Strong Hearts Strong Minds

MP Digital Technologies

Throughout this term in Digital Technologies Middle Primary students have learnt the following skills:

I can explain what an algorithm is.

I can explain what sequencing is.

I can create and follow algorithms.

I can identify and use repeating patterns and loops.

I can write an algorithm.

I can use coordinates and an algorithm to program a BeeBot.

Recently, to coincide with learning about maps, students used an alpha numeric system to turn a BeeBot mat into a map. They then used their knowledge of directional language to write an algorithm for their BeeBots, to move it from one coordinate to another. They then used this algorithm to program their BeeBot, test their algorithm and if there were things that didn’t go to plan, go back through their sequence, identify where the problem was, fix it and test again.

They then added more coordinates for their BeeBot to travel to and also added block points where their BeeBot could not go.

It was great to see all students engaged and learning these important skills that involves critical thinking and problem solving.

Soon we will continue with these skills using a larger scale model of Australia (pump room size) and the Dash robots.

Dave Sukh

Senior Primary Teacher/Primary Digital Technologies Teacher

A Visit to Mont De Lancey

This term, Junior Primary students have been looking at the topic 'Then and Now'. We have been exploring what things were like when our Grandparents were our age and comparing them to what we have and do now. We have learned that our Grandparents' school experiences were very different from ours, they played some different games and their technology was VERY different to what we use now. Each JP class have started a museum with items borrowed from our families to see the different types of things that were used in the past.

A couple of weeks ago, JPs went on an excursion to Mont De Lancey, a Historic Homestead. In the morning we visited the blacksmith, the wood turner and large shed that was for restoring old items. Next, we were invited into a small cottage that was set up as the house from many years ago. There was no plumbing or electricity and the kitchen and toilet were outside! Then we visited an old Church where we got to ring the bell to announce a wedding and even have a pretend wedding inside, pretending we were the couple who lived in the house we just visited.

After lunch we enjoyed some rotation groups. One group made lavender bags and peg people, another group went into the old schoolhouse to do handwriting with Ma'am and the other group played old school games such as billy cart races, stilt walking, hula hoops, quoits and tug of war.  We had a wonderful time and it was a great way to peer into the past and enhance our learning.

Leesa Woods

Junior Primary Teacher JPE

Here are some things the students enjoyed:

The funniest thing about the school teacher was she was so strict. I figured out for all the kids in the olden day for their writing they had to use a chalkboard. 

Archie

I loved this wedding. We went to a pretend wedding. The next thing was the go carts. We zoomed the speed of wind! My favourite was the old games. 

Myla

First I saw the monkey, he was going up and down. Then I saw twisted hot metal with my hands. Lastly Rafael pushed me on the go cart. 

Kai

My favourite was the monkey machine. It was trying to get the banana. We were cheering it on, but we forgot to say please. Next we went to the blacksmith. We were trying not to make the hot metal go cold. 

James

We went to billy carts, I was so bad at driving the billy carts, but I got better at driving. Next we went to the old school house. Mr McLean got a detention. 

Ryder

We went to the wood turner and there were lots of delicate mushrooms and I got a spinning top and there was a statue of Charlie the wood turner and then Zoe got a spinner.

Cooper

We saw a blacksmith and a wood turner. We got to go fast on the billy cart. 

Xavier

We're here at the blackmith, the furnace is very hot! The blacksmith said, now we're going to the wood turner. I got to see the wood turner make a spinning top. 

Cole

Connecting to Country

This term, Senior Primary students have been learning about Indigenous culture from a past, present, and future perspective in a unit called ‘Connecting to Country’. What should students know and understand? Why is it important to research history from different points of view? As part of ongoing understandings, students attended a guided walk at the Royal Botanic Gardens of the same name as their unit. There, they were shown how different plants and animals provides resources for Indigenous people and how absolutely nothing is wasted. Respecting other cultures and beliefs promotes shared understandings and relationships. Please enjoy the following reflections from the day.

SP Teaching Team

The sun radiates welcomed heat through the clouds that could potentially unleash thick blankets of rain. The bus finally arrives at our long-awaited destination, just as I am about to get restless.

As I wait for my turn to get off the bus with Ariana, I catch a glimpse of the beautiful, jaw-dropping flowers, bushes and trees. As a group, we head to the main entrance and dump our bags in the under-cover area of the towering, house-like structure that loomed over us as we followed our guide.

When we reached a spacious field, an Indigenous man named Jakobi talked to us about Bunjil, their creator of the Earth. We split off from part of the group with Jason, our non-Indigenous guide. He talked to us about the banksia tree, and the medicinal and general purpose of the cone.

We then learnt how to weave using raffia, but Indigenous peoples used plant fibre. I am proud of my work, and am keen to continue practising the skill.

Jakobi then teaches us how the First Nations peoples hunted, and we passed around heavy, wooden tools such as a hunting boomerang, which was used to knock a kangaroo’s legs and break them, making it slower. We also passed around a digging stick, with a thick, slightly rounded end, and a sharp, skinny, pointy end. Then, I feel myself tearing up as the skin of two possums are passed around, as it reaches me.

Amelie

I got on the bus expecting it to be full of singing but it wasn't. We were all shocked by the curtains on the windows and the black leather seats. It felt so fancy. As I sink into the soft seat I hear Matthew and Noah giggling about something weird. Then Levi comes and sits next to me and we start talking about Fortnite. Then before we know we are there at the Royal Botanical Gardens. We start eating and me and Noah and Matthew play with some acorns. Noah was really excited by them because he has never seen them before, and then our class left to do a scavenger hunt.

We found lichen, the tallest oak tree, a tree branch touching the ground and a lot of other stuff. Then Mr Sukh told us to find something that floats and turn it into a boat. Most people got leaves and made sails out of sticks but me and Levi used some bark we found on the ground. Then Mrs Taylor and Mr Sukh took us to the playground and we raced our boats down a man-made stream.

But my favourite part of the trip was when Jakobi taught us about boomerangs and how the First Nations people used to put their children in the snake grass because they knew they would be safe from snakes. The snakes don't like the rough side of snake grass. Then Jakobi taught us how to use snake grass as a whistle, the Aboriginal People taught the kids how to use it as a whistle but only to use it when in trouble or something is wrong. How you do it is hold the rough side in your left hand and then pinch the top of the smooth side so the air can’t escape, then blow gently. This works because the sound can travel really far through the bushes and trees unlike your voice which just bounces off everything. We also learnt how to make bracelets out of raffia.

It was a really fun day.

Milo

The Royal Botanic Gardens were delightful. We learned to make rope out of raffia. Then we harvested snake grass and learned to make a pitch sound when we pinched it and blew inside. Indigenous children would use this whistle when they needed mum’s help. We also looked at two types of boomerangs. One of them could break a leg. There were many plants and some of the plants were pointy, some were weird, some were cool, and some smelled nice. There were plants in the water and we grabbed a leaf to race in the water. It was fun and we saw some animals like birds, roosters and ducks. My favourite thing was the snake grass because it was cool and fun.  I would like to go back to learn how to whistle.

Haily

“Are we nearly there yet??” I whined looking out the window.

Once we arrived we all rushed off the bus and ran to put our bags away excitedly.

“I can't wait!” everyone whispered to each other. After getting settled we walked over to the grassy hill near the lake where we saw loads of cool plants such as snake grass which was used as a whistle when young Indigenous people were in danger which is pretty smart!! We met two guys named Jason and Jakobi. First SPY went with Jakobi. We walked around the garden while he talked about cool plants. We even got to hold some that were spiky and some that were soft. “woah..” whispered everyone to themselves. Later we saw Jason. This was my favourite thing that we did on the excursion. Jason taught us to tie Raffia which is not the traditional thing that Aboriginals used to tie but Raffia was very good and strong. I made mine into a bracelet. It took about ten minutes for me to make it. After lunch we wandered around the Children’s garden which was fun.

Finally after a long nice day we got on the bus and went back to school.

Arianne