Investigation Time

Science

Weather in my world -Daily and seasonal changes that affect everyday life.This unit will touch on topics such as seasons (including indigenous seasons), how these affect life cycles of plants and animals, weather features and resources such as water and land.

Within this unit of learning the students will travel to Healesville Sanctuary where students will learn about:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultures, traditions, and connections to Country
• Animal life cycles and the seasonal changes that impact on these
• Interdependence of the environment, plants, and animals
• The features and basic needs of some Australian animal

Humanities

Making Safe and Healthy Choices.This unit provides students with the opportunity to learn about using their senses, safety symbols, healthy eating, preparing healthy snacks, exercise, personal health and hygiene.

Investigation Times are structured as follows:

Tuning in – All children begin in their own classroom and are tuned in to current learning foci and goals. Three Focus Students, a Reporter and Photographer are rostered from each grade every session. The teacher assists them to plan their investigations for the day by discussing the area they would like to work in and what their plans are. 

Investigation time – Children take part in self-directed learning for approximately an hour. Students choose the area they would like to work at and are free to move between the three Foundation rooms. Some of the Learning Centres are related to our Inquiry unit for the term (Science & Humanities curriculum), whilst others are developed around student interest. There are often ongoing projects that the children return to work on. The teacher spends time scaffolding each Focus Student and their learning.

Reflection – Students return to their classroom where the Focus Students, Reporter and Photographer share their learning while the teacher draws out specific links to Literacy, Numeracy, Science, Humanities or developmental learning objectives. This is the most important time for all children to see the connections between what they have been learning through play to formal learning goals. The children enjoy these special roles and take great pride in sharing their learning. We encourage families to discuss your child's investigations with them at home.

The classrooms have specific investigation areas that link to the Science and Humanities concepts we will be teaching based on this unit of learning. These include indigenous areas, animal exploration and care, water play areas, life cycles, supermarket/cafe and a yoga/wellness centre.

Each classroom will also have other areas set up that specifically target Literacy and Numeracy skills or other special interests among the students.