End of Week 4 + CHINGAY

Dear all,

As we come to the end of week 4, lets' recap on the main points of the week and for today:

English

I went through the grammar item of 'past perfect tense' and how to use them. Important points to note are:

• When we have two events in a sentence, identify the before and after event. If both events took place in the past, the 'BEFORE' event will have its verb in the past perfect tense while the 'AFTER' event will have its verb in the past tense.
• example: John had brushed his teeth before he went to sleep last night. 
• John has brushed his teeth --> Before event
• He went to sleep --> After event

There are also some key words we will use for perfect tenses. Here are the key words.

• has, had, have (verb that comes after these words will be used as the perfect tense)
• e.g has taken charge of the project, had eaten his food, have gone home.
• could have, should have, would have (verb that comes are these words will be used as the perfect tense too)
• Had he not, Have they not, Has he not (verb that comes are these words will be used as the perfect tense too)

Main idea of a paragraph or passage is the general statements being given. (usually in the first or second sentence of a passage or paragraph)

Supporting ideas are specific examples to support the main idea (general statement).

Knowing about main ideas and supporting ideas are important as they help you identify the key points of a passage for comprehension open ended and mcq. Also, they are important for composition writing in which you have to elaborate on your content.

Science

I would like to recap on go through the lesson on energy conversion. It is rather new to you and may take some time for you to master the energy conversions.

Firstly, when we look at a particular scenario, it is always good to visualize and split the scenario into different stages first. Draw it out if you must.

When you put down the energy conversions, look at the system of the object itself only. Don't bring in other systems to mix with the item. Let me make this clearer for you.

Example:
State the energy conversions when a circuit is closed and the bulb lights up.

1. The first stage of energy starts from the batteries.
2. The second stage is when the switch is closed and electricity flows through the circuit.
3. The third stage is when the bulb lights up and heat is also produced.

In total, there are three stages. We then fill in the energy conversion. This is the most important part. We use ARROWS (--->) to indicate a change in the stage! We use (+) signs to indicate any other forms of energy that are produced in that stage.

In this case, Chemical energy (in the batteries) ---> Electrical energy (when electricity flows through the closed circuit) ---> Light energy (in the bulb) + Heat energy (in the bulb)

---> indicates a change to the next stage
+ indicates another form of energy that is also produced at that same stage

REMEMBER THE ARROWS AND PLUS SIGNS!
Note that we did not bring in factors like your hand moving and closing the switch so you do not need to add that in and add in kinetic energy. Look solely at the objects themselves only!!!

• We also learnt about how electricity is produced. Electricity is produced in power stations from the heating of water from fuels (chemical energy in the fuel). Hot air rises from the water (kinetic energy) as they are boiled into steam. This steam is moving air which spins the turbine. The turbines spins and convert the kinetic energy into electrical energy. 

• We also learnt about hydroelectricity and how it is produced. Electricity is produced in the hydroelectricity dam power stations. The dam stops the flow of water from the rivers, seas or waterfalls and make use of the moving air from a height to flow downwards into the turbine, spinning the turbine. The turbine is linked to the generators and then converts the kinetic energy to electrical energy. 

Remember that energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can only be converted from one form to another.

Reminders

• Please report to the hall by 3.30 pm tomorrow for CHINGAY Parade. Bring along your water bottle, thermometer and light snacks. 
• Dinner will be provided for you but please have your lunch on your own first. 
• Be safe as you make your way to school please! Watch out for cars and be careful crossing the roads if you are making your way here on your own. 
• Enjoy yourselves and have fun tomorrow :)

Homework

• Cut out the spiral and paste it onto a hard cover for next week's Science experiment lesson.
• Complete your composition homework if you have not and submit next Monday
• Complete your journal writing and newspaper article by Monday and submit it all up on Monday.

Thank You,

Sincerely,

Mr Nelson Ong