STEM Term 4

Our STEM ‘Science’ topic in Term 4 is Biology (or Living Things and Non Living Things)

In Foundation (Prep) we will be focusing on the 5 needs of living things and the habitats of animals and insects. Students will have the opportunity to make an ‘insect’ and will be involved in a planting experiment where they will bring home a small plant to add to their own garden. We will continue looking at Ipad apps and revise about hardware and software.

In Grade 1 and 2 the students will learn about living things and non living things. They will research about a living thing of their choice including how they are used by humans. We will finish this off by crafting a living thing. Students will look at the major organs of the human body (heart, lungs, stomach) and the skeletal system. Grade 1-2 students will complete the year with some more work on their coding project using code.org and scratch junior.

In Grade 3 and 4, the students will be investigating the connection between life cycles and food chains/webs. We will start the term with the Sphero- rally race and hopefully crown a champion in each grade as well as an overall Grade 3-4 champion. In the second half of the term, students will participate in an experiment looking at the DNA in salvia as well as using the school microscopes.

In Grade 5 and 6 we will cover various individual lessons throughout the Term. Students will complete a messy experiment on replicating the human digestive system. Our research topics for Term 4 will be evolution (fossils), genetic mutations and data transfer systems. Students will have their final lesson on their personal STEM project (planned for Week 8). I will also be introducing the 5-6 students to the rocket launcher (as used in the STEM night) for the first time.

As always, if you ever have any questions or would like to contact me - the easiest way is to drop me an email at stephen.lytton@education.vic.gov.au There may be situations where I may email you about a student’s work, behaviour or if the student seems to be consistently absent.

Visual Arts, Term 4

Welcome back for another amazing term in Visual Arts!

In Foundation (Prep), we will be focussing on the following art skills: claywork, drawing and painting. They will experiment with making a letter tile using pottery clay. Prep students will learn simple techniques such as rolling, coiling and scoring to make the letter of their name and decorate their tile. They will learn how to create a still life by drawing, taking inspiration from Henri Matisse. Prep students will study self portraits created by artists such as Yayoi Kusama and Vincent Van Gogh and learn how to draw faces and bodies to portray how they would like to be seen.

Art Skills: claywork, drawing and painting

Art Elements and Principles: form and repetition and pattern

Artists covered: Henri Matisse, Yayoi Kusama and Vincent Van Gogh

Picture Book used: Matisse's Garden by Samantha Friedman

In Grade 1 and 2, our art foci for the term are: claywork, drawing and painting. They will experinment with making a marble maze or tic tac toe board with moveable pieces using pottery clay. Students wil utilise techniques such as rolling, coiling, scoring and slipping (i.e. applying water to bond) when creating their game boards. They will look into still life paintings by contemporary artists such as David Hockney and will draw still life of objects emphasising on the use of lines to create light, texture and composition. Students will also explore different types of self portraits by artists such as Frida Kahlo and Paul Klee. They will learn how to draw faces and bodies in the style of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Art Skills: claywork, drawing and painting

Art Elements and Principles: form, line, contrast and emphasis

Artists covered: Henri Matisse, David Hockney, Frida Kahlo, Paul Klee

Picture Book used: Matisse's Garden by Samantha Friedman

Grade 3 and 4 students also focus on claywork, drawing and painting this term. They will experiment with making pumpkin pinch pots using terracotta clay. Students will utilise and acquire simple techniques such as rolling, pinching, scoring, slipping (i.e. applying water to bond) and carving when creating their pumpkin pinch pots. They will investigate impressionist artists such as Renoir and Monet, in particular, their still life paintings. Students will learn to use lines to create light, texture and composition when drawing and painting still life of objects.

Art Skills: claywork, drawing and painting

Art Elements and Principles: form, line, texture, contrast and emphasis

Artists covered: Vincent Van Gogh, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Claude Monet

Grade 5 and 6 students will investigate the works of Julian Opie, particularly his graphic portraits and animated walking figures. They will learn to use colour blocks, abstract and geometrical lines when drawing portraits and figures with chalks, oil pastels and black markers. They will explore glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly and Munaro glasswares and experimente with still life drawings of glasswares.

Grade 5 students will look at wax-resist dye technique with PVA glue and fabric paints. They will learn to apply this method when designing a T-shirt that best described them. Grade 6 students will study well-known skateboard deck artists such as Jim Phillips and learn to apply art elements and principles such as colour, line, balance and contrast when designing their skateboard decks.

P.E.

Regional Athletics

Earlier this week, one of our talented students, Ruby, proudly represented Pascoe Vale North Primary School and the entire Inner North Metro and Merri-bek region, at the Regional Athletics Championships.

With butterflies in her stomach, supportive parents cheering her on, and an outstanding display of sportsmanship, Ruby was an excellent representative of our school community.

Ruby competed in High Jump, achieving an incredible personal best of 142 cm and finishing 1st place overall! She will now advance to State Athletics, where she will compete against the best young athletes in Victoria.

We are so proud of Ruby’s effort, determination, and positive attitude. Congratulations, Ruby, and best of luck at States! 🎉👏

Prep	Niko Buttling
Grade 1	Jax Hogan
Grade 2	Oscar Vandervliet & Rekik Mitiku (runner up)
Grade 3	Ada Saxton
Grade 4	Melisa Bozalp
Grade 5	Naomi Mitiku
Grade 6	Angus Kendall

Spelling Championship 2025