5/6 Learning Incursions 

    Melbourne Indigenous Stem Education Program incursion for 5/6s

Last Tuesday we had an incursion about MISEP, which stands for Melbourne Indigenous Stem Education Program. This was part of our inquiry on sustainability. 

Visitors from Melbourne University educated us about aboriginal science. During the incursion we went outside to observe nature and find a bond through feeling the amazing outdoors. We also learned about the Kulin nation seasons, which are divided into seven seasons reflecting the changes in the environment. 

We ended the session with a relaxing yarning circle, during which we held a stick known as a yarning stick. When we held the stick, we got to tell two things that we learned and found interesting about the session. We really enjoyed the session and hope to have things like this in the future!

⁶

Wind Turbines

On the 12th of August, as part of our inquiry on sustainability, 5/6B designed, built and tested wind turbines. With only 2 paper cups, popsicle sticks, a small motor and an LED light, we managed to make a functional wind turbine. 

Using a hair dryer, we could test our windmills with wind, measuring the electricity we produced using a multimeter. We applied our decimal skills to compare how much electricity each group produced and order our windmills accordingly. We had lots of fun in making our windmills, and even more fun watching them work. We would love to do more activities like this in the future (*hint* *hint* teachers). We loved learning about how energy can come from the wind. We enjoyed doing this project and we found it fun working with someone new.

--Mabel, 5/6B

Sustainability incursion – Roy from Arizon

On Monday 1st, September, we had Roy come in from his company called Arizon to teach us all about solar panels. He taught us about how they are made and how they operate because in inquiry, the 5/6s  are learning about sustainability. We even went outside and used the solar panel to light up an LED light! It was interesting. 

Year 5/6s have to design their own sustainable invention and, if they like, they can build it. It has to help the environment. 

-Sitra, School Captain

Chocolate Workshop  

Last week, on Thursday 4th of September, the 5/6 students had an exciting chocolate workshop! We learnt about chocolate-making and where it comes from. We started by tasting raw cacao and then milk chocolate. 

We then melted chocolate in the microwave, and our teacher (Camelia), poured the chocolate over some baking paper.  The students were able to pick lollies or cookies to decorate. Some students were really clever and made smiley faces on it.

The reason why the 5/6 students made this, is because this term is all about cooking and recipes. In writing, we are writing procedural texts and recipes. In maths, we measure ingredients and see how much is the right amount, and in reading we read and learnt about procedures and survival guides.

-Hamza, Vice School Captain 

-Guillaume, English & French 5/6B & Camelia, 5/6 A