Independence Centre

Curriculum

Selamat tinggal!

Week Ten! The final full week that students will have with their 2022 classroom teachers, before Step Up week begins next Tuesday in Week Eleven. As things come to a close this week, students will be spending time reflecting on their year and all that they have learned and achieved.

In Writing sessions last week, classes in the Independence Centre paired up to begin our biographical writing. Students were partnered with someone from another class and spent a session interviewing them to learn all they could in order to write a detailed and creative biography. In follow up sessions, students worked hard to include their writer’s voice in their biography and even spent some time getting feedback and editing with their partner.

Last week, we came to the end of the text Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. While it was a sad end to the story, the students had lots of thoughtful ideas about the impact that the real Sadako Sasaki has had on the world. We were able to learn information about the Children’s Peace Monument in the Hiroshima Peace Park, and how people from across the world still place paper cranes at the base of the monument. Students spent time analysing the way that the character of Sadako changed throughout the story, and what events or evidence from the text impacted her character.

Students in the Independence Centre were thrown in the Learning Pit last week with a variety of problem solving activities in maths sessions. They used strategies such as estimating to make reasonable attempts at challenges, and worked collaboratively with their classmates to find probable solutions. We will continue building these skills this week as well, with some more fun problem solving activities that incorporate a wide range of mathematical concepts and thinking.

In Guided Inquiry sessions, students continued to work with their groups to create their islands. We look forward to seeing the finished products being uploaded to Seesaw very soon! The weather finally cleared up at the end of last week, and the students were able to test out the solar ovens that they had constructed in Science sessions last week with a delicious treat of smores on Friday. Finally, in Wellbeing across the week the classes spoke about problems with multiple possible solutions. We used the analogy of a roundabout to illustrate the many different routes you can take to solve a problem, but how some may be a better path than others. This is always a great way to discuss any problems or issues with your children at home as well.

Have a wonderful week,

Miss Chooi, Miss Richardson, Miss Wang, Mrs McCoy, Miss Tillotson and Miss Honan

Student Voice:

Kayla S - “I enjoyed working on our island in Guided Inquiry because I like working together with my group.”
Arav C - “My favourite thing was cooking smores because I got to eat extra chocolate and biscuits!”
Jack K - “I enjoyed PE because I liked doing somersaults.”

Pupil of the Week

3/4C: Milla K -

For demonstrating a love of learning by challenging yourself to uplevel your vocabulary and use different techniques such as adding personal opinions and quotes to your writing.

3/4H: Jude M -

For demonstrating curiosity and teamwork when interviewing and writing a biography of your peer. You curated some very detailed questions to find out more about them.

3/4M: Claire S -

For demonstrating creativity and a love of learning when writing a biography about a classmate. It was excellent to see you include your writer’s voice through your writing.

3/4R: Julia N -

For demonstrating a love of learning and critical thinking when responding to questions about Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. You used quotes from the text to justify your ideas.

3/4T: Olivia C -

For demonstrating a love of learning and creativity Guided Inquiry. You worked with your team to design everything that goes into your island including an impressive flag and even tiny food!

3/4W: Harry W -

For demonstrating perseverance and a love of learning this week when you found the volume of your lunchbox design in Maths and wrote a detailed biography in Writing.