Inquiry: Semester One

It’s New, It’s Different!

First day back and students in Years 7 to 9 were wondering….what is this ‘Inquiry’ subject?  First classes in and it started to become clear that this was very different to anything they had experienced before. How can you have a Science teacher, a PE teacher and an English teacher all working together to teach? How is an Arts teacher going to teach Science? What do you mean ‘Big Question?’ SO many questions to be answered in a subject that is all about questioning, thinking, creating and responding.

Year 7 – ‘Who am I?’

We started our ‘seeding’ phase by exploring the body, emotions and mental health, the impact of culture and family on identity and how we are all just a number somewhere. The Year 7’s visited the State library to participate in the Project Launchpad program where they did a one day Inquiry into a library artefact. We covered skills such as how to correctly reference, how to write a range of questions and how to find information in multiple sources. Students then began to Inquire into an area of their choice which culminated in a Celebration of Learning evening on the 21st June.

Year 8 – ‘How can an entrepreneur meet the needs and wants of The Lakes community?’

This unit was all about bringing out the inner business person in everyone. We learnt about planning, marketing (finding the Purple Cow), budgeting and sales. As part of the $20 Boss project students chose groups to work in and designed, created and sold products on the Middle Years Campus. With such a wide range of businesses students were spoilt for choice for 3 weeks as things such as slime, fruit salad, and pancakes were enjoyed. Huge lessons were learnt about what it takes to get a business up and running and so with that in mind students regrouped and focussed on the much anticipated return of Market Day to The Lakes. What a mind blowing day was had on the Early Years Campus as food, drink, goods and services were enjoyed by all.

Year 9 – ‘How can scientific or mathematical concepts be used to create art?’

Our seeding phase began with immersion into art as we visited the National Gallery of Victoria twice to be inspired by the Triennial exhibition. Learning at school focused on a range of scientific and mathematical concepts such as how the eye sees colour, perspective and anamorphic art. We built skills in painting, drawing, and sculpture in preparation for students to let their minds go and explore how they could create an individual piece of art based on a mathematical or scientific concept. The results were exhibited at our Art Gallery Night on the 21st June where we were joined by representatives from the Tech School, local primary schools and parents. Feedback on the night included statements such as ‘amazing’, ‘beautiful’, ‘weird but cool!’.