Classroom News 

In last week’s newsletter, our Year 6 STEAM Leaders, Ben B and Jacob, explained how APS has decided to rename our current area of learning ‘Integrated’ to ‘STEAM.’ They eloquently described what STEAM means and how it better represents the incredibly diverse range of learning that occurs at our school. In addition to this, I will discuss this change through the lens of teaching and learning, and the Victorian Curriculum. 

Firstly, the word ‘integrated’ is how our teaching staff plan units of learning. We strive to integrate different elements of the Victorian Curriculum into authentic and purposeful learning opportunities.

One example of how learning areas and capabilities are integrated is the Year 5 Maker’s Market. During this unit of learning, students engage in the following: 

Learning Areas

English - Creating persuasive advertisements for their stand including written and spoken 

Mathematics - Financial mathematics and literacy, including budgeting 

Humanities - Economics and Business 

Technologies - Food sciences and/or creating  designed solutions 

Capabilities

Personal and Social - Working effective as part of a team 

This is one example of many across the school where students are developing a range of skills and knowledge across the curriculum and applying their learnings in creative, authentic and purposeful ways. 

Our Year 6 STEAM Leaders are now supporting students, staff and families with the implementation of this name change. Keep an eye out for regular newsletter articles on what is happening in STEAM at APS!

Brody O’Driscoll 

Learning Specialist and STEAM Leader