Specialists Updates and Celebrations

Visual Arts (Prep)

The Prep students were learning about the Element of Art: Shape in their lessons this week. In Visual Art, there are two different types of shape - geometric and organic. Geometric shapes are easily recognised shapes that we can name, like squares and circles. Organic shapes are more random and freeform. We often see these types of shapes in nature, like clouds or leaves. For their artworks, the Preps focused on geometric shapes. The students decorated their artworks with lots of different shapes, using shape stencils to guide them. They had so much fun using the stencils and their artworks looked beautiful

Music (Years 1 and 2)

In the Grade 1 and 2 Music Program students have been working on their skills and understanding of beat and rhythm. Our goal with gaining beat skills is for students to be able keep time when playing music with others and by themselves. We make this a focus at the beginning of the year to lay the foundation for skills on instruments for the year ahead.

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been looking at rhythm as an element of music. Students are examining the link between beat and rhythm and also the difference between the two.

Students have been building their rhythm based skills and continuously challenging themselves to learn more complex rhythms and patterns on instruments.

Our feature instruments this term have been body percussion, rhythm sticks, auxiliary percussion and bucket drums. 

Aside from our work on beat and rhythm we have kept up with our singing skills by learning and practicing a range of fun and simple songs with careful attention given to correctvocal pitch.

Performing Arts (Years 1 and 2)

The Grade 1 and 2 students have been learning about the Elements of Story Telling in dance. Students have had the opportunity to hear different stories and how dance can be created through a narrative. The Elements consisted of Character, Setting, Theme/Plot and Feeling. After hearing a particular story, students created a dance piece in small groups, in response to the story book.  Within the dance, students worked together and shared various ideas to create the piece. Each group performed in front of their class to work on their confidence/performing skills and received feedback from myself and a deep appreciation from their peers.  

Physical Education (Years 3 and 4)

Year 3 and 4 have been practising the Tee-Ball skills in PE. We have learnt how to stand at the tee, how to swing the bat correctly and some catching and throwing techniques. In the last 2 lessons of the term, we are now finalising are understanding of the Tee-Ball rules and will play some games to finish off the Term!

Mandarin (Years 5 and 6)

This week, Years 5 and 6 have completed their learning projects on Lunar New Year celebrations. Some classes presented this week and some will present next week. The aim of the project was to demonstrate students' understanding and international awareness of Lunar New Year celebrations. In this unit, students learned how the Chinese celebrate the Lunar New Year and how other countries celebrate the Lunar New Year. They can indulge their creativity by using different types of work such as pamphlets, posters, canva and role-plays. As a teacher, I am proud of their knowledge and creativity. Congratulations to the Year 5 and 6 students!

Library

This term has been busy with national and international celebrations. In the library, we like to highlight and celebrate these special days through book displays.