Playground Designers

Standard

Stage 2 have been investigating our built environment here at school – specifically our playground areas. They decided that our playground needed an upgrade and so went about deciding how they could change their environment so that it better suited the needs of the students at our school.

First they looked at the playground areas (Areas 6 & 7) and made a list of the things that these areas had, and the things that were missing (but necessary).

Next the students surveyed the rest of the school to find out the types of activities and structures that students of all ages would like to see in a school playground. The Stage 2 students then graphed the responses and were able to reach some conclusions about the types of activities that were popular across the school.

After that was the really fun bit – students worked in groups to design a playground area that incorporated the ideas that the rest of the school wanted. They could add anything they liked, as long as it fit the purposes of safety and need. The groups then used lots of recycled boxes and containers to bring their designs to life! Lots of glueing and taping and creating structures and play equipment!

Lastly students needed to present their model and ideas to the rest of the grade and then everyone would vote on the playground design that they liked the best. Groups had to write persuasive speeches to urge and influence the students and parents and teachers that their playground ideas were the best.

Congratulations to the winning team and their bid – Abdullah, Jessica, Nadia, Hennessey, Andrew and Adam from S2Magnolia.

Please have a look at the wonderful playgrounds designed by our students.

IMG_1079 IMG_1080 IMG_1081 IMG_1082 IMG_1083 IMG_1084 IMG_1085 IMG_1086 IMG_1087 IMG_1088 IMG_1089

 

 

Going Dotty!

Standard

S1 Jacaranda class made their mark today by designing beautiful coloured dots to celebrate International Dot Day.
International Dot Day is a global celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration” and students get involved by designing wonderful dots and sharing these online.

We watched a film clip of the story “The Dot” by Peter Reynolds, and then had the chance to use lots of coloured papers to make our mark and our dots!

Here are our dots for you to enjoy 🙂

IMG_1076 IMG_1077 IMG_1078

The Lorax

Standard

Many students in S23Jade have been thinking and talking about the environmental issues raised in the Dr Seuss story “The Lorax”.

They have discussed, acted out and spoken at a town meeting using the different perspectives of the creatures involved in the story.

As a “wrap up” activity students were asked to design a Thneed Factory that was more environmentally positive and sustainable than the one in the story. They were asked to consider the energy used, the pollution released and the effect on the living creatures around the factory, the noise and the transportation of the finished Thneeds around the country.

There were many fantastic ideas and suggestions made by the students – please look at the following pictures of parts of their work.

 

What do you think? What would you do to improve the environment at the Thneed Factory? Leave a comment below.

Beautiful Book Week Artworks

Standard

What a talented group of people we have here at school. Each class chose a shortlisted book and worked collaboratively in their classes to design and make an artwork around their book.

You can see the fabulous results below:

Book Week Art 3! S23 Artworks

Now we will put our Artworks on the walls of the Library for everyone who visits to view and admire 🙂

 

Thank you to everyone involved!

Origami Ninja Stars or An Information Text!

Standard

Today Year 3 students watched a You Tube clip that showed and told them how to make a ninja star. Here are some of the interesting things they noticed about this text:

  • it was an instructional text – it showed you how to make something
  • it was a type of procedure, with steps to follow
  • you had to listen to the words as well as watch the pictures
  • the video was really helpful to watch as if you couldn’t understand a part you could watch and see what to do next
  • the video supported the words, you could watch the video over and over at each part – to see how the narrator was actually moving the papers and making the folds
  • the photos inbooks are static (they stay still) the video showed the movements to make with the folding
  • the spoken words + the written words + the video worked together to make sure we could actually make our ninja stars!

Here is the clip we watched:

 

 

And here are our finished ninja stars 🙂

 

Tashi Fans Watch This!

Standard

We have lots of Tashi fans here at BSPS – many of whom are enjoying our new Tashi books 🙂

You can find the Tashi books in the “Fast Fiction” baskets in the middle of the Library.

We now have ALL of the Tashi books – so if you have been waiting to read more about Tashi and his adventures, come in to the Library and have a browse.

Here is a YouTube video I found of Kim Gamble  (the illustrator of the Tashi books) demonstrating how he draws a  scene from the Tashi book – “Tashi and the Golem”.

DSC00718

I love all of the fantastic hints and tips he gives us on how to draw.

You will enjoy this, please watch and leave a comment on what you think 🙂

 

Would you like to play some games with Tashi? Click on the Tashi image below to head over to the Tashi website!

TAshi

 

 

2013 – up and running!

Standard

Welcome back AllStars -ready for a big year in the Library?

I can’t wait, my “LEARNER” plates are off and I am bursting with ideas to share with you all!

To start us off – did you know that reading gives you super powers?

Dav Pilkey (The author who writes Captain Underpants stories) tell us how …….

Hhhhmmmm ….. just what sort of super power do you think reading gives YOU?

Toys, Toys, Toys!

Standard

Kindergarten and Stage 1 students have been exploring scientific concepts related to toys this term.

We have

  •  sorted toys
  • grouped toys
  • classified toys
  • found out how different toys move
  • read stories about toys
  • labelled diagrams of toys and
  • made toys from paper and other materials.

Now, to finish off we are making a toy out of recycled materials!

First we drew a plan.

                                         

 

Then we found the materials we would need.

Next we started putting it altogether.

After that we will paint it and add features.

Finally we will speak about our toy.