The Lessons in Making

Making is Messy! 

There was stuff everywhere. That includes glue, pieces of styrofoam and streamers. Not a good sight.

Making can take a while.

250 minutes later and we could have kept going but home was beckoning so we had to pack up.

Making is engaging and FUN!

We were so engrossed in what we were making that we forgot all about morning tea until nearly ten minutes later. And there were no complaints either. There were even requests to work through lunch. 

Making is collaborative!

Lots of students walked around, sharing ideas with one another of how to make models of various pieces of play equipment.

Making helps us get better!

Students presented their models and answered questions from their classmates. Classmates provided feedback by giving two compliments and one wish - e.g. "I liked that you put a fence around the water area. 

I liked the variety of equipment.

I wish you could have made your playground more colourful." 

The models were also judged on the criteria discussed earlier:

• safety
• fun
• aesthetically pleasing

Afterwards, each student completed their own reflection on what they did really well and what they could improve on next time. 

                       

Voted among the top three models.

Voted among the top three models.

Voted among the top three models

                       

Design Thinking Steps

As we begin to use the key design thinking steps a little more in our lessons, we find that we can focus on one smaller part at a time, making the task better managed and improving our progress.

We have been learning about playgrounds, their purpose, the reason for the various types of equipment and the forces required in the course of using each one.

So far, we have been able to:

DISCOVER: by exploring the location, look and purpose of a variety of playgrounds.

DEFINE - Our goal and direction - to create a playground for a specific age group considering exercise, aesthetics and safety.

DREAM - spent much time thinking of possibilities - really digging into our imagination and thinking of ideas

On Thursday this week, we will begin to build our models and see how well they meet the criteria. Early next week, we will then evaluate the models and improve them.

We have spent some time visiting the agriculture plot and thinking about how we can use the activities that go on there to help us in different aspects of our learning. We are still in the very early stages and will keep you informed. 

Thanks for your hard work Rihanna and Lachlan

Learning from One Another

Today, we concluded our work on 3D shapes by constructing them. The students worked well to help one another to cut, fold and glue. Afterwards, each student took a turn to explain how their shape is named - especially for the prisms and pyramids. They also demonstrated effective (and sometimes not -so-effective ways) of counting up the edges and faces. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Congratulations to our frieds who received their Reading awards and Silver awards during the Primary Assembly this week.

Which Way Are We Turning? Cockwise? Anti-clockwise?

We worked in the hoops, facing the clocks, to help us work out clockwise and anti-clockwise. Then we used that knowledge to turn 2D shapes in either direction.

Impressive work during the first week back!

Spelling learning this week:

How do we know when to use k or c at the start of a word?

How do we know when to use k, c, ck or ke at the end of a word?

Science

Learning about how playgrounds were invented.

Reflecting on the purpose of playgrounds.

Observing playgrounds that we visit..

Designing and developing our own.

Maths

Using our knowledge of addition to work out subtraction problems e.g. 2+3=5 and 3+2=5, therefore,  5-2=3 and 5-3=2.

A Wet Start......

......did not dampen our spirits at all yesterday. We brought along all our energies and excitement and it was great to see everyone back. Today, the sun only added to our cheer as we embarked on some dancing and serious counting.

All our Stage 1 students will enjoy dancing for PE this term.

Thousands of craft sticks. How do we
count them all?

Grouping ours in pairs and then in groups of ten.

Our lesson reporters talked about efficient counting strategies and the
 challenges of working with someone else when each ons has
different strategies in mind.

When Everyone Gives Their Best

It is a beautiful result that comes about when everyone does their best in a team task. This week, 2S rose to the occasion and presented an excellent item about the the journey of two drops of water all around the water cycle. I was particularly impressed by the number of students who learned their lines despite having the option to carry their scripts to stage. Hopefully, all the big words - evaporation, condensation, precipitation - and their meanings will be remembered thanks to that song that we can't get out of our minds. 

Unfortunately, even though we recorded the whole item, we cannot post it due the copyright issues of the song:(

Many thanks to all the families for getting the comstumes ready and coming to watch us on the day.

Class Assembly Item

Class Item

We are very excited as we look forward to presenting our class item at the Primary Assembly next week on Tuesday 28th June at 2.00pm. A note has come home to you today advising fo your child's role and costume. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you need any clarification.

Guess who dropped in to see us a couple of weeks ago.............

Thank you Mr Gray for taking time to engage with the students, answer their questions (Phew! Glad I wasn't having to answer some of them), helping with our artwork (beautifully displayed on the board) and reading that funniest of books - Fantastic Mr Fox (also a PRC book).

Premier's Reading Challenge

As encouragement to the students who registered to read, we are sharing some books in class that you could add to your list. So far we have read The Dance Teacher (shown below) and Roald Dahl's The Twits.