Specialist News
AUSLAN
During the past few weeks the Foundation students have continued learning the signs for a variety of occupations through the use of signed songs. They have also begun to learn some basic animal signs as they are signing the Brown Bear, Brown Bear book by Bill Martin Jr.
The Grade 1/2 students have now learnt to sign the National Anthem and they are in the process of practising signing it in time with the music for assemblies.
The Grade 3 to 6 students are now comfortable signing about the facade of their houses, so we have moved onto learning how to describe our bedrooms using sign. It is quite a challenge to give directions using Auslan and our students are making great progress.
Ms Bacon
Performing Arts
Rock Recorder
Our recorder lessons have taken a new twist. We sound very professional as we play our recorder to backing tracks. This is a great way to learn to read music as well as practice and beat and rhythmic skills. Did you know that play the recorder allows children to express themselves creatively, and to explore different musical styles and genres? It improves fine motor skills by practicing precise finger and hand movements.
In all of our classes we have been learning a variety of Australian Songs. Our favourite by far is 'Home among the Gum Trees'. The junior classes have been learning to play the boomwhackers. This is a tuned percussion instrument that enables children to play simple songs by 'whacking' the stick on the ground. They sound fantastic!
Mrs Herbert
Visual Arts
In Visual Arts, students have continued to explore shape in their artwork. Students across the year levels completed multi-dimensional projects to take home using mixed media. The senior years were able to explore with paper mâché, with the year 3/4's creating fabric paper mâché bowls and the year 5/6’s drawing inspiration from artist Kim Sielbeck to create paper mâché cactuses. Foundation level students and Year 1/2's create flower vases with tissue paper flowers and collage to give to someone special at home to celebrate Mother’s Day.
Students across Years 1 to 6 were also given an opportunity to work with local artist and ecologist Gidja Walker to explore Bittern Primary School’s local ecology and discuss how art can be inspired from our natural environment.
Mrs Roberts
PE/SPORT
Students from Grades 3-6 were selected coming out of our House Cross Country event to represent Bittern Primary School at the Crib Point District Cross Country event. The event was a huge success, with all racers giving it their best and we couldn’t have been prouder to have these students representing our school. A big congratulations to Isla, who has made it on to the next round of races, which will be held against students across the Southern Peninsula Region later this month.
In PE, students have been honing their fundamental movement and ball skills through the sport of soccer. Students have been learning how to control the ball using their feet, passing and dribbling skills, as well as developing teamwork.
Mrs Roberts