It's a disaster!

Term 4 is fast becoming a disaster term!!! Well, during Science and Geography anyway.

During Science this term, Stage 3 will be exploring plate tectonics and the devastating results of this process. I will be putting some information on the Science tab of this blog to help with the students investigations. Our first Homework task is also on this tab.

During Geography, we will be looking at bush fires and how they shape our environment and how we interact with our environment. More information about Geography will be added to the Geography tab as it becomes more relevant.

Our first Geography lesson sparked the students' interest as we learned about the Fire Triangle and the three things a fire needs to continue combustion.

I ran a few simple experiments in front of the class and we had a big discussion on what a fire needs to continue. Each student wrote a few observations from the experiment as well as what they learned from watching a short documentary on the 2009 Victorian fires.

MACC City

During Geography this term students have been exploring the concepts of how natural environments affect how people construct built environments. Our final activity was to plan and construct a city in the Stage 3 play area. This city was then visited by some classes in the infants and their Ozobots.

Throughout the term students have been learning about the processes of town planning. During these lessons they have been challenged to come up with solutions to problems where there is no clear correct answer. Problems that mean that one group in society would be benefited, while another group might be disadvantaged. They have grown in their appreciation of negotiation, compromise and the greater good of a community.

In preparing for constructing MACC City students were placed into groups of 4 and where given the roles of: Project manager, Civil engineer, Environmental Specialist, Planner. While taking on these roles students planned a town based on the shape of the Stage 3 play area using a scale. Each group worked on giving a report as to how their role and involvement helped shape their town.

A final design was chosen and each group in Stage 3 where given a structure to build in 3D. The stage 3 students were then tasked with the responsibility to help the infants program their Ozobots to drive on the roads.

 

Nothing like taking on a role and actively participating in a project when learning. Lots of great memories and maybe a future town planner or two.

What are the chances?

We have been exploring Probability in Maths this fortnight. Students have been asked two questions:

1. What is the difference between Theoretical and Experimental Probability?
2. How do you represent Theoretical Probability as a fraction?

Today students also enjoyed a game of Greedy Pig, which had students thinking of the probability of rolling a number 2. I'm sure they would love to play this game with you.

We have been focusing a lot this term on our attitude to Maths. Phrases like 'I get smarter when I work harder', and 'FAIL is just my First Attempt In Learning', 'When it is hard then that's good because I can learn'. There are many students who are growing quickly in their attitude to learning and their grasp of difficult concepts. 

I want to especially congratulate Eashan and Ryne for their Mathematics awards.