Tag: Inquiry

CERES Excursion! Grade 4

Last Friday the Grade 4 students went on an excursion to CERES Community Environment Park to learn more about our Inquiry topic ‘Beautifully Sustainable.’ In the classrooms, students have been working on their Inquiry Rich Task, in which they are repurposing materials to create a new, environmentally friendly object. CERES provided an opportinity for students to come up with additional ideas or other ways to improve their Rich Task. 

While at CERES, students enthusiastically participated in a range of environmental education workshops. 

In the ‘Rethinker Tinker’ workshop students discussed solutions to single-use plastic. They then followed one of two designs to repurpose their old T-shirts into new reusable bags. Students were proud of their bags and will hopefully use them at home.

In the ‘Paper Making’ workshop the Grade 4s learnt about how paper is made and the impact paper production has on the environment. Students got the chance to make their own paper. They used pulp made from recycled paper and a piece of equipment called deckle. At the end of the workshop, students learnt about lots of different materials that recycled paper can be made from. 

Students enjoyed spending time in ‘Sustainable Gardening’ workshop. During this workshop, students learnt about the requirements for a healthy and productive organic garden. They investigated worm farms, companion planting, hunting for ‘minibeasts’ to feed the chickens and weeding. 

During the ‘Farm Task’ workshop, students explored a working crop farm. Students investigated the different types of crops that can be grown, seeds, importance of soil pH and how the sun can affect how crops grow. They then went into the chicken pen to learn about how chickens and bees are used at CERES to promote a sustainable and organic farm. 

Kind regards,

The Grade 4 Team

Scienceworks Excursion

Last Friday we visited Scienceworks, because we have been learning all about Wild and Wonderful Weather in our Inquiry Learning Unit!

First we went to the Lightning Room to watch a show called ‘What’s With The Weather.’ We learnt that weather is controlled by three factors: temperature, moisture and changes in the way the air moves (wind). We got to see some wacky weather experiments like how to make a cloud in a bottle and how to make rain and… we even got to see real lightning flash before our eyes!! It was really cool. We also visited the STEM Lab where we transformed and turned into engineers, our mission was to work together to build and test solutions to the challenges faced by Dot, the main character in an interactive story. We worked really well and came up with some creative designs!

After that we explored the museum and exhibitions, some of our favourite parts were: racing our friends at the Cathy Freeman running race, experimenting with different sounds in the sound room, seeing one of the first ever computers which is the same size of our classroom and playing the exercise and diamond game.

We had an awesome time at Scienceworks, it was a spectacular experience for all!

World of Robotics

Grade 2 students delved into the ‘World of Robotics’ today. Students explored the design and technology that goes into planning such a unique life-like machine. 

Thus far in our Term 4 Inquiry unit, ‘Ch-Ch-Changes’, students have explored the evolution and development of technology through the ages. Our unit has a large focus on modern technologies, hardware, software and the commands that make technology function. 

Students overall enthusiasm and engagement in today’s incursion and the unit thus far has been great to see. Here are some snapshots from the ‘World of Robotics’ incursion.


Foundation Fun in Term 3

Our Foundation students have had a wonderful Term 3. We have engaged in many new learning opportunities across our Numeracy and Literacy areas, as well as our exciting Inquiry unit ‘Living Things’.

Visit from Bunnings Warehouse

Earlier in the term, our Foundation students had the pleasure of working alongside Bunning’s team members to explore the Inquiry unit ‘Living Things’. Students participated in three (very hands-on) rotations to discover how nature represents itself as a ‘living thing’. Students asked valuable questions during the experience and made connections through learning about the life cycle of plants, flowers and trees. 

Direct experiences included: 

Planting a Seed…

Have any of your seeds sprouted at home? 😊

Flowers to Fruit…

Foundation students had the best time filling the pots with soil in an ‘Amazing Race’ competition style. These deciduous fruit trees live just outside the Foundation wing where we can easily observe them. Two have just started to flower! Maybe we will have some fruit later in the year?

Garden Project…

All hands on deck here! Foundation students take great pride in this area, so imagine how lush and beautiful this garden section will look when our students are in Grade 5/6.