Year Seven

Mathematics

Over the last few weeks, our Year Seven students have been hard at work deepening their understanding of data, and embarking on an exciting data project that put their skills to the test. For this project, students selected their own dataset of interest and organised the secondary data into tables, allowing them to explore and analyse it more deeply. From these tables, students created a variety of graphs—both by hand and with technology—to visually represent the data, applying skills to calculate the mean, median, mode, and range. Through these figures, they could interpret the data and make meaningful conclusions, showcasing their analytical abilities. Students were encouraged to extend their learning by exploring advanced representations, such as back-to-back stem and leaf plots, scatterplots, and box plots, which allowed them to dive even further into data analysis.

During the recent three-way conferences, we were exceptionally proud of how well the students articulated their understanding of key topics from Semester Two, including Algebra, Geometric Reasoning, and Data. The students presented impressive work including their angle posters and data projects, highlighting their efforts and dedication to their math studies.

Currently, Year Seven students have begun an exciting new journey into linear and non-linear relationships. They are exploring these concepts through the use of Cartesian planes, where they are learning to plot coordinates and use linear equations to calculate y-values from given x-values. To support their learning, students have been introduced to Mathigon Polypad, an online program that helps them visualise and represent their linear functions interactively as well as other programs including Desmos and Symbolab. 

In the coming weeks, our young mathematicians will continue to explore linear and non-linear functions by analysing graphs based on real-life data, allowing them to see the practical applications of these concepts. We are excited to see their progress as they take on this next challenge in mathematics!

English

Our Year Seven English students have been diving deep into the world of poetry this term, transforming values into powerful messages through their words. With their final submissions fast approaching, they have been hard at work crafting pieces that capture their unique voices and perspectives.

The students have shown exceptional creativity by experimenting with various forms, from haikus to free verse, sonnets to acrostics. Their explorations have allowed them to explore how structure and rhythm can shape meaning, and they’ve been using a range of poetic devices to bring their themes to life.

Some students have chosen to tackle themes like trust and honesty, creating vivid imagery and clever turns of phrase that reveal meaning. Through similes, metaphors, and alliteration, they’ve been able to convey the strength, beauty, and sometimes fragility of these values.

Here’s a peek at some of their works:

Visual Art 

Over the past few weeks, our Year 7 students have been diligently working on the first stages of their visual art portfolios. They’ve completed their initial investigation into the question, "How do artists use symbolism to convey meaning within their artwork?"

This week, students have begun developing ideas for a final piece that will invite viewers to uncover the hidden messages within their masterpieces. In class, we are exploring various techniques and processes, including coloured pencil and painting methods. Students are now finalising their research on selected art materials and practicing these techniques to bring their creative visions to life.

Science

In Term 4, Year Seven students are studying Earth and Space science unit. They have dived into the phases of the moon, exploring how the moon’s appearance changes throughout its cycle. To bring these concepts to life, we engaged in a fun and interactive “Oreo Cookie Moon Phases” activity! Each student used Oreos to represent the phases, making learning both delicious and memorable.

Our students have also been investigating incredible celestial events, such as eclipses. By understanding these Solar and Lunar eclipse phenomena, students have gained insights into how the sun, Earth, and moon align to create these remarkable events.

To extend their knowledge, we recently visited Science Works. This excursion provided hands-on experiences and reinforced concepts we’ve covered in class. The highlight was our visit to the Planetarium, where students were thrilled to watch the immersive “Moon Base One” show. Through this, students discovered fascinating facts about the moon, such as how the moon was formed, conditions on the moon, what causes the phases of the moon and eclipses and gained a new appreciation for our closest celestial neighbour.

This unit has been a stellar opportunity for students to see Science in action, and we look forward to continuing our exploration of the universe!