Secondary 7/8 Learning

Mathematics

Money, money, money! Students are learning about money; Australian coins and notes and other currencies from overseas. This unit of work is being taught with the students using their skills in counting, word knowledge, place value, addition and subtraction. Students will be making small groups using coins or notes. They will compare and making correspondences between collections and explain their reasoning. They will represent simple, every day financial situations involving money. Some students will be showing money values in multiple ways and will count the change required for simple transactions to the nearest five cents. Students working at a higher level may work through other complex content which focuses on problems to two decimal places.

During the measurement maths sessions, students are extending their knowledge on shapes. They will be identifying, sorting, describing and classifying 2D shapes and 3D objects in natural or built environments. Some students may also compare several shapes based on length, area, volume or capacity using informal and formal units of measurement. At times, students will be using digital technologies to investigate various shapes and/or make models.

English

For the first 5 weeks of term 3, students are working on writing procedural texts; such as science experiments, recipes, instructions, rules or directions. Students have been discussing and sharing what they know about procedural texts and then developing their understanding of the structure in readiness to write their individual texts.

When writing procedural texts, students will use a variety of language features, including; present tense, action verbs, adverbs, connectives to indicate time. They will also use pictures, diagrams or maps. This learning will also be hands on! This writing will support the integrated curriculum this semester as students will be writing up experiments during this subject.

Reading classes are all currently investigating non-fiction texts. Teachers and students have chosen texts that support their procedural text unit or the ‘Heating and Melting’ integrated unit. One group is reading and studying ‘All about Chocolate’ and ‘How to Make Vegetable Soup’. Reading comprehension is focusing on Visual Language - matching words to pictures and diagrams and using the pictures to connect to the text. Here are some questions you could ask your child when reading with them –

How does the picture match the text?
What does the picture/image/photo/drawing tell you?
How do the visuals help you understand the text?
Do the visuals give you extra information?
What are the features of the visual?

Social Competencies

Self-Perception is the current unit being taught during Social Competency classes. Students are reflecting on how they think and feel about themselves. It has been explained to students that it is important for them to learn about self-perception which will help them have a healthy attitude about their mind and body. Students have started to look at physical characteristics and have discussed that there are things about their body that will change, things they can change (like their hair) and things that they need to accept as what is right for them.

Students are also exploring capabilities in terms of strengths, challenges and limitations. Talking in a positive way about your own and your child's appearance, capabilities and personality traits helps your child understand that everyone is different and supports the development of a healthy identity. Having conversations that promote good self-esteem is incredibly valuable, particularly during the teenage years.

Integrated Studies

We started term 3 with an exciting Hands On Science incursion. This introduced the students to their integrated unit topic ‘Heating and Melting’. This unit will carry over in to term 4 and be the topic for the Secondary 7/8 Heating and Melting Expo in November.

Mitchell: “I liked seeing the kettle fill up the bottle with steam. That is because the water got hot and warm”.

Chris: “The guy put a chemical on the tin foil and it started to make fire! It was really cool”.

Blake: “I loved learning how to make a bag puff up. He put water and baking soda and it made a gas”.

Students are investigating heat sources (from animals, in the classroom and other environments) and undertook a fun experiment called ‘ice block on your hands’. They will be using their science journals to record what they see, hear, feel and think throughout the unit which will help with research, collecting information, assist with self-reflections about their learning and assessment. The science journal might include written text, drawings, measurements, labelled diagrams, photographs, tables and graphs. It will definitely include procedural text, written after each experiment. Students will also be classifying information using T-charts

Secondary Spectacular

It’s finally term 3 and the performances are getting closer! Students have been busy practising their routines and getting fitted for their costumes. Mia and Jake were involved in a photoshoot in the Discovery Centre. Photos were taken in front of the green screen which was great fun. These photos will be used to produce the Secondary Spectacular promotional poster that all staff, students and the wider school community will see around the school and in newsletters to advertise the production.

PreCAL Secondary 7/8

It seems like all SFC students had a wonderful, exciting and restful break over the holidays and are just as happy to be back with their school friends. It was a great way to start this semester unit – Leisure; talking about all the activities the students participated in during the holidays. In English sessions students have read texts ‘Hobbies’ and ‘After School’ to continue discussions around what a hobby is, what they like/don’t like, and the difference between a hobby and a chore. SFC have also begun procedural writing. We have watched videos showing procedures, sequenced images, sequenced written steps and some students have written their own simple procedure. A favourite so far has been ‘How to Make Fairy Bread’, which we made for a class party.

In Mathematics students have been learning about money and shape. Students are participating in various learning activities and games, looking at many different catalogues and are making money amounts of items we will be purchasing in weeks to come. During the shape lessons, students have been on a shape scavenger hunt. They have been taking photos with iPads around the school of different shapes they can find. Learning in the Discovery Centre with the Osmo Tangram kits has been a highlight.

This term, our Experience Day outings are to Spotlight, Coles, Lush and The Body Shop in Doncaster Shopping Centre to purchase art and craft supplies, ingredients for cooking and research soap scents and the process of making soap in preparation for the term 4 Expo. SFC PreCAL students are attending the Secondary 7/8 Challenge program this term.