From the 5/6 Classrooms
Museums in Motion: End of Term Expo
On Thursday, June 25th, students across the school had the opportunity to showcase their learning and celebrate the incredible work they have produced throughout Term 2. Our whole school concept of Perspective came to life as students shared their understanding, creativity and learning with families and the wider school community.
For our Team 5/6 students, this celebration took the form of a Museum Expo, where students transformed their learning into interactive exhibits that highlighted their understanding of history, storytelling and the power of seeing the world through different perspectives.
Bringing History to Life: Historical Figures
Students researched a historical figure who helped shape the Australia we know today. This inquiry required students to use higher order thinking skills as they researched, evaluated and synthesised information from a range of sources.
Students created digital information presentations, carefully considering the who, what, when, where and how of their chosen person’s life. As part of this process, students developed important research skills, including recording sources, citing information and creating bibliographies.
To deepen their understanding, students then stepped into the shoes of their historical figure by writing and performing a monologue from that person’s perspective. This challenged students to consider what their person may have been thinking and feeling at significant moments in their life.
Students also prepared question cards for visitors, allowing them to share their knowledge and respond to questions about their historical figure. During the expo, students embraced their characters and confidently shared their learning with our visitors.
Exploring Ned Kelly and The Green Sash
As part of their exploration of the text Ned Kelly and the Green Sash by Mark Greenwood, students investigated this significant period of Australian history and developed their understanding through a range of creative responses.
Students wrote newspaper articles based on events from Ned Kelly’s life, combining factual information with creative thinking. They incorporated the key features of a newspaper article, including headlines, subheadings, images, captions, opinions and persuasive techniques.
Students also created a unique piece of writing titled The Green Sash Soliloquy. Inspired by the green sash Ned Kelly received as a young boy for bravery after saving a classmate from drowning, students wrote from the perspective of the sash itself. They explored questions such as what the sash witnessed throughout Ned Kelly’s life, how it felt seeing Ned change over time, and where it may have ended up.
These imaginative pieces demonstrated incredible creativity, empathy and deep understanding of character and perspective.
A True Cross-Curricular Celebration
The learning showcased at the expo brought together many areas of the curriculum in a meaningful and engaging way. Students were required to draw on a range of skills across English, Humanities, Digital Technologies, Visual Arts and Performing Arts, while developing a deeper understanding of perspective.
Across English, students engaged with all modes of literacy - reading, writing, speaking and listening. They read and researched historical texts, developed their ability to locate, interpret and synthesise information, and created a range of written responses for different audiences and purposes. Students explored the features of different text types, including information reports, newspaper articles, monologues and soliloquies, carefully considering language choices and how authors communicate ideas and viewpoints.
Through their History learning, students investigated significant people, events and stories that have contributed to Australia’s past and present. Students developed their historical knowledge and understanding, while also exploring historical concepts and skills such as chronology, cause and consequence, significance and perspective. This included opportunities to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures, considering the importance of diverse experiences, stories and voices in understanding Australia’s history.
Digital Technologies were embedded throughout the learning journey, with students using a range of digital tools to research, organise information, create presentations and communicate their learning in engaging ways. Students also developed important digital literacy skills, including acknowledging sources, citing information and creating bibliographies.
The inclusion of monologues and soliloquies connected learning with Performing Arts, as students used voice, expression and performance skills to bring their historical figures and perspectives to life for an audience.
Students also applied the capabilities of critical and creative thinking and personal and social capability as they collaborated with peers, managed complex tasks, demonstrated perseverance and used problem-solving skills throughout the inquiry process.
Adding to the museum experience, students also displayed their incredible Visual Arts work inspired by Australian artist Sidney Nolan. Exploring his iconic Ned Kelly series, students created their own interpretations of the famous bushranger, using Nolan’s artwork as inspiration while developing their own artistic choices and perspectives.
The Museums in Motion Expo was a wonderful celebration of student learning, creativity and the many ways we can view history through different perspectives.
Reggie Cup
We had a very successful bike riding program this term. We did this in Reggie Cup which is our program for those students who did not do an Interschool Sport. We encourage all students to enjoy the benefits of all types of physical activity including bike riding. We are lucky to have many wonderful bike trails in Melbourne. You might want to explore one of these in the holidays!
