Towards Transformation
Term 1, 2020 Issue 14
Welcome
Although there are only 2 very explicit links in the Australian Curriculum (Primary) to related concepts (see in below article), it would be remiss of us as educators if we weren't to address their questions and issues. Then, by bringing the true spirit of inquiry to the classroom, we can enable agency, creativity and empowerment whilst playing an important role in making a difference.
There are only 2 topics within this newsletter - those to do with the Bushfire crisis and some covering Online Safety topics.
Australian Bushfires
Teaching - the Explicit Curriculum
- HASS for Yr 5 is related to the impact of bushfires or floods on environments and communities, and how people can respond.
- Science for Yr 6 is about the use of scientific knowledge to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions (Sudden geological changes and extreme weather events can affect Earth’s surface).
Other resources for teachers include:
There is a also a resource page about the Jackie French book "Fire" within this link.
Bushfires and the Spirit of Inquiry
Kath Murdoch has published some interesting articles lately on the place inquiry can play in the aftermath of the bushfires in Australia. One of the articles she provided a link to is this one here which discusses the importance of questions even when we don't have the answers.
She also discusses the need to think about what we can offer our students to help them navigate their way through these times.
What do our children need us to do/be/say? How might we bring the true spirit of inquiry to this catastrophe? What questions does this raise for us? What questions might our children be asking? How can we use the skills we have as teachers to make a difference in these unprecedented times? (Kath Murdoch 10 Jan, 2019).
The Technologies Curriculum provides scope for designing inquiry for students as it is focussed around the design of solutions - designed solutions and digital solutions. As a school, our STEAM agenda is based around the connections we have identified and created between this learning area and others. By doing this and then supporting the thinking essential to inquiry you are certainly addressing curriculum outcomes and also engaging the students in a process which is student centred, agentic, collaborative and creative. It's also allowing them to dig deep, to be both critical and creative and to feel empowered that their actions matter.
St Ives in NSW have published an inquiry unit of work: https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/key-learning-areas/stem/early-stage-1-to-stage-3/stage-3/bushfires
Cool Australian - Climate Change Resources
Unit materials for Yrs 5/6: https://www.coolaustralia.org/unit/climate-change-year-5-6/ and upon adding filters "climate change" and "yr 5/6" I was given a range of resources including those below:
Online Safety
Australian Curriculum
For all year levels, online safety is explicit in Health and Physical Education, Digital Technologies, English and The Arts – Media Arts. In the primary years, it is easier to address online safety holistically through planning and programming.
https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/resources/curriculum-connections/portfolios/online-safety/
Site of eCommissioner
Making Good Choices
Great for Yr 5 starting the year:
Link:
https://www.esafety.gov.au/educators/classroom-resources/making-good-choices-online
What's your Brand?
https://www.esafety.gov.au/educators/classroom-resources/whats-your-brand
CyberSmart Challenge
https://www.esafety.gov.au/educators/classroom-resources/cybersmart-challenge
Hector's World
https://www.esafety.gov.au/educators/classroom-resources/hectors-world
Alien Adventure
https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/ForKids/Pages/Kids-under-8.aspx
Bullying
https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/TeachingAboutBullying/WorkingInTheClassroom/Pages/Pedagogy.aspx
Contact Me
Email: nflan1@eq.edu.au
Website: www.oakleigh.tech
Phone: 44 444 44
Facebook: facebook.com/Oakleigh-State-School
Twitter: @oakleighss