Unplugged Sorting Networks

An unplugged sorting network will sort a group of random numbers from the smallest to the largest. The students had to work through a process of deciding which of the numbers were greater than or smaller than before moving them through the network.



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Computational Thinking - We are learning to think like a computer scientist!

Over lockdown period, us teachers were learning all about the new digital technologies curriculum. We are so excited to knuckle down and get into teaching it now!

This week we kickstarted some new learning within the curriculum. Each base group has been learning all about algorithms, debugging codes, logical sequencing and computational thinking.

Computational thinking is the process of approaching a problem in a systematic manner and creating and expressing a solution. But you don't need to be a computer scientist to think like a computer scientist!

Here is a video with some more info on the digital technologies curriculum.

Check out some of our learning from this week!

Mini beasts in our garden- Our Blue Planet inquiry

For Our Blue Planet inquiry, we have been learning about all the small creatures that live in our gardens. We have focused on insects and lizards, in particular.

We have learned about insects and their body parts, as well as how important they are for our planet.

We have learned about how lizards and skinks are both lizards but they have some different characteristics. Did you know that skinks can't climb trees but geckos can? And geckos don't have eyelids!

We are now designing models of lizard habitats, making sure that our models have all the things lizards would love to have in their homes.

Symmetrical Insects

We have been learning about the line of symmetry in shapes around us. We went on a hunt for shapes at school that had lines of symmetry.

We also studied how some animals, in particular insects, have beautiful symmetrical patterns. We designed our insects and made patterns for them. We used different art materials to decorate our insects.

Minibeasts

As part of our ongoing inquiry into the world of creatures we have spent the week looking at different aspects of life in the soil, trees, and beyond. The students have enjoyed getting outside to dig around or creating creatures to add to a wall display and delving into the magical world of bees.



Students have loved digging about in the compost and our gardens to see what could be found. We searched different areas of the school with gloves, microscopes and identification sheets to investigate how healthy our soil is and also what is lurking amongst the leaf litter.

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We found the big kids playground didn't give us what we really wanted which were bugs, centipedes, spiders and worms. But boy did the garden and our compost produce the goods!



You will also be happy to know that no minibeasts were injured or sent home in book bags and were all returned safe and sound to their happy places.

Camouflage and habitats

In literacy we have also been making links to the wonderful world of creatures and habitats. Students have been creating different habitats and will add creatures that flourish in these areas. The triarama have taken a lot of patience and Perseverance but the results have been fantastic.




Another literacy group have been investigating camouflage and how animals use camouflage for protection or when sneaking up on their prey.



Students have plastered gecko and skinks around the classroom carefully adding colour and texture to their bodies to help them blend into their environments.