Have you been wondering why no updates?
Currently I am on Long Service Leave, preparing for retirement. I guess there will be irregular blog updates as they occur to me. Meanwhile, Merry Christmas!
John Lewis & Partners Christmas Ad 2018 | The boy and the piano
The making of The boy and the piano | John Lewis & Partners Christmas ad 2018
Stage 2 students need to build their field knowledge about Scottish soldiers for a writing activity based on the ending of the picture book, “Billy the Punk” by Jessica Carroll & Craig Smith.
Anzac Day 2013, walking with the bagpipes in Sydney
Massed pipe bands in Sydney on Anzac Day 2012
Funny introduction to Scottish uniform in Halifax Citadel
Today, I want to explore with my teacher colleagues the upcoming National Simultaneous Storytime picture book for 2018, Hickory dickory dash by Tony Wilson & Laura Wood, and how it fits into our existing K-2 literacy cycle, and how it can address English outcomes for Stage 2 and Stage 3 students (see Objective C).
English K-10 syllabus outcome (From NSW Education Standards Authority, NESA):
We will also briefly discuss:
* aspects of Guided Inquiry activities for Stage 2 and Stage 3, team-taught, library lessons this year (Note: units use the KLA’s own syllabus outcomes plus related English outcomes)
* revisit the concept of pre-, mid- and post- surveys for students (from the SLIM toolkit) to collect both qualitative and quantitative data (action research)
* some possible strategies for improving student attitudes and successes with longer form fiction, such as novels (see Objective D).
English K-10 syllabus outcome (From NSW Education Standards Authority, NESA):
OASIS searching:
Students searching with the Orbit interface in Oliver
Stage 2 students are investigating mountains during their Term 2 library lessons. These Youtube clips will hopefully provide some field knowledge for class discussions.
Where do mountains come from?
GCSE science revision – formation of sedimentary rock layers
Blue Mountains formation
Ring of Fire: earthquakes and volcanic eruptions around the Pacific explained – TomoNews
This week, Stage 2 students are investigating aspects of the islands that make up Australasia.
Family holidays | Best Fiji island resorts for family vacations | Jean Michel Cousteau
New Zealand top ten things to do, by Donna Salerno Travel
Samoa tourist attractions: 15 top places to visit
One News – Tokelau to be entirely solar powered
As part of the Stage 2 History unit, Places are similar and different, we are learning about Australia in relation to its nearest neighbours during Library lessons. Here are some Youtube clips we are be examining, concerning the Continental Drift theory, the Pacific Ring of Fire and Australia’s strategic position in the Pacific region.
Continental drift
‘Ring of fire’ threatens a larger earthquake
Australia’s geographic challenge
Stage 2 students continue their investigations into Australian cereal crops.
All about Australian rice (Full video)
Dad’s oats
Sweet corn harvest in Australia 2016 [Maize]
Stage 2 students continue their investigations of cereal crops grown in Australia.
The wheat farmer (1974)
Wheat sowing in Australia 2011
Stage 2 students are investigating the Australian farming industry in HSIE:
Farming for the future
Australia’s biodiversity: farming, pastoralism and forestry
Stage 2 students continue their investigation into the history of transport.
Sydney Trains Vlogs special: Red Set F1 test run
Japanese high speed bullet train
Futuristic straddling bus allows cars running underneath
Future transportation technology / China straddling bus HD
In the final days before Sydney’s Monorail ceased on 30th June 2013, Powerhouse Museum staff filmed the ride from the driver’s cab. The Powerhouse has acquired this cab and a carriage for its collection:
Driving Sydney’s Monorail
J.A.Y. Walker Deceased (1950). [Re-released for Walk to Work Day, 2012.]
