We're Trying Something New

To make better use of our devices (eg Laptops, iPads) in Year 3, and take advantage of the ability they give us to work more efficiently and collaboratively, we're starting to use a tool called Google Classroom.

While we're not all Classroom expert yet, the students in Year 3 have taken to this tool very quickly over the past week.  They can access it online via an internet browser (such as Firefox, Safari or Chrome), or through the Classroom app.  It provides the students with a way of continuing their classroom learning at home or elsewhere.

Classroom provides us with a new way of keeping students informed of learning tasks, providing resources and materials to support learning, and for students to submit work and receive feedback.

Unfortunately Classroom doesn't have an easy way for parents to see a glimpse of their child's learning yet, but Google promises that they are working on it, and it will be available later in the year.  In the meantime, you can always ask your child to log in at home and give you a guided tour.

Design and Make Project

Dear Parents and Carers,

As you might already be aware, Year 3 is learning about materials, forces and heat as part of our inquiry unit this term. They will work over the rest of this term on designing and making a lunch box that requires them to apply and demonstrate their understanding of the scientific concepts we have explored so far.

By the end of this week, your child will have completed a plan of their lunch box and should be able to explain to you what they wish to make, the materials required, and why they have chosen to make the lunch box this particular way. We would appreciate your assistance in providing your child with the specific materials that they will need.

We will provide students with the following common materials and resources should they need them:

• A plain insulating filling (eg polar fleece)
• Glue and adhesive tapes
• Simple plastic containers (eg take away food containers) that could be used as a starting point to assemble materials around

We will also be trying to locate some other simple, low-cost materials, but cannot guarantee what we can source at this stage.

We are also encouraging sustainability in this project, so some students are thinking that they may be able to use materials from items at home that are no longer being used (eg old lunch bags). We have explained to all students that these items can only be used if you give them permission to do so.

The making stage of this project will begin next week.

Thank you for your support. Please contact us if you have any questions.