Specialist Program

Students have been busy this term doing a range of things in the art room.

Prep students have recently constructed 3D toadstools (who doesn't love seeing a beautiful red toadstool?!!) They practiced using lots of fine motor skills in cutting, folding and gluing. They learned about paper joining techniques with flanges:  flanges are essentially tabs that go all the way around the base of a part, such as a cylinder. They can be used to attach a three dimensional object (eg. the cylinder) securely to a flat surface by supporting it all the way around the base. Students cut out arms, eyes, white dots, and some grass to complete their toadstool. Super cute work, preps!

Students in grades 3 and 4 completed sewing their felt toadstools this term (which are often seen in autumn). They learned how to cut felt templates, how to thread needles, tie knots, and sew using the running stitch. A massive thank you to our wonderful parent helpers who came and joined us in the art room - Emmaline, Karina, Sarah, and Andrea. We simply couldn't do sewing projects like this without your fabulous assistance. You are appreciated!

Our grade 5/6 students have been busy finishing sewing their wheat bag covers. They designed their cover, cut out paper templates, cut out their felt, positioned their felt pieces with seam allowance in mind, and sewed the felt onto a cotton rectangle using a a running stitch. After their felt design was sewn on, students turned their cotton piece inside out so the right sides were together, and sewed using backstitch following their straight, ruled lines close to the edges. They sewed up two sides, turned their covers the right way around, inserted their wheat bag, folded over the top edge, and sewed their cover closed with backstitch. Throughout this activity, students practised threading needles, tying knots, cutting fabric and sewing. 

An enormous thank you to our wonderful parent, Sarah, who sewed 30 wheat bags for the students. A huge thank you to two grade 6 students - Indi and Maddi - who gave up a lunch time to help fill 60 wheat bags full of wheat. Then more thanks again to Sarah who helped sew the wheat bags closed so no wheat would fall out. Amazing efforts! We couldn't do these projects without such fabulous helpers. You are appreciated!

The covers look great, I think! Super efforts from our super sewers!

** Note: the wheat bags should be placed in the microwave for between 40 seconds - 1 minute.

** It is recommended that you add a cup of water when heating the wheat bag in a microwave. The water provides hot moisture which the bag can absorb and prevents the wheat from overheating.

** The wheat bag may feel damp when heated for the first two or three uses; this is quite normal and occurs with almost all wheat filled products due to the fact that they are filled with natural grains that may still contain moisture.