From the 1/2 Classrooms

In Week 8, The Grade 1 and 2 students attended the Brickworks Incursion. 

This collaborative and play-based 90 minute STEM incursion gave students the chance to combine their design skills through fun-filled individual and team orientated activities. Students were tasked with considering a range of construction challenges and shared their ideas as they built various models by following procedures, using imagination and creating zany designs. Students were guided through each learning activity, prompting them to observe, investigate, communicate and reflect along the way.

Firstly, the students were introduced to the Display table where they could look at (but not touch) the prebuilt displays for inspiration. This excited the students at the possibilites ahead. Then, the students rotated through the four different and engaging activities:

• Complete the Build – The students were presented with a range of half completed vehicles and they were to use their creativity and imagination to build the rest of the model in any way they desired. The creative juices started flowing and we even saw a unique design of half a truck and half a boat creation!
• Instructional Building – This was more of a traditional lego building activity, whereby the students followed the step by step instructions on the iPad to produce a model. The students were responsible for choosing a partner from their group, selecting a color-coded activity with varying degrees of difficulty, and working together to follow the instructions to build a model. You should have seen their proud faces upon completion!
• Portrait Creators – The students used a blank lego frame to create a portrait of themselves or a friend. This individual task was exciting to watch as students choose to represent themselves in many different creative ways.
• Creative Kids – Students were inspired by wearing dress up clothing and were tasked to ‘commence’ building a community. This was the only activity that was not dismantled upon rotation. It was wonderful to see how the community evolved with each group adding to the original structure. Groups built upon the ideas of the previous group and continued to add onto the different parts of the community. What a wonderful example of team effort!

During the group reflection, the students gathered around the community model and discussed what parts each group contributed to the model. The students realised that group collaboration, communication and problem solving was integral in achieving the final amazing result.

Check out the awesome pictures of the students in action.

Here are some student reflections:

From Team 1/2 teachers:  Paula Paziotis, Karin Tsiandikos-Huf, Maryanne Cozzio and Llaaneath Poor.