Innovation & Design

Foundation 

The Foundation students are learning about the design cycle process and how it supports the development of design solutions. The students have created a "Forky" doll family from various materials.

Later in the term, they will use the design cycle process to develop sandcastles as a setting for their "Forky" family characters. They have imagined and designed their Forky Family posters. Imagination and planning help the students develop confidence and creativity.

The design cycle process itself fosters a creative mindset. Students are encouraged to brainstorm, prototype, test, and refine their ideas, which teaches them that creativity and innovation is not just about having a single brilliant idea but about developing and improving concepts over time. 

Through these activities, students learn to express their ideas visually and translate their design ideas into physical creations, which boosts their confidence in their creative abilities and their resilience and perseverance. Overall, this hands-on, imaginative approach to learning not only supports their creative development but also instils a lifelong love for innovative thinking and problem-solving.

Grade 1

Grade 1 students are continuing to apply their knowledge about algorithms by following step-by-step instructions to solve problems and explore algorithms through games and other hands-on tasks. 

For example, they have completed a task to match the sentences of the steps that are in an algorithm for making a sandwich. Our Grade 1 students were able to correctly order the jumbled steps in the algorithm and to match the corresponding sentences. This helps them understand that the order of steps is crucial for successfully completing the algorithm for the sandwich task. 

Grade 2

This past month our Grade 2 students are applying their knowledge about Algorithms, through using their digital technology (iPads) and the school Ozobot robots. Our Grade 2 students have created algorithms based around how they use their iPad for various functions, such as using their iPad to take a photo. They have thought about each step they take and created algorithms with the aim for someone else to follow their steps and perform the task. Students' understanding around algorithms has been expanded through some hands-on activities. Students have had the chance to use our school Ozobot robots. Working in pairs the students have used the robots and explored different functions they perform.

Grade 3

Grade 3 students are learning that computers use Algorithms to solve problems and to perform functions in the correct sequence or order of steps. They wrote Algorithms for a step by step drawing challenge, working with a partner. 

They will be learning about Input and Output Hardware devices of a computer. Input and output devices are essential components of a computer system, helping it interact with the outside world. 

Grade 4

Grade 4’s are working on preparing their Virtual School Tours using Keynote, an app used to prepare presentations on an ipad. They have taken pictures of important areas of our school and compiled them into a slideshow. They are learning that presentations are a way to communicate information, ideas, or messages to an audience.

Grade 5

Our students in Year 5 have continued to learn about safety in the kitchen and have enjoyed making a range of healthy recipes. Students have learnt about the range of climates across Australia and how this impacts what fruits and vegetables are grown in different regions and at different times of the year. Students have begun to make links between food waste and sustainability and the resources that are lost due to food wastage. 

Grade 6

In Innovation and Design, Year 6 students are having fun with coding using Scratch! They recently created an interactive digital collage that shows what’s important to them. They’re also learning to create cool projects by making their own step-by-step instructions, called algorithms. Each week, they add new tricks like loops and if-then statements to make their games and stories even more exciting. It’s wonderful to see their ideas come to life through coding!