Kaayi! Can you believe it is Week 10 already? Easter was a lovely little teaser leading into the school holidays. The teachers are busy before and after school with parent teacher interviews this week and next week. I thank them for giving this time and I hope that parents and carers are finding the time valuable too. Don't forget that ongoing communication is something we encourage, so please feel you can check in at anytime throughout the year, whether it be through Seesaw or to make an appointment to speak to your class teacher.
This week, I would like to highlight the work your children have been doing in Science and Technology and in weekly library lessons. In Science, all three classes have been working on physical science and learning about forces. Kindergarten have been learning about push and pull and will be designing and making their own push/pull toy. Year 1 and Year 2 have been learning about simple machines and have studied Rube Goldberg machines. They will be designing and making their own Rube Goldberg pet feeder machine.
These design tasks require the use of thinking skills. Thinking skills encompass a set of higher-order thinking processes that include critical thinking, creative thinking, problem-solving, decision-making and metacognition (understanding how we think). They help learners use cognitive processes strategically to gather, analyse, evaluate and use information to reason, make decisions and generate new ideas. They are increasingly necessary for success in the workplace and everyday life.
In library we have been reading stories that focus on characters who have a problem and discuss the thinking skills and dispositions the character needs to use to solve the problem. Kindergarten have been introduced to Captain Disposition and his seven super powers you can use when you have a problem to solve. They are:
* Open Minded
* Flexible
* Risk Taker
* Resourceful
* Patient and Persistent
* Ubiquitous Learner
* Reflective
Year 1 and Year 2 have reviewed their dispositions and have been crunching their brains with mini challenges such as, thinking of alternative uses for an object, make a picture from a squiggle and FOO fighting (ask the kids). The activities encourage divergent thinking and are great warm ups before we get into our designing and making.
We also teach component's of the iSTEM process, which is an industry-recognised engineering design process and scaffolds the understanding and application of design thinking. In addition, all three classes have engaged in digital technology lessons, learning about coding and the use of robotics. Year 1 and Year 2 have been challenged to include robotics in their Rube Goldberg machine design.
Next week we will see all three classes applying their knowledge of the content taught in Science, as well as using their thinking skills and dispositions to complete a design challenge. Check Seesaw for more information in the coming days and we will be sharing our work on Seesaw.
Have a great weekend. Stay safe and dry!
Lisa Hughes
Principal
