Monarch Community Report

Inquiry 

In Term 4 Monarch learning community have been studying about Australian history. We have explored how Indigenous people were the first people in Australia and how they lived. We have learnt about Aboriginal Agriculture, and how they looked after our land. We also explored the different seasons they follow here in Victoria. Each mentor group is also reading 'Young Dark Emu- A Truer History' to support our learning. 

Throughout the term we will have two guest speakers to enrich our studies about Australian History. 

Reading

This Term in Reading, the Monarch community have been learning how to analyse a narrative text. We have focused on specific parts of narrative structure by watching Pixar short films and listening to short stories. Students have used their own independent text to identify parts of Narrative such as: character and setting, the problem, plan attempt and consequence and feeling and mood. 

Writing

The Monarch students have been exploring the structure of narratives in Literacy and our Writing focus has been on using students’ understanding of that structure to create their own narrative texts.

Students planned out their writing beforehand, using graphic organisers that covered the following structural features:

• Problem
• Mood / Feeling of the text
• Character & Setting
• Plan
• Attempt
• Consequence
• Ending
• End Feeling

They did several lessons covering each structural feature in detail. Students have also been honing their narrative writing skills in free writing workshops in which they use the narrative features to illustrate their understandings.

                                                             Imagineering 

Your kids might have been telling you about the imagineering program we do every Monday, during school. Imagineering is a program that allows children to think about their future lives beyond primary school. This program helps 5\6’s  set goals, make friends and much more. It also helps them think how they can be comfortable in high school.

One of the four programs is goal setting. It's when children think about what they're gonna do when they're older. The students made a list of their goals they want to complete in their lives. Then students drew a ladder and wrote their goal on top of the ladder and then they wrote the steps in the ladder on how they could reach their goals. 

Then the second program featured the quality of teamwork. Students had a box of legos and had to build a specific object and shape using the instructions that were given on a booklet. It was a competition to see who would win the race and do teamwork. The main point of this task was to use teamwork to complete the structure and win.

The third program pointed to friendships, and recognised if the relationships were good or toxic.This of course is very important to teach students. After that the student had a bingo sheet with different categories and topics. Students had to go around and find someone that they had something in common with the topic. Then you write the name of the person in the box of the topic.  

This helped students that were struggling thinking about their life goals and kids with goals, on how they can achieve them. How they can recognise if the relationships they have with other students are okay or not, like friendships. Also how you might need to use teamwork as you grow. This is what the 5\6’s have learnt and done for the past three weeks.

By Prabhleen 5/6B and Pavneet 5/6B

Friendly Reminders

Please remember:

• Aitken Hill Primary School is part of the SunSmart school, a hat is required in Term 4 during recess, lunch and any sport times that are outdoors.
• It is important to have a water bottle each day and that it is labelled. 
• Please use Compass for any communication with teachers, as well as giving consent and payment for all events. 
• School uniform is mandatory, please supply mentor teachers with a note if your child is out of uniform. 
• Please ensure your children are attending school as  ‘It is not ok to be away’.
• Students complete 15 minutes of reading and 15 minutes of numeracy home work each night. 
• Students are to record their home reading in their school diaries with a signature. This needs to be returned to school each day. 
• Brain Food is fruit or vegetable snacks that children may eat in class. It is important to include this as an additional snack in their lunch box. 

We look forward to a productive and busy term in Monarch for Term 4!

The Monarch Community Teachers