Specialist Updates
STEM
Students in Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 have hit the ground running by continuing and completing their Bee-Bot Map Project. They have had the opportunity to explore and play on each other’s maps using the Bee-Bots, applying the coding skills they have developed throughout the unit. The project took a little longer than initially expected, which is why it continued into the beginning of this term. Students have thoroughly enjoyed their coding unit. Throughout this unit, students have been developing computational thinking, problem-solving, logical reasoning, spatial awareness, mathematical skills, communication and collaboration, creativity, persistence and resilience and digital literacy.
Next week, students will begin their exciting new unit, Toy Makers.
Year 3 students are nearly finished with their Ozobot Map Projects. They have been highly engaged and immersed in this task, demonstrating resilience when faced with coding challenges. Coding requires precision, as even the smallest error can affect the outcome. Throughout this unit, students have been building their computational thinking, problem-solving, creativity, collaboration and digital literacy skills.
Students in Years 4, 5 and 6 are making great progress towards completing their Sustainability Games in Scratch. Throughout this project, they have been developing computational thinking skills, learning key programming concepts, fostering creativity, strengthening problem-solving skills, applying logical reasoning, collaborating with peers and building confidence in their coding abilities. It has been wonderful to see how engaged and enthusiastic students have been throughout this project.
Italian
During Italian lessons the Preps have revised greetings and introduced themselves by participating in familiar games and songs. They have practised counting to 10 while reading and completing an activity about a story that counts animals at the zoo. They have begun to learn the question: Quanti anni hai? (How old are you) and the response Ho … anni. (I am … years old.)
The Year 1 and 2 students have begun the term reading the Italian version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which introduced them to the days of the week in Italian . They have applied their prior knowledge to name the foods eaten in the story and count to 10, as they sequenced the events of the story.
The Year 3 and 4 students have launched into their Italian lessons by exploring the Italian artists Michelangelo and Rafaello. They have looked at examples of their work and expressed their opinion in Italian. They have begun to learn how to give a reason for their opinion in Italian,e.g. Mi piace perche e bello. (I like it because it is beautiful.)
The Year 5 and 6 students have begun working on descriptions in Italian. They have learnt how to describe their hair and eye colour and how to ask someone to describe themselves.
Performing Arts
The Foundation students are practising keeping a steady beat by patting the carpet with their hands and body movements as they follow the basic Ta Ti rhythm. This fun activity is helping to develop their listening skills, sense of timing, and confidence in maintaining a beat.
The Year 1 students have begun the term by looking at beat and rhythm. They have enthusiastically participated in games like Musical Detective and the song Dipidu, where they have demonstrated their ability to maintain a steady beat. They have been introduced to the quarter and eighth notes and rest and practised clapping them in different rhythmic patterns.
The Year 2 students have begun their Music unit by exploring the difference between beat and rhythm. Using the song Hot Cross Buns, they used movement and body percussion to demonstrate and experience these musical concepts. The students enthusiastically practised keeping a steady beat using bucket drums and the C notes on the glockenspiels. They also revised the different musical notes and clapped four-beat rhythms.
The Year 3 students have begun their Music unit by enthusiastically participating in the game Musical Detective, where they demonstrate their ability to maintain a steady beat. They have then explored some of the different drums that are played around the world and how this instrument is used to both keep beat and create rhythms in songs. They have worked in teams to label the parts of a modern drum kit.
The Year 4 students have keenly started to learn how to play the recorder. After learning about the parts and care of their instruments, the students have\enjoyed joining in with the songs Recorder Rap and Bouncing ball which use the B note. In week two they have learnt how to play the A note and practised songs with this note. The students have begun to use correct technique to change between the two notes.
Years 5 and 6 have started the Music units learning to play the Ukulele. They have begun by labelling the parts of the instrument and practicing correct playing position and strumming. They have been introduced to tuning the G and strumming a C chord in isolation or in the song Row Row Your Boat.
Physical Education
The Prep - 2 students are working through a Soccer Skills unit. They are learning to pass to teammates, trap, then move with the ball (dribble) and kick at targets. The focus is accuracy and ball control.
Years 3 and 4 have been excitedly preparing for their Hoop Time tournament (a statewide basketball competition) to be held on Wednesday 29 July. They have been practising their basketball skills and strategic team play. Students will begin a Soccer Skills unit after the hoop Time tournament.
Years 5 and 6 students are participating in a 4 week Soccer Skills Unit. They will be playing games and working through activities that focus on developing their foot and ball movement skills together with strategic play and teamwork.
Art
It's been a busy and creative start across the Art room, with every year level exploring exciting artists, techniques and ideas.
Foundation students have begun creating vibrant ink backgrounds for their Still Life Flowers in a Vase artworks. Their bright, colourful designs are full of energy and will provide a stunning backdrop for their finished pieces.
Years 1/2 have been investigating the work of New York artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, with a particular focus on his expressive dinosaur artworks. Students are exploring his bold use of colour, symbols and energetic mark-making to inspire their own creations.
Years 3/4 have commenced their Frida Kahlo-inspired artworks. Students have been introduced to Frida's fascinating life, including her beloved pets and the famous Blue House (La Casa Azul), as they begin creating works influenced by her unique style.
Year 5 students are exploring modern architecture through the iconic Beaumaris Modern House while drawing inspiration from Melbourne artist Howard Arkley. They are investigating how colour, pattern and line can transform buildings into vibrant works of art.
Year 6 students are focusing on portraiture, experimenting with colour and mixed media to discover how different materials and artistic choices can influence the presentation and expression of a portrait.
Library
The Premiers’ Reading Challenge (PRC) is up and running with an amazing 16 students already completing the challenge. They will continue to add the books they have read and be in the running for a prize for the most books read overall.
If you would like some more information head to vic.gov.au/PRCto find out more.
Happy reading!
Book Week
During our Book Week celebrations in August we will be hosting a Book Fair - the theme is yet to be revealed, but it will be exciting with lots of student participation and organization. Our Book Fair will be held at Stella Maris from August 17-28 with lots of books for sale.
Monday August 17 - delivery of books
August 17-21 - Students will be viewing the Book Fair during Library sessions to write their Wish List.
August 24-28, families welcome to visit and purchase books (before and after school each day).
Book Parade
On Monday August 24, students are invited to dress under the theme of Symphony of Stories. Parents are invited to attend a parade from 9am and an assembly from 2:30pm in the MPR.
Louise Moore
Library Technician