Student Learning
Class News from Year 3/4H
Visual Art: Drawing
We read about foxes in English and chose to examine how to construct a complex figure when drawing, and how to attract the viewer to the artwork. Looking for the main shapes in a fox head, we practiced sketching techniques to get proportions and angles accurately with graphite pencils. Using coloured pencil, we practiced creating texture, form and expression using line and hatching (small marks). Highlights and shadows were added to finish the drawing which was then cut out and mounted on a black background for contrast.
In the last week of Term 1, we finished the unit by mixing things up and creating a collaborative mural drawn using only our feet! It was a lot of fun and a fascinating way to think about drawing from a slightly different perspective.
Easter Celebrations
We joined with the Year 3/4S class to listen to the complete story of Easter from the book of Matthew in the New Testament while designing and making an Easter scene. By working slowly and contemplating the whole story, many powerful questions were discussed and new understandings of the true story of Easter were shared among the students.
Teamwork Activities
We used a set of weekly fitness lessons to focus on the skills and benefits of teamwork. Successful teamwork feels great and we took that feeling back into class to use with other tasks. Some of the simplest tasks were the hardest to complete and took a number of attempts and discussion about how to work together more effectively. Here we are setting a new sit down record, which only works if everybody sits down on each other's laps at exactly the same time - everyone is sitting down and there is not a chair in sight!
Touch Typing
We are using a new program, typing.com, to learn touch typing keyboard skills. To ensure we can't see the keys or our finger positions, we're doing the program 'under cover' - literally!
Mathematics: Place Value
We spent Term 1 diving deep into understanding place value using the new PRIME Maths program. Here are samples of our working.
We also tried weekly open-ended challenge questions to stretch our brains. It can be a real surprise to find out a question can have more than one correct answer!
A Home Among the Gum Trees
As Year 3/4 continue to slowly develop a greater understanding and management of the natural spaces around our classrooms, we were very excited to see the class bird box be installed near the classrooms. Along with the pardalote nest boxes along the front of the building, this large box is designed specifically for the Adelaide Rosellas (like the mural on the end of the building) to nest in. When activity begins we will be using the nestbox camera to monitor the growth and development of any native animal that chooses to make their home there. Footage and images will be made available through a link in the school newsletter for families to view at home.
Andrew Harris
Year 3/4H Class Teacher
Premier's Reading Challenge
As you are aware the Premier's Reading Challenge has commenced for 2024. We have some very keen readers in our school and some students have already taken a second recording sheet.
You have plenty of time to record your reading, from now until the middle of Term 3.
Please do not hesitate to contact your class teacher or myself if you have any queries.
Libby Spencer
Premier's Reading Challenge Coordinator
Oliphant Science Awards
The cut off date for Entry Forms (and Risk Assessments for models) is today. A number of students have submitted forms. We look forward to seeing their entries.
Andrew Harris
Oliphant Science Awards Coordinator