Food Ad Tricks

Hi all!

Check this video out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUjz_eiIX8k

It's about how a food make up artist can make food in advertisements look good!

Explains why we dont get food like the one in the advertisements!

Fieldtrip to Hay Dairies

Goat milk! :D comes with chocolate flavour










Viewing of goats and their living conditions


Posters found at the farm for students to read up on the types of goats

virtual supermarket

hey all!

watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxoh4AKGE5M

korea has taken online grocery shopping to a whole new level!

now you can shop like in a real store when u wait for your train. and the products will be delivered to your doorstep. save time save effort!

my next phone will definitely be a smart phone cos you can do so much with smart phones.

in fact, my schoolmate's iphone got stolen last week. using another iphone, we were able to detect her phone and luckily the person who took it was still in campus. to cut the story short, she got a phone back!

need a smart phone,
amirah

Learning journey at Kin Yan Agrotech

Hello Teachers,

want to have a memorable learning journey for your students? Consider Kin Yan Agrotech farm. At there, your students will get to learn about the cultivation of mushrooms, snow pea shoots (dou miao), cactus and many other crops. What's more, you can get to buy products made from these fresh produce. You can request for some dou miao seeds to try growing some pea sprouts at home. ( I have managed to ask for some. Haha, see the picture above).

Try the cactus herbal jelly too if you are visiting the farm. :) It is nice for a hot weather.

Kin Yan Agrotech - Aloe Vera & Mushroom!

Personally, I feel that Kin Yan Agrotech is a good place for students to learn about aloe vera because some students may come across aloe vera in drinks but they may not know how it looks like or even what are benefits of consuming aloe vera. Thus, it will be an opportunity for them to learn and also understand how it grows.

Before visiting the farm, the teacher can give worksheet for students to do so that it will be a fruitful trip for them to learn about aloe vera, mushroom, etc. This activity also helps to check their understanding from the trip. If possible, students can form into groups, doing an assignment on what they have learnt from the farm that involves taking pictures and doing some write-up on a vanguard sheet.

Examples of what they can write in the assignment:

a) HEALTH BENEFITS OF ALOE VERA

- Polysaccharides strengthen immune system
- Detoxifies body
- Helps absorption from the digestive system
- Lubricates joints
- Protects cells
- Aids gaseous exchange in the lungs
- Soothes and repairs damaged / inflamed tissues
- Enhances blood circulation
- Removes toxic materials from cells (detoxification)

Aloe vera contains over 20 minerals, 22 amino acids and Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E which are essential to the human body.

b) From the farm, they also can learn about there are two species: Aloe Vera Barbardensis and Aloe Vera Chinensis. Ask them to differentiate between the two species and uses.

c) Students can also talk about what are the products that can make from aloe vera: aloe vera concentrate, honey aloe vera cube, etc

They also sell aloe vera drinks, aloe vera jelly with apple or passion fruit flavoured that may not be found in other places.

Kin Yan Agrotech also organise aloe vera cooking demo and educational programmes for students. It is important for teachers to call them to check the timings for these activities because they may not have it everyday.

However, I think for Kin Yan Agrotech does not have a lot of varieties for the mushroom. So I suggest to go specialized mushroom farm called Mycofarm, at 9 Seletar West Farmway 5 . The website is http://www.mycofarm.com.sg/content/contact/
They have Shittake mushroom , Oyster mushroom and Abalone mushroom that are cultured in a control environment where the temperature is kept between 15 and 20 degree Celsius and a humidity of at least 80 percent for optimum growth and thickness.


From the reviews (http://www.singaporelocaltour.com/2010/01/educational-tour-part-2-mushroon-farm.html) that I read about the farm, the guide will show the visitors around their numerous greenhouses (>20). The guide also explains about the life cycle of that particular breed of mushrooms, the type of mushroom, what kind of log are used, the temperature, the plucking methods and how the logs are broken down into nutrients rich soil, etc. According to the website, the entrance fee per person is $3.50. If your school have no budget, this can be a fruitful trip for you and your students!

Banana Attack !!!

Japanese artist Keisuke Yamada has become an Internet sensation sculpting people out of bananas using only a toothpick and spoon. Check out these photos of his new collection.

Homer Simpson as a banana. Yamada said: "I really enjoy seeing that I can make a simple banana come alive by sculpting away at the flesh."

Marge Simpson

Yamada also draws his inspiration from fictional characters. An impressive banana dragon.

As part of the Royal Wedding banana collection, Yamada created Prince William with the yellow fruit.


While its creative & so very pretty! I wonder how to preserve them for long hours decorative purposes...

Anyway, Enjoy Banana Watching!

goat milk

it tastes like lamb!

Kin Yan Agrotech Farm

If you think that farms are extinct in Singapore, you're wrong! Besides the goat farm and the toad farm, there's also a vegetables farm.

Situated in Lim Chu Kang Agrotechnology Park, near Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve, it is known as Kin Yan Agrotech Pte Ltd, a company engaged in agro-food related activities in Singapore. They are Singapore's largest commercial organic wheatgrass farm that produces and supplies such crops. Also found within the farm are fresh edible cactus, aloe vera, mushroom as well as roselle fruits (aka ribena). Students will also get to see the various growth stages of wheatgrass (see above) and learn about the health benefits of wheatgrass. The farm also sells interesting wheatgrass products as such wheatgrass herbal jelly. (ps: it tastes good!)

The farm visiting hours are relatively long and flexible so it is actually quite easy to organize a trip there, either during school hours or after school hours. Below are the details!

Farm Visit Hours: Mon - Fri, 9am to 5pm
Admission: Free
Address: 220 Neo Tiew Crescent, Singapore 718830
Tel: 6794-8368

What's more! There's a guided tour available. The respective personnels will bring the kids around the farm and do the necessary explanations. But be sure to book the tour early.

Activities that students will be doing/learning
1. Wheatgrass Farm tour
2. Educational trip for students
3. Life Science programme for school
4. Farm products sale
5. Products tasting session
6. Healthy Cactus Cooking Demo
7. Aloe Vera Cooking Demo
8. Healthy Wheatgrass Juicing Demo

Other services upon request
1. Setting up mini growing system for schools, corporate offices, hospitals, etc
2. Two hours hands-on wheatgrass farming activities

Learning doesn't ends in the classroom!

The Jurong Frog Farm!

If you are a teacher, and would like to bring your students out for learning journey, you might want to consider The Jurong Frog Farm. The farm is located at 56 Lim Chu Kang Lane 6 and other than frogs, this farms houses various types of fishes and crocodiles. However, I would suggest that you get the students to have their meals before the trip as this place serves only frog and crocodile meat. In my opinion, the students might not be comfortable with eating such types of meat. Also, this place sells fresh frog meat to the public at a relatively affordable price compared to those we get from restaurants. 

Students should be dressed in PE t-shirt and if possible, track pants if they wish to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes. Don't worry, this place isn't smelly at all. You can purchase the frog feed at $1 per packet and one packet is about the size of a palm. In fact, a group of 4-5 students can share a packet of the feed. There are souvenirs sold in the farm itself, but they can be quite costly. 

However, the slaughtering of frogs are not open to public. Nonetheless, the students will be able to see the transitions of the frogs in their lifecycle, from tadpole to a fully grown frog. They will also be exposed to the living conditions of the frogs. I am almost certain that the trip could be the first and last time for some of your students to get such close contact with frogs (coming from experience). Hence, it would definitely be an enriching trip for both you and your students - whether you like frogs or not (trust me). 

You may wish to visit their website for more information:

http://www.jurongfrogfarm.com.sg/main.htm 

Gribbit,
Keli

Review on Hay Dairies Farm

Hello all!

We've had a long day farm hopping.

Our first stop was Hay Dairies (the Goat Farm). Yes, the most smelly one!
Personally, I've been to that place a few times before so, there weren't any suprises for me.

Anyways, i think it is a great place to bring young children or our future students. They can get to experience the smell first hand and will then learn to appreciate their milk , readily bought from stores. The trip to the farm is a great opportunity to teach the students about processes in milk production suck as milking, homogenizing and pasteurizing.

It's also a convenient place to have a snack or meal as tables and benches are provided. The only downside to the farm, besides the smell, is the relatively expensive cost of the goat milk sold. $2 per bottle may be a little stiff for the students. Perhaps, we could negotiate for a discount when we bring large groups of students.

Off to try the goat milk,
Amirah

New perfume can be swallowed...wow

Swallow a capsule that is metabolized by the body to create frarance emanating from within.
The strength of the resulting scent is determined by the individual's acclimatization to temperature, stress or exercise.

Would you try?

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/perfume-swallowed-emanates-skin-110506451.html

Respond to Salt Intake Study showed eight in 10 Singapore residents exceeded the recommended daily intake by more than 60 per cent

This is a comic strip published on Sunday, 16 October 2011 in The Sunday Times.

We can ponder and critic about the eating habits of Singaporeans Keli have posted previously, while at the same time, have a good laugh =D (if you have a sense of humour)

Home Economics VS Geography

1)

Home Economics- To provide students with knowledge and skills, and inculcate in them positive attitudes that will empower them to make informed food and consumer choices in their daily life.  

Geography

Develop an informed concern about the quality of the environment and the future of the human habitat, and thereby, enhance students’ sense of responsibility for the care of the Earth and its people

For HE, students evaluate to make decisions on daily choices such as reading food labels while for Geog, students learn to evaluate the effectiveness of measures taken and managemnt on real life scenarios such as earthquakes and volcanoes

2)

 For HE, is more about educating students to become informed consumers.

For geog, it looks at the interaction and relationship between students (human) and the physical environment and how both of them affects one another.

3)

HE equip students with relevant life skills for application-based learning while delivering content.

However for Geog, the teaching approach is by being conceptual, using key ideas and linking words to help students see the big picture for every topic.

4)

For HE, students get to do experiments, present and interpret findings and results to explain certain concepts such as caramelization

For geog, students get to do fieldwork for data collection and to use the data they collected to analyze and observe certain trends and patterns. Eg. Rainfall, weather and climate

5)

Assesment for HE can be in the form of coursework when work are compiled over a period of time.

For geog, assessment are usually summative such as End of year exams and common test

6)

Content given for HE are usually facts which are fixed and straightforward

For geog, students are required to visualize continuous processes for certain concepts for them to understand and be able to explain. For eg, the water cycle.

7) 

HE is usually in limited/ contained local context where students learn about food product and ingredients found in Singapore.

For geog, because Singapore has limited resources, has a lack of physical landscape and does not have natural hazards such as volcanoes, students have to look at other countries for case studies during their learning. Hence, in a more global context

Presented by Aining & Ke Li

Other Disciplines Approach and Outcome of the Curriculum - Home Economics vs Chemistry

The pictures above are the contents we've discussed during lesson. Shereen and I compare Home Economics with Chemistry in terms of its syllabus, strategies, approaches and pedagogies.

In general, Home Economics and Chemistry are very similar in their syllabus structure - consists of theory and practical aspects. But their approach of the content are very different as mentioned above.

The contents of Home Economics can be summarised in a mindmap/concept map for students to understand the whole picture of the syllabus. Although Chemistry can also be summarised in mindmap/concept map, it is usually explained in table/chart form as there are many complicated concepts which require students to understand that are more important than them understanding the big picture.

Soy sauce-flavoured cotton candy anyone?

(THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Korean condiment maker Sempio Foods Co said it would unveil its soy sauce cotton candy on Oct 2.

In Japan, ice cream and candies that use soy sauce have already been enjoyed. But it is the first time in the world that cotton candy has been made of soy sauce, the company said.

Based on the idea that saltiness adds sweetness in flavour, Sempio, best known for its soy sauce products, started research.

In order to make cotton candy, the research team enriched soy sauce then made it into powder.

-

What do you think of this? I think the japanese are addicted to soya sauce - sodium content is relatively high. On the same note, Singaporeans have exceeded the recommended sodium intake per day. Here are the facts:

SINGAPORE: A recent Health Promotion Board Salt Intake Study showed eight in 10 Singapore residents exceeded the recommended daily intake by more than 60 per cent.

The recommended daily salt intake is 5g - which is equivalent to one teaspoon.

To counter the over-consumption of salt, a Finest Food Programme has been launched to encourage companies to develop healthier salt and other functional food.

The programme is put together by the Health Promotion Board, SPRING Singapore and Singapore Food Manufacturers' Association.

The aim is to reduce the proportion of those exceeding the salt recommendation by 30 per cent - to six in 10 - by 2015.

"We need to give people healthier food options. It's particularly important in Singapore as six in ten people eat out at least four times a week," said Dr Amy Khor, Minister of State for Health.

As such, the Health Promotion Board is working with industry partners to develop a "healthier salt".

"The reason why the salt is unhealthy is because it contains sodium. Now, with this healthier salt, we replace sodium with potassium....this blended salt is good, as due to its reduced sodium, it lowers the risk of hypertension," said Ang Hak Seng, CEO of the Health Promotion Board.

The healthier salt will contain 65 per cent sodium as opposed to 98 per cent in normal salt.

It will also be 40 per cent cheaper than imported healthy salt, and will hit the shelves by next April.

The Finest Food Programme will also harness food science expertise from the polytechnics to test-bed healthier food products.

Several reformulation projects are already underway.

Local food manufacturer Ha Li Fa recently developed their popular BoBo fish balls and fish cakes to have a lower salt content.

Some of these products will be promoted for use in hawker centres.

The survey also revealed that most of the salt in the local diet comes from table salt and sauces. Of this, almost two-thirds are consumed outside the home.

Meanwhile, processed food such as fish cakes, breads and noodles are estimated to contribute another 37 per cent of the population's salt intake.

- CNA/cc

I think we better start watching what we eat since we spend so much time outside/in school. Clearly, we know the side effects of having too much salt in one's diet. Not only do we have 
to watch the sugar, we need to take note of the salt too! Healthy eating starts today!


PS: THINK OF THE AMOUNT OF SEAWEED WE ATE IN CLASS TODAY!!!!! 

Student-centric, Values-driven Education

Hello All,

Subject: Opening Address by Education Minister @ Workplan Seminar

During his opening address, Mr Heng addressed the need to:

-develop students holistically, in all aspects - moral, cognitive, physical, social and aesthetic.

- cater to the diverse needs of Singaporeans and allow all to progress in life

To prepare students for an increasingly technologically-driven world, he calls for a student-centric, values-driven education.

To achieve Student-Centric, Values-Driven Education, three broad areas will be focused on:

a. Student-centric Education: Enabling All Students to Succeed

b. School-based, Teacher-led Excellence: Empowering Schools and Educators to Do the Best for Each Student

c. Working with Parents and the Community: Enhancing Partnerships

Values and character development should be the core of our education system as:

-We need personal values to enable each of us to have the confidence and self awareness, and the grit and determination to succeed.

- We need moral values, such as respect, responsibility, care and appreciation towards others, to guide each of us to be a socially responsible person. In particular, for our multi-racial, multi-cultural society, a sense of shared values and respect allows us to appreciate and celebrate our diversity, so that we stay cohesive and harmonious.

As for values and character development, I think that this concept was piloted at Hougang Secondary School. When I was there during my practicum, the principal was very adamant about character building. During one of the discussions over lunch that I had with fellow NIE trainees, one of them shared that it is important to correct the character, behavior and discipline of students first before striving for academic excellence. Only with positive attitudes, will students be ready and willing to learn.

The move towards a values-driven education system is exciting quite refreshing in the Singapore’s education system as it has been too academically-driven. However, the implementation or changes that will be made to the system is still questionable for me, because, in the same speech, Mr Heng addressed the need to preserve rigour and high standards of Singapore’s education system. Hence, it seems to me that the education system still will continue to be demanding and stressful for students and teachers.

Oh well… we’ll just have to wait and experience it for ourselves when we go out to teach J

All the best! Haha!

For the full speech, you can go to this website:

http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/2011/09/22/work-plan-seminar-2011.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+singapore-education%2Fspeeches+%28Speeches%29