Secondary 7/8
SFC & SMC
SFC and SMC have had an amazing opportunity to work with the Collingwood Children’s Farm this term. The students have been working across three different parts of the farm. In the gardening group the students have been building planter boxes where they have had to measure timber before it is cut and used as the planter wall. The students use impact drills under close supervision to drill holes and bolt the beds together. In the animal pen and chicken coop groups the students have to follow a step by step procedure to complete the task, where they have to walk around to various parts of the farm to collect equipment and drop off old hay to the compost heap.
At the end of their jobs the students have the opportunity to order food from the café where they get to handle money and use their speaking and listening skills to make the transaction. All the students have had a positive experience in a real world environment.
SSO, SRM & SEO
On Tuesday the 5th of September SSO, SRM and SEO went to Melbourne Zoo for our Integrated Unit on Feathers Fur and Leaves. The students were all very excited and had a list of all the animals they wanted to see. We have been learning a lot about different animals and their habitats along with food chains. We even got some feeding times in the Zoo with some animals during our visit which consolidated our learning of the unit during the term. When we got there the students went straight for the lemur open enclosure where they got up close and personal with them.
Most of the popular crowd pleasers were the gorillas, orangutan, giraffes, butterflies, tiger and the giant tortoise. All the students sat out on the grass and enjoyed chatting with their friends whilst eating their packed lunches. By the time we knew, it was time to jump back on the bus to return to school. It was a very successful day at Melbourne Zoo where it was quite acceptable to act like cheeky monkey's!!!!!
SLB
SLB have had an exciting Term 3! We have loved the new addition to our timetable, ‘Cross-Curricular Learning’, where we have had the opportunity to spend Friday afternoons in our amazing Discovery Centre. We have got to explore Osmo, make terrariums, gooey slime and mindfulness jars.
Another highlight has definitely been our visit to the Melbourne Zoo, which linked in really well with our integrated unit ‘Feathers, Fur and Leaves’. Throughout learning, we have discovered ‘Kahoot’, an educational interactive quiz platform which incorporates ICT. We really enjoyed using this to consolidate our learning!
Maths has been very fun this term, exploring shapes, money, measurement, multiplication and division. We used a lot of concrete materials to support our learning and were able to make many connections to the world around us. Mindfulness has taken a permanent spot in our timetable, which is a time for reflection, relaxation and self-evaluation. We have really built on our understanding of gratitude, self-love and a positive frame of mind.
We can’t believe that we are at the end of term 3. This year is flying by! We’re looking forward to the warmer weather.
Team Leader News Report
This term year 7/8 students were fully immersed our Integrated Unit topic, ‘Feathers, Fur and Leaves’. Each student observed and held animals during the Wild Action Zoo visit. Most classes demonstrated their understanding of habitats and life cycles by making terrariums and dioramas and engaging in interactive learning challenges in the Discovery Centre. Visits to the zoo this month will cap off their enthusiasm and collective knowledge around environmental studies.
PreCAL students have been very industrious. They have engaged in many hands on farming projects at the Collingwood Children’s Farm. Each week they have built on the experiences engaging in rich language, literacy and numeracy learning. The class produced experiential take home booklets that has captured some of that stimulating learning.
In Mathematics, students have explored money, multiplication and division using a variety of applied approaches. They have improved their length measurement and further consolidated location skills through practical inquiry and challenge.
All students have delved deeply into all kinds of information and explanatory texts, culminating in Literacy and Numeracy Week. Many students are researching the work of an amazing illustrator, Dion Beasley who has disabilities and is very talented. We are looking forward to showcasing our learning to parents and guardians on Sept 7th 2-3pm.
Helen Edmonds,
Secondary 7/8 Team Leader