Little Red Dot

Saying Thanks for Kindness

2011-08-04T11:55:00.009+08:00

Over the last few months, we have been reading about different ways to show kindness to ourselves and to others around us through the activities in The Straits Times Little Red Dot Kindness Passport as well as the articles in LRD on kindness.

In our school, we were so inspired by all these articles that we wrote down notes to thank people in our lives who are kind to us.

Here are some of our notes for you to read an enjoy! Remember to say thank you to someone who has been kind to you today!

Do you remember the kindness messages you sent to each other? Did you receive any kindness messages from your friends? Did you feel appreciated?

Phone Scams and personal safety

2011-08-04T10:25:00.002+08:00

Today, the P6 level read an article about phone kidnap scams and learnt about some tips on personal safety.

What do you do to be safe?

P6 personal safety talk

View more presentations from misswongccps.

To Singapore, With Love (LRD Issue on 2 August 2011 - page 15) - done by 4 Joy

2011-08-03T08:56:00.001+08:00

National Day is just round the corner and the spirit of celebration can be felt all around. Let's share our birthday wishes for our beloved country, Singapore!

National Day Theme Songs - Vote for your favourite!

2011-07-18T10:25:00.008+08:00

National Day is just round the corner. This year, you get to have a say in which National Day Theme Songs we will sing during our National Day Celebration on 8 August. Listen to the following songs and vote for your favourite in the poll below!

online polls

National Day Theme Song 2001 - Where I Belong

National Day Theme Song 2002 - We Will Get There

National Day Theme Song 2003 - One United People

National Day Theme Song 1998 & 2004 – Home (1998 version)

National Day Theme Song 2005 - Reach for the Skies

National Day Theme Song 2006 - My Island Home

National Day Theme Song 2007- Will You

National Day Theme Song 2008 - Shine For Singapore

National Day Theme Song 2009 - What Do You See

National Day Theme Song 2010 - Song For Singapore

National Day Theme Song 2011 - In A Heartbeat

What Makes a Good Neighour

2011-06-28T10:34:00.003+08:00

No matter what type of home you live in, you will have neighbours. In this week's LRD, we read an article on good neighbours. Every year, The Straits Times has an award called the Good Neighbour Award. Find out more about it here! http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_674512.html

What do you think makes a good neigbour? Tell us about a good neigbhour of yours.

Dog meat, anyone? (LRD Issue: 24 May 2011) - 5 Faith & 4 Joy

2011-05-26T00:14:00.007+08:00

Image taken from dog-picspot.blogspot.com

The recent case of a restaurant having dog meat on its menu created a buzz in the news. In Singapore, the sale and eating of dog meat is illegal as there is no known humane method of slaughtering dogs for their meat.

What do you think of the sale and eating of dog meat?

Activity:
Come up with a conversation between two people who take different stands in the eating of dog meat.

Fun Sports?

2011-05-25T07:10:00.003+08:00

P5 Hope
An Austrian Olympic swimmer, Jakub Maly, while on a training stint in Florida, in the United States, decided to have some "fun". He dug a 2m-deep trench and then, for some fun, jumped into the trench. However, horrors of horrors, the sand collapsed over him and he was buried! It took 60 rescuers nearly two hours to pull him out of the man-made crater.
Jakub and his team mates were having fun on a day off when the incident happened. His team mates managed to clear the sand around his head but they could not get him out. After he was pulled out, earth-moving equipment had to be used to fill up the trench.
What do you think of this "fun" activitiy? Do you know of another "fun" activity that seems to be getting popular? How do you feel about this?

Singapore General Elections 2011

2011-05-19T08:41:00.002+08:00

Ne sharing elections (term 2) 3 may 2011

View more presentations from misswongccps.

One of the most exciting elections in Singapore's history is over.

Even though most of us (except the Singaporean teachers and staff above 21 years old) did not vote, we all knew what was going on through the news, through websites, through Mrs Chua's assembly talk on the elections and through our friends and families.

Several big things have happened since the elections ended. MM Lee Kuan Yew and SM Goh Chok Tong stepped down from the Cabinet and yesterday (18 May), PM Lee Hsien Loong unveiled the new ministers for his government.

What are your thoughts after the elections? Do you have any stories or experiences to share? Post a comment below!

Helping somone to the point of "helplessness" - Are Singaporean kids spoilt? (page 2 of 14 April 2011's issue) - 5 Faith

2011-04-13T10:59:00.007+08:00

In this week's issue of LRD, our class read the article entitled 'Are Singaporean kids spoilt?'

After the recent case of the NS man who got his maid to carry his backpack, people have started asking why some maids are carrying the bags of school children.

Is this causing our next generation to be "softies"? What do you think is appropriate and not appropriate for parents (or maids) to do for their children?

Imagined Conversations between NS Man & Domestic Helper

2011-04-06T15:02:00.000+08:00

This week's Little Red Dot showed a very familiar picture of an NS man and his domestic helper carrying his backpack. At the end of the article, the pupils were asked to create imaginary conversations between the NS man and the domestic helper. Below are some samples written by the girls of 5Charity.

Suvetha
NS: Hey, carry my backpack!
DH: No, I can't.
NS: Why? Didn't you have breakfast? I saw you eating two plates of chicken rice.
DH: You are an NS man, not me, so you should be responsible for your bag!
NS: You used to carry my school bag for me when I was young. Why can't you do that now?
DH: Because you are an NS man now! If there is a war, you will have to carry your own backpack. That's why you should practice now!

Mitzi
NS: Help me with my backpack! I am so tired I might faint! (throws bag at domestic helper)
DH: Gosh, it's so heavy. Carry it yourself!
NS: Why did my parents bother to hire you?
DH: The pay is so little, but I have to do so many things!
NS: So? I also get paid very little as an NS man!

Umairah
DH: Ah Boy, please carry your own backpack! It is practically half of my size! My shoulder will break if I continue to carry your bag.
NS: You are supposed to help me since you are a domestic HELPER. So stop complaining and stop calling me Ah Boy!
DH: You are supposed to defend the country. How can you do that if you don't even want to carry your own backpack?
NS: Stop nagging or I will complain to my mother!

Mikka & Xuan Xuan
NS: Yaya, don't carry my bag. It's too heavy. Today is my first day of NS. I must get used to carrying my bag.
DH: Just relax and let me carry your bag.
NS: No! I might be spotted by my squad mates and they will tell on me. Do you want me to get into trouble?
DH: No, but...
NS: Ah! During a war you won't be around to help me right? Give me my backpack or I will complain to Nai Nai!
DH: Oh gosh, look at the time! We have to get going!
NS: Oh never mind! I'll just let you carry my bag! I don't have time to argue with you!

CCPS LRD blog makes the news!

2011-03-31T08:24:00.004+08:00

Our very own CCPS LRD blog is in the news! You might not know it, but you are reading the 1st shared school blog for current affairs.

In CCPS, we use this blog to showcase the knowledge and insights we have gained from using the Little Red Dot in our English and Social Studies lessons. Last year, we were also thrilled to receive the 'Top Dot School' award by The Straits Times for our efforts to promote the use of the LRD in our school. Do read the articles at schoolbag.sg http://www.schoolbag.sg/archives/2011/03/school_blog_puts_news_on_the_l.php as well as the Straits Times article at our school website http://www.canossaconventpri.moe.edu.sg/

You might also have noticed that we were featured in this week's LRD issue (29/3/2011) on Page 7!

Thank you to all the classes who designed the posters that you see in the background! Please continue to read the LRD and to read and contribute your posts and comments to the CCPS LRD blog!

To eat or not to eat? By 6 Peace

2011-03-29T12:20:00.004+08:00

From this week's LRD (29th Mar issue), we read that pop singer, Karen Carpenter died of heart failure when she was only 32. Her death drew public attention to anorexia nervosa. The popular singer was desperate to remain thin so she punished herself by going on a crash diet. She would also throw up whatever she ate to deprive her body of food.

At first, she was thin but healthy but the sickness took a toll on her health and she became extremely thin and weak. She eventually collapsed during one of her performances in Las Vegas. Sufferers of anorexia nervosa or bulimia have to fight a psychological problem as they struggle to remain thin. The end result can be tragic as their bodies become living skeletons.

Without enough nutrition, the body and the organs can no longer perform their functions. Victims of anorexia nervosa face a tragic end unless they receive help and treatment to overcome their fears about eating .

If your friend is overweight and feels depressed, what advice can you give to help her lose weight ?

Killer waves! By 6 Joy

2011-03-23T11:57:00.002+08:00

On March 11, an underwater earthquake measuring 9.0 in magnitude on the richter scale created a 10m-tall tsunami that hit the east coast of Japan. It caused great damage to the environment and a huge loss to the economy for entire towns in the affected area have been destroyed. To date, no one knows as yet how many people have been killed. In the aftermath of the tsunami, the Japanese government has to grapple with the issue of a possible meltdown of nuclear rods due to an explosion at a nuclear plant in Fukushima prefecture which would lead to harmful radiation leaks. This would add on to the catastrophe which the Japanese are reeling from.

What are some of the environmental issues as a result of this earthquake.?

LRD Passport Week 1 -- Are you kind to yourself?

2011-03-22T09:17:00.002+08:00

Today (22 March 2011), after reading Page 12 of this week's LRD, we read about how to take care of our kidneys at worldkidneyday.org

From the website, we learnt that having a balanced diet and leading a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise will help us to take care of our kidneys.

Today's LRD Passport activity is on being kind to yourself by having proper nutrition and nourishing our minds and our bodies.

One of the ways that we nourish our minds by reading good books and articles and thinking good thoughts.

Can you think of other ways that you can nourish your mind?

Why is it important to be kind to yourself?

Killer Waves! by 6 Charity

2011-03-22T08:58:00.002+08:00

Today we read an article on the Japanese tsunami and these are some of our reflections:

- I feel that Singaporeans should not take things for granted (Vanessa)

- Some Singaporeans who were interviewed said that they could not travel anymore. This is rather selfish. (Christine)

- The relief efforts have been slow because of things are stuck in Narita airport. This is very sad. The people who are living in slums are also very pitiful because now it is worse for them. (Merissa and Taranya)

- The Japanese were really calm and they were not feeling frustrated. I think if this happened in Singapore, it would be mayhem. (Jiexin and Vanessa)

What do you think about the disaster? Leave a comment below!

Getting around

2011-03-09T08:58:00.002+08:00

There is an article in the 8 March issue of LRD on the increase in the percentage of people taking the MRT. According to a population census conducted by the Department of Statistics, MRT travel has risen sharply.

The percentage of people who go to work by taking the MRT or a combination of other modes rose from 23.6 in 2000 to 31.2 in 2010. The increase in train commutes has resulted in a decrease in bus commutes.

Work trips by car increased by only 1.1 percentage points despite a 50 per cent increase in car population.

1. What is your favourite mode of transport? Why?
2. What are some of the problems you face when you use public transport?

All because of a spelling mistake (P5 eLearning)

2011-03-03T07:54:00.003+08:00

All because of a spelling mistake
Issue: 1 March 2011 (page 7)
P5 eLearning Exercise

Interestingly, the name of the neighbourhood Serangoon came about because of a spelling mistake. In the 19th century, the burong ramggong, a small marsh bird, was commonly found in the swamps of north-east Singapore. Thus, a river in that part of Singapore was named “Saranggong”, a combination of part of the word “satu” (Malay word for “one”) and “ranggong”.

Activity:
Imagine you have to take a friend on a tour of Serangoon and Upper Serangoon Roads. Using a street directory, choose one place along these roads that you would introduce to your friend and explain why.
(Note: You can click here to view a map of the area around Nex, a shopping centre in Serangoon)

Post what you would say to your friend as a comment to this blog entry.

The above write-up is adapted from Little Red Dot (Issue: 1 March 2011) page 7.

Are you absent-minded?

2011-03-02T08:47:00.001+08:00

There is an article (1st March Issue Pg 1) about being absent-minded. ‘Absent-minded Dot’ shared on how she forgot about her Math tuition session. She also said that since the start of the year, she had left her mobile phone in the canteen, misplaced her homework and forgotten to study for her spelling tests. She always has a hard time keeping track of what she needs to do.

Are you like ‘Absent-minded Dot’?
Do you forget to do your homework?
Do you misplace your library books?
How often do you forget to do things?
Do you get into trouble when you forget to do things?

Give some suggestions as to how to keep track of things you need to do. =)

Lucky? Or just a happy coincidence?

2011-02-26T00:15:00.004+08:00

On Tuesday, 6 Faith read the article on Page 18 of the LRD and did the comprehension questions.

After we had read the passage and attempted the questions, we held a quick poll of our class to see who believed that the story was true. 20 out of 27 of us (74.1%) did not really believe the story.

Surprisingly, many of these 20 girls said that they had seen animals like frogs and crabs survive after being put in the freezer, so they felt that the catfish in the story was not really that special.

"It's just superstition!" one of my classmates said.

We then had a discussion about the kinds of superstitions we knew. Have you heard that shaking one's legs means shaking away good luck? Or that eating at a transparent table means you're eating on the floor? Or that sleeping beside your bed means that you're sleeping outside the house?

Then, Miss Wong told us something quite amazing. Originally, the Singapore Flyer was built to turn from the land toward the sea. However, after it faced bad business and some technical glitches, feng shui experts were consulted and guess what? They reccommended that the Flyer turn the other way instead! A lot of money had to be spent to make the Flyer turn the other way. After that, the Flyer became more popular and business started to improve.

Click on the link below for a report on this
http://www.asiaone.com/Travel/News/Story/A1Story20080811-81704.html

After we had heard this story, we were a bit unsure if such superstitions were really true afterall....

What do you think? What kind of superstitions do you believe in?

Or if you don't believe in any superstitions, why not?

Leave your comment below!

Plastic Surgery --- For or Against?

2011-02-16T21:55:00.004+08:00

Yesterday, we (6 Charity) had a debate about plastic surgery after reading the LRD article on Page 4 of this week's LRD (15th Feb).

Half the class came up with points supporting plastic surgery while the other half came up with points against it. The class got very noisy because many of us were very passionate about our views, but I think it was a very interesting topic!

FOR PLASTIC SURGERY
- It gives people a headstart in the beauty department, according to the article
- It gives doctors more money
- It increases emotional security, according to the article
- It might be necessary for accident cases or for life-threatening cases
- It enhances natural beauty
- After you look confident on the outside, you will feel more confident on the inside
- It is no different from beautifying yourself with make-up
- There is always a risk whatever you do

AGAINST PLASTIC SURGERY
- The opposite sex likes natural beauty and plastic surgery might be off-putting
- It wastes money if you do it unecessarily
- It's better to feel confident on the inside first. Then, you'll look confident on the outside.
- There is a risk if operations go wrong
- It can cause a lot of scars and there may be side-effects from the procedures
- After you do one procedure, there will be a lot of mental stress to keep looking beautiful all the time
- Botox makes you look tight
- People should just be satisfied with what God has given them

What do you think about plastic surgery? Leave a comment below!

Man behind the Pledge (page 14)

2010-10-05T11:56:00.002+08:00

5 October 2010
(4 Humility)

Mr S. Rajaratnam was a "pillar of strength" during the founding years of Singapore. His determination and hard work in building our nation made him one of our important leaders. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew spoke fondly of him, "His fighting spirit never flagged... When everything looked bleak and we were in the depths of despair, Raju roared like a lion."

His hope for "a peaceful society held together by mutual respect" was reflected in one of the many legacies left behind by him - Singapore's National Pledge. It was penned by Mr Rajaratnam "shortly after Singapore gained independence in 1965" (page 14).

Take some time to reflect on the following:
(1) What does the National Pledge mean?
(2) Which aspect of the National Pledge is especially meaningful to me? (State reason/s.)

Early Puberty (Issue: 31 August 2010)

2010-09-02T11:38:00.004+08:00

Early Puberty (Little Red Dot issue on 31 August 2010)
Done by: 4 Humility

Being one of the developed countries, there is a trend in Singapore where more girls are reaching puberty at a younger age. This increase has been observed over the past decade. While most girls “reach puberty at the age of 10 or 11”, “more girls here are growing breasts and/or pubic hair at age seven” (page 4). The early onset of puberty may bring with it a set of problems e.g. growing up shorter and the possibility of a higher risk of breast cancer. Reaching puberty at an earlier age may also have an emotional impact on the girls as they are “too young to deal with the surge of hormones they experience at that stage of life, and could turn aggressive” (page 4).

Some questions to think about:
(1) What are your concerns about reaching puberty at a younger age?
(2) What are some questions you have about reaching puberty?
(3) What do you think is more difficult - being an early developer, or reaching puberty later than everyone else in your class? Why do you think that?

Our YOG Dolls

2010-08-12T11:30:00.005+08:00

St. Kitts and Nevis is our twinning country for the YOG and some teachers as well as pupils in our school made dolls to welcome them.

The dolls, Christopher and Kenisha, will be on display at Compass Point shopping centre this week from 11-15 Aug, along with other dolls.

Here are some pictures of the beautiful dolls. Look at how pretty their costumes are!

2010-08-03T13:14:00.001+08:00

Listen to the National Day Theme Songs. Which is your favourite? Post your answer as a comment to this blog entry :-)
National Day Theme Song 2001
Where I Belong

National Day Theme Song 2002
We Will Get There

National Day Theme Song 2003
One United People

National Day Theme Song 2004
Home

National Day Theme Song 2005
Reach for the Skies

National Day Theme Song 2006
My Island Home

National Day Theme Song 2007
Will You

National Day Theme Song 2008
Shine For Singapore

National Day Theme Song 2009
What Do You See

National Day Theme Song 2010
Song For Singapore

A City For You to Play In (4 Joy)

2010-08-03T09:57:00.003+08:00

"... there is much the Republic (Singapore) is doing right and much the rest of the world can envy, but the country is falling down in one key area - it is not think small enough... Child-sized, to be precise, because cities must first be livable for children before they can be livable for all, says urban planning consultant Suzanne Crowhurst Lennard, who was here recently for the World Cities Summit." Little Red Dot, The Straits Times, Tuesday, 03/08/10

Should a city be a playground for children? Or is it better to have special areas where children can play? What do you think, and why?

Write about 3 things that make Singapore a better place for children to live in.

World Class Toilets (P5 Peace)

2010-07-30T13:39:00.002+08:00

According to Singapore's 'Toiletman' , (LRD pg 14) "Singaporeans toilet habits remain notoriously bad" despite efforts to ptomote clean toilets in Singapore.
Singapore has achieved world class status in many areas but this is one area where everyone needs to put in some effort. Dirty toilet habits are the result of poor training at home and in school.
What is the condition of the toilet in your own home. Can you make it a nicer place ? Have you played your part in maintaining a good standard of cleanliness when you use the toilet in school and public places?
Do you agree with this statement? What experiences have you had with toilets in Singapore? How can we help Mr Toiletman, make Singapore toilets world class ?

Shopping Centre Vocabulary

2010-07-29T15:02:00.006+08:00

Using the article on The Heeren from Page 5 of this week’s (27/7/10) LRD, we highlighted some phrases with the class pertaining to shopping centres (not malls) and made sentences together that we thought might be useful for our compositions. Do you find these phrases useful? Maybe you can use them in your next composition!

 It was lunch time last Wednesday in Orchard Road. The usually-crowded streets however, were deserted as floodwaters had covered the pavement.
 People had to squeeze through the crowd.
 People ventured into the six-storey shopping centre, but many window-shopped before walking out.
 Loud techno music blared from some shops.
 The fourth floor was occupied mostly by shops selling apparel.
 The patrons in the eateries were shocked by what they saw outside the window.

5 Charity and 5 Faith

Are you using your brains? (P5Hope)

2010-07-29T07:31:00.004+08:00

On page 9 of LRD dated 27 July 2010, there was an article about people using only 10 per cent of their brains. If we could somehow tap on the rest of our brainpower, we would be a lot smarter! This is a myth – a story or explanation which is false, but believed to be true by many people. Our brain controls our mind and body. It is made up of billions of nerve cells. Damage to even tiny parts of the brain can seriously affect one’s health and well-being. If we want keep our brains functioning at its maximum capacity, what do you think we should do?

Money and Me

2010-07-29T07:08:00.001+08:00

P5 Joy
Tuesday, 20/7/10 issue of LRD Pg 17

Money and Me
I am sure most of you have been told by your parents and elders to ‘spend your money wisely’. This article explains what it means and how you can spend your money wisely.
In our daily lives, it is common to buy things that we either need or want. Before you buy that thing, have you considered whether it is a need or a want? So, what is the difference between a need and a want
A need consists of the basic items that are required for your survival, such as food, shelter and education whereas a want is something that you wish to own but you are capable of living without.

How one can be a wise spender and save some money?

Flooding in Orchard Road

2010-07-02T13:32:00.003+08:00

On Page 5 of this week's LRD, we read about the flood in Orchard Road. Amazingly enough, everyone could remember where they had been when they heard about the flood. I guess that shows that we all had been very shocked.

During our English lesson, we discussed about what could have possibly caused the flood. Some people said it might have been litter thrown in the drains while others said that the drains were not big enough. I had never heard of the Stamford Canal until today. That is the name of the canal that overflowed on June 17th, causing the flood.

From the article, we learnt that Orchard Road is known as one of Singapore's prime area. In the article, the writer described the flood as having 'swirling brown water the colour of milk tea'. Some of my friends said that that sounded delicious but I was very disgusted. We also read about how people had to scramble out of their cars and how the submerged road made it difficult to drive through as the flood water rose. There was a nice part about how passers-by helped a shop open its doors by ramming through the grilles as they had been trapped by the floodwaters. Of course, everyone had been caught off guard by this flood, as they had never been rain this heavy since 1984!!

Do you remember what you were doing when you heard about the flood?

For more pictures and videos, go to the link below:

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/this_urban_jungle/394710/heavy_rains_cause_severe_flooding_along_orchard_road.html

Kallang Slashings

2010-07-01T23:17:00.003+08:00

Between May 27 to 30 last month, there was a crime spree in the Kallang area, which resulted in 1 construction worker killed in an open field.

Seven people have already been caught for gang robbery.

When we discussed this in class, we talked about how crazy it all seemed and how important it was to be careful when we walk home. It's hard to belive that this happened in Singapore.

However, a good thing that came out of this was that some Singaporeans were compassionate enough to come forward to help those who had been injured in the attacks. Some helped by donating money while others paid for their bills. I heard that one of them was a construction worker who had had his fingers cut off by the attacks. He cannot continue working now. We all felt really sad by this.

The article about how Singaporeans came forward to help the injured men can be found at the link below:

http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100609-0000066

5 Charity 2010

MRT Graffiti

2010-06-30T07:09:00.003+08:00

Between May 16 and 17, 2 men, Oliver Fricker and Dane Alexander Lloyd, cut a fence in Changi Depot (the place where they 'park' all the trains at night) and spray-painted graffiti on one of the MRT trains.

However, what was weird about this incident was that SMRT (the people who run the MRT system in Singapore) did not realise what had happened until a teenaged boy, who was part of a trainspotting group--- a group of people whose hobby is to follow trains--- happened to take a video of the train. He had thought that it was an advertisement. When SMRT realised that someone had vandalised the train, they started investigating and caught Oliver Fricker, a well-paid Swiss banker working in Singapore. The other man however, had left the country after vandalising the train.

This incident made the public ask how safe the MRT depots were. Some people said that it would have been very serious if the men had done something more dangerous with the train.

What do you think about this incident? Should SMRT do anything? Should the public do anything to prevent something like this from happening again?

6 Charity - In memory of Dr Goh Keng Swee (6 October 1918-14 May 2010)

2010-05-26T10:26:00.001+08:00

The dearly missed ex-Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore not only went on to become one of modern Singapore’s pioneers, but also served terms as the Minister for the Finance, Defence, and Education ministries. In short, it is safe to say that everything we now see around us was due to his sheer brilliance, practicality, foresight and vision for the modern Singapore he aspired to create.

He was usually called in by the Minister Mentor, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, to solve many of the problems that Parliament faced, thus acquiring the nick-name “Mr Fix It”. Among the many things we are grateful to him for are: JTC, MAS, The Singapore Bird Park, The Underwater World and many more. Let us remember him and keep his legacy alive!

Do share your thoughts with us.

The Plight of Foreign Workers in Singapore

2010-05-26T10:24:00.003+08:00

The article "It's a Raid - and Men, Rats, Roaches Scurry About" published in the Straits Times on 18th May 2010 was an eye opener, as it showed us what it is like in the dormitories of some foreign workers in Singapore. Although they are not Singaporeans, the locals owe a lot to these foreign workers who have contributed to the modernisation of Singapore. With most of thenm working in the construction field, they are partly responsible for the new buildings which are erected in Singapore. Some of them are also responsible for the clean and green environment that we experience in our neighbourhoods. Thus, it only fair that we reciprocate kindness with kindness by providing them with bigger lodgings and proper washing facilities. After all, we all belong to the human race and we should treat one another with respect.

P6 Humility

Homeless in Singapore

2010-05-20T08:50:00.005+08:00

We read the article on LRD's P4 in class today. The aricle was entitled 'Homeless' Couple in the Spotlight.

This is what it was about:
- A short documentary on homeless Singaporeans was shown by Arabic TV news network, Al Jazeera
- The two-minute clip featured a couple allegedly forced onto the streets by government bureaucracy
- Dr Vivian Balakrishnan (Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports) questioned the accuracy of the report, saying the couple had not been left in the lurch by government agencies
- He said that the man had made about $220 000 from the sale of three HDB flats, and the woman is still the co-owner of an HDB flat with her former husband,
- The couple had been offered a place at a shelter, but they turned it down. The shelter would not let the couple live together too, as they are not legally married.
- MCYS said the couple continue to receive financial and social assistance from various outfits, for example the South West CDC.

To find out more:
Full Report: "Homeless" Couple still in TOC's website spotlight
http://www.transitioning.org/2010/04/30/full-report-homeless-couple-still-in-toc-websites-spotlight-st-1-may/

Al Jazeera responds to Vivian Balakrishnan's accusations
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/04/al-jazeera-responds-to-vivian-balakrishnans-accusations/

Think about this and leave your comments:
If people want to live on the streets, should they be allowed to?

Leave a tribute to Dr. Goh Keng Swee

2010-05-20T08:45:00.001+08:00

Goh ks 15 may 2010-to be projected17may2010

View more presentations from misswongccps.

Dr. Goh Keng Swee will be remembered as Singapore's architect, a man who left big footprints in many areas of Singaporean life as we know it. Many institutions and ministries owe a great debt of gratitude to his insight, foresight and wisdom.

What would you like to say as a tribute to his memory and life work? Leave a comment below!

My Favourite Television Programme (6 Joy)

2010-05-12T11:12:00.003+08:00

This week's Little Red Dot featured an article that traced the evolution of Singapore's television programmes from 40 years ago to the present. Let's see what some of 6 Joy's favourite TV programmes are!

Vishalini
My favourite programme is Wheel of Fortune. It is very interesting because I find it very challenging to predict the answers. I also get to learn some new words in the process. Some of the contestants are so lucky - they win lots of money as well as trips to exotic destinations! I hope to participate in Wheel of Fortune one day and win myself some prizes!

Nabilah
Samayal Samayal is a Tamil cooking show. I love to cook so I get lots of ideas for new recipes from the show. I then cook the dishes for my family!

Sammi
My favourite program is Deadly 60. It is shown every Monday at 8.30pm on the okto channel. I like it because it features animals that are not found in Singapore. I find the information quite useful for Science and it is fascinating to watch them catch sharks and crocodiles. The most amazing scene in the show was one where they showed a giant alligator turtle stuck in a fishing net! I really want to see the turtle in real life. There are other programmes that I like to watch. They are mostly about Science as I love Science.

Whoa... Fierce.

Source: http://missourifolkloresociety.truman.edu/turtleman/alligator-snapping-turtle.jpg

Killer Ash Straits Times Tuesday April 20 (Pg A6) P5 Joy

2010-04-20T13:50:00.002+08:00

Since last week, Eyjafijallakull Volcano in Iceland has been spewing ash into the atmosphere. As the ash particles dispersed, it has formed an ash cloud over an extensive area in Europe. This has resulted in aeroplanes being grounded due to the ash in the atmosphere.
Besides causing chaos in the aviation industry, how will the ash cloud affect the environment?

The Big Bird Airlift (P6 Peace)

2010-04-14T12:28:00.002+08:00

We enjoyed reading the article on how the penguins were affected by the oil spill. After we read the article, many of us responded that we wanted to be the volunteers who tirelessly clean the feathers of the penguins. We admire the volunteers who had spent so much time cleaning the oil off the their feathers by hand, using toothbrushes and detergent. Each of these volunteers worked 16 hours a day! They certainly love and care for these little creatures! So do WE!

Oil Spills

2010-04-13T08:06:00.006+08:00

LRD 13/4/2010 P13

On July 6 2000, there was an oil spill off South Africa's coast. A ship carrying 14,000 tonnes of oil sank and that resulted in conservationists having to airlift 18,000 penguins out of the 55,000 African penguins living on Dassen Island off Cape Town.

Oil spills are dangerous for penguins and other marine life. If you read the news recently, there was an oil spill on 3 April 2010 near the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The picture below contains some information about this spill.

conservationists are people who try to protect animals.
To airlift something is to transport people, animals or supplies by aeroplane, especially in an emergency.

Especially for the P5 girls doing e-learning:

Do you know what effects oil spills have on marine life?

Find out on the Internet and post your answer!

How Do Diseases Spread? (6Hope)

2010-04-06T13:53:00.002+08:00

A disease is an illness or sickness - something that happens when the body is not working properly.

How do we get diseases?
Some diseases develop on their own inside a person’s body and some diseases can be spread from one person to another. Those that spread are called infectious diseases.
Infectious diseases are caused by germs such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. These get into our bodies and then multiply.

How do these germs get enter the body?
There are two main ways: direct contact and indirect contact.

How can we fight the germs?
Have a balanced diet
Get enough sleep
Exercise

What do YOU do to keep yourself healthy?

Vocabulary
Outbreak - a disease that affects more people than usual, e.g. the common flu
Pandemic - a disease that spreads from one country to another, e.g. Influenza A (HINI) flu

Can you think of other outbreaks and pandemics?

Making sense of Ads

2010-04-06T07:41:00.002+08:00

Making Sense of Ads – 30 March 2010 by 6 Faith

We are bombarded by advertisements everywhere we go. We see advertisements in magazines, in newspapers, at the bus-stops and even flyers sent right to our doorsteps. In this issue of LRD, there is an exercise (on Page 16) that teaches us how to read advertisements and how to identify the intended audience and what the intended message in the advertisement is. After we have done this exercise as a class, we came to the realization that advertisements are there to create a sense of lack in us. If we think that they are there just to provide information and choices for us then we are really hoodwinked by them. As we discussed, we came to the conclusion that advertisers can never and will never say anything bad or negative about their products. Thus, as consumers, we have to be alert and take advertisements with a pinch of salt.

hoodwinked: to be tricked by someone or something into doing something to the person’s advantage in a clever way
to take something with a pinch of salt: not to believe everything that is said or mentioned.

Chewing Gum Ban - Lift it? (30 March)

2010-04-04T16:12:00.003+08:00

The chewing gum ban in Singapore was enacted in 1992. In 2004, the ban was reviewed and only chewing gum of therapeutic value is allowed into Singapore. It was unfortunate that the government has banned the chewing of gums in Singapore due to the inconsiderate behaviour of many Singaporeans.

What did they do? Chewed gum was stuck onto anything - seats on the bus, lift buttons, etc. The list was endless for these vandals. But when chewed gum was found on the doors of the MRT trains which have caused some disruptions and a lot of inconvenience, the ban was put in place.

However, there are instances where Singaporeans have smuggled packets of chewing gums for their personal consumption. This is a misconception. Bringing in gum into Singapore, even small quantities for whatever purpose, is technically prohibited.

What do you think will cause for the complete lift of the ban?

23 March: Why do we grow old? (page 9) - 4 Humility

2010-03-23T08:03:00.000+08:00

With every passing second, we are growing older. Have you ever wondered why we grow old? Cells in our bodies make copies of themselves and keep dividing into twos for about 50 times, after which, they start a process of “hibernating”. A possible reason that our cells grow old and die is the “build-up of poisonous and waste materials inside the body, or because of little mistakes that cells sometimes make when they copy themselves”. Humans have been living longer because of better food and health-care. What are some things we can do to help ourselves be healthier?

9 Feb 2010: THE BIG FACE Mr Salim & What Causes Nightmares?

2010-02-27T18:48:00.012+08:00

Our class, 4 JOY, responded to 2 articles that we read in the Little Red Dot...

THE BIG FACE Mr Salim...
Do you believe in miracle? Mr Salim, who died in September 2008, was reported to have come back from the dead. But how could it be? Was he really dead in the first place? Could he be Mr Salim's long-lost twin brother?

Ressurrection

Scary, Frightening

Trembled, Shook, Shivered

Back from the Dead

Miracle?

- by Ashley & Meghna

What Causes Nightmares?

Some of us have nightmares and we do not like them. Why do we have nightmares? Are we feeling stressed?

Nightmares

Disturbing, Harrowing

Shrieked, Panted, Terrorised

Dark Scenes... Bad Dreams

Phobia

- by Eden, Natalie & Chloe

"First batch of S'poreans starts NS" - page 13 (2 Feb 2010)

2010-02-02T09:23:00.007+08:00

By 4 Humility

In this fictitious article on the first batch of Singaporeans who started NS, a brief recount of the difficulties faced by the government in making National Service compulsory for males was given.

There had been attempts to introduce military service in Singapore prior to her independence. However, it was not welcomed by the Singaporeans. Putting his foot down, Defence Minister Goh Keng Swee said in Parliament, "I consider it wrong to believe that there is nothing we can or should do about defending ourselves."

In the words of some pupils from 4 Humility, there is a need for the implementation of compulsory military service "so that Singapore will no longer depend on other countries and remain weak" (Hazel) and for Singapore "to be a stronger country" (Rachel Wang).

As a Singaporean or a foreigner who currently resides in Singapore, what do you think of making National Service compulsory for all Singaporean males? Do you agree or disgree with what has been said about "defending ourselves"? Have your voice heard by participating in the poll below.

customer surveys

China Takes back Hong Kong

2010-01-15T11:05:00.002+08:00

We read the article in this week's (12/1/2010) LRD and completed the following KWL as a class:

K
There was a war between Britain and China
Why was there a war?
Why did Britain hand Hong Kong back to China?
Why did China take Hong Kong back?

W
There was a war because of a kind of drug found in a flower.

L
I learnt that Britain handed Hong Kong over because they promised that sooner or later they would return Hong Kong.

This is a youtube video that Ms Wong showed us after we read the article:

P5 Charity

Recent natural disasters

2009-09-03T11:42:00.007+08:00

Recently, there have been a series of natural disasters in various countries. In Taiwan, Typhoon Morakot caused many homes to be damaged. On Page 6 of LRD (1/9/2209), we read that many Taiwanese have asked their president, Ma Ying-jeou, to resign because they felt that he responded too slowly after the typhoon struck.

In Greece and California, fires also damaged many homes recently. Experts said that these fires were probably caused by hot weather.

In Indonesia on Wednesday, a 7.0 magnitude quake shook buildings in the capital Jakarta and flattened homes in villages closer to the epicentre in West Java.

As you read about all these disasters, what are your thoughts?

The Ugly Truth About Drugs (Page 3)

2009-08-18T11:52:00.010+08:00

Don't Take Drugs - by 4 Charity

Reason 1:Drugs can ruin one's internal organs such as heart, liver and brain.

Reason 2:Drug addicts usually look unkempt.

Reason 3:When a person is addicted to drugs, his or her behaviour will change for the worse.

Can you think of any other reasons not to take drugs? Post your views as a comment to this blog entry.

National Day Rally 2009

2009-08-18T09:48:00.003+08:00

Every year in Singapore since 1966, the Prime Minister makes a National Day Rally speech to the whole country. This takes place on the second Sunday after August 9, Singapore's National Day. In this speech, the Prime Minister talks about key challenges and future directions of the country.

Last Sunday, on the 16th of August, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong talked about four issues. They were the economy, healthcare, social harmony and shaping Singapore together. During his speech, he talked about some challenges facing Singapore, such as an ageing popultion and job losses, but also talked about resilient Singaporeans who were able to work under difficult conditions and in a changing world.

The Prime Minister spent a lot of time talking about why and how we can all live peacefully with each other, even though we are from different races and religions. He said that we must "rejoice in our harmony but..never forget what being a Singaporean means. It's not just tolerating other groups but opening our hearts to all our fellow citizens."

What do you think it means to open your heart to our fellow citizens, which include our classmates from different races, religions and countries?

How do you think you can open your heart to the people around you?

No Smoking!

2009-08-13T23:24:00.005+08:00

This week, we were very interested in the article on Smoking, on Page 13 of this week's LRD (11th August 2009).

We all know that smoking is harmful, but do you know how harmful it really is ?

From this article, we learnt that smoking causes at least 25 different diseases, including heart disease and stroke. From our Health Education projects this year, we also know that smoking causes bad breath, makes your teeth yellow and can cause infertility.

Before 1957, not many people knew that smoking was so dangerous, and governments ignored the harmful side-effects of smoking, because they did not want to start a panic and did not want to lose the money that the tobacco industry was bringing in. It was only after 1957 that a lot of people started quitting, but there are still more than one billion smokers on the planet.

We could think of a lot more reasons to quit smoking, but we want to hear from you! What are some reasons why people should quit smoking?

By 4 Faith

Happy Birthday Singapore!

2009-08-07T22:10:00.015+08:00

National Day Preview

Hi Everyone,

This is 5Joy. With National Day just two days away, we thought it fitting to pen some of our reflections of the National Day Preview that we Primary 5s were privileged to watch. The following reflections are from Rebekah (I'm Singaporean!), Cyan (I'm from the Philippines!) and Adeline (I'm from CSH!)

" 11 July was the day that we P5s went for the Nationay Day Preview. In school, I saw that we were all dressed in red and white. My friend, Vina, had brought her father's army binoculars. They came in useful because she could clearly see the navy ships sailing behind the stage at the Marina Bay. We saw the Red Lions (parachuters) jumping off the helicopter. I think the wind was quite strong, so they appeared to glide through the sky before landing. What I enjoyed most was learning about the history of Singapore through the performances. I felt very happy although it rained while we were saying the pledge! I hope that I will be able to get tickets for the parade next year!"

Rebekah

"11 July was one of the best days of my life ever! I was so amazed when I stepped on the floating platform at the Marina Bay. I enjoyed watching the performances, especially the soldiers marching. I also enjoyed the loud music, and the fireworks! Seeing our heart-shaped torches lighted up in the dark made the atmosphere so romantic! Most of my friends enjoyed getting wet in the rain. I did not allow myself to get wet as I was afraid to catch a cold. But the truth was, I WANTED TO JOIN THEM! I am a foreigner and this is my first time watching an event like this. I want to say that I am proud to be living in Singapore. I want to live here forever! Happy Birthday Singapore!"

Cyan

"My teacher, my classmates and I went for the NE show on 18 July. The Bay was so crowded! The personnel showed us to our seats. There was a big eye on the screen. I was so shocked when it 'spoke' to us. It asked us if we were warm and if we wanted to switch on the air-conditioners! My classmates and I were also very shocked to see Phua Chu Kang. He told us to take out the flag and wave it. He also asked us to take out our heart-shaped torches. Mine was broken and it could not light up. But I was lucky that an army officer actually exchanged his torch with mine. At night, we saw the fireworks. They were so beautiful. I really enjoyed myself at the NE show. I hope that I can go there again."

Adeline

The Eclipse

2009-08-05T08:47:00.003+08:00

Did you catch the longest solar eclipse of the century?
Many in India, China and Japan saw the eclipse.

If you did not, it will happen again a century later in 2132.
Most of the students in 4 Humility feel they might not live that long to see the next solar eclipse. Only our grandchildren might live to see it.

An eclipse happens when the moon blocks the sun. We live in total darkness for a few minutes. To find out more about eclipses, this website has more information ?

Some people thought that the eclipse would bring bad luck while others were excited over it. Do you think eclipses bring bad luck?

Little Red Dot (Issue: 28 July 2009) - Do you see a hit song? (page 4)

2009-07-29T11:49:00.002+08:00

There are differing views as to how appealing the National Day (ND) theme song, What Do You See, is to the general public. While some lament that the good old sing-able tunes like Count On Me, Singapore and We Are Singapore are a thing of the past, others are applauding the move to go rock and see the change as "refreshing". What about you? Do you like the rock element in the recent ND theme songs or do you prefer a more sing-able tune that you can hum to? Post your thoughts as a comment to this blog entry.

Dicing with Death

2009-07-28T08:33:00.004+08:00

Based on p 3, LRD 28/7/2009 By 4 Joy

The noose in the picture caught our attention and we chose this article to blog about.

In pairs, we discussed what the consequences for drug trafficking are in Singapore. We found out that for taking some drugs, the punishment can be up to 20 years in jail or may be caned 15 times. Our teacher explained to us that people who commit certain crimes in Singapore are caned with a thick cane. We squirmed at the thought of this!!

People can also be hung for drug trafficking, which is very sad because it means someone dies just because he or she bought and sold drugs.

The aim of the article is to tell us that no matter how old or young you are, you will be punished if you take drugs!

How do you think other people are affected when someone takes drugs?

Come and post your comments! =)

A lifelong dream that was not meant to be

2009-07-24T07:32:00.005+08:00

(Based on an article in the LRD 22/7/2009 issue on a Singapore medical team's attempt to separate a pair of Iranian Siamese twins, Ladan and Laleh Bijani, almost exactly 6years ago.)

The class felt that the twins were very brave to go through the operation. They had the dream of seeing each other face to face. We are sad that they were unable to do so. We had a little experience of being "being stuck" together with our partners in the classroom. The task was to retrieve something which was away from us. We felt uncomfortable "following" the other person, very inconvenient and it was not easy to move around. We were "joined together" for a few minutes but the twins were connected together for 29 years. We really admire their courage,their patience with each other.

By 5 Grace

How did you feel when you read the article in this week's LRD?

Guest bloggers from other schools!

2009-07-21T09:00:00.002+08:00

Hi girls,

Yesterday, we were priviledged to have 14 guest bloggers at the ccpslrd blog! They were teachers from other schools whom we had shared our blog with yesterday. We invited them to share their thoughts on last week's LRD issues with us and we're glad they agreed! The eight previous entries are by them. Do leave your comments! (If you want to blog for us on ccpslrd, drop Miss Wong an email at misswongccps@gmail.com!)

=)
Miss Wong

Guest Blogger on Asian Youth Games Singapore

2009-07-20T16:32:00.002+08:00

The Asian Youth Games Singapore opened in Singapore with a bang on the 29th June 2009, Monday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The crowd of spectators are met with a myriad of performers with student from many primary and secondary schools. Despite seats in the auditorium not being fully filled up due to the H1N1 flu situation, spirits were rather high in the stadium as the crowd cheered to the performances and the competitors.

This is the first time these games have been held. The 9-day Asian Youth Games (AYG) are designed to showcase sporting excellence in the region. Almost 1,400 young people aged 14 to 17 from 43 countries across Asia took part. Spectators had a chance to see future Olympians showing their potential. Malaysia had withdrawn their participation due to H1N1 infections that were on the rise at that time.

Contrary to the Opening Ceremony, the Games were declared closed in a private function at Fairmont Hotel Singapore, which included only partipants and officials.

Singapore bagged 9 golds in this Games!

Well done Singapore!

Here's a video on one of the items from the Opening Ceremony. Enjoy! :)

Guest Blogger on the Sari (with video!)

2009-07-20T16:05:00.003+08:00

The sari is India's national dress for females. This is how a sari is worn.

Guest Blogger on Salt and You

2009-07-20T16:04:00.004+08:00

Eating too much salt is bad for your health. You are more likely to get high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke if you take in too much salt in your diet. Although some salt is necessary but doctors recommend that a person takes no more than one level teaspoon a day.

Take note that some sweet things and food like cakes, biscuits and bread can contain high level of salt. So beware! There are ways to lower the amount of salt you eat. One way is to choose fresh food instead of pre-prepared, processed or pickled ones. look out for Healthier Choice symbol.

Finally, eat lots of different fruits and vegetables everyday - naturally low in salt and great source of health-boosting vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

Should you add chilli sauce or ketchup to your french fries?

What food contain natural salt?

Guest Blogger on The Graceful Saris

2009-07-20T16:01:00.025+08:00

I've always thought that saris are beautiful. When I was in Primary 6, my form teacher, Miss Williams wore saris to school everyday. I loved all her saris. The prints on the fabrics were so beautiful.

I've always wanted to try wearing a sari, but was worried because nobody would help me secure it properly. Now, with ready-made saris available, I think I'll just get one and wear it on the next Racial Harmony Day.

Website on salt by guest blogger: Pass (on) the salt

2009-07-20T16:01:00.024+08:00

Doctors recommend not more than one level teaspoon of salt a day. That's too much for me. It's not necessary to take any salt at all. The salt that your body needs is already in or supposed to be in the food that you eat each day.

website on salt

A note from 2 guest bloggers: Less salt is good!

2009-07-20T16:01:00.023+08:00

Hi gals,
I am sure most of you know too much salt is bad for you.
Is it good for us to have a salt-free diet?
Can you imagine eating food without salt? How would that be like?
List the foods that we consume daily that contain salt.
Share with us your comments.

From sts,
sj and lm

Guest Blogger on The Graceful Sari--recollections of Mrs Shankar

2009-07-20T16:01:00.022+08:00

Reading The Graceful Sari reminded me of my vice-principal, Mrs Shankar who passed away last year. She was a modern woman who donned the sari every day changing out of it only during the times she joined the school for mass exercise in the mornings. She always looked elegant in it with not an inch of her tummy exposed. It takes a lot of practise to don the sari. Oh, how I miss her. God bless her wonderful soul.

Guest Blogger on Passing (on) the salt...

2009-07-20T16:01:00.021+08:00

Do you know your daily recommended salt intake?

According to this BBC article, "The government recommends a maximum of 6g of salt per day for adults, 5g a day for children aged 7-10 and 3g for children aged 4-6."

This is easily achieved when a typical McDonald's meal of a Quarter Pounder with Cheese Meal (quarter pounder burger with cheese, medium fries, medium coca cola) has 3.2 grams of salt!

Think about this:

How much salt do you consume a day?

What does too much salt do to our body?

Remember, you are what you eat!

©heste®

Guest Blogger on Learning with Recipes

2009-07-20T16:00:00.003+08:00

Hi!There....I think its a very interesting idea to let pupils learn how an instructional text is done using a food receipe and getting them to restructure it in the right way. It's a excellent choice to motivate LA pupils.

Pavithra.

Guest blogger on The Place in BigInAsia

2009-07-20T15:59:00.014+08:00

Hi people,
On pg 5, look for the section which refers to The Big Place?
What is the Big Place and why is the Big Place doing what they are doing?
Share 1 advantage and disadvantage of their mission?
How will it contribute to the environment?
Hurry to save our earth!!!!

Guest Blogger on Racial Harmony Day - Singapore HeritageFest

2009-07-20T14:41:00.006+08:00

Having fun playing "Zero-Point" :)

We are celebrating this year's Racial Harmony Day tomorrow! :)

Racial Harmony Day (Chinese: 种族和谐日), which was first launched on 21 July 1997, is celebrated annually on 21 July in Singapore. The event is to commemorate the 1964 Race Riots, which took place on 21 July 1964.
Racial Harmony Day also represents a day for schools to reflect on, and celebrate Singapore's success as a racially harmonious nation and society built on a rich diversity of culture and heritage.

In schools all across the nation on that day, students are encouraged to be dressed in their traditional costumes such as the Cheongsam and the Baju Kurung.
Traditional delicacies are also featured in the celebrations. Traditional games such as Kutih-kutih and zero point are played in schools, where inter-class competitions are sometimes organised.

This year, the Cultural Heritage Festival’s theme is, “Who’s Your Neighbour?”

In the past, neighbours were counted among our best friends. They were always there when we needed help and they were the ones we counted on should we run out of daily necessities.

Festivals were often celebrated with the sharing of goodies in one another’s house.
Over time, neighbourly life has taken a back seat in our hectic lives.
Singaporeans are encouraged to reconnect with each other through a series of activities.
Go on, check out the diversity in your neighbourhood today!

2009-07-15T18:37:00.003+08:00

In class today, we read 2 texts in the Little Red Dot and did the comprehension questions that followed (LRD 14/7, p 7). The first passage was about a woman whose money ($1050!!) and belongings (her ATM cards and identity card) were stolen from her.

At first I thought that she was very unlucky, but when we discussed it in class, I realized that actually, she could have prevented it from happening. Do you know why? Well, firstly, she had put the money in a plastic holder in her side pocket. All $1050!! I can’t imagine having so much money. And if I did, I would NOT put it with my EZ link card in my pocket! Secondly, she fell asleep! Miss Wong said she must have been a hawker, because there was a line in the passage that said she boarded bus 66 at Jalan Besar Hawker Centre at 5.30 pm, probably after she closed her stall. Maybe that’s why she was so tired.

The second passage was about someone whose handphone got stolen from his own flat! He was a 28-year-old man. While he was on the computer in his unlocked flat, he heard a noise and turned around. A man was standing at the entrance, and he said that he was looking for the man’s flatmate. The man went into the bedroom to look for his flatmate but when he came out, he noticed that his handphone, which he had placed on the table, was missing. He confronted the stranger, who immediately returned the phone and fled. The man gave chase, but soon lost sight of him.

I guess it was a good thing that he returned the man’s handphone, but it was also quite silly to leave your door unlocked and to let a stranger walk into your house!

Low crime doesn’t mean no crime. I guess even though we think we’re in a safe place, we must still be very careful with our things and don’t give the thieves a chance!

A page from our LRD activity...

2009-07-10T14:39:00.005+08:00

By Zara Trinidad

4 Joy did some interviewing today with this week's LRD. It was really noisy, but it was quite fun asking each other questions about the festivals that we celebrated. One of the "rules" was that we had to ask each other questions and answer in complete sentences, which was very hard!!

This is what I found out from 4 of my friends from this week's LRD p 16.

Name: Anne Lee Sook Yen
Race : Chinese
Name of festival celebrated: Chinese New Year
How is the festival celebrated:
She celebrates the Chinese New Year by going to other people’s houses and giving them Mandarin oranges. Adults give her red packets. Other people also come to her house and give Mandarin oranges.
What she loves most about this festival and why:
She loves the red packets because they have money inside them and she can save money.

Name : Chen Shu Xin
Race: Chinese
Name of festival celebrated : Moon Cake festival
How the festival is celebrated :She celebrates it by eating Moon Cakes and
playing with lanterns.
What she loves most about this festival and why :
She loves moon cakes because they are delicious.

Name : Chloe Ng
Race : Chinese
Name of festival celebrated : Chinese New Year
How the festival is celebrated : She celebrates Chinese New Year by going to other
people’s houses and collecting red packets. She will give them Mandarin oranges.
They celebrate it during January.
What she loves most about this festival and why :
She loves the food and different dishes because they are all delicious.

Name : Mon Theint
Race : Chinese (from Myanmar)
Name of festival celebrated : Christmas
How the festival is celebrated : She celebrates it by singing songs and giving gifts
to other people.
What she loves most about this festival and why:
She loves getting presents because she will get new things.

It's fun to interview friends!

7 ways to wash our hands

2009-07-10T14:09:00.002+08:00

From LRD 30/6/2009

Before Term 3 started this week, my form teacher called my mother if we had travelled anywhere. My mother said that schools were really taken a lot of precautions to make sure everyone is healthy when school starts.

Yesterday, my teacher showed us some Powerpoint slides on hygiene. I guess it must be very important now to keep our hands clean because in today's LRD, there was an article about washing hands too!

Page 9 explains that your hands may look and feel clean, but it is still important to wash them properly and regularly. I like this paragraph:

"Just think of all the things you touched today-- food, the handle of the door, the toilet, the staircase railing-- and then think of all the other people who have touched those same things."

It made me shudder to think of all the germs that have landed on my hands today!! So gross!!

I remember that a long long time ago, when I was in Nursery, we sang a song about washing hands.

This video that we watched in class today brought back such memories!

National Orange Ribbon Celebrations

2009-07-10T13:52:00.003+08:00

The National Orange Ribbon Celebrations (NORC) has kickstarted a month-long celebration in July to commemorate racial and religious harmony.

The theme for this year’s NORC event “Many Races, One Gracious Community”. This celebration seeks to promote the Olympic values of “Excellence, Friendship & Respect” in support of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2010. (You may remember the actions that you have learnt from this week's class assembly!)

A key feature of this year’s celebrations is to gather as many pledges from the people conveying our personal commitment to live in harmony as one gracious society. Every single pledge makes a difference! Grow the Movement! Make Your Pledge Today!

Follow this link http://orangeribbon.onepeople.sg/2009/ to make your pledge. By clicking on the button that says "Pledge here", you can write a pledge (which is like a promise) to live in harmony with your friends and other people around you.

For example, you could write that "I pledge to lend a helping hand to all those around me who need help so we can all learn well as a class." Let's show our that CCPS girls care about others around them!

Thoughts on LRD 12/5/2009

2009-05-18T11:41:00.003+08:00

We looked at various articles in this week's LRD and these are our thoughts:

Article # 1: Treasure trove in king tut's tomb!

2 things that we find interesting in the article:

1.In November 11, last year, some archaeologist found a flight of stairs leading to a underground tomb!

2.The other side of the door was the Pharoah's burial chamber which was beautifully decorated with an enormous gold and blue shrine.

Article #2: Stars in the making

3 things that we find interesting in the article:

1.The dance class actually provides scholarships for talented youth aged seven to 16 who have a passion for the arts but lack the funds.

2.It looks like the children who are taking part in the dance classes enjoy themselves very much.

3.They learn new things that are very interesting and challenging.

2 new words from the article:

1.Hone - a whetstone of fine, compact texture for sharpening razors and other cutting tools.

2.Immersed - to involve deeply; absorb: She is totally immersed in her law practice.

1 photograph that is related to the article:

Article #3: Squids

Three things that we find interesting in the article:
1. Squids release black ink when attacked to confuse their enemies.

2.Squids do not have eyelids.

3.Squids change colour to camouflage themselves.

Two new words from the article 1.molluscs 2.bioluminescent

Your Singapore Through Their Eyes Writing Competition

2009-05-18T11:37:00.002+08:00

Calling all P4 - P6 pupils!

There is a writing competition open to all of you called "Your Singapore Through Their Eyes: Singapore(RE)presents".

You may write poems, plays or stories (maximum of 3 pages) and send it to Miss Wong at misswongccps@gmail.com by this Friday, 22 May 2009.

Please use Arial font, size 12.

More information can be found at www.ystte09.com

Swine Flu is now known as Influenza A (page 15 of LRD - 5 May 2009)

2009-05-05T12:19:00.005+08:00

While people are cautious about the eating pork or pork products, they are actually safe for consumption if they are well-cooked. Previously known as Swine Flu, Influenza A is a new strain of virus formed by the combination of viruses from humans, pigs and birds. There is yet a vaccine found for this new strain but we need not despair over it. What we could do is to maintain a high level of personal hygiene and ensure that we take responsibility for our own health e.g. seeing a doctor when we are not feeling well.

For updates on Influenza A, you can visit the World Health Organisation (WHO) website.

Swine Flu

2009-04-28T13:34:00.003+08:00

We were told to bring our thermometers tomrorrow, because of the swine flu outbreak that started in Mexico.

How does a flu virus in a country as far away as Mexico affect us in our little island?

Well, many people come in and out of Singapore each day from all around the world. If one person is infected, it would not take long for the virus to spead as there are many people in Singapore who stay and work very close to each other.

From today's Straits Times, we read that the swine flu outbreak is even more serious than the SARS outbreak. Although we were only in Nursery in 2003 when SARS broke out, our teacher told us that it was a frightening time for many people. When we listened to her stories of how some doctors and nurses said goodbye to their familes before heading to work without knowing whether it would be the last time they would see them, our class was silent.

It was scary to read on Page 1 of today's newspapers (28/4/2009) that experts think that the swine flu is 10 times worse than SARS, because it is spread without symptoms.

What can we do now?

From Page 3, there are 5 things that we can do:

1. Cover your nose and ears when coughing or sneezing
2. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
3. Wear a mask that covers your nose or mouth if you are taking care of someone with flu-like symptoms
4. Avoid visting patients in hospitals because you might pass a flu to them,
5. Stay at home if you have the flu, and wear a mask if you need to go out.

And for us in CCPS, we need to

BRING OUR THERMOMETERS TOMORROW!!!!

What are your thoughts on the swine flu? Leave a comment!!

The Beatles

2009-04-28T13:07:00.002+08:00

(LRD issued on 28/4/09)

Many of us did not know who The Beatles were before today ---we thought that our teacher was talking about the adult form of our mealworm pets!

When we read the LRD article, we were astonished to find out that they were in fact, a very very popular "boy band" from Britain in the 1960s. (I think some of our P5 friends may have been singing some of their songs during their music Karaoke lessons!) Their haircuts were very unique and were called "mop tops". We guess that this might be because they look like mops!

The Beatles were so popular that they have recorded more number 1 songs than any other group in the United Kingdom chart history. This means that they were more popular than the Jonas Brothers, High School Musical or Hannah Montana!

According to p 13 of LRD, the word "Beatlemania" was used to describe the hoards of devoted fans, fashions and new music groups that they inspired.

We're going home today to ask our parents whether they were ever fans of The Beatles!

Below is a very famous picture of The Beatles. Look at their hair and their clothes!!

Mad Cow Disease - RD p15 (issued on 21 April 2009)

2009-04-21T10:32:00.001+08:00

Mad Cow Disease took the lives of at least 200 people who died after eating the infected meat. As a result, beef from Britain was not allowed to be sold in other countries for many years.

For more information, you can also read the article on Mad Cow Disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) on Wikipedia.

Clashes in Thailand

2009-04-15T22:46:00.005+08:00

Last week, there were some clashes in Thailand, which led to some world leaders who were going to have a big meeting being evacuated (which means taken away quickly) by helicopter because the Thai government was afraid that the situation would get worse.

These clashes were caused by a group of people who wore red shirts and who were supporting the previous Prime Minister, Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra. They wanted the present Prime Minister, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, to resign. This week, some shops and malls in Bangkok have closed and many countries have advised their citizens not to travel to Bangkok if they can.

News like these affect a country in many ways.

Can you think of 1 way that this might affect Thailand?

Overseas CIP by primary school pupils

2009-04-15T22:29:00.002+08:00

This week in the LRD (14/4/2009, Page 4), we read about a school that went overseas for their CIP. They built a water purification system and even donated food and clothing to poor children in Cambodia.

These students were from Primary 4 and 5, and they were so resourceful that they wrote to Singapore Airlines to ask if they could bring more baggage, as they had many things that they wanted to bring over to Cambodia.

We felt very inspired by these pupils and are proud of them for making a difference to the world!

In our CIPs, we have contributed to the world by keeping our school clean, keeping our Science Garden and Aljunied Park weed-free and pretty and providing company and cheer to our elderly friends at the Geylang East Home.

After reading this article, we felt inspired to do more to help others around us who are in need that we started thinking of some ideas, such as donating our old storybooks and toys to the poor.

Can you think of any other ways that we can help those around us who are in need?

Glass temple in Thailand

2009-04-15T22:20:00.003+08:00

In last week's Straits Times on the 7th of April, we read an article on a temple in Thailand that is made out of glass bottles! From the picture above, you can see how pretty and intricate the designs are.

The monks are very creative and ingenious. The bottles are actually old beer bottles that have been sent to them by people around Thailand. The monks arranged these bottles into patterns and even use the bottle caps to form large Buddhist murals.

At first, we wondered how the glass bottles could withstand the weight of the temple, but when we read the article, we realised that there is actually a concrete core that is holding the temple together. We're sure that the temple will look like a shining green mountain when the sun's rays are reflected off it!

Fun Fiesta in CCPS?

2009-04-02T06:09:00.005+08:00

Fun Fiesta for all!
(page 5 of 31/3/09 issue of LRD)

Fun Fiesta in CCPS?

Isn’t it wonderful to combine sports and performing arts in the Sports Day like St. Hilda’s Primary School? As we have different talents, the variety of activities for pupils during Sports Day would be a great avenue for us to showcase what we excel in.

Here are some activities which we think could be integrated into Sports Day for CCPS.

• Draw or design posters/banners to encourage the participants
• Form cheerleading teams to cheer for the groups
• Put up a live performance (music) during the Sports Day
• Play board games that are related to sports

Do you have other suggestions? Share with us your thoughts by posting a comment to this entry.

Posted by: 4 Charity

Singapore Brands

2009-03-29T06:53:00.002+08:00

Did you know that there are many very good local brands in Singapore? You have probably bought something that is designed and made in Singapore without realising it!

To let people become more aware that Singapore has some very good local brands, an organisation called GET SINGAPORE has managed to get 37 local brands to tell people what they sell and where to find them.

Some examples of these brands include Charles and Keith and Prints. Go to the GET SINGAPORE website at http://www.getsingapore.sg/ if you want to find out what the other 34 brands are.

Look out for the GET SINGAPORE logo the next time you are at a shopping centre!

Capable Women in Singapore!

2009-03-29T05:56:00.006+08:00

Over the years, the People's Action Party has had female politicians in Parliament, but on the 1st of April 2009, history will be made as Singapore will have its first female full minister.

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua (picture above) will become a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, as well as Second Minister in both the Finance and Transport ministries. It will be very interesting to see what she will do in the future, don't you think?

Another piece of news that involves capable women is the team of 6 Singaporean women who are attempting to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth. Its summit is 8,848 metres above sea level. The mountain, which is part of the Himalaya range in High Asia, is located on the border between Sagarmatha Zone in Nepal, and Tibet.

The 6 women (picture below) have been training for the last 5 years so that they will be ready to climb the mountain. They left on the 21st of March and you can follow their progress from this site . Let's cheer them on!

How do you feel about the appointment of Singapore's first full female minister and the first all-women Singaporean team to reach Mount Everest's summit?

Leonardo da Vinci and flight

2009-03-24T12:39:00.003+08:00

(From LRD pg 3)

After reading about the fascinating world of aviation,

3 new things that we have learnt are that:
1. the Wright brothers soared to fame for achieving the world's first powered flight.
2. Leonardo da Vinci observed birds before he invented vehicles that could fly.
3. Lightness is necessary for aeromodelling, but having a sufficient strength to accomodate the forces of flight is also critical.

2 things that we find extremely interesting are that:
1. Leonardo da Vinci had a long beard and many wrinkles on his face.
2. Leonardo da Vinci lived so long ago but he was so creative and innovative.

1 thing that we want to find out is:
1. Who invented the propeller?

Done by:

Zhu Zixuan, Clare Cheong, Desiree Tay and Lee Zhi Qing
P4 Faith

Earth Hour Singapore 2009

2009-03-12T21:28:00.004+08:00

28 March, The Earth Hour

View more presentations from Archana Kulshrestha.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008, the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. In Singapore, many people, schools and companies have promised to turn off their lights on Saturday, March 28, from 8.30-9.30pm.

Will you support Earth Hour? If so, why? If not, why?

If you are thinking that you are too young to make a difference, take a look at these slides below and be inspired!

Earth Day Intro

View more presentations from adorngeo.

Who will get Fudge??

2009-03-11T13:01:00.004+08:00

(LRD 10/3, pg 6)

Singapore celebrities, Jamie Yeo and Glenn Ong will be splitting up. They have a young 'boy' whose name is Fudge. Both of them are childless so they take Fudge as their own child.Who will Fudge follow? Fudge is seven years old Jack Russell terrier.

They want Fudge to stay in their matrimonial home as he is used to the environment there.

Half of the pupils in 4 Humility think that Fudge should stay with Jamie as she is a female and will be able to mother Fudge better than Glenn.

The other half of the pupils in 4 Humility think that Fudge should stay with Glenn as they think he is more responsible. Merissa feels that a dog is a man's best friend so Glenn should be the best person to care for Fudge.

What do you think? Who is a better caretaker?

Done by: 4 Humility

Pinky and Lilac talk about stress

2009-03-09T23:17:00.001+08:00

Pinky and Lilac talk about stress - Pinky and Lilac

Should the Merlion be repaired?

2009-03-04T17:47:00.001+08:00

At about 4.30 p.m. on March 1st 2009, the Merlion statue at the Singapore River was hit by lightning. Fortunately, only a small part of its head was damaged and nobody was injured.

While the Merlion is now being repaired, someone wrote a letter to the Forum Page in yesterday's Straits Times, which we read and discussed in class along with Little Red Dot.

In the letter, the writer said that he felt that the Merlion should not be repaired as it would provide a unique experience for tourists.

What do you think? Should the authorities have left the lightning-struck Merlion as it was?

If you would like to find out more about the Merlion, there are some interesting facts about its history at
.

Also, did you know that Singapore has one of the highest rate of lightning activity in the world? This link to the NEA (National Environment Agency) website has more deatails . This is why some people are now wondering if we should put a lightning rod on the top of the Merlion's head to prevent it from being struck by lightning again. However, other people have said that this would make it look more like a unicorn than a Merlion! What do you think?

Living in a country with such a high rate of lightning activity means that we need to be very careful when we are warned about lightning. The next time you see the lightning warning light outside our school library start to flash, remember to find shelter for your safety! You definitely do not want to have a hole in your head like the poor Merlion.

Show me the chocolate!!

2009-02-24T09:05:00.000+08:00

(Based on LRD 24/2)

After reading the article on chocolate together from page 6 of this week's LRD, we found out that chocolates and chocolate products now cost more than they did last year. For example, a 1kg chocolate cake at Keng Seng Confectionery costs $3 more than it did last year. The cause for this price hike is low supplies from the Ivory Coast and Ghana, which are places in Africa.

We also discovered that a lot of chocolates were bought for Valentine's Day. In total, for 2008, 35.4 million kg of chocolate were imported into Singapore.

Which is better, to have a little of the best chocolate, or to have lots of not so good chocolate?

When asked if it was better to have a little of the best chocolate, or to have lots of not so good chocolate, 29 out of 40 of us thought that it was better to have a little of the best chcolate. As Jiexin says, "If we buy one bar of good chocolate, we can at least taste that it's nice and good. You will be satisfied easily so you don't need to buy so many chocolate bars to satisfy yourself, rather than buying a lot of not so good chocolate which will cost a lot of money."

What do you and your classmates think? Is it different from our class?

Done by 4 Joy

Budget 2009

2009-02-10T00:24:00.001+08:00

You might have heard your parents talking about the 2009 Budget over the last few weeks. However, what is this budget that they are all talking about?

A budget is the amount of money that you plan to spend on something. For instance, if you have a budget of $2 for lunch, that means you only intend to spend a maximum of $2 for lunch.

Each year, the Singapore government announces what it intends to spend for the year in its budget. People want to know how much the government is planning to spend and what it is spending on in the coming year as it might help them plan their businesses and make better choices in the year ahead.

What the government spends on can help businesses and families in need.

For example, in the 2009 Budget, the focus was on jobs. Because of the current economic recession, many people have lost their jobs. To try and persuade less companies to retrench their employees, the Government has introduced a Jobs Credit scheme. Under this scheme, the Government willl give companies some money if they keep their workers.

What is very special about Budget 2009 is that it is the very first time that the Government is taking money out of its Reserves, which is like our national piggy bank. For many people, this shows how bad the current recession is.

As primary school children, you may not be earning money yet, but how has this knowledge about the 2009 Budget changed your view of spending?

More details about the Singapore Budget 2009 can be found at http://www.singaporebudget.gov.sg/key_initiatives/index.html

The Breakdown of the Singapore Flyer

2009-02-09T22:44:00.001+08:00

Where is the Singapore Flyer?
The Singapore Flyer is located at 30 Raffles Avenue. From City Hall MRT station, it would take you about 10-15 minutes to walk to it. It is the largest observation wheel in the wheel at 165 m tall and is capable of seating up to 784 passengers.

What happened?
On the 23rd of December 2008, the Singapore Flyer broke down because of a small electrical fire. In all, 173 people were left stranded in the Flyer, most of them for over six hours.

Who was affected?
Apart from the people who were stuck in the Flyer, the breakdown of the Flyer on the 23rd of December also affected other groups of people.

Firstly, it affected Singapore's tourism industry. The Singapore Flyer is a major tourist attraction so when it was shut down for a month after 23rd December, tour operators had to find other places that they could take tourists to, which would probably have cost these operators more money. Singapore's reputation for efficiency has suffered too as a result of this breakdown.

Secondly, it affected the business of the shops that are located at the Singapore flyer. Less people went to the Flyer's shops while the Flyer was closed so many tenants complained that they suffered losses. They were so angry that many of them asked the people in charge of the Flyer (called the management) to compensate them. This means that they wanted the management to give them some money to make up for the sales that they have lost.

It is hard to imagine that a 6-hour breakdown can affect so many people, but this shows that we are all interdependant on each other.

Why is this important?
Singapore attracts millions of tourists each year, and if more incidents like these happen, fewer tourists might want to come to our country. If this happens, many people who depend on tourism for their jobs, such as travel agents, hotel staff and store operators at tourist attractions, will suffer.

When did the Flyer resume operations?
The Flyer resumed, or started operating again on 27th January 2009, just in time for the Chinese New Year celebrations.

How does the management of the Flyer intend to prevent such an incident from happening again?
During the closure, the management installed a new back-up system in the Flyer and had international experts certify that it was safe to ride on. They hope that an incident like what happened on December 23rd will never happen again as a result of this new system in place.

What are your thoughts about the December 23rd breakdown? Leave a comment!

If you want to find out more about the Flyer and its breakdown, one website which contains videos of people being rescued manually from the Flyer is http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist//RTV/2008/12/24/RTV3608108/

For other information about the Flyer, you might also want to visit its official website at http://www.singaporeflyer.com/

This is a video of part of the construction of the Singapore Flyer. As you can tell, it took a lot of effort and skill to construct it!

Construction Of The Singapore Flyer (Stop Motion Video V1.0) - Funny bloopers R us

Why is Singapore called the Little Red Dot?

2008-12-31T16:56:00.000+08:00

This week, when we read the first issue of the Little Red Dot in class, we wondered about the name of the newspaper and asked our teacher what it meant.

"It refers to Singapore," she told us.

We were so curious that we decided to do some research and find out how Singapore got this name.

We found out that a president in another country called Singapore a little red dot in 1998 because that's how small we look like on the world map.

However, we think that though we are a small country, we have done many things and we must keep continue working hard to ensure our future progress as a nation!

My friends and I feel proud of this country we live in, and we really look forward to reading the articles inside the Little Red Dot newspaper because it helps us to find out about ourselves as well as the world around us!