Class News/Learning & Teaching
Performing Arts News
In Prep this term, we have been spending time listening and responding to music and exploring how different music styles and songs cause us to feel and respond in different ways. We have responded visually through drawing tasks and also physically through movement activities using different props. This term has also had a strong focus on singing where we are learning to match pitch through learning a wide range of songs to sing.
We have just completed a soundscape composition in Year 1 and 2. We explored the different sounds of the percussion instruments in the classroom and what their sounds make us think of. We then used these instruments and body percussion to create soundscapes of a storm. We performed these for the class and also used drawings to help us notate our soundscapes. We also began practising our rhythm this week with a fun interactive class of body percussion and chair drumming.
The Year 3 students have been busy this term developing their recorder skills. We have been completing the recorder karate challenge where we learn different songs which increase in difficulty in order to achieve our coloured belts that we tie to our recorder. This challenge has helped us with our musicality and also enabled us to develop our music theory skills.
The Year 4 students have been learning about rhythmic notation. We have recently completed a rhythm composition task where we composed a 5 bar rhythm as a group and learnt to play it together on a variety of instruments to create texture. We had to use correct notation for this task and performed these to the class.
In Year 5 and 6, we are beginning a composition task that is designed to promote the conservation of an endangered Australian animal that we have chosen. So far we have learnt to play the song, White Winter Hymnal, on ukuleles, glockenspiels and piano. We are now using this song as a base to compose our own versions on a range of instruments that we choose.
Year 2 Design and Technology
The Year 2 Inquiry Unit this term "A Toy Robot", focused on applying the principles of a design brief to draw and create a moveable three-dimensional robot. Last Thursday, the studentsshowcased their moveable three-dimensional robot to other year levels and described the materials used to make their robot, identified the different parts of their robot based on their design.
Year 1 TwistED Science Excursion
Last Friday, the Year 1 students visited TwistED Science in Moorabin as part of their Physical Science Unit. The students have been investigating light and sound, and have been learning how to recognise different sources of light and sound and how they can be sensed. At TwistED Science, the students participated in the Flash Bang workshop which investigated moving waves of light and sound. The students used tuning forks to produce sounds using familiar objects and actions. They also investigated how sound travels through air, water and solids, and learnt about amplification.
Below are some reflections written by Year 1 students.
On Friday, Year One went to the amazing Twisted Science. We went on a bus. I was partners with Kyrie and it took a long time but… it was fun! Next we got off the bus. The first part was to do an experiment about vibrating. My favourite part was the play area. Finally we hopped back on the bus. I can’t wait to go on our next excursion!
By Milly 1EE
On Friday my class had an excursion!
On the bus I sat next to Kiera. We chatted and chatted. We told funny stories.
The first activity we did was putting cool glasses on and they made the lights turn into beautiful rainbows!
After that, we talked about sound. Lila and I had a plastic mat and two tuning forks. We hit the tuning forks on the plastic mat and it vibrated quietly.
Finally we went to the play zone.
My favourite bit was the thing that when you stand under a light it will make music.
By Helèna 1EE
Last Friday we went on an excursion to Twisted Science. I learnt that lights are made out of colours. My favourite part was the buttons. You had to press the button that lit up. I had lots of fun and I wish we could go every Friday.
By Evan 1EE
On Friday 26 August we went to Twisted Science. I did experiments and went to the play area. I thought it was wonderful because we did science. My favourite part was when we went to the play area. I felt happy because we were there. We got back just in time for assembly.
By Isabel 1HC
On Friday 26 August we went to Twisted Science. First, we learnt about high and low sounds for thirty minutes. Then we ate our snack. I had kiwi and a wagon wheel. Next we went to the play area. After that we had lunch. Finally, we went back to school. I loved Twisted Science so much!
By Ella 1HC