Teaching and Learning
Room 7
Throughout term 1 and 2, room seven students have been working hard to improve their narrative writing skills. By using the Seven Steps resource, along with constantly working on using good grammar, we have improved greatly, to create well written and exciting narratives. Here are the Seven Steps that we use to support our writing (they don’t have to be used in order, other than step one which must be used first).
Step 1 - Plan for Success
We MUST plan before writing a story so that we have a good idea of the plot. This will ensure that we don’t waffle on and on and lose the interest of the reader.
Step 2 – Sizzling Start
Students start their stories at a moment of change. ‘Once upon a time’ is now banned! There are a few different sizzling starts students can use. It could be a sound – Bang! Or an action – ‘Woosh! The plate flew past the glistening chandelier, narrowly missing it.’ Or by using dialogue – “Help! Anyone out there?!”
Step 3 – Tightening Tension
Creating a strong tension scene where the main problem in the story occurs. Using short sharp descriptive sentences is one way that we can do this. Describing the surroundings of the character can too, for example ‘The crisp leaves rustled underfoot and the wind howled past my freezing ears’.
Step 4 – Dynamic Dialogue
When characters are speaking, it can make a scene more dynamic. It can move the plot forward and bring characters to life.
Step 5 – Show, Don’t Tell
This is all about painting words with pictures and using LOTS of detail. Instead of writing ‘Tom was angry’, it would be much more interesting to write ‘Tom’s face turned red. His face wrinkled and it was as if steam was coming out of his ears. Tom’s fists closed tight and THUD, he stomped his foot’.
Step 6 – Ban the Boring
Our days are so busy, we don’t have time to waffle on during story writing, so we get rid of any boring bits. The reader doesn’t need to know every detail of a character waking up, going down the stairs, patting the pet dog, putting the tv on, and eating their cereal. It’s all about the action!
Step 7 – Exciting Ending
This is taken care of during the planning stage. Students need to know how the story will end before they start writing their actual story, this keeps their writing on track. The use of ‘The End’ is extinct – we know it’s the end because the full stop tells us this. Some students have been finishing their narratives by writing about a lesson that was learnt by the main character. For example, ‘Kat was certain, she would never EVER walk off alone again’.
We hope you enjoy reading some of our narrative stories!
Speeding like cars - Freya
Walking fast - Savanah T
The school race - Addi
Tick tick tick - Bob
The race of the idiots - Szilard
Nihongo News
こんにちは,
Konnichiwa
Did you know that May 5th was Children's Day in Japan? It's a day when parents celebrate their children, wishing for them to grow up to be strong and healthy. Two key symbols for this celebration are the 'koi' fish and the 'samurai' warrior. They embody strength, courage, and determination, characteristics parents want for their children.
We began the term by learning about this Japanese festival and its traditions. The younger students made their own mini koi fish kites while the primary students worked on a collaborative project combining origami samurai helmets and koi fish!
さようなら、
Sayonara
Natasha Gilbert
Science News
We have had a very interesting and exciting few weeks. Students have studied living and non-living things, observed some taxidermy creations and greeted our new little friends who have joined us for two weeks. Say hi to our two little zebra finches, Kath and Kel. They are flighty, energetic and produce the sweetest sound! The students have enjoyed observing them flying from perch to perch and watching them sharpen their beaks on the cuttle fish!
PE News
It’s been a busy time recently in the school sport and physical education with students participating in many different games and activities.
Gymnastics
Last term we had Steph from AEROkids came for 4 weeks to introduce our students to Gymnastics and Aerobics. The students had a great time trying to move their bodies in different ways, hold poses and test their personal strengths. It was also a good opportunity for some of our more experienced students who do gymnastics to demonstrate skills for others to emulate.
Mountain Bike Championships
On Thursday 5th May (Term 2, Week 1), 4 of our Year 6 boys participated in the SAPSASA Mountain Bike Championships being held at Craigburn Farm.
Full credit goes to the team and their families for putting in the effort to organise their team, register, contribute their spare time to explore and practice on the track over the school holidays and coordinate with their parents to ferry them to and from the event.
Our team were up against formidable riders from across the state but finished a respectable 27 out of over 70 teams.
Well done West Beach, we look forward to putting in more teams next year!
(Team participants include – Kai Nixon, Jesse Mengel, Charlie Eastwood-Walkden and Tomas Beitz)
Cross Country
On Friday 6th May (Term 2, Week 1), many of our Year 4’s, 5’s, and 6’s participated in the SAPSASA Cross Country trials being held at Barrett Reserve, West Beach. There was considerable competition from many of the other schools in our district that challenged many of our students to test their endurance and stamina.
Caras Soliman ran 4th in his Yr 6 Boys trial, allowing him to qualify for the Airport District team.
With more practice I’m sure we will have many more qualifiers from West Beach in the future.
Swimming Championships
This year we had 3 students qualify to represent Airport District at the SAPSASA Swimming Championships being held at Marion Aquatic Centre. This swim meet allowed our students to compete against some of the best school-age swimmers in the state and they certainly did not disappoint.
Nic Davis was a part of the 12 year old Boys 4x50 metre freestyle relay and managed to win Gold!
Robbie Cole was part of the 10 year old Boys 4x50metre freestyle relay and also won Gold!
Zara Dobie qualified for multiple events and participated in the 11 year old Girls 4x50metre freestyle relay and came away with the Bronze.
An incredible effort from all our school participants in the pool.
Netball SA
This term we have members of Netball SA coming to our school to teach the students some of the skills needed to play Netball. Students are learning about how the game is played, the rules and strategies to be successful.
The instructors have also been sharing their knowledge to support our Knockout Netball Team who play their first games the week.
Coming up
Knockout Netball – Thursday 2nd June
Knockout Soccer – Monday 20th June
School Colour Run – Friday 1st July
Knockout Basketball – Thursday 11th August