The specialist spotlight

Visual Arts – Susan Dowey

During Science Week all students created a picture of a scientist for display.

Grade Prep have been using a range of art techniques to create artworks about weather.  In the photographs shown they experimented with wax resist watercolour paintings.

Grade 1/2 have been working on a collaged artwork of a bird nest. They have learned about what materials birds use to build their nests and replicated this using scrap art materials.

Grade 3/4 have learned about textiles and have created a loom using a paper plate and wool.  Before beginning their weaving students decorated the plate to add a colourful background to their woven artwork.

Grade 5/6 started this term by making a cardboard frame to display their botanical artwork which they made in term 2.  They are now learning about the Pop Art Movement and will be creating their own artwork inspired by the work of Roy Lichtenstein.

STEM – Erin Donnelly and Tracy Budin

Students have been learning about Food and Fibre production in Term 3. 

In Grades 1/2, students have been learning about plant lifecycles. We planted seedlings in recyclable tubs and observed the changes over time. We have also started exploring how technology can improve our lives. Students have been eager to use our Dash robots, programming them with commands and watching as the robots complete each sequence of steps.

Grades 3/4 have been learning about the way foods start with fresh ingredients that are then processed and/or cooked for ease of use – you may have heard about our popcorn and butter-making already. Questions they have brainstormed for their market research on packed lunches are being asked, tallied and analysed. Students will consider this data when designing a tasty, colourful and fun healthy lunchbox. Along the way, we will make hummus and cook some healthy oat bars.

In Grades 5/6, students have been learning about different farming productions and processes. We visited a virtual egg farm to explore the technology used to get eggs from the farm to our pantry. We also planted seed potatoes to observe their growth and are looking forward to harvesting them later in Term 4. Our goal is to grow enough potatoes so that we can cook something together!

Students have applied their knowledge of technology in food production by creating model designs using the LEGO Prime kits. They have been building machines such as “grabbers” and “conveyor belts,” and will soon learn how to program these machines to follow their instructions.

Library – Taylah Ryan

We are excited to welcome Miss Ryan to our specialist team – Miss Ryan will be teaching in the Library for the remainder of this year. 

Please remember to bring your Library bags on your library day: 

‘I am thrilled to be joining the Specialist team for the rest of the year in the library, and I look forward to getting to know everyone and producing amazing work in our beautiful library space.’

P.E – Tracy Budin

For the next 4 weeks the whole school will be doing a gymnastics unit. This will be age-levelled with a focus on moving our bodies in interesting ways, and keeping them safe. Please have your child/ren wear tights or pants to tuck their shirts into – this provides modesty and confidence to roll, stretch and tumble a bit.

Socks are a MUST – students will remove their shoes so they MUST be able to put them back on themselves.

The Last 5 WEEKS: 

Grade Prep-2 We have been working on our listening and team-work skills in relay games, catching and throwing, and recently kicking skills. We are practising how to get ready for activities by learning some quick ways to get ready for games – like Ladder Partners, Wall Partners, Pizza Corners and Circle Time.

Grade 3-6 We have been learning the skills of our Olympic Athletics’ Teams – shot put, discus, long jump, high jump, relay baton changes, hurdling, how to start a fast race and even triple jump. Students have been surprised at how easy it is to perform these skills when they focus on them. We have a very good Little Athletics Club in Craigieburn that you might want to go to when the season starts in September: https://www.craigieburnlac.com.au/