Primary School
Classroom News
We hope you enjoy reading what our classes have been up to this week.
Kindergarten
The students have been having lots of fun creating actions to go with our Talk for Writing story, Commotion in the Ocean. Our actions are helping us remember the story and build confidence as we retell it together. During our Wild Space walks, we have been on the lookout for evidence of creatures that live in and around our natural environment. So far, we have spotted a variety of birds, a dragonfly, a small crab, and signs that other animals have been visiting the area. We are hoping it will not be long before we see some more creatures in and around the water!
Pre-Primary
Over the past few weeks, Pre-Primary B students have been researchers. We have been identifying different types of documentation and how scientists document through pictures, words and labelling. We have been documenting our observations in both the Wild Space and at the Fish Traps. The students have shown a strong curiosity about the world around them. We began our investigations within our local community and are now starting to explore larger places and environments around the world.
The students completed a compare-and-contrast activity between the Wild Space and the Fish Traps and engaged in thoughtful discussions about what makes a place special. They considered whether one place could be more special than another and shared a variety of perspectives. These conversations were rich and engaging, with students explaining their ideas, listening to others and respectfully agreeing or disagreeing with their classmates' viewpoints. We are excited to share more with you all as we continue our inquiry.
Year One
Throughout the year the class has been learning about the months and seasons, and this week they made some season charts. August signals the last month in winter, but it also is the start of the new Noongar season of Djilba. The class enjoyed discussing the changes that they have noticed in their local environment at this time of the year. The students have also been quick to learn the structure of an information report and are already suggesting topics that they would be keen to write about. However, the most exciting part of the week has been the introduction of the brand-new Year One inquiry, but more on that next week.
Year Two
Spelling in Year Two is so much fun! This week we were excited to use shaving cream, chalk and letter tiles to learn our spelling sounds. We have also been learning about 3D shapes, distinguishing edges, vertices and faces and even making some fun 3D nets. In Humanities we enjoyed pinning our names on a map of Albany to show the suburb that we live in and in Science we began learning some interesting facts about the planets in our solar system.
Year Three
Our learning this week has centred around angles. We have been exploring the different types of angles, identifying angles in everyday life, and discussing the purpose behind the angles we see in objects, buildings, and structures around us. Students have enjoyed making real-world connections and using mathematical language to describe what they observe. In Science, we have been investigating how different foods change when they are heated and cooled. We observed and discussed the physical changes that occur during these processes and considered why these changes happen. Through hands-on exploration, students developed their observation skills and gained a deeper understanding of how temperature can affect the properties of everyday materials.
Year Four
Students have been exploring the fascinating world of igneous rocks beneath the Earth’s surface. They have learned how these rocks form from molten magma and how cooling affects their structure. Students are now investigating crystallisation and how crystals form over time. To support this, they will conduct an experiment to grow their own crystals, observing and recording the process while developing their curiosity and scientific thinking.
Year Five
This week we looked at gas, or at least we tried to… kind of difficult to prove the existence of something we cannot see, as it turns out. It was an interesting hands-on lesson involving three experiments to show air flow, compression of gas and finally the property of volume. The most fun was undoubtedly a propelled paper aeroplane competition with a decent industrial fan for propulsion. We look forward to next week, where we shall be using everyone’s favourite two Primary School chemicals to produce our very own puffer fish.
Year Six
This week we have been looking at consumer needs and wants in Humanities. The students were given a scenario that they could spend $2500 on any store of their choice, but it had to be one store only. Some of the choices were very interesting! We then explored what influences consumers and the reasons they chose their relevant items. We have discovered that advertising can be very sneaky indeed!
In Mathematics students have been busy collecting data and choosing the best way to represent our information, and in Science we have been eagerly observing and waiting to see what kind of mould we can grow as we begin our investigations into the effects of physical conditions on growth and survival of living things. It is just starting to get interesting... watch this space.
Art
Year Five and Year Six students have been super lucky to have artist Laura Newbury as artist in residence for two weeks this term. She creates collagraph prints of dining rooms after a meal. Her work is about celebrating family and friends coming together.
Last week students created drawings on strawboard of dining rooms and everyday items. They then etched out some of the lines and added collage onto the strawboard to create their own collagraph plates. The plates have been sealed with shellac and the Year Six students will print their plates this week using the intaglio method.
The prints and plates are looking fantastic and will be on display at the Whole School exhibition Our Place during the Kingfisher Fair.
The other Primary School students have been busy making artwork ready for our exhibition.
ECC Briefing
The following superstars have worked exceptionally well and received a Star Award for their outstanding efforts.
Kindergarten A: Matthew Brown
Kindergarten B: Violet Clarke
Pre-Primary A: Arzoyi Mann
Pre-Primary B: Pearl Hobbs
Year One: Hudson Sutton
Year Two A: Teddy Davison
Year Two B: John Stone
Primary School Briefing
Students have been focusing on the value of Respect this past week. Well done to the following students who stood out within their classrooms:
Year Three: Agya Yeboah
Year Four: Scarlett Harris and Mia Jovanovic
Year Five: Sascha Sitnikoski and Ruby Taylor
Year Six: Harry Osborne and Edward Yeboah
Brag Award – Tidy Bags
Congratulations to Year Four Carman who took out the Brag Award this week.
Reminders
Tomorrow the Primary School Assembly is in the Gym, starting at 9.00am and finishing at approximately 9.45am,all welcome.
Ooshies, sensory toys and other fun objects that are not prescribed for learning are to stay at home, please.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Ms Leah Field | Head of Primary and
Mrs Hayley Ranger | Head of Early Childhood