Mushroom Cycle #3

30 Aug 2012 (Thurs):

This is mushroom growth record cycle #3. If you have missed the 1st 2 records, it is here & here .

Our harvest from cycle #3 did not yield as much mushrooms as from the 1st 2. One of the logs had only produce from the top & as little as 2 sprouts from the sides.

We harvested all dated 26 Aug 2012 ( Sun), glad wrapped & kept both logs in the storeroom.
I am not sure if there will be cycle #4. The next record will start on the 04 Sep but as we will be away, so most probably it will be push forward to 08 or 09 Sep 2012.

JCube Ice Skating

20 Aug 2012 (Mon):

Selamat Hari Raya. :)

We went to JCube Ice Skating Ring this evening for a little experience & fun. Poor little ones kept on slipping & falling. Even Daddy fell as well. Mummy here was the only one who managed to keep her balance throughout as she has the " know how " .

Picture taken from above the skating ring @ Manhattan's Fish Market where we were having our dinner.

The operating hours for the ice skating ring.

There are many different combos to choose from; from boots rental to purchasing of socks and/or gloves.

This is the penguin skating aid where children below 1.2m in height can use.

$10 per 2 hours. I got that for Rachel.

There was an incident which happened. We saw police officers walking into the admin office & i thought a fight may have broken out or something. I mean, why would a skating ring " invite " police officers.

Shortly, paramedics followed & i realised someone may have hurt himself/herself. True enough, we saw this man in his 40s, i supposed, on the stretcher, in a sitting position, His left arm was in a sling. Could have fractured his arm upon falling.

Mental Abacus Exercises

20 Aug 2012 (Mon):

After 2 lessons of mental abacus the kids attended, Mummy here have also learned what they've learnt & like to share with you. Of cos u all may have known much more & I am just startng with the very basic.

This is the book they used for lessons in class & as given homework.

The exercises in this book double up as a mock test in class, usually done during the next lesson.

This the abacus plate ( or whatever its call) they used.

The upper row/section of beads represent the number 5.

The lower row/section of beads represent the number 1 ~ 4 beads in 1 column.

See where the red arrow is pointing? They start the calculation from this column. I'm not sure what are the rest of the columns for... maybe for 2 digits or 3 digits calculation... will come to that.

Examples of some of the exercises that they did.

Look at the pink highlighted box:  4 - 4 + 4 = 4...mental calculation is easy..will give u 4 right?

But to do the working on the abacus, how would u calculate?

Note: make sure all beads are pushed down.

Solution: top number is + four, so u got to use ur thumb to push up all 4 beads at the bottom row/section.

middle number is - 4, so u got to use your index finger to push back down all 4 beads.

bottom number is again + 4, so u use your thumb to push up all 4 beads again..

so how many beads u have in total on the bottom row???

Answer: 4

Confused? let's do another sum.

Look at the green highighted box next: 3 - 3 + 2 = 2

Solution: top number is 3, so u use ur thumb to push up 3 beads

middle number is - 3, so u use ur index finger to push back down all 3 beads

bottom number is + 2, so what do u think? Yes, use ur thumb to push up 2 beads..

Answer: 2

You got it?.. Good!

One more time..

Look at the blue highlighted box: 4 + 5 - 3 = ???

Solution: thumb to push up 4 beads... yup

now the middle is 5, so u got to look at the top row/section of the abacus plate

for that, u only use your index finger to do the sums, whether its + or -

so using ur index finger, push up that one bead on the top row/section...

bottom number is - 3, so using ur index finger, push back down 3 beads on the lower row/section of the abacus plate..

Answer: 6 ( that one bead represents 5, remember?) + the remaining 1 bead on the lower section since u have already + 4  and u - 3 again)

Now, we look at the red highlighted one.. 1 + 5 - 5 = ???

You do the sums & let me know... no cheating ya... use the abacus method.. answer will be revealed after the video.

This is a video of the kids doing their exercises. I purposely asked them to read aloud, so that u will know how the working goes...

So did u get ur last question working/answer correct?

Solution: 1 + 5 - 5 = ???

pushed down all ur beads? Okay, let's go

top number is 1, so u use ur thumb to push up... 1 bead.
middle number  is + 5, so u gotta... ( remember u gt to look for 5 at the top row/section of the abacus plate)... what do u do? Good. Using ur index finger, push that 1 bead up.
bottom number is - 5... so dun look away... stay at the top row/section of the plate... what do u do for - 5?
using ur index finger, push down that bead again right?

so what u left on the plate? How many beads u see? U get 1? Excellent.

 i'm only using my own words to guide u along... not professionaly done ya.... hehe.

Mushroom Harvesting ~ Cycle #2

11 Aug 2012 (Sat):

Remember our cycle #1 of the oyster mushroom growth records? Here is cycle #2.  After 10 days of shrink wrapped, we begun mist spraying on the 06 Aug 2012 evening.

These were taken on 09 Aug 2012 in the morning when we spotted some spores sprouting.

As the minutes & hours ticked by, the mushrooms grew & grew. Taken on the 10 Aug 2012 in the morning.

We got a huge surprise when we return home the evening  ( 10 Aug 2012) & saw these. Boy! They really know how to grow.

By the next morning, ( 11 Aug 2012), the mushrooms were begging us to remove them from their log.

Weighing 200 grams, these little ones were a bundle.

This video shows the kids harvesting the mushroom on their own.
In the evening on the 11 Aug 2012.

And as usual, the logs were shrink wrapped again & we shall see in another 10 days time. Stay tuned to 21 Aug 2012.

Chinese Reading Portfolio

11 Aug 2012 (Sat):

Lionel has been keeping a reading portfolio where he keeps a record & summary of all those books that he read, including those that are guided by his CL2 teacher & those that he read on his own.

The portfolio.

Our reading journey.

With CL2 teacher's guidance.

So far, he has read 29 books.. started since April.

Happy Birthday, Singapore!

09 Aug 2012 (Thurs):

Lionel & Rachel wishes Singapore: A Happy 47th Birthday!!! May Singapore continue to prosper.

English & Chinese Test Paper & Results

07 Aug 2012 (Tues):

I received the test results of Lionel's English & Chinese papers.

He did his English test on the 02 Aug 2012. He got 18/20 for this test.

They were tested on the following topics: Short, Tall, Big or Small, Poggy Frog & the Cows n When my baby sister comes home.

For Chinese, he did his paper on 30 July 2012 & scored full marks, 20/20.

They were tested on chapters 6 ~ 8, textbook 1B. Topics covered: 碰碰船，我们都爱新加坡 n 是你们啊

Abacus Enrichment

06 Aug 2012 (Mon):

My sil enrolled the kids to a Mental Abacus class conducted in Mandarin @ Chong Pang Community Club. 10 lessons for $120 (PA member) on every Sat afternoon for 1hr &15 mins.

Lionel's P1 buddy was taking lessons in that class & the kids went for a trial class last Wed. But as the timing (7pm) was very rushed for Lionel, we changed to a Sat class instead .

Lesson sheet.

Practice Sheet.

And yes, i am learning something new too.

Wushu Test & Grading

05 Aug 2012 (Sun):

Chinese Martial Arts Grading Exam started this afternoon from 130pm. I was not able to witness their grading, thus no video or photos.

Lionel was tested on: 长拳，短拳，长掌，短掌，双拳，双掌 // 打三招之铁桥手 // 基拳第一套.

He passed all & was awarded the Purple Belt ( level 6). Well Done, my prince.

Rachel had begun her White Belt ( level 1 ) lessons some time back & today, she had her grading exam too.

She was tested on: 四平马，拳掌加连打(上)，请功，三角马. She passed all & was awarded the Yellow Belt ( level 2 ). Congratulations, my princess.

English Spelling

04 Aug 2012 (Sat):


I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY...

Maths Test - Picture Graphs

04 Aug 2012 (Sat):

Lionel did his subjects' test this past week & below are the results of his Maths test. When i got back the paper, i was shocked. Its only 1 piece of 2 sided page... i thought the rest had fallen out somewhere in his bag :P

Well Done!

He will be having another test on the 23 Aug - Numbers to 40