The Post You've All Been Waiting For!

...or perhaps not!

I'd like to share the task that 46A will be working on during their Senior Lab sessions for the rest of term. They have received a brief to keep in their ICT folder, and I have uploaded a copy here as well, in case they want a reminder of the parameters to work on it at home and bring it in on a USB to put into their group's presentation. We will be asking them to present in the last week of school, after which I will upload the presentations (or those that students are okay with having theirs uploaded) so you can see what they can do!

Prior to commencing this project, students have had experience navigating Microsoft Power Point and learning some of the vital functions. This project aims to have them show that they can use those functions to communicate or add to a particular message (in this case, facts about an era in the Earth's geological history).

For students who would like direct links to the resources we used in class, voila:

History of Earth
Geologic Eras Animated - A LineStorm Video on YouTube

The Hadean Era
The Hadean and Archaen Eras - A VAAF Presentation on YouTube (Hadean Era finishes at 2:51)
Hadean: Overview - Smithsonian Institute (Natural History)
Hadean Era for Kids - Scienceforkids.com

The Archaen Era
The Hadean and Archaean Eras - A VAAF Presentation on YouTube (Archaen Era starts at 2:52)
Achaean Era for Kids - Scienceforkids.com
Achaean Era - By BBC Nature

The Proterozoic Era
The Proterozoic Era - A VAAF Presentation on YouTube
Proterozoic Era - Scienceforkids.com
The Proterozoic Era - Life Gets More Complicated - Fossil Facts and Finds

The Paleozoic Era
Geologic History of the Earth - YouTube
Paleozoic Era: Facts and Info - LiveScience.com Happenings During the Paleozoic Era - Window 2 The Universe

The Mesozoic Era
Expedition Earth - The Mesozoic EraA video on YouTube
Happenings During the Mesozoic Era - Window 2 The Universe
Mesozoic Dinosaurs - Enchanted Learning

The Cenozoic Era
Life in Cenozoic TimesA TMWMedia Presentation on YouTube
Happenings During the Cenozoic Era - Window 2 The Universe
Cenozoic Era: Facts About Climate, Animals and Plants - Live Science

Onwards, time travellers!
-Ang

Almost halfway there...

This term is absolutely flying. I know, I know - I say it every week - but I can't believe how far into Term 1 we are already!

Before I begin, a quick thank you to those who came along to the Information Night on Wednesday - our appreciation to you for braving the somewhat revolting weather and coming along to hear what's new and what's happening.

This week is relatively interruption-free! We have our usual round of specialists - Monday morning is Music and Indonesian, Tuesday morning is Library, Footsteps and Senior Lab, Thursday we have Art before lunch and Friday we have 5/6 Sport/Year 4 debating first, PE and then 3/4 Sport after morning tea. A reminder that there are lots of notes out at the moment - Going Green With Doctor Deane and House Athletics permission slips (everyone), UMPC order forms (Year 4) and Camp Rumbug Deposits (Year 5). As always, homework is due tomorrow morning (Monday).

We looked at the Clock of Eras last week. We will be breaking it up into bits over the next few weeks, and students will be offered experiments, modelling activities and multimedia tasks to complete to explore each of the eras in more depth. Our Big Bang Big Book is just about finished and is on display in the classroom if you have time to pop in after school to have a look.

I wanted to share briefly about a book that I have recently acquired (unfortunately receiving it in eBook format, so I am unable to lend it out - but it is available through the Google Play Store, and I suspect it is only a matter of time before Amazon stocks it for Kindle as well). Some of you may be familiar with Dan O'Donnell's 1996 publication 'Montessori in Australia and New Zealand'. It was the definitive guide to the movement's past in Australasia for quite some time - in fact, until last year, when Susan Feez published her 'Montessori: The Australian Story'. Feez' book includes accounts of significant events in the Montessori movement in the interim between 1996 and 2013, but also goes back to expand on events from the early Montessorians' experience in setting up, and in many cases, having deconstructed, educational programs from birth to 12 years. Feez has included much archived materials about these tenacious women and men which make for a fascinating read. If you are interested in skimming over an excerpt, or in downloading it, you can find more information here.

I am in the process of updating the flickr photostream, so check back before school starts this week for new work samples.

See you tomorrow,
Ang =)

Week 4 Already!

Hard to believe we are nearly a month into the school year already, isn't it? Time is certainly flying.

I have updated our flickr photostream with photos of a couple of homework projects and two spelling activities from last week. We were dazzled with Nick's cinematographic talents that accompanied his book, too! It was wonderful seeing so much effort being put in. There have been a few questions this week about the 'Personal Project' block on the grid - so a quick run down about what needs to be done in case you or your child are curious:

What is a personal project?
The personal project can be organised in one of two ways - either as a one-week 'mini-project' or as a long-term project negotiated with the child's teacher. Either way, the quality of work (including research AND presentation) should be in proportion to the amount of time allocated. A one-week project might be one page of work in the student's homework book; a long-term project might be a multiple-slide PowerPoint presentation or a separate booklet of work. It might be one science experiment and its write-up if it is a mini-project; it might be a series of observations and diagrams of plant or animal growth or change if it is a long-term project. Regardless of the size and scope of the project, the subject should be one of interest to the child. The method of presentation should also be of interest to them - and within the realm of their capabilities.

We are proud of the students in 46A who trialled for the swimming team representing the school later this week. Congratulations to those who are attending the district carnival. We wish you lots of good luck and a warm day, and look forward to hearing how things go when you return!

We have our Information Night on Wednesday this week; I hope to see lots of parents in attendance and I'm looking forward to introducing you to our environment and program of work for the year! The following day, Kathy Lawson will be holding the second round of Parent Helper Induction sessions - if you did not make it to last week's session, she will be meeting interested parents in the morning and afternoon in the library (check the Mitchat for exact times).

Notes currently out and due back include: Going Green With Dr. Deane Science Show (everyone), UMPC Order Form (Year 4 only) and Camp Deposit (Year 5 only).

See you tomorrow,
Ang

Heading into Week 3...

Good morning, everyone! Hope you are all staying cool.

Hard to believe we are heading into Week 3 already! Special goings-on this week include Alice auditions on Monday (Year 5 only), Footsteps on Tuesday (everyone) and swimming trials on Wednesday (those who have expressed interest to Miss Ellis). We also have our first round of homework due tomorrow (Monday 10th February). Return of notes for the 'Going Green With Doctor Deane' science show would also be appreciated - the earlier, the better.

Our first newsletter of the year is going to print tomorrow, but if you would like an 'advance copy', you can find it here. It includes an expression of interest form for anyone attached to 46A who would like to help out in the classroom this year. Mrs. Lawson will be holding induction training for new volunteers and a refresher course for returners over the next few weeks, so if you need to get a Working With Children Check or a renewal of your old one, this would be a good time to do it (both a WWCC and training are necessary before being able to volunteer in the classroom).

For those who did not get a copy of the Alice script from me on Friday but want to audition tomorrow, the part you need to remember is below.

'Many a day we rowed together on that quiet stream, the three little maidens, Duckworth and I - and many a fairy tale had been told for their benefit. Yet none of these many tales got written down, they lived and died like summer midges, each in its golden afternoon, until there came a day when one of my listeners begged that the tale be written out for her...'

See you tomorrow!
Ang =)

Week 2!

Good evening everyone!

We have had a strong start to the term so far! We began our specialist classes and Footsteps Dance this week as well as heading to the Library and Senior Lab for the first time. Level group sport begins at school on Friday. In the classroom, we have recommenced our viewing of Behind The News (BTN) and our use of the weekly maths revision sheets and spelling matrix (as well as the materials, of course!).

Today I have sent home the lifestyle grid for homework this term. A copy can also be found here. Please read the information and discuss it with your child, and if you would like more background to Ian Lillico's work on the grid, please pop a note in via your child's diary - I have a handout I am happy to send home for you. The same goes with any questions you may have about the homework - questions are welcome and I will do my best to answer them quickly. Some examples can be found on our flickr photostream, located here. I have used examples from my book to begin with. We will add to this as the term progresses. The first due date for homework is next Monday (10th February).

Quick reminders for this week: Year 5 students interested in being on the IT team have a meeting first half of recess on Thursday; nomination speeches for Junior School Council and Sustainability Monitors will be held on Friday; auditions for 'Alice: The Musical' will be on Monday (YEAR 5 ONLY)so get some practice in over the next few days.

Bye for now,
Ang