Year Four News 

Dear families,

The Year Four students have officially concluded their First 20 Days Program and with much excitement, we have commenced our first unit of inquiry of 'Who we are' following our central idea 'A nation’s story has different perspectives'. The year four students have come up with wonderings such as 'why do nations have different perspectives?' and 'what is considered a nation?'. 

Lines of inquiry:

• Australian Indigenous Culture 
• The effects of contact between indigenous and non-indigenous culture 
• The many different viewpoints of an event. 

Writing

During literacy sessions, we have started our journey on exploring how to analyse a poet's writing. The Year Fours have investigated how to keep the reader engaged by using figurative language.  Students have an understanding that poetry does not always have to rhyme, instead it can be free verse using interesting phrases and descriptive words. Connecting to our inquiry the Year Four students have successfully analysed an indigenous poem 'The First Born' by Jack Davies. They were able to identify how the poet used personification to express the indigenous perspective.

Mathematics

Maths fluid groupings have commenced, this term the Year Four students are diving deeper into whole number and place value. Students have found these groups beneficial to their learning and are enjoying learning skills targeted specifically for them. They have taken the opportunity to be open-minded, reflective and show how they can be thinkers when approached with a challenging question. When students are not in their fluid groups they have continued working through the goal setting process. This allows students to be inquirers and focus on a goal that suits them best.

Reading

During reading we have been unpacking our inquiry. We have been exploring how the text 'Welcome to Country' written by well-respected Senior Wurundjeri Elder, Aunty Joy Murphy.It is Melbourne's very own picture book. Students unpacked the spectacular celebration of indigenous land and culture through a beautiful Wominjeka (welcome) ceremony which gives yannabil (visitors) permission to enter traditional lands. 

With regards,

The Year Four team.