Whole School Activities
Gymnastics | Beam | Bars | Beanies
This term, our students have been actively participating in gymnastics, focusing on various activities. These fun and dynamic exercises not only promote physical fitness but also have significant benefits for cognitive development.
Recent research highlights that climbing activities, like those practised in gymnastics, are particularly beneficial for brain health. Engaging in climbing helps to improve coordination, balance, and strength, which are essential skills in gymnastics. More importantly, these activities stimulate brain development by enhancing neural connections, which can lead to improved learning outcomes.
One surprising benefit of climbing is its positive impact on reading fluency. When children engage in physical activities that challenge their motor skills, they also develop crucial cognitive skills, such as concentration and memory. As students climb and navigate obstacles, they practice problem-solving and spatial awareness, skills that translate into better reading abilities. The physical movement involved in gymnastics encourages blood flow to the brain, which supports cognitive functions and enhances overall learning capacity.
As our students continue to hone their gymnastics skills, they are also nurturing their brains, setting a strong foundation for academic success. We are excited to see how these activities contribute to their growth, both physically and intellectually!
Toothbrushes
Last week Mr Ridley made a trip to the dentist for a check up (all was fine) and shared his experiences with Lower Division. We were reminded that the school had been provided with some free dental care packs that we distributed to all students present last week to much excitement - especially about the strawberry flavoured toothpaste!
Lower Division
Lower Division recently rearranged our room leaving us with a spare desk. After some thought, we decided to introduce a VIP desk, where each day two students are selected at random to be our Lower Division VIP's. Students get to sit at the special desk, are given a personalised Lower Division VIP pass with their photo that they get to keep as well as other privileges for the day. The class has been very excited about this and have been wonderful in how they have participated.
Each student will have had their turn by today - our plan is to do this once a week next term with some new rewards that all students will get to enjoy.
Reading in Lower Division
A regular part of our mornings has been independent reading, which the whole class enjoys. Last week we encouraged our students to buddy with a classmate and read each other texts appropriate to their individual level. This was a lot of fun and congratulations to students for their hard work.
McMaugh Gardens Visit
Lower Division visited McMaugh Gardens this morning to spend some time with the residents and show them some of our work. We participated in some craft activities and even managed to play some games together. Our class appreciated the opportunity to visit the residents and spend some time with them - our thanks to the residents and to Kelley and all the staff at McMaugh Gardens for making us so welcome.
School Garden
Yesterday we harvested some radishes that we planted as seeds earlier this year. It is wonderful to see how happy our students are when they can pick and eat something that they grew themselves. Our main garden is coming along nicely in the winter months, with broad beans, broccoli, carrots, onions and even brussell sprouts all growing well. We look forward to harvesting this produce later in the year.
Visual Arts
Motivated by James O'Hanlon's visit, our students embarked on a creative project where they explored the elements of art, specifically line and shape. Using vibrant colours and imaginative designs, students created their own representations of peacock spiders. They experimented with different lines to illustrate the unique features of these spiders, such as their long legs and intricate patterns.
Through this hands-on activity, students not only deepened their understanding of the elements of art but also learned about the importance of observation in both art and science. By combining creativity with scientific knowledge, they discovered how art can bring to life the wonders of the natural world.
We are proud of our students for their hard work and creativity, and we thank James O'Hanlon for inspiring us to look closer at the beauty that surrounds us!
Zone of Regulation Integrated into Art!
In our PDHPE classes this term, we have been diving into the Zones of Regulation, a comprehensive curriculum designed to help children understand and manage their emotions. This program teaches valuable self-regulation skills, enabling students to recognise their feelings and respond appropriately.
One of the key concepts we explored is the 'Green Zone.' This zone represents a calm, alert, and focused state—perfect for learning and interacting with others. When students are in the Green Zone, they feel happy and content, ready to engage with their environment and collaborate with peers.
To integrate our understanding of the Green Zone, we embarked on an exciting piece where students created 'still life' compositions. This activity allowed them to explore the elements of art while expressing their feelings and experiences associated with being in the Green Zone. Students observed various objects, considering shapes, lines, and colours, and then translated their thoughts and emotions into their artwork.
Stage 2 Mathematics | Data
For the last two weeks, students have been focused on data collection and presentation. Each student enthusiastically created their own PowerPoint presentation, allowing them to explore a topic of interest and share their findings with the class.
After presenting their topics, students took the next step by collecting data from both Lower Division and Upper Division students. This real-world data collection experience helped them understand how to gather information effectively and consider different perspectives.
In the coming week, we will be entering this collected data into Microsoft Excel. This will be an exciting opportunity for students to learn how to organise and analyse their information using technology. Once the data is entered, students will create graphs to visually display their findings, reinforcing their understanding of how to represent data clearly and effectively.
Stage 3 | The Battle of Stalingrad
Stage 3 Students created a mini-multimodal project on "The Battle of Stalingrad" which is the event that our class novel was written about. It was exciting to weave some historical curriculum into our English work, stretching students to plan, research, create and then present their PowerPoints in a way that engaged the audience suitably, but also maintain credibility and authority in the information they delivered. After each presentation, students were open to peer feedback which was supportive and constructive. This can often be an uncomfortable process, however, the aptitude of student maturity in receiving and self-reflecting on the feedback was impressive. At the end of the session, students received written teacher feedback and were able to self-reflect on their strengths and areas for improvement, based on the syllabus focus areas of Creating Written Texts and Oral Language and Communication. It was a pleasure to enjoy some laughs together whilst presenting such a serious topic!
Stage 3 l Formal Number Operations
In Mathematics we have been exploring the most efficient way to solve number problems. We recognise that the most effective process for our brains to solve a problem, will vary from person to person. Our brains work in wonderfully unique ways, and we celebrate that through the exposure of many strategies, until we find what works best for us. Recently, we have studied the formal algorithm for numbers of 2-, 3- and 4- digits, as well as division strategies including using remainders and long division. Needless to say, we had students who even ignored the Recess bell today as they were so engrossed in using their newly mastered long division approach!
