What's Happening In Inquiry? 

Inquiry Learning 

At Mackellar Primary School and through our Inquiry learning, all year levels use the Future Focused Learning Framework where students have autonomy over their learning. Through making choices and applying their own learning pathway towards their destination, we see empowered and engaged learners. 

Prep

This term, the grade prep students are exploring the essential question “Why do families change?” They are understanding the terms, continuity and change within their personal, family and community life. Through 100 days of School, the students explored changing technology and what life was like in the past. 

Grade One

This term, the grade one students are investigating the study of living things and grouping living things based on their observable features. They will explain the features of plants and animals and how these features enable their survival. The students have been busy planning and conducting experiments to make and record observations. 

Grade Two

This term, the grade two students are studying geography and in particular, looking at their local community and identifying features of places and changes to these places over time. They will describe how different places can be cared for and their personal connection to them. The students will use the inquiry skills of collecting and representing data in tables, plans and labelled maps. 

Grade Three

This term, the grade three students are putting on the scientific hats to study earth and space science. They will investigate earth’s natural resources like the water cycle and explain how water cycles through the environment. They have been busy planning and conducting experiments to demonstrate the water cycle and explore how we can reduce human impact on the environment. 

Grade Four

This term, the grade four students are investigating chemical and physical science. They are exploring the states of matter: solids, liquids and gases and are grouping them based on observable features. The students have been active in planning and conducting experiments to look at how heating and cooling can change the states of matter. Later in the term, they will explore forces on objects and the effects of these forces. 

Grade Five

The grade five students this term are delving into the study of biology. They have been busy exploring adaptations of unique animals and plants and looking at their structural and behavioural features that enable their survival. Students have also been planning and conducting experiments to learn firsthand how organisms survive. There has been lots of fun and excitement into their most recent experiment ‘Hairy Heads’. The students have enjoyed caring for their plant and watching them grow.  

Grade Six

This term, the grade six students are inquiring into physical and chemical science. Through experimenting, the students are investigating the particles present in solids, liquids and gases and looking at the reversible and irreversible changes to these states of matter.  

Lauren Wishart

Learning Specialist 

Student Agency