Ignite
IGNITE PROJECT CLASS
The Year 10 Ignite Project class has been planning a Room 18 classroom makeover for the past few weeks. There has been considerable discussion, research and advice.
Students started by making a ‘wishlist’ for their classroom. Wild ideas like slushy machines, a new ceiling and carpets and couches were initially included! Students then participated in a full scale plan beginning with the look and feel of the room, which helped them to decide on priorities and then rank these. Finances have also been a huge factor in decision making and ideas are still in progress.
Each student has had different tasks to complete in each lesson, to contribute to the overall project. Some of the tasks included have been:
🔶Measuring walls
🔶Calculating paint quantities required
🔶Researching fridges and the cost of running a fridge
🔶Storage ideas and research
🔶Writing a letter to leadership to ask for permission
🔶Fundraising ideas
🔶Emails to staff
🔶Sorting stationery
🔶Speaking to the maintenance team
There have been a lot of learning opportunities along the way, including the processes required to make changes, the time it takes to prepare a project before the physical work begins, along with the financial aspects of projects. There has been excitement and frustration and everything in between!
Students are still working on their letter to leadership – to request things like painting a feature wall and installing a fridge. In the meantime, they have cleaned the walls and the cupboards, cleaned out old resources and visited the feature wall in the MPH for a colour idea and inspiration.
Cleaning kept students busy, in preparation for work on the plaster walls. The front cupboards came up a treat with some elbow grease!
Students have also been instructed and assisted to putty the holes in the walls with the help of Nick Liddell and Shane Wood from the maintenance department. Top coat coming next time!
Kye: I enjoyed washing the windows.
Silas: I researched fridges for the classroom.
Laura: I have learnt how to plaster a hole in the wall.
Thomas: I was surprised to find out how many 10c recycling drink containers we sell in our own canteen.
Leon: I enjoyed learning how to plaster. It was fun to work with Nick.
Nick Liddell (Maintenance): I have loved showing the students life skills. They are only basic skills but really useful to know. It has been good to see the students slowly becoming confident enough to have a go.
I won’t pretend it hasn’t been challenging for all of us at times, but I can definitely say that the lessons along the way and the skills developed have been totally worth it! I can’t wait to see the finished product.
Second installment pending…
Andrea Williams
andrea.williams@smseymour.catholic.edu.au
Karen Gilchrist
karen.gilchrist@smseymour.catholic.edu.au
Jayne Hill