From the 3/4 Classrooms

Championing Inclusion Through Storytelling!

This term, our students have been exploring powerful themes of fairness, inclusion, and accessibility. Through thoughtful discussions and activities, they’ve gained a deeper understanding of what it means to create a welcoming and respectful community for all.

Now, they're putting their learning into action! This week, students are using their creativity and empathy to plan, draft, and publish their very own picture storybooks, designed especially for younger students. These meaningful stories aim to highlight the importance of being an ally, showing how even the smallest actions can make a big difference in building a more inclusive world.

Their stories will be shared this Friday at the Expo and they will be shared with the Foundation, Grade 1 and Grade 2 students next week.

The students are very excited to share their stories and below are some of the stories being created in the planning and drafting stages of writing.

Learning about Auslan

Last Thursday, each class had the special opportunity to meet Kerrie from Auslan Hub, who is hearing impaired. Kerrie spoke with the students about her personal experiences with hearing loss, what it was like growing up, and how she communicates using lip reading and cochlear implants.

Kerrie also introduced the students to Auslan (Australian Sign Language). The students were fascinated to learn that Auslan is a completely unique language with its own grammar and structure as it doesn’t follow English! They were also surprised to discover that Auslan can vary between states, meaning that Auslan in Queensland is different from Auslan in Victoria.

It was a meaningful and eye-opening session that deepened the students’ understanding of accessibility and communication. We are grateful to Kerrie for sharing her story and helping our students grow in empathy and inclusion.

Everyone was so engaged in Kerrie's presentation that photos weren't taken. However, here is a link to AUSLAN Signbank, where you can learn to sign your name.

In the link above:-

Type your name into the text box.
Click the 'show' button.
Follow along with the actions of the video.

STEM - The Effect of Forces: Friction

Last week the students continued to learn about forces - the force of FRICTION.

Friction is a contact force that acts between two objects in contact with one another. It slows down or stops movement between the surfaces of the two objects that are touching.

In learning about friction students used newspaper and sticky tape to change the friction generated by a tennis ball and a shoe. The aim of the experiment was to make the ball and the shoe move at the same speed down the slide.

This experiment was all about trial and error as students worked hands-on to achieve the aim. While some managed to hit the target and others came close, everyone walked away with a better understanding and they had a lot of fun along the way!

Throughout the process, students discovered just how important friction is in our everyday lives. They learnt that sometimes friction is helpful, like when we need to slow things down, and other times, reducing friction is key to helping things move more quickly or smoothly. For example, less rubber tyre on the road can help a car drive faster and more efficiently!

It STEM lesson was a fantastic blend of curiosity, creativity, and real-world science in action.

Coming up next week in Grades 3 and 4 -

In English -

the last week of spelling words will be introduced on Monday
students will consolidate all they have learnt about poetry in the term and use the storybook they have written for the Expo and turn it into a poem
Book Club will continue and students will either be continuing to read their book (if it isn't finished) and they will make predictions about a new book (if they have finished their book).

In maths -

we are continuing to learn more about fractions and decimal fractions in maths
students are continuing to learn about measurement - both length and temperature.

Term 3 has been full of exciting events and memorable moments! From camp and Hoop Time, to French Day, the Book Fair, and the Wheel Talk incursion, students have had a term filled with learning, laughter, and new experiences.

As we head into a well-earned break, a reminder that the holidays begin next Friday, 19th September, with an early finish at 2:30pm.

Wishing all our families a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable holiday. We can’t wait to hear all about your adventures when we return for the start of Term 4!

From the Grade 3/4 Teachers.