Curriculum

Grade 4 Excursion to Sovereign Hill

On Tuesday 30th May the Grade 4 students attended an excursion to Sovereign Hill as a part of their Term 2 History Inquiry Unit. Students have currently been investigating and researching into Australian and First People's historical significance and how integral aspects of life on the land have changed dramatically over time. The inquiry unit has made authentic connections to current topics such as ANZAC Day, Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week. 

Students arrived early in the morning full of excitement as to what they were going to investigate throughout the day. With padded winter jackets to brave the harsh

Ballarat weather our investigations began into life on the goldfields during the 1850's. We experienced a range of demonstrations and investigations such as, the gold pour, red hill mine tour, an educational session centred around immigrants and their life on the gold fields and finally having the opportunity to experience some fun activities like gold panning, bowling and a the hard boiled lolly making process.

Thank you to all the Grade 4 teachers and parents for their organisation and support on the day. 

Growth Mindset in Mathematics

The term 'growth mindset' comes from the ground-breaking work of Carol Dweck, who is an American psychologist researching into the brain's ability to form new connections well into adulthood. She identified everyone holds ideas about their own potential. Some people believe that their intelligence is more or less fixed and in math – that you can do math or you can’t. About 40% of students have these damaging 'fixed mindset' ideas. Another 40% have a 'growth mindset' they believe that they can learn anything and that their intelligence can grow. The other 20% waver between the two mindsets.

Students who have a fixed mindset but who are well prepared and do not encounter difficulty can do just fine. However, when they encounter challenges or obstacles they may then be at a disadvantage and the feelings of stress and anxiety can begin to form. At one point or another, for every single one of us, math will become hard and create challenges.

Some powerful ways to help our kids develop a growth mindset in mathematics at school and at home are:

1. Teach kids about the brain's ability to grow!
2. Model and praise mistakes as opportunities for brain growth and improvement.
3. Provide rich, open-ended math tasks. Challenging our students to create their own problems can help reduce the anxiety and promote an improved understanding and build confidence.
4. Remove the emphasis on speed. Students need to have an understanding of a range of strategies and process.
5. Be mindful of our own attitudes towards math. Knowing that this is a relationship that we build together at school and at home.