Secondary 9-10
Term 2
Term 2 has been an exciting term for the students in Year 9 & 10. There have been many trips out into the community including weekly sports and wellbeing activities for the Fit For Life program, shopping trips for class cooking and community service trips linked to the Duke of Edinburgh program. The students in Year 9 & 10 have also been getting to know their new Team Leader, Sam Birrell, and have been very welcoming and helpful during the term. There has been some fantastic things happening in classrooms across the section including the continuation of STEAM activities, Car Rallies, smoothie making... Here is a sample of what has been happening during the term in Year 9 & 10.
SMP- This Semester SMP have been exploring the integrated Unit of Australia as a Nation by exploring the roles of the different levels of Government working from the Queen right through to our school government here at Concord School. Added to this we have also engaged in a Car Rally around Australia looking at the Geography, History and Culture of the States and Territories to help deepen our understanding of the country we live in. We have found some fascinating things out about Australia that even some of our parents didn’t know.
Each week we have completed a research task answering questions and plotting towns and places of significance on maps of each state and territory. We have also written information texts on Queensland landmarks, and persuasive texts to convince people to come to Australia. Students have been very engaged in this Unit working diligently in class to complete all tasks with several students taking tasks home to research even further about points of Interest.
We all enjoyed watching ‘The Dish’ and exploring the important role that Australia’s own radio telescope in Parkes NSW played in ensuring the world got to see the lunar landing. It’s been a lot of fun.
SGJ- This term SGJ have been busy learning how to safely catch public transport to and from a given destination. The students have learned how to locate and understand the meaning of a number of common travel signs. All the students in SGJ can now state they catch the 566 or the 902 bus to take them to Greensborough Plaza and back to our school.
As well as developing their travel skill students had the opportunity to purchase goods at local supermarkets. After purchasing goods, the goods they made a healthy snack back at school. They are learning how to read and follow a five step pictorial recipe. I am pleased to report they are about to publish a class book to take home on their shared community experiences. The students have enjoyed applying their literacy and numeracy skills in real life situations.
SSB- The collaborative learning has been an amazing experience for the students in SSB, STI and SMP. Students worked together to complete a brief using communication and cooperation. Students were able to make a prototype and test to see if what they had designed would work effectively.
The brief was based on the movie ‘The Martian’ they were stranded on Mars and only had enough fuel to get back to Earth. Problem being that all of the supplies had fallen into a crater. Groups need to use the shoe box that contained some string, 4 skewers, 3 corks and some paper. There is no sun on Mars but it does have wind. Students developed windmills and winches to hoist the supplies out of the crater. They modified their prototype until they got it right.
SCB- Caroline has been teaching the students about information report writing. They have learnt the structure of an information report including introduction, description and summary. Students picked an animal of choice to write a report on. This involved research, planning, writing and editing. Students learnt that information reports have factual information not opinions.
Belinda has worked with SCB students on the integrated unit about Australia as a nation. Within the unit students learnt about Prime Ministers past and present and the three levels of Australian Government, local, federal and state. The students have had a wonderful experience being immersed in all aspects of our country and will finish up the unit by presenting their own research on Australian Prime Ministers to their peers and use a rubric to assess one another.
SKL- Each Week SKL prepares to make a healthy smoothie for their own enjoyment. On Monday the class go out into the community to shop for the ingredients for the smoothie they will be preparing that week. A shopping check list is made, Myki cards are placed ready in their wallet for the trip, and off we go to the bus stop.
Smart bus 902 takes us to Greensborough plaza, we take note of important signs around us and head to ALDI to complete our shopping. We carefully mark off the checklist to insure no ingredient is forgotten. We wait patiently at the checkout to purchase our goods. We politely greet our server, and collect our goods.Then back to school to prepare a delicious smoothie!
SJG- A students perspective
On Monday 29th of May SJG went to Bundoora Farm for our Duke of Edinborough community service program.
Firstly, they weeded the chook pens and cleaned out their cages. Secondly, they went to the animal nursery and cleaned all the pens and replaced it with new wood chips. The students really enjoyed feeding the ponies silver and pokey and one of them even had an eye missing.
Kory said that his favourite part was feeding the animals and getting out of class and Peter liked riding the tractor and seeing all the different kangaroos.
Jess’ class invites other classes to have a go at the farm because it is lots of fun.
STI- We have had a busy first semester in STI thus far. The new year 9’s have settled in nicely and the year 10’s have been excellent role models for the younger students.
In our Monday and Tuesday afternoons, we have been looking at ‘Australia As A Nation’. Students have been learning about each of the states and territories and their important connection to Australia as a whole. We have also been learning about the levels of government in our country and what rights and responsibilities as citizens in our democratic nation.
This has all come together and been more engaging through our ‘Rally Race” around the country, from capital city to capital city. The sense of competition in the class has been fun to see and the students have all become a closer group as a result! We look forward to semester two.
SMB- Recently students in SMB have been working very hard on so many tasks. These tasks range from challenging to exciting and fun. Proud to say that every team member has recently completed a very high quality Animal Information Report and on a Prime Minister of Australia – soon to be displayed in the classroom.
During Maths, we have built our skills in ‘Time’. Many students have established new and relevant skills. We are now starting to use Bee-Bots in the Discovery Centre to help our understanding of direction and location. We are all looking forward to creating tricky instructions for our class to navigate the Bots.
Students in SMB are to be commended for an amazing first half of the year with their new teacher and trainee aid. Both Chloe and I agree that it has been so wonderful to see many students develop their self-confidence and become better friends with new people. We have an amazing and inclusive class. Everyone respects each other and we all give each other an opportunity to speak up and have a voice.
Sam Birell,
Secondary 9/10 Team Leader