Each week, teachers from different sections of BIS share what has been happening in their classrooms and across the school. From creative projects and hands-on learning to new discoveries and meaningful experiences, this is a glimpse into the many ways our students learn, explore and grow.

This Week’s Contributors

Ms. Shan, Reception Lion Cubs Homeroom Teacher

Ms. Asma, Year 3 Homeroom Teacher

Ms. Charlotte, Secondary Biology Teacher

Ms. Jade, Chinese Teacher

🌱 From a Tiny Seed to a Mighty Tree

Written by Ms. Shan, October 2026

One of the highlights of our recent learning was a very special whole-class collaborative art project. As we explored how tiny seeds are planted, what they need to grow, and how they can eventually become enormous trees, the children worked together to create our own Four Seasons Tree.

This was much more than a painting! The artwork was divided into four quarters — spring, summer, autumn and winter — all coming together to form one magnificent tree. The project developed throughout the entire week, with the children continually adding new details, textures and ideas. We experimented with an exciting variety of materials and techniques, including recycled cardboard forks, sunflower seeds, corn kernels, potato printing, paint, paint markers, sponges, clay, sparkles and natural-looking collage materials. Each section gave the children opportunities to explore colour, texture, pattern and different ways of representing nature.

What made this project particularly special was the process behind it. The children were encouraged to use their imaginations and creativity, make choices about their artwork, experiment with unfamiliar materials and contribute their own piece to something much bigger. Just as one tiny seed can eventually grow into an enormous tree, all of their individual ideas and creations came together to make one incredible collaborative artwork.

Through the project, we were able to bring together our learning about planting, growth, the changing seasons and the natural world, while also developing fine motor skills, creativity, observation, communication and teamwork. Most importantly, the children were able to see that learning about nature does not only happen through books — we can observe it, touch it, create it, question it and experience it.

We are incredibly proud of what our little artists created together. One tiny seed, four beautiful seasons, and one very special tree! 🌱🌳🍂❄️☀️

Y3 Lions: Learning In Action

Written by Ms. Asma, October 2026

Science: Mixing Materials

In Science, we have been learning about the three states of matter: solids, liquids and gases, exploring their properties and how they behave. In the coming weeks, we will investigate materials further and learn how to separate mixtures.

Maths: Addition, Subtraction & Money

In Maths, We have been practising column addition and subtraction with numbers up to three digits, including exchanging where needed. Next, we will move on to money, learning to recognise British pounds and pence, add amounts and calculate change.

English: Story Writing with Roald Dahl

In English, Year 3 Lions have been exploring our Story Writing with Roald Dahl unit, learning to describe settings and characters using powerful adjectives and descriptive vocabulary. We are now developing our storytelling skills by planning exciting plots and exploring how authors make stories engaging. Next, the children will write their own Roald Dahl-inspired story as a marked piece of writing, using everything they have learnt. We will focus on developing imaginative characters, interesting settings and exciting story events. To celebrate our learning, we will finish the unit with a fun Roald Dahl Character Dress-Up Day!

Year 11 Biology: Shedding Light on Photosynthesis

Written by Ms. Charlotte, October 2026

This term, our Year 11 biologists stepped into the role of research scientists as they investigated how light intensity affects the rate of photosynthesis. Working in small groups, students placed pondweed (Elodea spp.) in water and moved a lamp to different distances from it, counting the bubbles of oxygen released each minute.

The results were clear: the closer the lamp, the faster the bubbles appeared. Students then went a step further, explaining why the rate eventually levelled off as other factors, such as carbon dioxide concentration and temperature, became limiting.

The practical was about much more than getting the “right” answer. Students had to control variables carefully, keeping the temperature steady and giving the pondweed time to adjust before each count. They also discussed how to make their investigation more accurate and reliable, from repeating readings to collecting the gas in a measuring cylinder instead of counting bubbles.

Seeing the bubbles speed up in front of them helped many students connect the theory from their lessons with real, observable results. These hands-on skills are excellent preparation for the practical and data-analysis questions in their upcoming exams.

Well done, Year 11, for your curiosity, teamwork and careful scientific thinking!

Inspiring Thinking through Questions, Enjoying Inquiry｜Fun Chinese Classes: Unlocking New Multidimensional Thinking Skills

Written by Ms. Jade, October 2026

Thoughtprovoking questions and indepth reflection bring new vitality to Chinese lessons! Recently, within the Grade 5 nativespeaker Chinese class, engaging inquirybased learning activities were carried out centering on the unit theme of “Thinking from Multiple Perspectives and Asking Questions Boldly”. Students grew through independent reflection and collaborative exchange.

Moving beyond the traditional oneway learning model, this lesson used question lists as an engaging tool. In class, students carefully read the texts, reflected independently based on their reading experiences, and created their own personal question lists. Working in small groups, they then shared their doubts and ideas, resolved straightforward problems together, and compiled the challenging questions for their group.

Following group discussions, findings were shared and consolidated across the whole class to identify common questions for the entire grade. Guided and facilitated by teachers, teachers and students explored and resolved these puzzles together, achieving immersive deep learning.

Through lighthearted and interactive activities, students not only strengthened their capacity for independent thinking, but also greatly improved their communication, expression and teamwork skills. Moreover, they came to understand that everyone thinks differently. Only by learning to listen and think from diverse angles can we uncover the rich layers of meaning hidden behind the words.

Seeking Autumn Delights, Embracing Splendour｜Rooting Chinese Lessons in the Beauty of Daily Life

Written by Ms. Jade, October 2026

Language springs from life, and beauty lies all around us! Aligned with the autumn-themed content in the Grade 4 Chinese textbook, our Grade 4 native-speaker Chinese class held a delightful autumn exploration activity to help students truly grasp the concept of “a colourful autumn” from their reading. Stepping beyond textbooks, students discovered the poetry of autumn in real life.

To bridge Chinese learning and everyday life, we encouraged students to venture outside the classroom, closely observe autumn details around them, and collect leaves and petals of varied shapes and hues.

Enthusiastic and observant, the students brought back a wonderful variety of delicate autumn treasures. In class, they shared their findings and the little joys of discovering autumn beauty. We carefully arranged these leaf and petal creations, brimming with childlike wonder, into vibrant autumn-themed posters, which are now displayed in shared areas around campus.

This activity helped students realise that Chinese exists not only in books but also in ordinary life. Through observation and hands-on practice, children immersed themselves in the beauty of language and nature. The experience greatly ignited their passion for learning Chinese and nurtured their ability to see and record beauty with both their eyes and hearts.