Desert vs Dessert
This is a common spelling mistake that can result in horrendous misunderstandings. Remember: Desert means arid land or to abandon. Dessert is the sweet course at the end of a meal.
What to do during the school holidays?
The end-of-year school holiday starts from Nov. 16. We decided to compile a list of items that you can do with your children in this one-and-half month. 1. Reading Get your child interested in reading this holiday. This is one of the best hobbies to cultivate. Instead of relying on last minute tips, languages are[…]
How to pronounce “一”
Chinese tip: “一” means one in Chinese. It is often the first Chinese character we learn as a kid. But do we really know how to read this? Do you read “一” in the first, second, third or fourth tone? There are three ways to read “一”: “衣”（一声）、“移”（二声）和“义”（四声）。 1) If you are using “一” to[…]
The Newton’s cradle
Fun Science: The Newton’s cradle is a device that demonstrates conservation of momentum and energy via a series of swinging spheres. If one ball is pulled away and is let to fall, it strikes the first ball in the series and comes to nearly a dead stop. The ball on the opposite side acquires most[…]
Guess what.
English tip: Sometimes, when we have a piece of good news to share, we get excited and we may start by saying “Guess what”. Now- the question is– do we add a question mark or a period after “guess what”? In this scenario, “guess what” is an imperative (a command/request) so it is conventionally punctuated[…]
Happy Children’s Day
Happy Children’s Day! For those who have just finished PSLE, enjoy your last Children’s Day. Next year, you won’t qualify for the holiday anymore because you’ve become a fine young man/lady. 🙂
Stomata
Science tip: There are tiny pores on the leaves of a plant called stomata (singular called stoma) where gaseous exchange can occur. Most water loss occurs through the stomata. This explains why when leaves are covered in oil, the water that a plant uses decreases.
Convoluted Maths Questions
Maths tip: Some questions seem so convoluted it makes you wonder who invents these. They are unfortunately part and parcel of the examination process so we can only fold up our sleeves and get down and dirty with them. Here’s one example: “Jamie spend $6 less than 4/7 of her money on a dress. She[…]