The Sunroom 8s & 9s
Maths
The children have been exploring money in relation to decimal numbers, addition and subtraction. This started with a short history of when decimal currency was introduced in Australia in 1966, and some interesting facts about Australian coins and notes. The children used local supermarket websites to cost meals for their family during home, practising their addition skills and working out averages to cost the meals ‘per head’. Back at school, the children were given a food ‘voucher’ to spend shopping in the Sunroom Supermarket. The children tried to spend their entire voucher with as little change as possible, practising adding the cost of the items as a running total. The children then made up entertaining stories as to why they had to ‘return’ some of their groceries, and worked out a new total spent using subtraction.
Inquiry
Throughout our fourth Unit of Inquiry, with the central idea: Aesthetic appreciation of physical forms is enhanced by understanding mathematical concepts, the children explored how mathematical concepts are present in nature and the geometry of natural and human made objects. The children explored Fibonacci’s number sequence and looked at the golden spiral and golden ratio. They looked at geometric shapes such as triangles by investigating how triangles were used to create the facade of Federation Square and then created their own geometric animal drawings. The children consolidated their home- learning experience of drawing labyrinths by working collaboratively to create a labyrinth out of blocks and then measure the approximate length of the ‘walls’.
Choosing Time
“Preshil believes that providing children with the chance to follow their own interests leads to more compelling and rewarding learning experiences for both child and teacher.” - Preshil Courage Document, p.9. The Sunroom children are encouraged to follow their interests during Choosing time and see projects through to completion as they explore and develop new skills and understandings. Many projects have fallen into the ‘Making’ category this term. Back on site childrens’ passions have been evident in the design and construction of Tech Deck skate-parks, wand making and pyrography. Various children have explored and honed their skills in juggling and unicycling, as well as in the production in mock advertisements using imovie.
Click on "Cruskits" imovie below.
Michael Price and Sophie Dall'Ava
8s & 9s classroom teachers
sophia.dall'ava@preshil.vic.edu.au michael.price@preshil.vic.edu.au