Natalia Smolenova CAS: March 2012

As I used to debate when I was in Slovakia, I am continuing with debating in Moscow in BIS. I am running debate club which is very interesting, for now we only had a few lessons but they were all indeed very interesting.Debating is very important, and useful as well.One not just learn how to argue, or debate but also the rules, and how to build up arguments.First lesson was with the highest participation and I explained to my fellow "students" the system of debating, debates, and I told to them many informations. It was very interesting I think and also they were listening carefully.Some of them expected debate at the first lesson, but that was simply just not possible:)I showed them a video from one of the competitions, I think that they understood what debating means, and how it works.Next time we met, we played games, so that they d develop their argument-skills.I have developed new skills and undertook new challenges - since I haven't run debate club before.I have also done some creativity as I have prepared the posters. I have also shown personal perseverance and provided activity for other students.I have also considered ethical implications of my actions.I also planed and initiated activities, since I am the one running the debate club, we have our English teacher Mrs.Gray supervising us.:)

In our school, we again had nice opportunity to organize, and to help organizing another event - this time it was Winter Activity Sports day. We planned it for a longer time, and I believe that the event was good and everyone got fun. So we divided ourselves into groups, and I was with two of my friends - Neda and Sabina.The three of us were organizing a Treasure hunt.Others were in charge of snow castles,snow sculptures, sport activities, painting, and many other activities. Our activity - the Treasure hunt was set in the hall.This was a meeting spot, this was the place where all the kids came with their tutors, and from here they started their exciting Treasure hunt!We basically put questions all over the school and they needed to answer all of the questions - and importantly correctly.So that they can get prices.Price was chocolate, and when they came with all the answers they needed to solve a puzzle and to answer the question - "Who is on this picture?".And only after that they received their prices.It was very interesting and I think that the kinds enjoyed it.Questions were not hard, well some of them were but since they were difficult we labelled them "challenge question" and it really was only a challenge question.Most of the groups got it but with a little help,indeed.:) I also had fun not only organizing it but also when I took part in some of the other activities.For example snow obstacle it was very funny. Other well all activities were funny and interesting as well.We had worked in teams, so we improved our team work, I am also happy that I got to know new people / from younger years.All in all I have developed new skills and undertaken new challenges - I have never organized such activity before and I didn't try them before, as well.I have shown personal perseverance and also provided service to kids since we helped them to improve and develop their logic understanding skills, and others.I have also considered ethical implications of my actions. I am adding few pictures.