Thursday, 14 July 2011
Reflection on 13-7-2011
Lizette Chua (4S)
In our chemistry lesson today, we used spectroscopy to analyze some aspirin we made yesterday. The specialized machinery was used to produce graphs showing different aspects of the aspirin, which were then compared to other graphs and information. It was fascinating to understand more about what we made, and we were once again struck by the depth and power of Chemistry. Our mentors and teacher then led us to explore more about these chemical substances.
In the afternoon, the topic was “Complex Chemistry”. This was a very interesting lesson which involved several experiments. We found the percentage of copper in a coin through a series of complicated procedures. This showed us how Chemistry can be applied in real-life situations.
Throughout the day and at night, we made final preparations for our talent show performance on Thursday. We rehearsed our poem and tried our best to keep up with the fast pace of the Element Song.. It was great fun and we hoped that the performance will go well tomorrow.
Buxani Bhavna (4T)
Today was our 3rd day doing the Chemistry course. In the morning, we finished up the synthesis of our aspirin and weighed it to do some calculating concerning the number of moles of the materials, such as the Oil of Wintergreen, the Salicylic Acid and the product, the aspirin. Next, we took samples of our aspirin and made our way to the Chemistry laboratory to look at our synthesized aspirin in greater detail using spectroscopy with Dr Melanie Bottrill. It was very interesting comparing the aspirin we made to the industrial aspirin.
After lunch, we did a bit of complex chemistry and continued to use spectroscopy techniques. We learnt about the complex compounds formed by transition metals and their structures and therefore why they are called complexes.
For Wednesday off campus dinner, we went to an Italian restaurant called “Garfunkel’s”, we had all sorts of pasta, burgers and pizzas. The Italian food we received here was much more flavoursome than what we get in Hong Kong and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
In our chemistry lesson today, we used spectroscopy to analyze some aspirin we made yesterday. The specialized machinery was used to produce graphs showing different aspects of the aspirin, which were then compared to other graphs and information. It was fascinating to understand more about what we made, and we were once again struck by the depth and power of Chemistry. Our mentors and teacher then led us to explore more about these chemical substances.
In the afternoon, the topic was “Complex Chemistry”. This was a very interesting lesson which involved several experiments. We found the percentage of copper in a coin through a series of complicated procedures. This showed us how Chemistry can be applied in real-life situations.
Throughout the day and at night, we made final preparations for our talent show performance on Thursday. We rehearsed our poem and tried our best to keep up with the fast pace of the Element Song.. It was great fun and we hoped that the performance will go well tomorrow.
Buxani Bhavna (4T)
Today was our 3rd day doing the Chemistry course. In the morning, we finished up the synthesis of our aspirin and weighed it to do some calculating concerning the number of moles of the materials, such as the Oil of Wintergreen, the Salicylic Acid and the product, the aspirin. Next, we took samples of our aspirin and made our way to the Chemistry laboratory to look at our synthesized aspirin in greater detail using spectroscopy with Dr Melanie Bottrill. It was very interesting comparing the aspirin we made to the industrial aspirin.
After lunch, we did a bit of complex chemistry and continued to use spectroscopy techniques. We learnt about the complex compounds formed by transition metals and their structures and therefore why they are called complexes.
For Wednesday off campus dinner, we went to an Italian restaurant called “Garfunkel’s”, we had all sorts of pasta, burgers and pizzas. The Italian food we received here was much more flavoursome than what we get in Hong Kong and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Kathy Yu (4P)
We are having Mathematics lessons this week. The areas that we have learnt are quite difficult for us. We learnt about code breaking and we think that it is very challenging. We tried to break codes to figure out the clues, and used the decoded clues to tour around the campus to find out the answers to the questions. We also learnt about zero to infinity. We drew graphs to help further understanding and learnt many new formulae. We found the Mathematical Rainbow very interesting. Although it was difficult to understand everything taught during our lessons, we tried to be persisting and finished all the questions that we knew. We learnt about the Taylor series and we really do appreciate the beauty of numbers. We asked lots of questions during class to ensure that we understand the topic. The teachers and mentors were willing to teach us and they handled our questions with lots of patience. This enhanced the friendship between us and our new mentors. We surely gained a lot from the lessons and we want to say thank you to our mentors.
Ivy Young (4T)
Today is the third day of our mathematics course. We have been taught about the Game theory in Mathematics. In the previous days we learnt about topics that we have never came across, such as code breaking and the Mathematical Rainbow. They were difficult for us but we still managed to sole the Mathematical problems. However, the Game theory was very easy to understand. We took part in several exciting and fast paced team challenges which involved negotiations and strategic decision making. We think that the Game theory is probably the most interesting topic for us as we understand it the most. We also learnt about the theory of Loops and Lynxes in the afternoon session. Although this topic is difficult, we were still able to overcome it through questioning and peer teaching. We now have more ideas about many new areas in Mathematics and we enjoyed the lessons a lot.
In the evening, we had our meal off campus. The food there was special and delicious. We discussed about the topics we have learnt during lessons and shared our ideas among ourselves. We enjoy the day very much and we are certainly ready for the challenges ahead.
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
reflection on 12-7-2011
Reflection on 12-7-2011
Stephanie Wong (4U)
Today is the second day of our mathematics course. We have approached code-breaking—the concept of modulus and different remainder theorems. Through this morning’s session we have learnt to think flexibly as we tried to use different methods to crack each code! Through these code-breaking activities, we knew more about the job of FBI and we found this very interesting.
The real challenge came in the afternoon session. Most of us were confused with the mathematical rainbow which was a new concept we had never heard of. But we were glad that all for us persisted to solve the problems. During the process and our discussion, we have developed our friendship further and were able to apply previous knowledge to new situations. We dearly enjoyed the sense of self-satisfaction brought about by challenging ourselves.
Tiffany Yue (4S)
After dinner, we prepared for the talent show on Thursday excitedly. There was a controversy on what to perform. Moreover, we can still reach a consensus. Through our discussion, we learnt to listen to other’s opinions with empathy and learnt to compromise through patient communication.
We had a lot of fun in preparing the show. Although there were quarrels, we felt the sparks from cooperating with new friends. Besides, we fully made use of everyone’s talents. For instance, the ones who are good at singing will do the solo and the ones who are good at drawing will be responsible for making the props.
After tonight, we get to know more about our teammates. With all of our efforts, we believe we will definitely put on a good show on Thursday!
Janice Chan (4S)
Today right after breakfast, we headed off to the Reach Out Lab to start our second day of the Chemistry Course. We studied and experimented with different rates of reactions and plotted our results. We then controlled our rates of reaction to produce our products in a certain amount of time. We carried out our experiments along with a video of 1812 Overture with Canons and synchronized our reactions with the canons in the video which was quite challenging.
After lunch, we carried out an experiment involving the synthesis of aspirin with salicylic acid. We also learnt a bit more about organic chemistry and the materials we were going to use such as the oil of wintergreen and salicylic acid. We first carried out the hydrolysis of oil of wintergreen to form salicylic acid and then synthesized the salicylic acid into aspirin. Overall, it was an interesting yet challenging afternoon.
After dinner, we discussed amongst our group mates on what to do for the Talent Show on Thursday night. We decided on doing one of our poem recited from the Speech Festival, namely “Write A Rap Rap”! We practiced and rehearsed and we hope we will put on a good performance!
Joey Chu (4S)
We had a lot of new experiences on the second day of our Chemistry lesson. It was the first time I felt so professional in the laboratory, wearing safety spectacles, laboratory coat and gloves performing experiments. I was really amazed when I saw the aspirin that I was holding in my hands, made by me and my partner in the lesson. We used many new equipments for our experiment which we haven’t seen before, like a vacuum filter. It was really interesting to see how it works. This could be a new method for me to anhydrate a substance next time! In our experiments, we even used some dangerous substances like concentrated acids which we had to handle with extra care and under supervision. We had truly learned a lot of new things and had acquired new skills in doing Chemistry experiments.
Besides, we had started preparing for the talent show on Thursday. We had a lot of ideas at first but finally decided on doing choral speaking. In the few hours staying together, we had already prepared a lot of things. We hope that our show will be a success and we can show everyone the best of us.
Cherry Kwok (4L)
Today is the second day of our Chemistry week and we started to do some interesting experiments. Instead of watching chemical reactions which demonstrated simple chemistry principles, we looked into deeper knowledge on rate of reaction and organic chemistry today.
The morning section was about rate of reaction through observing a reaction of a mixture of chemicals. The solution would turn blue-black after some time as iodine and starch reacted. We examined the time taken to change the colour of the solution. We learnt that precision is very important and small incautiousness could cause big problems. In the experiments, one of the groups forgot to add enough distilled water in the first reactions, making their results much smaller than the others.
After lunch we tried to make Aspirin, a common painkiller, in the laboratory. We used many chemicals that we have never seen or heard before. They were comparatively more complex than what we usually see. Instead of simple hydrocarbons like methane, CH4, we met chemicals like salicyclic acid. It was important for us to understand and apply our knowledge rather than simply memorizing everything. We also learnt to deal with different unexpected circumstances such as reactions that didn’t work and problematic reactants. Luckily, we were able to sort out everything calmly.
In the evening, we practices for our talent show on the day after tomorrow. We came up with a lot of creative ideas to be used on our show. We hope to make the funniest show among all groups.
We were all exhausted when we got back to our dormitories. We all hoped that we would learn more in the future and would give a good, entertaining show on Thursday.
Cordelia Hau (4P)
Today is the third day that we’re having chemistry lessons and the task for the day is to make aspirin-a drug that is often used to relieve minor aches and pains and to reduce fever. We have our chemistry lessons in the Reach Out Laboratory where there is some high standard equipment to help us carry out the experiments. Right at the the entrance of the laboratory there are some lockers with the names of the elements printed. When we saw them, we were so excited and astonished. They are all very beautiful indeed. During the day, we had to perform and carry out a few experiments with complex procedures, which require chemicals that we had never come across before. These chemicals are extremely reactive and corrosive. Special care and attention were needed or else we may hurt ourselves as a result. We had to listen to Alan and our course leaders’ instructions attentively and follow them accordingly and accurately. And eventually, after the long day, we could produce our aspirin samples successfully. We are so satisfied and delighted. From our experience of the day, we learnt that although the pathway to success is always very difficult and full of obstacles or impediments, we must not give up in the middle and waste our effort and time. We must always persist till ht eend in order to achieve our goals.
Claudia Law (4T)
This was the second day of the week learning Mathematics. At first, I found it very challenging. When I sought for help on some of the questions, I asked my mentor when we would learn this kind of Mathematics. The answer really stunned us all! It is a Year 3 University Mathematics problem. From then onwards, I was amazed whenever I could solve any of the questions. This was an invaluable experience in which every one of us could strive for our best. At the same time, we still had to strive for accuracy other than understanding the calculation method. Although this course was generally challenging, it indeed deepened my interest in Chemistry and Mathematics.
In the evening, we were told that a talent quest would be held on Thursday evening in which all of us must participate. Our group had finally decided to sing and dance on the stage after a long discussion. I hope that this performance could mark up our success.
Natalie So (4T)
Today, we had a very challenging and yet fruitful lesson about number theory and the mathematical rainbow.
During today’s lesson, we were exposed to many new mathematical terms, theorems and equations. Though the mathematics was quite hard to understand, it was really a very fun and interesting process to learn new things that we never came across before.
Through the lesson, we learned that whenever we come across with new things or challenges, we should face it and explore it but not running away from it. By doing so, we can learn and find the solution of such challenges. This sense of achievement is very rewarding! Although the path of finding solution might seems to be hard, efforts should be paid to reach the outcome, as the old saying says ‘no pain, no gain!’ Moreover, this lesson taught us to be persistent when facing challenges. For example, when we have a mathematical problem to solve, we may not be able to solve it at once, we should try for several more times to succeed.
Also, through today’s lesson, we learned that we should never be afraid to ask or raise questions. By doing so, we can understand more and get to know different approaches to problems.
All in all, today’s mathematics lesson not only gave us an outlook on mathematics in university, it also taught us lots of useful knowledge for us to apply in our daily life.
Stephanie Wong (4U)
Today is the second day of our mathematics course. We have approached code-breaking—the concept of modulus and different remainder theorems. Through this morning’s session we have learnt to think flexibly as we tried to use different methods to crack each code! Through these code-breaking activities, we knew more about the job of FBI and we found this very interesting.
The real challenge came in the afternoon session. Most of us were confused with the mathematical rainbow which was a new concept we had never heard of. But we were glad that all for us persisted to solve the problems. During the process and our discussion, we have developed our friendship further and were able to apply previous knowledge to new situations. We dearly enjoyed the sense of self-satisfaction brought about by challenging ourselves.
Tiffany Yue (4S)
After dinner, we prepared for the talent show on Thursday excitedly. There was a controversy on what to perform. Moreover, we can still reach a consensus. Through our discussion, we learnt to listen to other’s opinions with empathy and learnt to compromise through patient communication.
We had a lot of fun in preparing the show. Although there were quarrels, we felt the sparks from cooperating with new friends. Besides, we fully made use of everyone’s talents. For instance, the ones who are good at singing will do the solo and the ones who are good at drawing will be responsible for making the props.
After tonight, we get to know more about our teammates. With all of our efforts, we believe we will definitely put on a good show on Thursday!
Janice Chan (4S)
Today right after breakfast, we headed off to the Reach Out Lab to start our second day of the Chemistry Course. We studied and experimented with different rates of reactions and plotted our results. We then controlled our rates of reaction to produce our products in a certain amount of time. We carried out our experiments along with a video of 1812 Overture with Canons and synchronized our reactions with the canons in the video which was quite challenging.
After lunch, we carried out an experiment involving the synthesis of aspirin with salicylic acid. We also learnt a bit more about organic chemistry and the materials we were going to use such as the oil of wintergreen and salicylic acid. We first carried out the hydrolysis of oil of wintergreen to form salicylic acid and then synthesized the salicylic acid into aspirin. Overall, it was an interesting yet challenging afternoon.
After dinner, we discussed amongst our group mates on what to do for the Talent Show on Thursday night. We decided on doing one of our poem recited from the Speech Festival, namely “Write A Rap Rap”! We practiced and rehearsed and we hope we will put on a good performance!
Joey Chu (4S)
We had a lot of new experiences on the second day of our Chemistry lesson. It was the first time I felt so professional in the laboratory, wearing safety spectacles, laboratory coat and gloves performing experiments. I was really amazed when I saw the aspirin that I was holding in my hands, made by me and my partner in the lesson. We used many new equipments for our experiment which we haven’t seen before, like a vacuum filter. It was really interesting to see how it works. This could be a new method for me to anhydrate a substance next time! In our experiments, we even used some dangerous substances like concentrated acids which we had to handle with extra care and under supervision. We had truly learned a lot of new things and had acquired new skills in doing Chemistry experiments.
Besides, we had started preparing for the talent show on Thursday. We had a lot of ideas at first but finally decided on doing choral speaking. In the few hours staying together, we had already prepared a lot of things. We hope that our show will be a success and we can show everyone the best of us.
Cherry Kwok (4L)
Today is the second day of our Chemistry week and we started to do some interesting experiments. Instead of watching chemical reactions which demonstrated simple chemistry principles, we looked into deeper knowledge on rate of reaction and organic chemistry today.
The morning section was about rate of reaction through observing a reaction of a mixture of chemicals. The solution would turn blue-black after some time as iodine and starch reacted. We examined the time taken to change the colour of the solution. We learnt that precision is very important and small incautiousness could cause big problems. In the experiments, one of the groups forgot to add enough distilled water in the first reactions, making their results much smaller than the others.
After lunch we tried to make Aspirin, a common painkiller, in the laboratory. We used many chemicals that we have never seen or heard before. They were comparatively more complex than what we usually see. Instead of simple hydrocarbons like methane, CH4, we met chemicals like salicyclic acid. It was important for us to understand and apply our knowledge rather than simply memorizing everything. We also learnt to deal with different unexpected circumstances such as reactions that didn’t work and problematic reactants. Luckily, we were able to sort out everything calmly.
In the evening, we practices for our talent show on the day after tomorrow. We came up with a lot of creative ideas to be used on our show. We hope to make the funniest show among all groups.
We were all exhausted when we got back to our dormitories. We all hoped that we would learn more in the future and would give a good, entertaining show on Thursday.
Cordelia Hau (4P)
Today is the third day that we’re having chemistry lessons and the task for the day is to make aspirin-a drug that is often used to relieve minor aches and pains and to reduce fever. We have our chemistry lessons in the Reach Out Laboratory where there is some high standard equipment to help us carry out the experiments. Right at the the entrance of the laboratory there are some lockers with the names of the elements printed. When we saw them, we were so excited and astonished. They are all very beautiful indeed. During the day, we had to perform and carry out a few experiments with complex procedures, which require chemicals that we had never come across before. These chemicals are extremely reactive and corrosive. Special care and attention were needed or else we may hurt ourselves as a result. We had to listen to Alan and our course leaders’ instructions attentively and follow them accordingly and accurately. And eventually, after the long day, we could produce our aspirin samples successfully. We are so satisfied and delighted. From our experience of the day, we learnt that although the pathway to success is always very difficult and full of obstacles or impediments, we must not give up in the middle and waste our effort and time. We must always persist till ht eend in order to achieve our goals.
Claudia Law (4T)
This was the second day of the week learning Mathematics. At first, I found it very challenging. When I sought for help on some of the questions, I asked my mentor when we would learn this kind of Mathematics. The answer really stunned us all! It is a Year 3 University Mathematics problem. From then onwards, I was amazed whenever I could solve any of the questions. This was an invaluable experience in which every one of us could strive for our best. At the same time, we still had to strive for accuracy other than understanding the calculation method. Although this course was generally challenging, it indeed deepened my interest in Chemistry and Mathematics.
In the evening, we were told that a talent quest would be held on Thursday evening in which all of us must participate. Our group had finally decided to sing and dance on the stage after a long discussion. I hope that this performance could mark up our success.
Natalie So (4T)
Today, we had a very challenging and yet fruitful lesson about number theory and the mathematical rainbow.
During today’s lesson, we were exposed to many new mathematical terms, theorems and equations. Though the mathematics was quite hard to understand, it was really a very fun and interesting process to learn new things that we never came across before.
Through the lesson, we learned that whenever we come across with new things or challenges, we should face it and explore it but not running away from it. By doing so, we can learn and find the solution of such challenges. This sense of achievement is very rewarding! Although the path of finding solution might seems to be hard, efforts should be paid to reach the outcome, as the old saying says ‘no pain, no gain!’ Moreover, this lesson taught us to be persistent when facing challenges. For example, when we have a mathematical problem to solve, we may not be able to solve it at once, we should try for several more times to succeed.
Also, through today’s lesson, we learned that we should never be afraid to ask or raise questions. By doing so, we can understand more and get to know different approaches to problems.
All in all, today’s mathematics lesson not only gave us an outlook on mathematics in university, it also taught us lots of useful knowledge for us to apply in our daily life.
Monday, 11 July 2011
reflection on 11-7-2011
Reflection on 11-7-2011
Sharon Wong (4S)
Today, we had our first lesson of mathematics. For the first part of our lesson, we did code breaking. It is a game with codes and clues, and we need to solve it in order to find out the place and answer the questions. Through this game, I learnt new code-solving skills and this also improved my critical thinking skills
For the second part of our lesson, the topic is ‘zero to infinity’ we learnt more about set and the teacher used lively examples to make us understand more. Since the level in maths lesson is higher than those in Hong Kong and at times, we came across difficulties in solving questions. The teachers and mentors helped us a lot to solve our problems. We had enriched our mathematical knowledge and this would help us a lot in our further studies. Moreover, we learnt that persisting and being calm is important in solving problems. We are looking forward to the next mathematics lesson.
Ruby Tin (4S)
Today is our first day of our mathematics lesson and we have a lot of “brain challenge games” in the morning. The games are interesting and introduce us to the brand new subject of our lessons.
Our mathematics lesson starts with a decoding campus quiz and through the quiz, we learn more cooperating with others and try to think flexibly. As the codes cannot be solved only by yourself, we need to divide our workload and trust one another. Also since there are a lot of decoding methods, the quiz requires us to think in different ways to get the clue.
In the afternoon, we have the chance to know more about the introduction of ‘zero and infinity’. We all think that the topic is rather difficult as we haven’t learnt anything related to it in Hong Kong. Luckily, the teachers and mentors are all very patient and are willing to answer our questions.
Similar to the week before, we have some ice-breaking activities at night. This time, we need to run around the campus to look for numbers that fit the clues. The clues are really tricky and we have lots of fun guessing them. The last activity of the day is to build a tower as tall as possible with the aids jelly-babies and raw spaghetti. We all agree that this is the hardest part among all as the spaghetti is very brittle and the jelly-babies are not strong enough. But, after all we think that the day is very fruitful and meaningful.
Hilda Fung (4S)
We had our first Chemistry lesson today. Jayne and Barnaby, our academic mentors, are very kind and helpful to us. They are generous to offer us guidance when we are in doubt.
We had a mini presentation on doing a chemistry demonstration. My group forgot which chemical was which, because they all looked similar. Eventually, our group had to think on our feet and made up what we had to say as the demonstration went on. After this mini presentation, we started to feel more comfortable with doing presentation.
In the evening, we had an ice-breaking activity which was about building something we could see in a fairground. Lots of creativity had to be used in this activity. We were impressed with other people’s work and we found lots of new ideas from their designs. There were lots to learn from and we all think that it was an interesting activity.
Janice Chan (4S)
Today we had a very interesting lecture on the Physics of a Cup of Tea. We were told about the various designs of the tea bag. The pattern made when milk is added to tea drop by drop. This was also demonstrated using water and ink. We were able to observe ring-like pattern when drops of ink were added into the water.
Moreover, we started our Chemistry course with the CEO of the Reach Out Lab, Alan West. We carried out many demonstrations in the Reach Out Lab with our new mentor, Jayne and Barnaby. We froze and hardened rubber tubing and flowers in liquid nitrogen which could then be broken easily as they lost their elasticity and softness.
Later on in the evening, we went to the Science Museum and looked at the science of motors, space and the human beings. However, we ran short of time and had to miss out on quite a bit.
After dinner, we played some games as group activities. We played the Photo quiz again which involved hunting for answers and locations based on clues and pictures given to us. It was a fun game and soon after that we headed off to bed.
Chaahat Gambhir (4T)
Today was our very firsts day to work in the Reach-out Lab with Mr. Alan West MBE. It was a fun day in which we carried out quite a lot of demonstrations such as freezing a rubber tube using liquid nitrogen and then banging it on the table so that it broke into small pieces.
We also conducted other experiments such as popping some pellets of dry ice(solid carbon dioxide) into a film canister and then waiting for the film canister to burst due to increased pressure.
Finally, we also used acidified potassium permanganate(purple in colour) to make ‘water’,’milk’,’milkshake’ and ‘champagne’. It was a really interesting experiment and has really aroused all of our interest in learning Chemistry.
Within the past week and today, I have come to realize that no matter how hard a task is, it is possible to achieve success through hardwork and dedication as well as persistence and self-confidence.
For example, up until today’s Chemistry lesson, I used to be very nervous doing experiments in the lab because I used to constantly fear that I would break the apparatus. However, after doing today’s experiments, I have gotten rid of my fear and am now looking forward to doing many more experiments in the lab.
Last but not least, I made some new friends from Scotland and the UK, both of whom are very friendly and nice.
Yammie Lam (4S)
Today is the day that we will have new mentors and new lessons after an enjoyable weekend. Although we like the mathematics lessons and our mentor, Dawit, was very nice, we are still very looking forward to our chemistry lessons and new mentor. After the morning meeting, our cute new mentor, Barnaby, took us to the Queen’s lawn to have lunch. It was so comfortable and relaxing! It was a very different experience because we do not have such extensive lawns in Hong Kong.
We made a polymer in our first chemistry lesson. After that, we had some ice-breaking games again. We had so much fun and we were all tired out. We then went back to our rooms and took a rest to prepare for another fruitful day.
Patsy Lau (4S)
Today is our first Mathematics lesson since we arrived at Imperial College.
After breakfast, we took part in the “Continuing Students Activity” in groups of five. In this game, we had to build a model car. However, the one who built the model may not look at the finished model. The leader had to coordinate the building process. Through this game, we have learnt that co=-operation is very important when doing group work.
After lunch, we had our mathematics lesson. The first part of the lesson is code breaking. I found this fame really fun and interesting. We have to break those codes in order to find the right place in the school campus. Although it was really tired for us to run everywhere, we all enjoyed ourselves and have learnt to think in different ways. If we just think in one way and don’t try other methods, we won’t be able to solve problems.
After dinner, we played some ice-breaking games. We built roller-coaster models using Lego and a motor. I found this game really interesting as this game allowed us to learn how to think out of the box. I will certainly share these experiences with my family and friends.
Tammy Law (4L)
Today is the start of a brand new week which marks the end of our Chemistry lectures. Throughout the last week, we got the chance to deepen our understanding on Chemistry and broaden our horizons by visiting historical monuments like the Buckingham Palace and the Big Ben. We learnt a lot and that was a great experience for our growth.
In the morning, after breakfast, we formed groups and played a game constructing cars using out teamwork. We co-operated, communicated and were patient in order to accomplish the task given.
At noon, we sat for a guest lecture on the topic “The Physics of a Cup of Tea”. That was very inspiring and we learnt that the slightest things on Earth matters.
In the afternoon, we attended our first Mathematics lesson. We first filled out a quiz by having a coded tour of Imperial College. We used our talent to complete different sorts of decoding work. That was very challenging and we enjoyed ourselves. After that, the teacher taught us on the topic “Zero to Infinity”. It was quite difficult and we learnt to be patient to understand it.
In the evening, we used lego pieces to construct games seen at a funfair. It was a new game for us and we learnt to be innovative, cooperative and communicative.
Today is an unforgettable day and we hope to learn more about Mathematics in the following days.
Sharon Wong (4S)
Today, we had our first lesson of mathematics. For the first part of our lesson, we did code breaking. It is a game with codes and clues, and we need to solve it in order to find out the place and answer the questions. Through this game, I learnt new code-solving skills and this also improved my critical thinking skills
For the second part of our lesson, the topic is ‘zero to infinity’ we learnt more about set and the teacher used lively examples to make us understand more. Since the level in maths lesson is higher than those in Hong Kong and at times, we came across difficulties in solving questions. The teachers and mentors helped us a lot to solve our problems. We had enriched our mathematical knowledge and this would help us a lot in our further studies. Moreover, we learnt that persisting and being calm is important in solving problems. We are looking forward to the next mathematics lesson.
Ruby Tin (4S)
Today is our first day of our mathematics lesson and we have a lot of “brain challenge games” in the morning. The games are interesting and introduce us to the brand new subject of our lessons.
Our mathematics lesson starts with a decoding campus quiz and through the quiz, we learn more cooperating with others and try to think flexibly. As the codes cannot be solved only by yourself, we need to divide our workload and trust one another. Also since there are a lot of decoding methods, the quiz requires us to think in different ways to get the clue.
In the afternoon, we have the chance to know more about the introduction of ‘zero and infinity’. We all think that the topic is rather difficult as we haven’t learnt anything related to it in Hong Kong. Luckily, the teachers and mentors are all very patient and are willing to answer our questions.
Similar to the week before, we have some ice-breaking activities at night. This time, we need to run around the campus to look for numbers that fit the clues. The clues are really tricky and we have lots of fun guessing them. The last activity of the day is to build a tower as tall as possible with the aids jelly-babies and raw spaghetti. We all agree that this is the hardest part among all as the spaghetti is very brittle and the jelly-babies are not strong enough. But, after all we think that the day is very fruitful and meaningful.
Hilda Fung (4S)
We had our first Chemistry lesson today. Jayne and Barnaby, our academic mentors, are very kind and helpful to us. They are generous to offer us guidance when we are in doubt.
We had a mini presentation on doing a chemistry demonstration. My group forgot which chemical was which, because they all looked similar. Eventually, our group had to think on our feet and made up what we had to say as the demonstration went on. After this mini presentation, we started to feel more comfortable with doing presentation.
In the evening, we had an ice-breaking activity which was about building something we could see in a fairground. Lots of creativity had to be used in this activity. We were impressed with other people’s work and we found lots of new ideas from their designs. There were lots to learn from and we all think that it was an interesting activity.
Janice Chan (4S)
Today we had a very interesting lecture on the Physics of a Cup of Tea. We were told about the various designs of the tea bag. The pattern made when milk is added to tea drop by drop. This was also demonstrated using water and ink. We were able to observe ring-like pattern when drops of ink were added into the water.
Moreover, we started our Chemistry course with the CEO of the Reach Out Lab, Alan West. We carried out many demonstrations in the Reach Out Lab with our new mentor, Jayne and Barnaby. We froze and hardened rubber tubing and flowers in liquid nitrogen which could then be broken easily as they lost their elasticity and softness.
Later on in the evening, we went to the Science Museum and looked at the science of motors, space and the human beings. However, we ran short of time and had to miss out on quite a bit.
After dinner, we played some games as group activities. We played the Photo quiz again which involved hunting for answers and locations based on clues and pictures given to us. It was a fun game and soon after that we headed off to bed.
Chaahat Gambhir (4T)
Today was our very firsts day to work in the Reach-out Lab with Mr. Alan West MBE. It was a fun day in which we carried out quite a lot of demonstrations such as freezing a rubber tube using liquid nitrogen and then banging it on the table so that it broke into small pieces.
We also conducted other experiments such as popping some pellets of dry ice(solid carbon dioxide) into a film canister and then waiting for the film canister to burst due to increased pressure.
Finally, we also used acidified potassium permanganate(purple in colour) to make ‘water’,’milk’,’milkshake’ and ‘champagne’. It was a really interesting experiment and has really aroused all of our interest in learning Chemistry.
Within the past week and today, I have come to realize that no matter how hard a task is, it is possible to achieve success through hardwork and dedication as well as persistence and self-confidence.
For example, up until today’s Chemistry lesson, I used to be very nervous doing experiments in the lab because I used to constantly fear that I would break the apparatus. However, after doing today’s experiments, I have gotten rid of my fear and am now looking forward to doing many more experiments in the lab.
Last but not least, I made some new friends from Scotland and the UK, both of whom are very friendly and nice.
Yammie Lam (4S)
Today is the day that we will have new mentors and new lessons after an enjoyable weekend. Although we like the mathematics lessons and our mentor, Dawit, was very nice, we are still very looking forward to our chemistry lessons and new mentor. After the morning meeting, our cute new mentor, Barnaby, took us to the Queen’s lawn to have lunch. It was so comfortable and relaxing! It was a very different experience because we do not have such extensive lawns in Hong Kong.
We made a polymer in our first chemistry lesson. After that, we had some ice-breaking games again. We had so much fun and we were all tired out. We then went back to our rooms and took a rest to prepare for another fruitful day.
Patsy Lau (4S)
Today is our first Mathematics lesson since we arrived at Imperial College.
After breakfast, we took part in the “Continuing Students Activity” in groups of five. In this game, we had to build a model car. However, the one who built the model may not look at the finished model. The leader had to coordinate the building process. Through this game, we have learnt that co=-operation is very important when doing group work.
After lunch, we had our mathematics lesson. The first part of the lesson is code breaking. I found this fame really fun and interesting. We have to break those codes in order to find the right place in the school campus. Although it was really tired for us to run everywhere, we all enjoyed ourselves and have learnt to think in different ways. If we just think in one way and don’t try other methods, we won’t be able to solve problems.
After dinner, we played some ice-breaking games. We built roller-coaster models using Lego and a motor. I found this game really interesting as this game allowed us to learn how to think out of the box. I will certainly share these experiences with my family and friends.
Tammy Law (4L)
Today is the start of a brand new week which marks the end of our Chemistry lectures. Throughout the last week, we got the chance to deepen our understanding on Chemistry and broaden our horizons by visiting historical monuments like the Buckingham Palace and the Big Ben. We learnt a lot and that was a great experience for our growth.
In the morning, after breakfast, we formed groups and played a game constructing cars using out teamwork. We co-operated, communicated and were patient in order to accomplish the task given.
At noon, we sat for a guest lecture on the topic “The Physics of a Cup of Tea”. That was very inspiring and we learnt that the slightest things on Earth matters.
In the afternoon, we attended our first Mathematics lesson. We first filled out a quiz by having a coded tour of Imperial College. We used our talent to complete different sorts of decoding work. That was very challenging and we enjoyed ourselves. After that, the teacher taught us on the topic “Zero to Infinity”. It was quite difficult and we learnt to be patient to understand it.
In the evening, we used lego pieces to construct games seen at a funfair. It was a new game for us and we learnt to be innovative, cooperative and communicative.
Today is an unforgettable day and we hope to learn more about Mathematics in the following days.
Sunday, 10 July 2011
reflection on 10-7-2011
Reflection on 10-7-2011
Aleena Wong (4T)
After breakfast, we were taken to the kitchen to prepare food for our picnic. We each took some drinks and fruit, and made sandwiches. At around 12:30 p.m., we left for Hyde Park.
At Hyde Park we all sat down in groups and ate. When we had all finished, we played some games. My friends and I played soccer and hula hoop. Some other people played rugby and cricket.
It was an amazing afternoon with wonderful weather and we spent many hours playing Limlo and other games, or simply lying down and relaxing.When it was around 5 o’clock, we made our way back to the halls of residence, where we stayed until we went to a Japanese restaurant for dinner.
It had been a pleasant afternoon at the park. We enjoyed it very much because in Hong Kong, there aren’t any big spacious parks with grass lawns.
Sindy Yeung (4S)
Today is Sunday, meaning that it is time to play hard. After having a late breakfast at the junior common room, we went back to the dormitories to pack our bags for today’s picnic. Then, our mentors led us to the kitchen to make sandwiches for lunch. The table was covered with food we had ordered earlier, including fresh fruits like bananas, strawberries and grapes, and also snacks such as crisps and chocolates. Whereas for the sandwiches, we had bought ham, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and avocado. At around twelve, we set off to Hyde Park. The weather had been sunny and a bit windy. It was an enjoyable walk. Soon, we found ourselves sitting in circle on a grassy lawn. Lunch began, all of us were savoring the home-made sandwiches. Fruits, snacks and drinks were never in short supply, we had a rich meal. Then, games began. There were different games going on at the same time, mentors were playing Limbo, the boys had a soccer game, while we played cards and hula hoops. When we got tired, we would lay on the grass and chat with friends. Everyone was enjoying themselves. It was such relaxing afternoon. For dinner, our group went to Wagamama, a Japanese restaurant. It had been a long time since I last ate Japanese food in Hong Kong. I ordered fried noodles which were a bit salty, but still very tasty. After a short walk back to our dorms, we were allowed to chill out before washing up and going to bed. This was by far the best day I had in London.
Jennifer Chu (4A)
Today was a relaxing day after the busy week. All group members said that they had a long sleep last night and were not willing to wake up this morning. After breakfast, we went to the kitchen to prepare our ‘picnic lunch’. It was a new experience for us we had few opportunities to prepare picnics in Hong Kong. When we arrived at the Hyde Park, we were amazed by the spectacular view as everything was so picturesque… the green grass and the blue sky fluffy clouds. We enjoyed ourselves a lot at the park. We played a lot of games and sports and I even slept on the grass.
After this relaxing day, we have to prepare for the lessons next week and it will be a fresh start.
Rachel Chao (4A)
Today was the second Sunday since we came to UK. After having breakfast, we collected food that we had ordered on Friday. We had fruits, bread, ham, cheese…etc. We made our own sandwiched for the picnic in the Hyde Park. After about one hour of preparation, we assembled in groups and finally set off to the Hyde Park. There were lots of families enjoying their Sunday in the Hyde Park. Some were playing ball games, some were cycling and others were jogging. We found it so surprising that there is such a big and green park in Central London. We think this was the most relaxing day since we arrived at Imperial College. We enjoyed sitting on the grass to have our lunch and playing different games in the park since we seldom have this chance in Hong Kong.
Ingrid Lai (4U)
Today was a picnic day! We made our food in the morning together. There were: bread, wrap, cheese, lettuce, corn and some mayonnaise with tuna and chicken. We also had some fruits, such as grapes and pears. Although all of our group mates scored A in their Home Economics lessons, we still made a mess due to the limited space and utensils. However, I enjoyed this process since it is a rare opportunity for us to make our own food and go for a picnic.
At noon, we brought our food together with some balls and hoops and headed to Hyde Park. We shared our team spirit by taking the heavy bags of food and drinks alternatively. After a ten-minute walk, we arrived at Hyde Park. We were very excited as many of us were starving.
It was relaxing to sit on the lawn and we enjoyed the sun. Thanks to the weather for being so charming today. After having our ‘home-made’ sandwiches and wraps, we started to play. Some played football, some played hoops and some played hide and seek. Everyone was running here and there. We definitely enjoyed the outing.
I had made a new friend during the picnic too. He is Sercan and he comes from Turkey. He is fourteen years old and he had been studying forensic science in the first week of the STEM summer school. His favourite sport is football. I thought it was a great chance to know and learn different cultures by making new friends. I hope I would be able to do so in the coming weeks!
We went back to our dormitory at 5pm. While I was playing cards with Ivy in my room, the fire alarm rang. I grabbed my room card immediately and ran to the ground floor. I saw everyone panicking: some ran out in bare foot, some with their hair wet and some even brought their luggage with them! We were told to go onto the lawn. Luckily, after 5 minutes, we could go back to our rooms. This was surely a memorable experience for me.
Lorraine Fung (4S)
Time flies! We have stayed in England for a week already and we have gradually got used to lives here. After yesterday’s long walk, we all got phobia walking. Yet, we were still looking forward our picnic lunch.
We had breakfast this morning as usual. Before long, we gathered at the kitchen in the dormitory to prepare our food for the picnic. Throughout the presentation, we had a good time and we came to understand the significance of labour division. We finally made wraps and sandwiches successfully because of our well-designed collective effort.
After that, we set off to Hyde Park on foot. The weather was just right for outdoor activities and we spent a brilliant afternoon there. Besides having what we made in the kitchen, we played a lot of group activities such as killer, balls, cards, of even greater appeal, we also played limbo, which is a game testing our body flexibility and we all enjoyed it.
In this picnic, we knew more about each other and this also strengthened our friendship. In London, we can get away from the hustle and bustle in Hong Kong, We felt relaxed and we enjoyed staying in the natural environment. But all these things won’t last forever, If we don’t protect the earth, our next generation will not be able to enjoy this wonderful scenery. So let’s be environmentally friendly!
Sandra Leung (4S)
Today is Sunday, we went to Hyde Park to have a picnic. However, we had to prepare the food and drinks first. Our group ordered some bread, veggies, ham, bacon, corn and mayonnaise to make sandwiches and salads. Also, we made some fruit punches. We learned how to cooperate with others to make food. We each did a part of the job and got it done quickly. After making the food in the hall’s kitchen, we carried all the stuff to the park nearby. In the park, we played cards with the mentors. We also played some sports games. When we played the games, we made new friends with other groups. I hope that we will keep in touch when the summer school ends.
We went to a restaurant for “fish and chips” and pizzas after we left the park. “Fish and chips” are simply a fish fillet with French fries. This is a very traditional and popular English dish. Although the dish was quite unhealthy, we think that we really blended in the English life.
Aleena Wong (4T)
After breakfast, we were taken to the kitchen to prepare food for our picnic. We each took some drinks and fruit, and made sandwiches. At around 12:30 p.m., we left for Hyde Park.
At Hyde Park we all sat down in groups and ate. When we had all finished, we played some games. My friends and I played soccer and hula hoop. Some other people played rugby and cricket.
It was an amazing afternoon with wonderful weather and we spent many hours playing Limlo and other games, or simply lying down and relaxing.When it was around 5 o’clock, we made our way back to the halls of residence, where we stayed until we went to a Japanese restaurant for dinner.
It had been a pleasant afternoon at the park. We enjoyed it very much because in Hong Kong, there aren’t any big spacious parks with grass lawns.
Sindy Yeung (4S)
Today is Sunday, meaning that it is time to play hard. After having a late breakfast at the junior common room, we went back to the dormitories to pack our bags for today’s picnic. Then, our mentors led us to the kitchen to make sandwiches for lunch. The table was covered with food we had ordered earlier, including fresh fruits like bananas, strawberries and grapes, and also snacks such as crisps and chocolates. Whereas for the sandwiches, we had bought ham, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and avocado. At around twelve, we set off to Hyde Park. The weather had been sunny and a bit windy. It was an enjoyable walk. Soon, we found ourselves sitting in circle on a grassy lawn. Lunch began, all of us were savoring the home-made sandwiches. Fruits, snacks and drinks were never in short supply, we had a rich meal. Then, games began. There were different games going on at the same time, mentors were playing Limbo, the boys had a soccer game, while we played cards and hula hoops. When we got tired, we would lay on the grass and chat with friends. Everyone was enjoying themselves. It was such relaxing afternoon. For dinner, our group went to Wagamama, a Japanese restaurant. It had been a long time since I last ate Japanese food in Hong Kong. I ordered fried noodles which were a bit salty, but still very tasty. After a short walk back to our dorms, we were allowed to chill out before washing up and going to bed. This was by far the best day I had in London.
Jennifer Chu (4A)
Today was a relaxing day after the busy week. All group members said that they had a long sleep last night and were not willing to wake up this morning. After breakfast, we went to the kitchen to prepare our ‘picnic lunch’. It was a new experience for us we had few opportunities to prepare picnics in Hong Kong. When we arrived at the Hyde Park, we were amazed by the spectacular view as everything was so picturesque… the green grass and the blue sky fluffy clouds. We enjoyed ourselves a lot at the park. We played a lot of games and sports and I even slept on the grass.
After this relaxing day, we have to prepare for the lessons next week and it will be a fresh start.
Rachel Chao (4A)
Today was the second Sunday since we came to UK. After having breakfast, we collected food that we had ordered on Friday. We had fruits, bread, ham, cheese…etc. We made our own sandwiched for the picnic in the Hyde Park. After about one hour of preparation, we assembled in groups and finally set off to the Hyde Park. There were lots of families enjoying their Sunday in the Hyde Park. Some were playing ball games, some were cycling and others were jogging. We found it so surprising that there is such a big and green park in Central London. We think this was the most relaxing day since we arrived at Imperial College. We enjoyed sitting on the grass to have our lunch and playing different games in the park since we seldom have this chance in Hong Kong.
Ingrid Lai (4U)
Today was a picnic day! We made our food in the morning together. There were: bread, wrap, cheese, lettuce, corn and some mayonnaise with tuna and chicken. We also had some fruits, such as grapes and pears. Although all of our group mates scored A in their Home Economics lessons, we still made a mess due to the limited space and utensils. However, I enjoyed this process since it is a rare opportunity for us to make our own food and go for a picnic.
At noon, we brought our food together with some balls and hoops and headed to Hyde Park. We shared our team spirit by taking the heavy bags of food and drinks alternatively. After a ten-minute walk, we arrived at Hyde Park. We were very excited as many of us were starving.
It was relaxing to sit on the lawn and we enjoyed the sun. Thanks to the weather for being so charming today. After having our ‘home-made’ sandwiches and wraps, we started to play. Some played football, some played hoops and some played hide and seek. Everyone was running here and there. We definitely enjoyed the outing.
I had made a new friend during the picnic too. He is Sercan and he comes from Turkey. He is fourteen years old and he had been studying forensic science in the first week of the STEM summer school. His favourite sport is football. I thought it was a great chance to know and learn different cultures by making new friends. I hope I would be able to do so in the coming weeks!
We went back to our dormitory at 5pm. While I was playing cards with Ivy in my room, the fire alarm rang. I grabbed my room card immediately and ran to the ground floor. I saw everyone panicking: some ran out in bare foot, some with their hair wet and some even brought their luggage with them! We were told to go onto the lawn. Luckily, after 5 minutes, we could go back to our rooms. This was surely a memorable experience for me.
Lorraine Fung (4S)
Time flies! We have stayed in England for a week already and we have gradually got used to lives here. After yesterday’s long walk, we all got phobia walking. Yet, we were still looking forward our picnic lunch.
We had breakfast this morning as usual. Before long, we gathered at the kitchen in the dormitory to prepare our food for the picnic. Throughout the presentation, we had a good time and we came to understand the significance of labour division. We finally made wraps and sandwiches successfully because of our well-designed collective effort.
After that, we set off to Hyde Park on foot. The weather was just right for outdoor activities and we spent a brilliant afternoon there. Besides having what we made in the kitchen, we played a lot of group activities such as killer, balls, cards, of even greater appeal, we also played limbo, which is a game testing our body flexibility and we all enjoyed it.
In this picnic, we knew more about each other and this also strengthened our friendship. In London, we can get away from the hustle and bustle in Hong Kong, We felt relaxed and we enjoyed staying in the natural environment. But all these things won’t last forever, If we don’t protect the earth, our next generation will not be able to enjoy this wonderful scenery. So let’s be environmentally friendly!
Sandra Leung (4S)
Today is Sunday, we went to Hyde Park to have a picnic. However, we had to prepare the food and drinks first. Our group ordered some bread, veggies, ham, bacon, corn and mayonnaise to make sandwiches and salads. Also, we made some fruit punches. We learned how to cooperate with others to make food. We each did a part of the job and got it done quickly. After making the food in the hall’s kitchen, we carried all the stuff to the park nearby. In the park, we played cards with the mentors. We also played some sports games. When we played the games, we made new friends with other groups. I hope that we will keep in touch when the summer school ends.
We went to a restaurant for “fish and chips” and pizzas after we left the park. “Fish and chips” are simply a fish fillet with French fries. This is a very traditional and popular English dish. Although the dish was quite unhealthy, we think that we really blended in the English life.
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