Investigation Time

Curriculum Overview Term 2

Humanities
Personal and Family Historiesprovides students with the opportunity to learn about their own history and that of their family; this may include stories from a range of cultures and other parts of the world. As participants in their own history, students build on their knowledge and understanding of how the past is different from the present.

Science
On the move allows for students to investigate the way objects move depending on a variety of factors including their size and shape: a push or a pull affects how an object moves or changes shape. Students pose and respond to questions about familiar objects and events and predict outcomes of investigations.

These concepts are taught through explicit classroom lessons and throughout Investigation sessions. This allows students to explore and learn in meaningful and tangible ways.

Investigation Times are structured as follows:

Tuning in – All children begin in their own classroom and are tuned in to current learning foci and goals. Three Focus Students, a Reporter and Photographer are rostered from each grade every session. The teacher assists them to plan their investigations for the day by discussing the area they would like to work in and what their plans are.

Investigation time – Children take part in self-directed learning for approximately an hour. Students choose the area they would like to work at and are free to move between the three Foundation rooms. Some of the Learning Centres are related to our Inquiry unit for the term (Science & Humanities curriculum), whilst others are developed around student interest. There are often ongoing projects that the children return to work on. The teacher spends time scaffolding each Focus Student and their learning.

Reflection – Students return to their classroom where the Focus Students, Reporter and Photographer share their learning while the teacher draws out specific links to Literacy, Numeracy, Science, Humanities or developmental learning objectives. This is the most important time for all children to see the connections between what they have been learning through play to formal learning goals. The children enjoy these special roles and take great pride in sharing their learning. We encourage families to discuss your child's investigations with them at home.