their creativity and made baking much more artistic. To end the day, we took a refreshing walk toward the farmhouses that helped the kids cool down and enjoy the lush greenery.
Our first excursion on Tuesday was to Knies Children's Zoo. The highlight of this excursion was «Monkey breakfast». During feeding time, the children had terrific, unique encounters on Katta Island with Calico monkeys and Squirrel monkeys. They had an opportunity to experience contact with the monkeys. During the expert-guided activity, the children learned interesting facts about the monkeys and how to feed them properly.
The next adventure on Wednesday was to the Tram Museum in Zürich. The children got to see lots of old trams from days gone by in this one-time tram depot. They also got to learn the history of the Zürich tram system. Here, the kids could climb into the historical cars, see a tram from underneath, and be the driver of the children’s tram. It was interesting to see original trams dating back to the 19th century, and the children got to experience how the general public travelled back in those years. To end the visit, the kids partook in a hunt to help “Conductor Schlenner” look for his misplaced items. All of these items can be found inside the Tram Museum. A little reward was given to them when they solved all the tasks.
Our final excursion on Thursday was to an indoor playground, “Spring Ding” in Reichenburg. Here, the children have their own personal world of adventure to run around and explore their fun surroundings. The children immediately felt the urge to run, jump, climb, swing, and explore on arrival. They let their imagination run wild in a safe and secure space.
Closing the week, the children participated in arts and crafts themed Glass Painting (we used clear plastic instead of glass). They traced their designs on clear plastic with lots of colours, using their imagination and creativity. Each of them created a unique artwork that spoke to their personalities. It is a fun and easy way for children to practise self-expression. No artistic skills were required - just their wonderful imaginations. This was a great way to finish this exciting and fun-filled holiday club.
Sarindar Kaur (Head of After School Care)