In Our Classrooms
Prep
This week in Prep, we have been learning all about ordinal numbers and how we use them to describe the position of objects in a sequence. We had lots of fun putting our learning into action by making and flying our very own paper planes! We watched carefully to see which planes flew the furthest and used ordinal numbers to work out who came 1st, 2nd, 3rd and so on. What a fantastic way to finish off our learning for the term!
It has been an amazing Term 3, filled with lots of learning, laughter, friendships and exciting experiences. We can’t believe there is only one more term of Prep left! We are so proud of how much our Preps have grown and developed throughout the year and are looking forward to making the most of our final term together.
Year 1
This term in Curiosity, the Year 1 cohort has loved exploring our ‘A Culture of Respect’ unit! We have learnt about our own cultures and family backgrounds, as well as discovering more about the cultures and traditions of our peers and people around the world. Students have explored a range of traditional foods, games, music and entertainment, making connections between their own experiences and those of others.
We have also spent time learning what it means to show respect, including listening to different perspectives, celebrating our differences, being inclusive and demonstrating kindness through our words and actions. It has been wonderful to see the students’ curiosity grow throughout the unit as they asked thoughtful questions, shared their own experiences and developed a greater appreciation for the diverse cultures that make up our classroom and wider community. What a wonderful way to finish the term!
Year 2
It has been a wonderful Term 3 in Year 2, with students continuing to demonstrate curiosity, enthusiasm and a genuine love of learning throughout the term.
One of the highlights of the term was our Old School Day, where students were immersed in what school life was like for children in the early 1800s. Students stepped back in time and experienced a very different school day, learning about the routines, expectations and activities of children from the past. As part of the experience, students even had the opportunity to churn their own butter, discovering how everyday foods were made before modern conveniences. It was a fun and memorable hands-on experience that brought our learning about history to life.
In Reading, students thoroughly enjoyed our novel study of Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl. Throughout the novel, students explored the characters, events and themes of the story while developing their comprehension skills and sharing their ideas and predictions.
In Writing, our focus was on creating engaging narratives. Students learnt how to capture a reader's attention with exciting story openings and experimented with descriptive language to bring their characters, settings and events to life. It has been wonderful to see their creativity and confidence as young authors continue to grow.
In Mathematics, students developed their understanding of time by learning to read and tell the time using an analogue clock. They also explored data by collecting information, organising their results and interpreting and presenting data using bar graphs. These hands-on learning experiences provided students with opportunities to apply their mathematical knowledge to real-life situations.
We congratulate our Year 2 students on another successful term and thank them for the enthusiasm, kindness and effort they have shown each day. We also extend our sincere thanks to our families for their continued support throughout Term 3. We wish everyone a safe and relaxing holiday break and look forward to another exciting term of learning in Term 4.
Year 3
This term, our students have been exploring the importance of diversity and inclusion through storytelling. They have been busy creating their own stories for younger students, with a focus on celebrating differences, showing kindness and helping everyone feel that they belong.
Students have thoughtfully considered the characters, messages and illustrations in their stories, using their creativity to share an important message with our younger learners: everyone is different, everyone matters, and everyone belongs.
Year 4
In literacy this term, our Year 4 students have been developing their skills as comparative information report writers. Students have explored how these texts can be used to inform readers by examining two topics and explaining their similarities and differences.
Throughout the unit, students have identified and used the key features of comparative information reports, including clear titles, headings/subheadings, topic sentences, factual information, images/diagrams, captions, bold words and well organised body paragraphs. They have also been building their understanding of the language and vocabulary that makes these texts clear and informative. Students have practised using comparative and contrasting language such as similarly, both, however, unlike, whereas, in contrast and many other words to connect their ideas and make meaningful comparisons between two topics.
After researching their topics, organising their ideas, drafting and carefully editing their work, students are now ready to publish their good copies. We are looking forward to seeing their finished reports and celebrating the knowledge and writing skills they have developed throughout the unit!
Year 5
In Curiosity, over the past few weeks, the Year 5s have been eagerly exploring the lives of significant Australians throughout history and discovering the ways in which these individuals have helped shape life in Australia today.
Students have been working hard to research an influential Australian of their choice by investigating their life, achievements and impact on Australia’s history. Working collaboratively with their peers, students have shared ideas, supported one another and developed their teamwork and communication skills throughout the research process. They have used their learning to create creative and informative presentations about their chosen person.
It has been wonderful to see students grow in confidence as researchers, communicators and collaborators, while developing a deeper appreciation for the diverse individuals who have contributed to Australia’s story.
Year 6 Camp – Phillip Island Adventure Resort
What an amazing time we had at Phillip Island Adventure Resort! Our Year 6 students enjoyed three action-packed days filled with exciting activities, laughter and unforgettable memories. From the Giant Swing, Twin Flying Fox and Canoeing to Archery, Disc Golf, Raft Making and Team Rescue, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Students challenged themselves, stepped outside their comfort zones and embraced every opportunity to have fun.
One of the highlights of camp was the disco, where students enjoyed spontaneous dance-offs and sing-offs with each other. Everyone cheered one another on, joined in the fun and shared plenty of laughs. It was wonderful to see students letting loose, celebrating each other and creating such positive memories together.
Throughout camp, students had many opportunities to build relationships and collaborate with their peers. They demonstrated teamwork, resilience, encouragement and cooperation as they worked together to overcome challenges and support one another. Camp was a fantastic opportunity for students to strengthen friendships, develop independence and create lasting memories with their classmates.
A huge thank you to our wonderful Year 6 students and staff for making camp such a fantastic experience. We are so proud of the way our students embraced the challenges, supported each other and represented Hazel Glen College throughout the camp!
Term 3 Visual Arts
Prep
Students have been exploring the use of colour with water colour paints as well as paint slicks when creating their artworks. They have enjoyed experimenting with creating their own patterns through repetition of lines, dots, shapes, letters and numbers. After learning about the Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, they created their own unique version of a smiley face flower. We read the picture story book “Magic Trash”, which is a real-life story about Tyree Guyton who attempted to improve his local neighbourhood by using found objects to decorate houses, old cars and fences. Students then started to create their own Magic Trash House complete with their own “house decorations”.
Year 2
Year 2 students had the opportunity to create their own art piece based on Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. They learnt about using simple geometric shapes to draw an owl, as well as cutting shapes out to demonstrate positive and negative spaces. They continued to develop their drawing skills by creating their own tea cup or mug drawing and filling their designs with a variety of patterns. Their tea cup pictures were completed with hot chocolate (or matcha!), and swirling steam was carefully painted on top.
Year 4
Year 4 students learnt about the Japanese artist Takashi Murakami and his collaged art pieces, leading to students creating their own colourful skull art piece. Continuing the theme of Japanese artists, we then learnt about Yayoi Kusama and her vast collection of 2D and 3D art pieces. Students were then able to create their own dotty pumpkin drawing, where they were required to hone their fine brush painting skills. They were then able to create their own ceramic pumpkin by practising how to make a pinch pot base and use a variety of tools to shape and decorate their piece. These pieces will be fired next term and students will then be able to glaze them.
Year 5
Year 5 students explored the works of Takashi Murakami and then used different types of media to create their skull art piece. We then took a look at First Nations artist Madeline Purdie’s art pieces, exploring the concepts of abstract artworks, landscapes and traditional colours used in indigenous art pieces. Students then drew areas of the College, the neighbourhood and the hill areas beyond Doreen and used this inspiration to create a painted piece. We continued with drawing and painting by beginning to create a “Seed pod” mixed media piece, incorporating texture, value (light and dark) and use of space.
Next term we will be once again hosting the annual College Arts and Technology Show, with art pieces from every student being on exhibit. It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to see firsthand all of the hard work that is put into each piece made in the Art room. Stay tuned for more information!
