Specialists Updates and Celebrations

Visual Arts (Prep)

The Prep students started their new unit of work this week: Printing, Threads and Textiles. They begun by making Crazy Hair Characters! The students learnt about caricature cartoon drawing, where the head is bigger than the body. They proceeded to draw 'U' shapes for their characters face and drew smaller bodies in proportion to the heads. Some students chose to draw characters like mermaids or rockstars! Once their characters were drawn, we all sat on the floor together and I showed students the multi-step process of looping the wool through the holes to make the hair for their characters. The students worked so hard and their Crazy Hair Characters looked amazing! 

Music (Years 1 and 2)

In the Years 1 and 2 Music Program we recently completed a unit of work focussed on pitch. We aimed for students to develop their understanding of pitch in music and particularly their ear training with recognising low, medium and high notes.

Our pitch focussed practical skills were centred on singing. Students learnt the solfege scale and applied it to many level appropriate songs. We also learnt melodies on tuned percussion, making the link from solfege to instruments.

We have just begun our focus on the music element, tempo. We have started by learning specific music language for slow, moderate and fast. Our skills work has been rehearsing djembe patterns and performing them at different tempos.

Performing Arts (Years 1 and 2)

Years 1 and 2 students have continued to explore the Elements of Drama, in particular working with scrips and props to enhance a performance. Students have developed their character skills through book connections and improvisational skills. The main focus the last fortnight has been around the element of focus and making strong relationships between characters and the audience. It has been an absolute pleasure seeing the children using various facial expressions during their script performances and remembering their lines. Their confidence is growing each week during solo and group performances and I can’t wait to develop these skills throughout the rest of the term. The students drew their own character and props to reflect on the book they read in class, Harold and the Purple Crayon.

Physical Education (Years 3 and 4)

Years 3 and 4 have worked hard on improving their skills in Handball and Australian Rules Football this year. In recent weeks, the focus has been footy! Students have practised their handballing, kicking and marking. 

Mandarin (Years 5 and 6)

In order to enhance students' interest in the Mandarin language, the speaking topics and writing topics in this term are life-related. This will also help them build up their practice and encourage them to use it in their lives. Last week, the students had their final revision lesson on Mandarin numbers, reviewing how to write and say numbers from 1 to 99 and completing fun maths problems using Mandarin numerals. Students generally found the level-by-level challenge very enjoyable. This week, students learnt about the Dragon Boat Festival, including why and how people celebrate it.

Library

Every Monday the Year 2 students display wonderful behaviour and manners while visiting the library to read and borrow books.