It has been a busy semester in Lower School with a number of exciting learning engagements that have taken students beyond the classroom. To link the Units of Inquiry on Transport and on Water, 1st Grade classes incorporated a new visit to Callao where they boarded the Abtao submarine and took a tour of the Fort to learn about pirates and the seas and oceans in which they travelled.
Sustainability education, an integral part of the PYP curriculum at Newton, was seen in a number of ways. 2nd Grade visited Sedapal during their study of Communities to learn about water services and was actively engaged in supporting the development of an Eco-Parque in the community of Manchay, which they learnt has significantly less access to water. With their teachers, they made necklaces and keyrings to raise funds to buy trees that will grow well in that area.
3rd Grade toured the Gexim factory, where plastic bottles are recycled, as part of their inquiry into Matter and Materials. They also received an interesting presentation from former student, Alvaro Echeandía, manager of a company that produces substances needed to biodegrade plastic bags. And, while making their toys for children in the nursery, now a Newton tradition, the 3rd Graders ensured their toys were constructed with recycled and durable materials.
4th Graders investigated different types of Energy, visited the Upper School Science exhibit on solar projects in April, reported on Lower School use of electricity and gave out Green Spaces awards to energy efficient classrooms. They also attended a half-day archaeology workshop at Católica University while studying Ancient Civilisations, which helped them to value the significance of legacy and of maintaining Peru’s cultural assets.
The Three Regions trip to Chincha, Tarma and La Merced was, once again, a stimulating adventure for 5th Grade students as they explored how a community’s location impacts on the types of economic activities that can be carried out. They visited a number of farms and plantations, factories and processing plants; carried out interviews with the mayor’s representatives and local residents and, before leaving, made their own contribution by planting trees and giving donations to the local communities in need.

Continuando con nuestro deseo de trabajar de la mano con los padres, en abril tuvimos una serie de talleres para las familias de Lower School.
Los padres de 1er Grado conocieron en la práctica nuestra metodología de trabajo para los tres cursos básicos: español, inglés y matemáticas. En el taller “Aprendiendo a través de la indagación”, compartimos con los padres de los alumnos mayores nuestras técnicas y estrategias para promover la curiosidad y el desarrollo de las habilidades de investigación. No olvidamos a los padres que recientemente se unieron a la familia Newton y para ellos ofrecimos el taller “Conociendo el PYP” (Programa de la Escuela Primaria del BI).
Estamos seguros que la información y experiencias recibidas han permitido a los padres comprender mejor el currículo y compartir nuestros objetivos.