Whole School Activities
Lower Division
In Drama this term, K-2 students are exploring The Magic Hat by Mem Fox. We used different images from the text to embody character and develop a short sequence of events which we performed to the class. Last week, we made our very own "magic hats" for a hat parade. We are practising the text as a script through repeated reading, to present as a class item at our Week 9 assembly this term. We can't wait to show you what we have put together!
Upper Division
This term in Science, we are engaging in a unit of work titled "More Energy" which explores how to pose questions and conduct fair tests to investigate the effects of energy on living things and physical systems, so that we can understand how energy influences our environment and supports scientific reasoning.
Lessons focus on the structure of scientific investigations and how plan for, deliver and document a fair test. We have explored explicit Tier 3 vocabulary at the beginning of the unit, with students learning to use this language when discussing their scientific findings.
Our weekly lessons are structured in an alternating format: Week A - Theory, Week B - Practical. In theory lessons, students are provided with explicit instruction on a scientific topic, and time to set up their experiment planning and proforma in workbooks. In practical lessons, students are engaging in a hands-on “science lab” lesson where they conduct their experiment, with opportunity to reflect at the end as a group and connect their findings to lesson content.
This week we made ice-cream and explored the way heat transfer can turn a liquid into a solid. So much fun was had in this experiment - and lots of learning too!
*Please note, the addition of students singing "shake it off" whilst shaking their zip lock bags during the experiment was a student-led initiative!!!
Pop-Up Dance Party with DJ Drummer Guy
Our students were treated to a surprise pop up dance party on 6th May as part of the Uralla Shire Council Youth week activities. Students from surrounding schools were also treated to this surprise.
This video was shared with us earlier this week.
DJ DG Pop Up Dance Video v2.mp4 - Google Drive
Author Visit | James O'Hanlon
Last week we had a visit from an artist-storyteller-scientist called James O'Hanlon. He spoke to the children about following their passions and not feeling the pressure to be exactly the one thing or to follow only one interest. He is currently working on a number of children’s books, mural installations for private and commercial clients, concept art and design materials. James is a scientist and science communicator with a passion for the natural world. He has a PhD in animal behaviour and has studied everything from how praying mantises deceive other animals with elaborate and colourful displays; to how ants shape ecosystems by dispersing plant seeds and insect eggs, and how spiders sing to each other through their webs. We thank James for his time, knowledge and many talents!
Gymnastics
This term for our Friday sport the whole school is enjoying gymnastics at the Armidale Gymnastics Centre. The program is tailored to our school and is designed to meet outcomes fro the PDHPE syllabus. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to use facilties and equipment that they may not have experienced before and provides another chance for all our our students to interact as a whole school group. There is also the adventure of the return bus ride to Armidale that is an added bonus greatly enjoyed by the students.
