Specialists
JAPANESE
We had so much fun in Term 1 in Japanese! I am so proud of all students’ enthusiasm, dedication and commitment to learning Japanese. This term is going to be just as fun as we continue to explore Japanese language, culture and the benefits of learning an additional language.
Foundation – Foundation are exploring the まきば (makiba - the farm) and the vocabulary and phrases relevant to the topic. Students will be responding to Japanese version of Old MacDonald had a farm, comparing expressions at key points in the story with English-language versions, and re-enacting with puppets, props or actions.
1 - We are exploring what we can find at the Juice Bar! Students will participate in a variety of songs, games and other activities to build their confidence in using the key words and phrases. They will have opportunities to develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills through a story about animals ordering juice at a juice bar. Students will then use their knowledge to order a juice at our pretend juice bar!
3/4 – Grade 3/4 students are inventing their own unique パーフィ(parfait) and creating an advertisement using language learned through the term. We will discuss how languages often loan words from other languages (such as the word parfait). Students will use vocabulary and sentence structures to create their advertisement and then mock-order a parfait. This unit will also build on student’s knowledge of numbers in Japanese.
5 – Grade 5 are putting their ‘bureau of meteorology’ hats on and learning to report the weather in Japanese. In this unit, students will learn kanji such as 天気, 雨, 雪, 曇; adjectives including hot, cold, warm, cool; and a range of sentence structures. Games, song and interactive activities are used to engage and assist in the understanding.
6 – Grade 6 are learning language and culture through the story パンダせんとう (Panda Sento). Students will learn several kanji, vocabulary and sentence structures through exploring the story and participating in games. Furthermore, the unique culture of おんせん (onsen) and せんとう(sento) are explored and the special etiquette that needs to be followed when people visit these hot baths/bath houses.
PE (Physical Education)
PE is a major part of learning at HEPS with a focus on developing the gross and fine motor skills along with locomotion. These fundamental skills and movement patterns are learned through a variety of different games and skill specific lessons to ensure all participant are engaged and enjoying their time during PE and sport. If it so happens that we have inclement weather and the gym is occupied the students will be completing theory based Physical Education work within their classrooms with a focus on the school values in sport an PE.
Term 2 sees the focus for the Foundation students on developing their Fundamental Motor Skills and Movement Patterns with an emphasis on catching along with the three main skills involved in athletics of running, jumping and throwing and fine and gross motor skills. These skills are developed through a variety of sequential activities and events with a focus on doing their personal best.
The Level 1 and 2 students are focusing on continuing to develop their Fundamental Motor Skills and Movement Patterns that they have learned in Term 1 through a variety of skills with overall focus of skill development and improvement through the athletic skills of running, jumping and throwing. These skills are progressed through a variety of activities with attention to keeping control whilst completing skills in a variety of different sporting environments and doing their personal best.
Term 2 has the Level 3 and 4 students working on a Target Games Unit. Throughout this unit there will be a major emphasis on the skills of golf and bocce where we will put these skills into a fun and engaging format. This unit is a great way to blend skills from a variety of sports into one unit of work with a focus on the four r’s of skill development being read, respond, react and recover. We also have emphasis on athletics leading into the house athletics day later in the year.
The Level 5 and 6 are developing their skills through a Target Games Unit where the students advance their skills and recognise that we can use multiple skills in different sports. With the emphasis of this unit being placed of Golf and various games, the students begin to understand that the skill development for this sport aids with their enhancements in other sports, games and interschool sport. There is also a large emphasis on athletics where the students will compete against each other later in the year in our whole school athletics activity.
STEAM
This term, students are focusing on Coding and Chemical science components of STEAM.
Foundation students are exploring coding through the use of Scratch Junior. Students are learning to add, delete and animate characters and backgrounds to create games and cards. Within the Chemical science unit, Students will explore a range of materials and consider what their uses might be. Students will develop their understanding of reading instructions, measuring and scientific observation through the completion of a range of experiments.
Year 2 students are exploring coding through the use of Scratch Junior. Students are learning to add, delete and animate characters and backgrounds to create games and cards with a range of interactive features. Student will be consolidating their knowledge of hardware, software, electrical circuits and control functions through the use of Makey Makey. Within the Chemical science unit, Students will complete a range of experiments exploring changing States of Matter.
Years 3 and 4 students are exploring coding through the use of Scratch. Students are learning about how to stay safe online and use coding to create a story narratives with interactive characters, settings and games. Students through the use of Minecraft education will identify features of a sustainable city and complete a range of Minecraft challenges collaboratively which respond to a community need. Within the Chemical science unit, students will explore a range of materials and consider their purpose.
Year 6 students are exploring coding through the use of Scratch. Students will be consolidating their understanding of coding to create a game of their choice. Students will share their games with their peers and suggest modification and provide feedback. Student through the use of Minecraft education will explore and create sustainable environments through a range of challenges. Students will design and consider innovative and ethical design ideas, and communicate these with their peers. Throughout this unit they will build an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of people in design and technologies occupations, and how they contribute to society. Within the Chemical science unit, students will explore changing States of Matter through a range of hands on experiments.
ART
Foundation students are learning to print with sponge shapes to create self portraits. Then they explore the resist technique using oil pastels and water colour paints to decorate their initial. They will experiment with primary colours to mix secondary colours in a creative way. Their focus will be on the art elements of shape and colour in artworks while continuing to develop their skills.
Level 1 students continue with colour theory, learning about warm and cool colours and creating a Picasso-like portrait in opposite complimentary colours. Next, they create a very hungry caterpillar using a printing technique and look at autumn tones and patterns in nature.
Level 2 begin the term creating ‘family prints’ using the ‘pat & lift’ technique. They create critters using an effective paint scraping technique similar to Eric Carle’s illustrations. Students finish by creating a beautiful butterfly based on concentric circles.
Level 3&4 start the term looking at the art of Sydney based artist Ken Done, creating their own underwater inspired scenes. Focus will be on composition, colour and perspective. Next they will make a 2D Greek inspired vase, leaning about patterns and symmetry.
Level 5 students will create a multi-media animal portrait inspired by the art of Dean Russo; focus will be on how to transfer an image, use of colour and pattern. They will then create a foil figurine and paint the shadow to complete one artwork.
Level 6 students begin the term creating a hand puppet of a real or imagined creature. They use papier mache over a plastic bottle and sculpt the form to shape. They then choose an artist to research and focus on one small area of a painting, studying features such as outlines, colour blending and paint application to recreate a new artwork.
MUSIC
Foundation
In Term 2 students will participate in weekly 45-minute sessions of Music. Foundation students will be engaging in all Performing Arts curriculum areas: Music, Dance and Drama. For Term 2 we are focusing on rhythm and beat, with students furthering their exploration of sound and instruments. Foundation students will take part in several performances, both in class and at assemblies.
Grades 1/2
In Term 2 students will participate in weekly 45-minute sessions of Music. Level 1 and 2 students will be engaging in all Performing Arts curriculum areas: Music, Dance and Drama. In Term 2 students will be focusing on pitch and learning pitch notation. From here we will be looking at composition and responding to music. Level 1 and 2 students will take part in several performances throughout the term.
Grades 3/4
In Term 2 students will participate in weekly 45-minute sessions of Music. Level 3 and 4 students will be engaging in all Performing Arts curriculum areas: Music, Dance and Drama. They will be provided with the opportunity to learn about and play various instruments as well as furthering their understanding of terminology and notation. Students will also further their creative understanding and skills with composition and performances. Level 3 and 4 students will take part in multiple performances throughout the year, including the whole school production.
Grades 5/6
In Term 2 students will participate in weekly 45-minute sessions of Music. Level 5 and 6 students will be engaging in all Performing Arts curriculum areas: Music, Dance and Drama. Grade 5/6 students are working toward composing their own symphonic folktale. We are studying folktales, composition and notation as our focus. Students will also further their creative understanding and skills with analysis, composition and performances. Level 5 and 6 students will take part in multiple performances throughout the term.