Tackling Science in Primary 3

March 9, 2018 Comments: 2

The first two months of 2018 went by so quickly and before I know it Term 1 is over for Sophie. One thing Sophie looked forward to for Primary Three was learning Science and doing hands on experiments in the Science lab.

In fact, her love for Science took me by surprise when her choice of CCA was the Science and Environment club since she doesn’t strike as a Sciencey person. But when I probed further, it was because the other CCA options were too “Chinese” for her. Although I always have praises for her SAP school, my only lament is their limited CCA options as they don’t offer any uniform groups like Girl Guides or Red Cross etc.

One and a half months into the school term, P3 and P4 parents were invited to a Science workshop conducted by her school. I was expecting to pick up some tips on how I can teach Sophie on my own as I’ve gotten pretty rusty myself but I got a startling discovery on the difficulty of the subject.

The teachers covered the Science curriculum from P3-6 and reminded us not to discard the Science notes and text books since kids will be learning Science progressively. On a practical note, we were tasked to attempt two questions on life cycle and magnets to see how we parents will fare. We were joking that it’s been so long since we did Science and we may embarrass ourselves for getting it wrong.



When the teachers flashed some commonly received responses and what she accepts as the answer, I could hear chatter among the parents as we discussed how the standard of Science has evolved to be so tough these days. Personally, I feel that it was a sure way to kill any interest and enthusiasm for Science. Even I was scratching my head and wondering why some responses are not acceptable.

The spirit of teaching Science

But the teachers went on to explain that they are teaching students how to understand scientific concepts and apply what they know to answer the questions. What’s central to the curriculum framework is the inculcation of the spirit of scientific inquiry where students will use skills like comparing, classifying, inferring, analysing, evaluating, generating possibilities, formulating hypothesis, etc. There is also a heavy emphasis on keywords and key concepts to score

As an ex-science teacher, Justina wrote a pretty lengthy post about her views on teaching Science on her blog, and I must admit I’ve gotten a better picture at the outcome the schools  are trying to achieve.

While I do agree that the answers have to be spot on and it appear that teachers are very particular on how students answer, what’s key is getting the right key concepts and keywords.

Recommend Science Resource and Assessment Book

One good resource that has been recommended by scores of parents is the Science PSLE Revision Guide by Marshall Cavendish. The 3rd edition is the latest. I always joke and tell Sophie that’s me on the cover of the book when I’m in my Tiger mom mode. I like that it covers contents from Primary 3 to Primary 6 in one book instead of being spread across four textbooks, making it so value for money. #aunitemode

The another assessment book I got is Conquer Science by teachers@work. It has a combination of MCQ as well as structured questions and covers topics quite extensively to enhance learning.

 

As a parent, I do feel limited by my ability to teach Sophie at time but what helps is seeing the challenges in a positive light and learning together with my child. Through the process we learn and discover new things together, making learning a more enjoyable journey instead of blindly memorising to pass exams. After all, when we build a storehouse of knowledge, we are enriched ourselves and that is something that cannot be taken away don’t you think?

 

Do share useful websites, resources or even YouTube channels that teaches Science in a fun and interesting manner 🙂

 

Here are some other useful links on primary school learning that you may be keen to read too.

 

Enjoyed reading this post? Do like my Facebook page to get more learning posts updates. You can also follow me on Twitter (@Susankoh) or Instagram (@ajugglingmom) for learning, parenting and travel post for families.

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Making a career switch for mums

January 23, 2018 Comments: 10

It’s been pretty quiet on the blog lately and the reason for my absence was no doubt triggered by the year-end reflection where I (once again) contemplate the purpose of the stories I’m telling on this little space of mine.

Last December, I quit my job which I had for close to 6 years. My departure from my previous company came as a surprise to some friends when I shared it on Facebook.

To be honest, I think I surprised myself too.

Like many working mums, we think long and hard about switching jobs because of our families, especially when we’ve been in the same company for a period of time.

 

We wonder if the new colleagues will ever be as nice as those you have now.

We worry that the new boss will not be as understanding of our family commitments.

We feel uneasy about starting all over again and having to prove ourselves in a new place.

We are fearful about the ability to pick up new ropes and the steep learning curve that comes with a job switch.

We tell ourselves that this time round, a change is round the corner and things will get better.

We convince ourselves it’s the same shi* everywhere, so really why bother.

 

As a result, we end up talking ourselves out of changing jobs even when we feel unsatisfied, unhappy and unappreciated in the workplace. But when you spend 8-10 hours in an environment that no longer makes you feel engaged or happy, you have to ask yourself if your current job is still worth putting your heart and soul into.

Don’t feel trapped by your circumstances

I remember writing in my diary about the struggles I had and cried out to God to give me a sign because I didn’t know if I should stay or leave. I even got my cell group members to pray for me for a much needed breakthrough and wisdom to handle the thorny work situation. It’s always easier to just walk away from problems but at the end of the day, you don’t want to strain any relationships and burn bridges.

Whenever I bring up my work situation, my clearly too logical hubby would point out that I was giving myself excuses for remaining in a bad “relationship”. It was crystal clear that fear was the main factor holding me back from making that leap of faith and I have to do something.

In fact, Alexis even offered me the option to quit and be a stay home mum if I wanted to take a break slowly look for a new job. As tempting as the offer may be, I decided that I’m much better off being a working mum and setting an example for Sophie that the modern woman can juggle both family and work well.

Opportunities comes when you have clarity

So one night after putting Sophie to bed, I took out a piece of paper and wrote down all the things I wanted to change, the things I wanted in a job and what was holding me back. At the same time, I listed my strengths, my skill sets, my passion, what I valued and wanted from my career, and how I can value add.

The personal reflection gave me so much more clarity about what to do next instead of just waiting for things to happen.

Somehow when I had that clarity and purpose, God began opening doors of opportunities even before I applied for anything. It was His way of telling me to trust in His timing and I’m glad I kept the faith and kept believing in his higher plans for me.

I finally landed a new job in November after 6 rounds of interviews. With each interview session, it became clearer and clearer why I wanted this change and what I’m looking forward to with a career switch.

I’m now 4 weeks into my new job and feel more settled in the company. The learning curve has been steep as I’ve moved into a different industry with a regional portfolio. The new role is definitely stretching me and challenging me where I have to pick things up quickly but I have confidence that I can rise up to it.

Take charge of your career change

Just as how I’ve encouraged Sophie to adopt a growth mindset for her studies, I’m applying that same growth mindset and reminding myself that I can take charge of my career with God leading me along the way.

If you’re in a season where you’re thinking about a career switch, I encourage you to do the same reflection exercise and pen down why you want to change jobs, your strengths, your weaknesses (yes they still get asked at interviews), your experiences and this may give you the courage to take meaningful action.

 

May you find courage for the new season.

May you be fearless to pursue your happiness.

Take a leap of faith and trust that something good will come along when you desire change in your heart.

 

If you’re thinking that you need to do what you love as a career, I challenge you to find joy and love what you do. It’s a lesson that I learnt last year and I’ve learnt to let go of some expectations.

If you liked this, you may enjoy these related posts too

 

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Brick-tacular Christmas celebration at Legoland Malaysia

December 20, 2017 Comments: 2

We took a short trip to Johor Baharu recently during the December school holidays and had to visit Legoland Malaysia Resort for 2 reasons.

#1 The Brick-tacular Christmas celebration

#2 The world’s first Lego VR roller coaster

December is a special month at Legoland as there’s something for everyone, every day in the last month of the year.

They say that the early bird catches the worm and in our case we got to catch the Christmas parade when the park opened at 10am.

There was a festive mood in the air as the playful elves pranced along with Lego Characters such as Santa Claus, Kai from Ninjago, Pirate, Dracula and Frankenstein to the lively beat of the song. The song had a catchy rhythm to it and visitors were seen clapping and swaying their bodies along to the music.

But it’s rather telling that some of these characters look out of place and they ought to have a Gingerbread man and Nutcracker for the Christmas season don’t you think?

We snapped a few photos near the entrance of the park with these adorable elves, reindeers and nutcrackers before dashing into the park. Arent’ they just the cutest?

World’s first LEGO® VR roller coaster

So where did we dashed off to? It was to get in queue so that we can snag bragging rights for taking the world’s first LEGO® VR roller coaster!

Hubby got super duper excited when he heard about this latest ride as he’s a roller coaster junkie and loves all sorts of VR, AR, kind of technology.

To prove my point, he gamely posed for these photos with Sophie when I told him we are going on the Great Lego Race. If only, it was this easy to get him to pose for photos all the time 😛

Just in case you’re wondering, you can choose not to put on the VR goggles for the roller coaster ride. But seriously where’s the fun in that?

For kids who are above 110 cm but have yet to reach 120 cm, they will not be able to wear the VR goggles.

As with every new attraction in Legoland, be prepared to wait for this new ride as everyone has has their sights on it. We waited for around half an hour and thankfully this was in the comfort of an air-conditioned and sheltered area. In fact, kids can be kept occupied as they queue and they can even play with … no surprises, Lego as they wait in line.

As we waited, we got a preview of what’s to be expected on the ride. From the picture below, here’s what you’ll be seeing while on the roller coaster.

While giving it all away, you’ll be one of the racers at the Great Lego Race and will be neck to neck with other teams as they vy for the winning title for the race of a lifetime.

All ready for the world’s first Lego Virtual Reality Roller Coaster!

Our verdict for the VR roller coaster?

It gets 5 gold stars from us!

It was a totally different experience putting on the VR goggles on the roller coaster and not knowing when’s the next turn, or dip coming ahead as you’re fully immersed in the story. The very fun race story seemed to make the roller coaster go faster than I recalled from before as it was accompanied by sound on the headphones which completed the incredible experience with our adrenaline all pumped up.

I was laughing out loud literally as it looked like my vehicle was about to crash in the race and have to avoid strange obstacles and also go on tracks where the Lego characters are rushing to build ahead of me.

The Lego VR Coaster is definitely a must try if you’re planning to head to Legoland soon!

LEGO® NINJAGO™ The Ride

Another relatively new attraction that we tried on this visit was Lego Ninjago The Ride.

This is yet another fully immersive ride that we enjoyed on our visit. And did I mention it’s also 4D and interactive?

In this ride, visitors get to become their favourite Ninjago character and defeat enemies, under the guidance of Master Wu by using hand gestures. You know the same kind of hand gesture when you go, “Sat, sat, sia.”  >.<

We came out with slightly aching arms and laughed a whole lot when we saw the photo taken of us while on the ride.

Before the day ended, we made our way to the Advent Calendar Draw which takes place every day in December. The prizes are very attractive from hotel stays, electronics, exclusive Lego merchandise and the grand prize is a 4D3N stay at Legoland Japan!

While Alexis filled in the lucky draw form, I snapped some photos of this Lego decorated Christmas tree. This gives me all kinds of idea for my own Christmas tree.

Some fun facts about this 9 meter tall Lego Christmas tree

Before the lucky winner for the Advent Calendar Draw was drawn there was also a Christmas show as well and you’ll be in for quite a treat with song and dance.

The host kept the audience entertained throughout and many kids also took part in his Q&A and won themselves Lego key chains.

You definitely can’t miss the finale for the day as the 30 feet Christmas tree put together with over 270,000 Lego and Duplo Bricks lights up to a dazzling display. The parade ended with a huge group photo with Lego Santa and his elves.

Can you spot Sophie? 🙂

But the festivities will continue all the way to 31 December 2017 and on the last day of the year, there’ll even be 3D firework display to send off 2017 and welcome 2018!

With so many exciting Christmas and year end programs lined up, make sure you don’t miss them at Legoland Malaysia.

LEGOLAND Brick-tacular Promotions

The good people at Legoland also mentioned that all guests are able to get their hands on an awesome Annual Pass deal of up to 40% from now till 31 December 2017.

What’s more, the deal is even better for Premium Annual Pass which gives you unlimited access to the Legoland themepark and water park. This special deal runs exclusively on the official website of Legoland Malaysia during the last 10 days of 2017, just in time to make Brick-tacular Celebration even more awesome.

Annual Pass Deal Details (for international visitors):

Details Awesome Pass Premium Pass
Adult/Child Adult/Child
Regular Price RM395 (S$130) RM520 (S$171)
NEW ANNUAL PASS DEAL (only for online purchases) RM237 (S$78) – 40% OFF RM362 (S$119)

*Terms and conditions apply. *Prices vary with exchange rate.

For further information on this flash deal, please visit this link.

 

 

 

 

*A Juggling Mom received complimentary tickets to Legoland Brick-tacular Christmas celebration . No monetary compensation was received. All opinions and photos are my own. 

 

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Circus! Science Under The Big Top! comes to Singapore

December 18, 2017 1 comment

This school holidays, discover untold tricks of the trade at Circus! Science Under the Big Top!

By now you would have seen ads for this travelling exhibition that’s now in town. Circus! Science Under The Big Top! originates from the Ontario Science Centre, and it first opened in Toronto, Canada in 2001. Over the years, the family entertainment has undergone enhancements as it traveled across the world wowing over 600,000 visitors.

What to expect from Circus! Science Under the Big Top!

Featuring close to 20 interactive exhibits, you will experience familiar circus acts that you always seen and get to discover the science behind them.

One of the highlights include balancing on a three-metre high wire. Sophie gamely agreed to walk on the tight rope even though it looked so nerve wrecking from below.

Another highlight was the elastic acrobatics which Dana did so effortlessly as she swung on the trapeze while being secured on a safety harness. These acts can be done by adults as well but I was too chicken to try them and didn’t want to scream the tent down.

Sophie also learnt the art of “packanatomicalization” (getting into small spaces) as a contortionist where she squeezed herself into a small box.

After Sophie attempted it, she warned me not to try it in case I break the box and have to pay for damages. Thanks for your vote of confidence my dear daughter.

We also learnt how performers did acts like sword swallowing and showing their feats of strength by the strongman.

Playing dress up and getting into character.

Did I also mention that hubby was totally in his element at the Circus exhibition as he’s always secretly harbored dreams of running away with the circus. I always joke that while I’m the juggling mom, he’s the expert at actual juggling acts, so it was great fun for him.

You can also expect special activities such as magic performance every weekends before 31 December at 3.30pm as well as magic workshop for children on 18 November.

 

~~~~~~~~  Circus! Science Under The Big Top! ~~~~~~~~ 

Exhibition Dates: 28 October 2017 to 18 March 2018

Venue: The Annexe, Science Centre Singapore

Time: 10am – 6pm

Ticket Price:

  • Standard $18 (Adult)
  • Standard $15 (Child, aged 3-12)
  • Standard $52 (Family package, 2 Adults, 2 Child)

 

Besides going for Circus! Science under the big top exhibition, we also visited Snow City that’s just next door. This school holidays, kids can hop aboard the Arctic Express and go on an adventure to the North Pole with Chipsleys!

Hop aboard the Arctic Express

TIP for Snow City: As it is sub-zero inside the snow chamber, it’s advisable to come in long pant, socks and gloves to keep you safe and warm. Winter jackets, and boots are provided together with your admission ticket.

We had a swell time on the Arctic Snow Slide where we zipped down a  60 metre long, 3-storey high snow slope. Sophie must have gone on it at least 7 times and you can hear giggles and laughter from afar as she slid down on a tube.

It’s a great workout for the legs too as you have to climb up the slope and stairs armed with a tube.

Photo credit: Life’s Tiny Miracles

We haven’t had the chance to experience real snow and this is as close as it gets. Hubby, if you’re reading this, where’s the white Christmas you promised?  🙂

The snow was powdery soft and Sophie couldn’t miss the chance to create imaginary snow fall.

You can also grab your Chipsley passort and make pit stops of famous landmarks along the way.

Visit the North Pole where Chipsley family resides.  

or to Finland where Santa Claus’ home can be found.

Scotland perhaps, where you can test your mini golf skills at the country where it originated from?

Don’t miss a photo opportunity with the adorable and lovable Chipsley and Oki before you leave Snow City too.

 

~~~~~~~~Snow City Arctic Express with Chipsleys ~~~~~~~~ 
Date: 4 November to 31 December 2017

Venue: Snow City, Science Centre Singapore

Time: 10am – 6pm

Ticket Price: (2 hours snow play session)

  • $18 per child (S’pore citizens and PR)
  • $25 per adult (S’pore citizens and PR)
  • $23 per child (Standard)
  • $28 per adult (Standard)

 

Thanks for the invite Singapore Science Centre!

 

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Glamping in Canopi, Bintan

December 6, 2017 Comments: 10

We just got back from one of our most relaxing glamping vacation in Canopi, Bintan and oh how I miss waking up to this sight of the clear blue skies from our tent.

I’ve been recommending this unique experience to so many friends and no, this wasn’t a sponsored or paid vacation. If you’re looking for a chillax holiday that’s not too far from home, then this is the perfect getaway for you.

This also marks our first time travelling with friends and it proved to be a wonderful decision. Sophie had a wonderful time with her friends who go way back from her kindy days and we parents enjoyed the company as well.

 

Ferry to Canopi

After a quick brunch at Killney within the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, we took the ferry over to Bintan and arrived there in 50 mins.

Thankfully, the journey was smooth sailing and not too choppy. Even then Sophie was feeling strange in her tummy but it all got better once we disembarked and got some fresh air. We were picked up by the shuttle service provided by Canopi and arrived at the resort in just 5 minutes.

Rooms in Canopi

We booked the Lagoon View Deluxe Tent that came with a personal jacuzzi right outside our tent and paid S$477 for our 3D2N stay via Agoda. In case you’re wondering, our tent was air-conditioned, that’s why it’s a glamping (aka glamorous camping) experience 🙂

I’ve seen many photos of the Safari tents but still I was pleasantly surprised once I step foot inside it. The room looked so cozy with the king sized 4-poster bed along with a day bed and we had very restful nights during our stay.

The basic amenities were all there and the room had a mini fridge which was cleverly disguised as an old fashioned trunk.

Since this is a glamping vacation after all, you get a taste of outdoor shower…. just kidding.

The bathroom is semi-outdoors and the walls are 2m high, blocking out any unwanted attention. But it can get chilly if you shower in the evenings even with heated water.

Activities in Canopi

The main highlight of Canopi is unmistakably the Azura blue lagoon which was breathtaking. Spanning 6.3 hectares, the saltwater crystal lagoon was such a welcoming sight once we entered the resort.

There’s a whole lot of things you can do for both water and land activities. You can even head out of the resort if you’re feeling adventurous. We did a mangrove firefly tour on the first night and it was a unique experience especially for the kids who saw fireflies for the first time.

We spent most of our time at the lagoon and honestly, we loved every single minute of it. The kids were contented to swim, play monkey in the pool and they also tried hand paddle boats and kayaking.

But the one activity that topped it all was the thrilling water slides at Slip and Slide.

We paid IDR 50.000 per person which is equivalent to S$5 for unlimited play on the slides and it was SO MUCH FUN!!!

Ready to make a splash on Slip and Slide

The 3-storey high water slides at Slip and Slide are a MUST try and we all gave it 5 stars. Even though I only managed to get two perfect landings where I didn’t do a nose dive and landed head first into the water, I still went on it again and again until my legs ached from climbing up the stairs.

The pool was filled with our laughter and we had a belly ache from laughing at each other’s missed landings, which embarrassing to say was really mostly mine.

The red slide on the extreme right was the most thrilling of it all as you can feel yourself being lifted off just as you hit the end of the slide before making a big splash into the pool.

On the 2nd day, we hopped onto the buggy and made our way to Treasure Bay, an activity centre where guests of Canopi can try different water and land activities at a fee. It was the best decision as the kids discovered an indoor playground where they got to enjoy unlimited playtime for S$8 while it was pouring on the second morning.

The only downside was that it’s not air-conditioned and even with a high ceiling and a few fans, the playground was pretty warm but that didn’t bother the kids a single bit.

And can you guess what we adults did while the kids were having a ball of a time? We went for an hour of massage and it was bliss for everyone 🙂

If you’re planning to go for massages, do check out the spa at Treasure Bay. We paid IDR280.000 for an hour of massage and it was pretty good. I heard that the spa at Canopi is not bad too.

On the last day, the kids returned for more indoor play after we checked out while some of us rented escooters just for kicks. No bike licence is needed as the escooters only go up to 20 km/hour.

Though I was initially apprehensive about riding it alone, I’m glad I went ahead with it anyway. It was so liberating to ride on one around the lagoon and have the cool breeze in your hair. A very fun experience especially if you’ve always secretly harboured dreams of riding a motorbike.

Food Choices at Canopi

In terms of food choices, the main restaurant, The Patio, wasn’t all that shabby. Sure, prices are expensive where you can expect to pay around S$16-S$18 for a pizza and $12 for nasi goreng and mee goreng which are the average prices for dining options at a hotel , but the choices are pretty decent with both local and Western dishes.

The Patio, Canopi’s main restaurant

Western and local options at the Patio

For breakfast, we headed to Warna Warni, another cafe within the resort grounds, where they have a playground outside the cafe. The breakfast spread consisted of the usual fare of eggs, pastries, porridge, noodles, french toast, cereal, fruits, etc.

We also tried Hook On restaurant at Treasure Bay for dinner but I find their style of zi char quite different from ours and didn’t fancy the food very much. We wanted to order crabs but the waitress said they only had small crabs so we gave it a pass. In the end, I only find their fried rice and grilled fish nice.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also head out to the nearest hawker centre or go to the kelong for seafood.

At the end of our 3D2N in Canopi, the kids were all so reluctant to leave and wanted us to plan another trip back soon. I’m pretty sure we all feel the same given that all 3 families enjoyed the glamping experience and had a rejuvenating holiday.

If you’re thinking of a short getaway with kids, then look no further. Better still, round up a few families and book yourselves a getaway at the Canopi for a chillax holiday (#notsponsoredok)

 

If you’re looking for other family vacation ideas, don’t miss these posts:

 

Enjoyed reading this post? Do like my Facebook page to get more family friendly travel updates. You can also follow me on Instagram (@ajugglingmom) for more travel and parenting posts. Follow us on all our travel adventure at #Taystraveldiary

 

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