Student Learning

What's been happening in Foundation F

Our Mid-Year Foundation students have settled into school life wonderfully! They are already confident in finding their way around the school and following our daily routines.

Playberry

This term, we have begun learning to read and write our lower and upper-case letters and sounds through the Playberry Laser program. We have started with the phonemes s, a, t, i, m, and n. Students have been practising the correct formation of these letters on their whiteboards, as well as learning to recognise them in words and texts.

Each week, we read a new story and learn about authors, illustrators, and book titles. We particularly enjoyed learning nursery rhymes through Mem Fox's Bonnie and Ben and Bonnie and Ben Rhyme Again. These books have helped us understand and identify rhyming words.

Maths

We have been busy learning about patterns, sorting, and number formation. We discovered that a pattern is something that repeats and learned to identify and create our own patterns using a variety of fun materials. We also learned how to describe our patterns using labels such as AB and ABC.

Using these same materials, we sorted objects into groups according to colour, size, shape, and type. More recently, we have been recording our sorting results and using the information we collect. We discovered that strawberry is Foundation F's favourite ice cream flavour!

Students have practised number formation and counting using playdough, sand, and classroom objects, as well as through writing activities. We regularly practise counting forwards and backwards to 10 and 20 and have recently begun counting forwards to 100.

HASS

In HASS, we have been learning about 'belonging'. We discussed how belonging means having a place where you feel accepted, valued, and important. We explored the concept through the example of an otter family, learning how each family member has a special role. Students enjoyed creating their own otters from plasticine.

We also talked about the different types of families and explored the number of people in our own families. Students created family towers to represent their family members and attached them to the family photographs displayed in our classroom.

We investigated different places where we belong and discussed how these places help us feel connected. More recently, we have been learning about what 'Country' means to First Nations Peoples and why the land they belong to is so special. We compared the Kaurna Country on which we live with the Pilbara region featured in My Country by Ezekiel Kwaymullina and Sally Morgan, exploring the sights, sounds, and smells of each place.

Art

This term, we have been exploring pattern-making techniques using cotton buds. Inspired by First Nations dot paintings, students created their own beautiful artworks. We then used our pattern-making skills to create out-of-this-world Father's Day cards for our dads and special people.

We are currently reading The Dot, a story that encourages us to make a mark and see where it leads. Inspired by the book, we are creating our own dots to display in the classroom.

Hatching Program

We loved watching the eggs incubate and hatch into chickens - there was so much excitement one fruit time when a chick decided to hatch right in front of our eyes. We loved getting to watch them grow and were even brave enough to hold and play with them. 

Buddies

One of the highlights of our week is spending time with our Year 5 buddies, who have helped us feel welcome, supported, and safe at school. Every Monday, we enjoy spending time together and choosing activities to do as a team.

It has been wonderful to see the friendships and connections grow across the year levels. Our Foundation students are always excited to spot their buddies in the playground and say hello throughout the week. 

Chelsea Fisher 

Foundation Class Teacher

What's been happening in Science

Science is a wonderful way to explore the world around us and students come with an ever-increasing amount of knowledge gained from documentaries and online channels that enriches every topic and leads to fascinating discussions and some amazing questions! God has blessed us so richly with His creation and the abundant discoveries waiting for us to find - each one reveals another clue to His deep love and joy for His creation.

Foundation students have been taking part in one of the great scientific pursuits of all time – how do I make sense of all the different plants and animals in the world? Students found out about a famous historical scientist called Linnaeus, who set out to answer this question by classifying every living thing on Earth into groups. By using our senses and observing details (a very important science skill that all good scientists use), students discovered that the main features of plants and animals can help us sort them into groups and that the way we sort them can tell us about how they live and behave. By examining skulls, bones, skins and specimens, the students could make predictions about new or unknown species based on these similarities. The chicks we recently had at Pilgrim were a fascinating and beautiful way to see live animals up close and discuss their features.

Year 1/2 students have been learning all about the science behind cloud formation and atmospheric conditions that occur in different seasons. By exploring why and how clouds form and learning their names, the students expanded their overall understanding of their HASS unit on weather and the seasons, and why the tilt and orbit of Earth are responsible for the seasons throughout the year. Did you know that some clouds tell us what will be happening with the weather the next day? And because one question in science always leads to another, students have discovered that some clouds aren’t even made of rain – they are so high up and so cold they are made of ice! 

Year 3/4 students have been revising and expanding their understanding of the Water Cycle, which models how water is transformed by heat energy into rainfall and runoff (precipitation), atmospheric gas (evaporation), cloud, fog and mist (condensation), and underground aquifer recharge (percolation). Students made a Water Cycle model, calculated how much rainfall comes off of the Oasis building roof and evaporates from the soil, and brainstormed an aspect of the cycle to focus on in detail. Because scientific discovery both influences society and responds to its demands, students chose to investigate the sustainable use of limited fresh water supplies and ways to generate fresh water from the sea. This investigation adds depth and breadth to their HASS Sustainability unit being taught in their class.

Year 5/6 students have been exploring our place in the Solar System by asking questions about Earth and the other planets. Comparison is a key scientific skill because it allows us to distinguish similarities and differences and make informed choices when asking questions or analysing results. When asked “What would a world record for long jump look like on the other planets in the Solar System?” students could compare the gravitational force on each planet and calculate how this would alter the world record result set here on Earth. They also had a lot of fun finding results to the question “What do the other planets smell like?" presenting this information at their Student Led Conferences, and having the opportunity to examine and identify a variety of meteorite specimens from different parts of the Solar System (because if you can’t get to another planet, the planet can come to us!)    

Andrew Harris

Specialist Science Teacher

Technologies Hub: Creating, Designing and Exploring

It has been a busy and exciting time in the Tech Hub, with students from Years 1 - 6 exploring how things work, designing solutions to real-world problems and experimenting with different forms of technology and media. There has been plenty of creating, problem-solving, testing and, of course, a little bit of “I wonder what would happen if…?” along the way.

Years 1/2 – From Plants and Animals to Product Designers

Our Year 1/2 students have been investigating where the materials we use every day come from. They have discovered that the food we eat, the clothes we wear and even some of the materials used in our homes can come from plants and animals. There was plenty of excitement when students discovered that potato chips begin their journey as… potatoes. They have also explored how animals such as sheep provide us with food, fibre and materials for our homes; lamb for us to eat, wool for clothing and wool fibres that can even be used as insulation.

The students have also become product designers. Using the Design Thinking Process, they have designed a useful tool for our Friendship Garden. They considered who would use their tool, what the user needed it to do and how their design could solve a problem. After generating lots of creative ideas, students selected and developed their designs before bringing them to life using recycled materials.

They are very excited to show you their finished products and explain their design choices and evaluations at Learning Journeys.

Years 3/4 – Designing Characters and Bringing Them to Life

Our Year 3/4 students have been busy designing, engineering and refining characters that will eventually become part of their very own Stop Motion films.

Using Makers Empire and the Design Thinking Process, students have developed and iterated their character designs, thinking carefully about how their ideas could be improved. Mrs Spencer has then brought their digital designs into the physical world by 3D printing their characters.

The next stage will be for students to evaluate their finished designs before their characters take centre stage in their Stop Motion films. This project brings together their learning in Design and Technologies and Media Arts, culminating in a creative film exploring the ways media can represent different people, ideas and issues.

Years 5/6 – Circuits, Media and Representation

Our Year 5/6 students began the term by getting hands-on with electrical circuits. Using BrainBox kits, they investigated how a circuit can be used to create light, movement and sound. Students built simple circuits and then experimented by adding switches, light bulbs, propellers and sirens to demonstrate their understanding. There was certainly plenty of connecting, testing and troubleshooting happening around the room!

Students have now turned their attention to Media Arts, exploring a range of media forms including paintings, photographs, podcasts and videos. They have been investigating how First Nations Australians are represented in the media, considering the choices creators make and how these choices can influence the way audiences understand people, places, cultures and issues.

It has been wonderful to see students across all year levels create, question, test, redesign and reflect as they develop their skills and understanding in Technologies. 

Libby Spencer

Technologies Teacher

Year 5/6 Excursion 

Did you know that Australia is home to over 1600 species of native bee? This is one of the many facts that our Year 5 and 6 students learnt on their recent excursion to Wittunga Botanical Gardens on Thursday 3rd September.

Students went to the gardens to participate in a Mini-Beasts and Water Bugs program to support the students' learning as they prepare to write information reports about an insect. Students were taken on a guided walk around the main lake of the gardens, learning about the various insects and other animals that live there and the importance of maintaining the habitats of these creatures. We spotted a number of turtles swimming in the lake, some beautiful birds and saw the holes used by many birds for nesting.

Using special magnifying glasses, students were able to observe and identify many types of water bugs that live in the lake. It was amazing to see the variety of life that is living in the lake, most of which we wouldn’t be able to see without special equipment.

Students also had the opportunity to express their creativity through either reproducing a bug in clay or painting one, or both. There were some wonderful creations made by our students.

Although the cold and wet weather kept many insects hidden, a walk through the park still provided many interesting finds for those with keen eyes. A family of ducklings was also keen to follow one group!

Many thanks to our parent helpers, Angela and Chelsea, for coming with us on the excursion. Your enthusiasm and interest were a blessing to the students.

Kate Tretheway

Year 5/6 Class Teacher

Years 4 - 6 Growth and Development Sessions 

Next term, The Chat Academy will deliver growth and development sessions to our Year 4 to 6 students as part of the Health curriculum. Dates and topics are listed below. Class teachers will send home a summary of each session - you might like to use this as a starting point for conversations with your child about what was covered.

Bali Life Stalls

The Year 6 students brought their annual Bali Life Stalls to life on Thursday and Friday of Week 8. After spending the term planning, budgeting, and advertising, they enjoyed selling their homemade treats, crafts, and games to raise money for the Bali Life organisation. It was wonderful to see their hard work and enthusiasm come together, with the students selling a large number of items across the two days. They are looking forward to counting the money next week to discover how much they have raised. A big thank you to everyone who supported the Year 6s by purchasing something from the stalls.

Abbey McKennall

Year 5/6 Class Teacher

Aquatic Educational Program 

Our Foundation to Year 4 classes recently visited the State Aquatic Centre in Marion for their Aquatic Educational lessons. The sun was shining, and everyone had a wonderful time!

Over the three days, students practised many new skills – organising themselves independently, looking after their belongings, building resilience when things didn't go as planned, and growing in confidence in the water.

Of course, there were goggles galore and towels in every colour imaginable. The laughter and chatter as students walked to the bus and entered the centre added to the excitement.

In the pool, students practised important water safety skills – blowing bubbles underwater, floating on their backs, taking a few strokes of freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke, and even duck diving for sticks and their own goggles.

By the end of the week things were quieter and some were very tired but still smiling about the fun they had.

Lisa Newbury

Early Years Coordinator, Foundation Class Teacher

Year 3 Zoo Snooze

Our Year 3 students enjoyed a wonderful and memorable adventure at our Zoo Snooze! The afternoon began with students exploring the zoo in small groups before settling into their rooms for a delicious dinner, complete with ice cream for dessert. As the sun went down, students were led on a special night walk by an experienced zoo keeper, discovering some of the zoo’s nocturnal animals and seeing the zoo from a whole new perspective. The evening concluded with a beautiful devotion, giving us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the wonder and diversity of God’s creation. After an early breakfast the following morning, students enjoyed one final wander through the zoo and some time exploring the nature play before heading off to Bounce. There, they enthusiastically tackled the X-Park and dodgeball, along with plenty of energetic bouncing! It was certainly a fantastic way to finish the experience, providing some much-needed physical activity while, judging by the smiles and laughter, being thoroughly enjoyed by all. 

Dana Baker

Year 3/4 Class Teacher

We were away at Wirraway 

The Year 4 & 5 students recently completed their camp at Wirraway Homestead near Strathalbyn from Wednesday 26th – Friday 28th September.

They arrived at the end of two days of torrential rain to blue and sunny skies. While the nights were a bit chilly with a full moon and clear views of the stars, the days were glorious and showcased the best of Adelaide Hills’ spring weather with mild breezes, gentle sunshine, flowing creeks and verdant hills bursting with flowers and wildlife (including more than 30 species of native birds).

The program was full of excitement and activities included archery, shelter building, sheep herding, horse riding and horse care – all in a rustic farm setting with views down to the lakes and Coorong off on the horizon. Games, puzzles and team challenges added to the over all sense of fun and enjoyment each day.

Students were encouraged to try new skills in sometimes new and unfamiliar settings, strengthen friendships through teamwork and responsibility, and deepen their relationship with God through prayer, time outdoors engaging with creation, and guided devotion.

Andrew Harris

Year 3/4 Class Teacher