Central Idea

Overtime, living things needs to adapt in order to survive

Learner Profile

Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Open-minded, Caring

Concepts

Causation – Why is it the way it is?

Change - How does it change?

Responsibility – What is our responsibility?

To begin our unit of inquiry, year 1 students were set a challenge. Each student had one of their legs loosely tied to another classmate’s. For the afternoon, students had to consider how they could adapt their behaviour to function effectively.

As a provocation, we visited the Botanical Gardens where they showed us how plants and some animals have adapted overtime.

To complete the unit, students created dioramas depicting an animal in its habitat. They also wrote information reports about animal of their choice.

Student Voice

Eamon: “I liked making the dioramas and finding out more about animals in episodes of Life. I found out that frogs protect themselves with their soft skin and can make themselves look like a rock.”

Erin: “My favourite things was when we got tied together and we got to know each other. I learnt that animals, humans and pants have to adapt in order to survive. Some animals have to move if there is danger in the area and some animals have to pretend they’re dead."

Zander: “I liked that we got to make our own animal habitat. I learnt that to catch fish, some whales beat their tale on the sand and when fish jump out, they catch them in their mouth.”

Miriam: “I enjoyed making dioramas. I liked that because we learn about animals. I picked an animal that I didn’t know a lot about so I could learn more. Did you know, that when echidnas are born, it doesn’t hurt the mother because the skin becomes numb? Also, echidna spikes are poisonous.”

Madeleine: “My favourite part was doing dioramas. I love making stuff and I love art and I love making a big mess! I learnt that black panthers can jump half a tennis court.”

Central Idea

Culture, beliefs and values are expressed through traditions.

Learner Profile

Inquirer, Knowledgeable, Open-minded

 Key Concepts

Form, Perspective

Provocation

Mrs Swan & Mr Scroope gave a topic talk to all of Year 1 about their own family’s beliefs, values and traditions.

We have been exploring different values and cultures and how these can be expressed through celebrations and traditions. We have also compared how our own family's celebrate and commemorate different celebrations and traditions and how our culture is expressed.

Excursion to Atrium: Year 1 learnt explored the liturgical season of Advent during a visit to the Atrium at St John Vianney’s Primary School this month. The Atrium is a space in which visitors can pray and are free to spend their time exploring books, creating artworks, writing, playing music and learning about artefacts and symbols that are used to express Church tradition. Among the many things students learnt was the meaning of the colours behind each liturgical season. At the end of the visit, students were asked what they learnt. Here are some of their answers:

“That green is for growing time and white is for celebration.” Mary

“We are the sheep of Jesus.” Emma

“I learnt that it does not matter if you’re different.”

“Praying is good for you.” Zane

“I learnt what the colours of the Priest mean.”