Learning and Teaching News
In a primary school, subjects other than English, Mathematics, Religious Education and those taught by specialist teachers (Performing and Visual Arts, Languages other than English - Japanese, Physical Education and Sustainability) are taught in a combined and interconnected way.
This makes the learning meaningful, purposeful and manageable. We call this Inquiry Learning.
Teachers design journeys of inquiry with and for learners that help them see connections across learning areas and between ‘school’ learning and the world beyond school.
Inquiries move through phases. They begin with tuning in, move onto finding out, then sorting out, followed by going forward and finally reflecting and acting.
The tuning in and finding out phases focus on stimulating the attention of learners.
We aim to provide strong emotional experiences that stimulate the senses, especially smell, colour, touch and movement. We use stories, books and videos but the best are real experiences provided through excursions or incursions.
So far this term the Year 3 and 4 students have used their experience of visiting the Melbourne Aquarium to springboard them into learning about the ocean as an ecosystem including its beauty and potential threats.
This week the Preps visited Animal Land Children's Farm in Diggers Rest for a very hands-on introduction to farms and farming. Students visited the dairy, hand milked a cow, had a pony ride, collected the eggs from the chooks and hand fed the ducks.
In a couple of weeks time, the Year 1/2 learners will go on safari at Werribee Open Range Zoo as they find out more about different habitats and what it takes for animals to survive.
Rather than going out this term, the Year 5 and 6s are planning an "Expo" where they will showcase their innovative business designs including the ethical and sustainable considerations of their creations to their fellow students and families. Stay tuned for an invitation.
Every couple of weeks, on SeeSaw, class teachers provide an overview of Inquiry learning for the following two or three weeks.
This is so you know the big ideas and key learnings and can support your child's learning and connect their in school learning with real world learning.
You are encouraged to share your own knowledge, help them to access relevant resources like experts, books and videos and discuss your experiences of the topic.
You might take them to places to build their knowledge of the topic and ask probing questions and draw their attention to relevant past experiences.
The Units of Inquiry for Term Two are as follows:
Year level | Inquiry title and big question | Snap shot of the Inquiry |
Prep | Birds and bees! Grass and trees! All are living, just like me!
| An Inquiry into minibeasts, farm animals and other living animals, the connections and how they impact our daily lives. |
Year One/Two | Wildlife: Save it for the world to cherish or leave it to perish.
| An Inquiry into habitats and living things and their habitats and their features that let them survive in different habitats |
Year Three/Four | The World in our Hands: In what ways can we make a positive impact with the connections we have to the Earth? | An Inquiry into how living things are connected and how we can make a positive impact on the future of our Earth |
Year Five/Six | What makes a successful business? | An Inquiry into creating a successful and sustainable business or service |
We look forward to all learners in your home, young and not so young, journeying together as inquirers in Term 2.
A reminder about our upcoming child and parent Maths night.
Elise Coghlan
Co-Deputy Principal | Literacy & Numeracy Leader | Visible Learning Leader
Denise Kelly
Co-Deputy Principal | Learning & Teaching Leader