Little Newton, engaging kids through Science

Kids are curious by nature, and Little Newton engages kids through Science, Explorations and hands-on activities. Their interactive learning style will encourage kids to think about "process", and ask more "Why's".



When we talk about Shampoo, what comes to mind? ..brands (D0ve, H&S), fragrance, anti-dandruff whatever.. And, we are going to diy our own Shampoo today keke. Cool !

Daddy was very curious how Shampoo-making can keep kids engaged ??
Our ingredients and process...


With Teacher Hilwa and Jeann's guidance,
we are on our way to explore and research our own shampoo theory !


The experiment is simple, but kids are encouraged to figure out the process, what works,
and what not, and ask more Questions.


Our boys were given clues on the process until everybody got their own Channel No 5 diy shampoo.
Daddy ensure the boys do not overdose on the ammonium chloride,
Daddy does not want to suffer hair-loss yet !

Hey, we can even add our own colouring and fragrance!


Kids pour the shampoo from beaker into a little container,
so Mummy can test for us at home ..... yup, we are so good to Mummy :p


Wen Wei and Wen Yi are very proud of their diy shampoo ! Kids have a sense of achievement when they get some results, and learn something along the way.


During our break, Daddy ask boys who is Isaac Newton, and why is he famous? (answer at end of blog)


Little Newton offers a cosy environment, where kids can enjoy themselves during recess.
Our boys turn the little farm upside down ooops.




Different kids learn differently, if you believe Science will motivate and intrigue your kids,
give Little Newton a ring at 6733 6818. You can reach them via :

- website - http://littlenewtongroup.com/
- fanpage - http://www.facebook.com/LittleNewton





We would like to take this opportunity to thanks Little Newton and friendly teachers for inviting us to their shampoo class. Daddy and sons really enjoy ourselves. (Little Newton offer "Tornardo" classes and Science parties too)

(Answer : apple drop on his head and Isaac Newton discover gravity)


More pictures can be found at our Fanpage --> http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.256125384404613.82145.194377613912724&type=1


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Edutainment Games for Iphone, Ipad and Android - Baby Cortex

Daddy does not have an iPhone nor iPad. He is really outdated, with regards to online education games. Even "Edutainment" (education+entertainment) is a new vocab for Daddy keke.

So when Baby Cortex approach our blog to review their educational games, Daddy was literally blown away. There are so much variety and creativity ! and some are Free too.

Shall we look at what Baby Cortex has to offer ?


Baby Series offer anything from Music, FlashCards, Memory, Photos and even colouring. These innovative applications are developed to stimulate your kids' imagination and curiosity (suitable for 1 to 6 years old ).


We chose to review Alphabet_Car in our blog. Kids drive a bus , using iphone as a steering wheel and grab the alphabets to form a word.
(quoted from BabyCortex, kids focus on "hand-eye coordination, and memorization")

According to Baby Cortex, their baby-series of applications has 2.5 million downloads! Daddy should reduce the kids' crazy-bird and hungry-sharks :p


Video : Kids with iPhone


For you lucky iphone and ipad users, do drop by and see what Baby Cortex can offer. (Android users have to wait a bit longer) .

Flash_Card and Alphabet_Car are highly recommended.
--> http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/baby-flash-cards-2/id343285680?mt=8

--> http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/alphabet-car/id404722059?mt=8

Are you interested to know more about what Baby Cortex has to offer?
--> http://www.facebook.com/babycortex
--> http://www.babycortex.com/
--> http://dreamcortex.com/

** we would like to thanks Jennifer for offering our kids an opportunity to explore Baby Cortex's innovative games. Our kids certainly had fun learning !

*all the cute cartoons on this article are sourced from http://www.babycortex.com/ website.

Our boys are fishing in a Primary 3 English book, and Singapore Maths

Do not be surprised, if you see our boys in Marshall's Primary 3 English supplementary book. Our photo is in one of the article.


Our picture above is taken from our Qian Hu fish farm adventure --> http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2010/04/qian-hu-fish-farm-long-kang-drain-fish.html



Marshall Cavendish (MC)is an international publisher, and their books are very popular in Singapore. As Daddy was reading more about MC, there was an interesting article on how Singapore's Maths are discovered and exported to the USA :

--> http://www.marshallcavendish.com/education/contentview.aspx?article_id=184
--> http://www.singaporemath.com/
--> http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/01/education/01math.html?_r=4&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

** Above English book pages are published with prior permission from Marshall Cavendish Education.

Global Art – Drawing allow Wen Kang to express his thoughts

Kang loves drawing. We figure drawing will allow Kang to focus, and learn to be patient. Our boy is normally impatient, and can be temperamental…

We hope Arts can nurture Kang to be more patient :)

Our teachers at Global Art Kovan are friendly, passionate, and more importantly patience.

His master piece. Each week, Kang will finish an art piece, and proudly showoff to Mummy and Daddy.

One day, we hope his picture will don the wall :)

Normally after class, we will loiter around, and wait for Wen Wei.

FastTrack Kids @ Genius Learning Hub

Last Sat, Wen Kang (5yrs) and Wen Yi (3yrs) got invited for a preview session at FasTrackKids. Actually this programme is more suitable for Kang, and Yi should go for LittleNeuro.
(where young kiddos join their parents for brain-stimulation and motor-skills development)



What is FasTrackKids, and will my kids graduate as little Genius?
Please click GeniusLearningHub website for details :)

We joined our new friends in the class. Both Kang and Yi had fun dragging the "shapes and items" on the whiteboard !


FasTrackKids programme use latest technology to present
a multimedia "sensory" experience.

Q: What can Sofa and cardboards do for kids? We let our Imaginations runs wild, to come up with stories !

Left to their own devices, and with a little nudge, children were soon experimenting with new props, and "adding" to the story lines .

Everybody grab something from a "treasure chest". Kids were then encouraged to narrate a story about their handpicked item.
You see torchlights, balloons, and wild imaginations surface :)
(this is FUN!!)

Wen Yi liked Tea break, as he can snack on biscuits.

Teacher Rowena and Ashika kept encouraging kids to speak up, and Express themselves. Daddy find it motivational for kids, to learn through FUN.

Now, what can we do with tube-cleaners?
A mask? a gun? a pencil? It is anything you want it to be.

..but Wen Yi has his own definition of FUN.

In summary, Daddy feels that children will cultivate a habit of speaking up, and the various activities can stimulate kids to think out of the box, and "develop" ingenious solutions and concepts :)

When kids are learning through FUN, kids would be motivated to explore further and ask more questions! Wen Kang enjoyed himself tremendously, and we can see how focused he was during class.

Video : View a Fastrack Video presentation (from USA)


For more class details, please contact GeniusLearningHub at:
DID : 6255 7790 (Slyvia)
Url : http://www.geniuslearninghub.com



*we would like to take this opportunity to thanks
teachers and staff of GeniusLearning Hub for hosting us :)

CMA - Mental Arithmetic - 3rd National Olympia

Wen Wei participated in CMA's Arithmetic and Mental exams on 30May.
He came in fourth and fifth in two categories, and he is
proud of his own accomplishment :)


Before the exam starts, we roam around Expo to look at the education exhibits.

When Exam starts, Parents are more anxious then the kids :)


You think this is chicken Feet? only for young kids?
Wait till you see this human calculators in action. Amazing !


Wei's teacher, Mr Lam, who is always patient and helpful. Thanks.

During this Maths Olympia, a six year old little girl got into Singapore's Books of Records.

She nows holds the record for fastest 10-digits addition.

Oh, and six years old is only Kindergarden 2 !!

She has to practise 2 hours daily. In comparison, Wen Wei only practice 20 mins daily :)

Different league.

We came across a clown, Uncle Fishy, who happens to be a real Scientist !!

More about CMA --> click http://www.cma-sg.com/

Their motto -- Creating Great Minds

CMA teaches arithmetic and abacus skills to kids when they are young. Both left and right brain are stimulated, and as kids get use to the algorithm or logic, their minds start calculating automatically. As a result, children become more alert, and pick up skills faster.

Kang is never bored, when..

he draws or swims. He will not find excuses (example stomach-ache) to skip both arts and Swim classes.

Indulging in drawing

In drawing, Kang is able to channel his imagination, and excess-energy into art pieces.
We see him do tracing, then incrementing the colour tones, and Daddy is impressed at Kang's little projects.

Swimming fun

Looking at our swim pictures, Kang always exhibit a silly grin. He is very happy to swim.
And our Teacher is doing a good job to get Kang to dispel any water phobia, and pick up a few swim techniques.

We know Kang got a foul temper (sometimes), and when he explodes, very few teachers in school can handle him. We can only let him calm down, then rationale (讲道理) with him.

Hopefully these extra activities will help Kang to better control his emotions :p

Mandarin Curriculum - Meet Teacher Session

All of us went to Wei and Kang's Mandarin drama class for their assessment.
Wei and Kang are enrolled with "Little School Of Big Dreamers" (人小梦大).

Kang's teacher is a celebrity (黄嫊方) :o
But you will noticed, only Wei is in picture, where is Kang?

Verdict:

Wei - need teacher to push him to participate in events, more laid back
No problem expressing himself in theatres.

Kang - very interested in activities, but mostly shy. (sure?)
Does not have a regular buddy :(
Teacher say this could be because we joined only in second half, whereas friendship-bonds are established in first half.

Both - Both of them enjoy their 儿歌.
They got no issues communicating in Mandarin, but Wei is a bit kan(1)dang(1).
(ie potato kids who grow up on french fries, and US culture hee)

Mummy with our two smallest members in tow.

While teachers were talking to parents, the kids got movie screenings.

Yi was happy to settle down in auditorium.

See, we are going to concert.

Daddy : if you have been following our blog, you will know Kang is anti-social :p
He hates to be photographed ! And will always run ahead, or make funny face to irritate photographer (mostly Daddy)