Spotlight on Learning Eucalyptus 2 & 3

This term in History, Eucalyptus 3 has been exploring the fascinating world of Early Explorers and their impacts on Australia. Students have partnered up to research an explorer who played a significant role in shaping history, specifically those who ventured to Australia or our neighbouring countries and had an impact on our shared history. They are now using their findings to create engaging presentations to share with their whole class. 

Throughout this project, students have been developing valuable skills in researching, summarising information, teamwork, and presenting. They are all thoroughly enjoying the collaboration involved in this exciting learning task!

In Science this term, Eucalyptus 2 has been exploring forces while learning key Korean phrases. Students have built their vocabulary around concepts such as elasticity (탄력), friction (마찰력), magnetism (자력), gravity (중력) and changes in speed (속도가 변해요) and direction (방향이 바뀌어요), finishing the term with the force of thrust (추진력).

They can now describe the balloon-rocket experiment in Korean, using phrases like “풍선을 불어요” (blow the balloon), “공기가 빠져요” (air escapes), “풍선이 커져요” (the balloon expands) and “풍선이 움직여요” (the balloon propels).

To see thrust in action, the class investigated how rockets launch into space. They discovered that when fuel burns, it produces hot gases that shoot downwards and, following Newton’s Third Law of Motion, push the rocket upward.

The highlight was the Balloon Rocket Challenge, where students threaded strings through straws, taped them to inflated balloons and watched their “rockets” race across the room. 

They observed how the size of the balloon affected the distance travelled and how the direction of escaping air determined the rocket’s path.

This exciting unit blended science inquiry with language learning, giving Eucalyptus 2 a hands-on understanding of forces while expanding their Korean vocabulary.