The Premier's Reading Challenge was launched in February. We have a strong focus on reading at Ardtornish Primary School and this year we encouraged students to finish their PRC early and then to continue with the 40 Book Challenge.
Congratulations to Josh G for being the first student to hand in their PRC form.
40 Book Challenge
We are encouraging all students to read at least 40 books a year. That is only 10 books a term. Reading success is a great way to improve in all subject areas, including maths.
Students record their reading in different ways but a reading log is available. Certificates will be given out at the end of the year at the PRC assembly.
Banjo Paterson's 150th Birthday
Banjo Paterson was born 150 years ago this February. 7 classes booked into the library to study his work, concentrating on the poem, "Clancy of the Overflow".
Inquiry learning
During this term 8 classes studied history and the new geography curriculum as part of their inquiry based learning in the library.History is assessed as part of the year's report and geography will be officially added in 2015.
Year 4 History
Rooms 21 and 22 researched Indigenous Peoples before white settlement as part of the national history curriculum for year 4's.Their inquiry question was "What was life like for Aboriginal Peoples before the arrival of the Europeans?"
This involved the students using historical thinking skills, researching through print and non print resources and writing a persuasive text using new information.The terms work has been assessed and will be included in the first written report.
72% of students reported that they learnt a lot of new information and 28% said they learnt some new information.No one felt they had not improved their learning.
When asked in the feed back sheet why this was an important topic to study the students commented,
"...because they were the first people in Australia." Jake
"...because we need to know about our land". Navi
"It is important to study this because it is the history of our country". Katey
In response to "What did you enjoy the most ( about this topic ) and why? ", students replied,
"I enjoyed doing the final assessment because that day I was happy and calm". Deepasha
"Finding out all the information because it is very important to hear about this". Ebony
" I enjoyed everything because I love history and enjoy it heaps". Ashlee
"Learning about Aboriginal resources. I wanted to know how they survived for many years". Kee
Year 5, rooms 9 &10 History
The topic of historical inquiry for the year 5's is the time of the colonial years in Australia. Students researched the development of the states from1788 to 1901 ( Federation). Their written report and timeline on the development of the states has been assessed and will be part of their mid term report.
Wendy Cosgrove Year 2 Geography
Room 18 enjoyed using the new atlases to research the different states and territories of Australia. They had to read and draw maps and ask questions about their states. They students were divided into groups and each group was given a state or territory to discover.