Innovation & Design

Innovation & Design - May Newsletter

Term 2 2025

Foundation 

This term our Foundation students are exploring the Design Cycle Process through exploring Toy Story Forky Doll. Our Foundation students have imagined and designed family characters for Forky and developed posters to represent a story setting for the family characters. Over the next couple of weeks the Foundation students will be creating a Forky Family character. To finalise this Forky Doll experience, the Foundation students will play with the other students in the sandpit to explore their own imagining of Forky’s world.

Forky Family plays hide and seek in their house.

Forky and his family enjoying the beautiful weather outdoors.

Forky Daddy filling up the car with fuel.

”Forky Family on the train going to the city”

Forky and his family in the garden

Year 1

This term our Year 1 students are exploring the Design Cycle Process through investigating how people produce food for the community. The Year 1 students have learnt about the paddock to plate process and are now designing their own Farm Map. To take this further the Grade 1 students have developed their farm maps into 3D Farm Maps by adding features on the map made from playdough. Over the next couple of weeks the Grade 1 students will be exploring Healthy Eating.

Year 2

This term our Year 2 students are exploring the Design Cycle Process through investigating how Engineered Solutions serve community and personal needs. The Year 2 students have learnt about four main bridge types and are now designing their own Beam Bridge. Over the next couple of weeks the students will work on their designs and create their bridge from materials such as cardboard, paddle-pop sticks and cups.

Year 3

This term, Year 3 students are exploring the Design Cycle as they dive into the world of simple machines. They began by learning about push and pull forces and velocity, gaining a strong understanding of how forces affect motion.

Using this knowledge, students worked in groups to plan, design, and build their own Rube Goldberg machines—fun and creative inventions that complete a simple task through a series of chain reactions. Along the way, they practiced teamwork, problem-solving, and creative thinking, all while following the steps of the design cycle.

It’s been wonderful to see their ideas come to life in such imaginative and exciting ways!

Year 4

This term, our Year 4 students will be exploring the fascinating connection between origami and real-life problem-solving in the world of design and innovation. From space-saving structures to engineering marvels, students learned how the ancient art of paper folding is used in everything from medical stents to satellite panels!

To bring their learning to life, students will apply their creativity to build a diorama of a zoo, showcasing animals and enclosures made entirely from origami. Each student will contribute their unique designs, combining art, imagination, and design thinking. The result? A vibrant and innovative paper zoo filled with giraffes, lions, trees, ponds, and more—all folded by hand!

Year 5

This term, Year 5 students are learning all about bridges! They’ve been exploring different types of bridges and learning how they are built. Students have looked at the materials used in real bridges and why they are chosen.

They’ve also started to plan and design their own bridges. They are drawing clear plans, thinking of different ideas, and working out what will make their bridges strong and stable. In the next few weeks, students will build and test their bridge models.

We can’t wait to see their amazing creations!

Year 6

Earlier this term, Year 6 students explored the importance of healthy eating and how to choose the right ingredients to create a balanced meal plan. They learned about different food groups and how to build healthy, nutritious meals.

Now, students are taking inspiration from famous origami experts and using their creativity to design and build an Origami Community Garden. They are folding paper to create fruits, vegetables, plants, and garden features—all as part of a collaborative project that celebrates healthy living through art and design.

We’re excited to see their colourful and creative garden come to life!