Year 7 students are working on a study of ‘Simple Machines’. They have visited the Leonardo Machines Exhibition where they saw some of his sketches and models of his designs using simple machines. Through their study students will answer some essential questions around basic principles of physics:
In answering these questions we expect that the students will; develop a deep understanding of the following principles:
Students have been busily involved in experiments and investigations that explore the properties of simple machines. Their assessment task requires them to design and construct a device that can move an object through two changes of position. The device needs to incorporate at least two simple machines.
In Literacy the highlighted genre this term is ‘explanation’, in particular ‘scientific explanation’. Students are deconstructing these texts to reveal the important features of this genre. They will be constructing explanations throughout the unit using the scientific ideas of the learning context. Eventually they will be required to explain the workings of their constructed devices.
Term 4 is a very busy time for Year 7 at our school. The following are significant dates that students will need to be mindful of:
| School Photos | 22nd October | Week 3 |
| Public Speaking Competition | 12th November | Week 6 |
| Swimming carnival | 2nd December | Week 9 |
| Graduation Rehearsal | 1st December | Week 9 |
| Splashes Waterpark Excursion | 7th December | Week 10 |
| Graduation | 9th December | Week 10 |
| Final Assembly | 10th December | Week 10 |
Term 4 Parent Letter Simple Machines
 Science, Physics and Simple Machines - this is the focus for learning in Term 4. |
 Students have investigated how machines make work easier and can calculate the mechanical advantage of various types of simple machine such as levers and pulleys. |
 Experiments were designed to investigate how ramps can be used to move objects up and down. Students found that using a ramp takes less effort to achieve the work but requires a greater distance. |
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Term 3
Human Rights values underpin our studies in this unit.
During this term our dominant learning context is SOSE and our integrated study is about Refugees. It is the intention of this study that students will gain insights about Human Rights and the need to protect them, that they understand some of the situations that lead people to become refugees and that they learn about the journey taken by refugees before they are accepted for resettlement in other countries. They will also gain an understanding of the role played by non-government organisations in assisting refugees. Major assessment tasks will include a knowledge-based test, an interview, and a written letter of application for a job.
We are fortunate in being able to link up with a Year 8 Migrant and Refugee intake class from Kedron High School and look forward to meeting these students and hearing their stories of conflict and change. We hope to be able to organise several worthwhile activities with these students.
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Students’ ideas about refugees may change as they are exposed to more personal stories. |
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A comparison chart is a good graphic organiser to compare different perspectives. |
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Everyone has the right to live anywhere they want to and to go back to their own country. (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) |
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Every person has the right to marry and have children. Women and men have equal rights in marriage and if they divorce. No-one shall be forced to marry against his or her free will. (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) |
Click on all photos to enlarge
Literacy Rotations will again allow us to address learning needs in Reading, Writing and Spelling, by teaching in smaller groups and using the assistance of Learning Support Staff and Teacher Aides.
Mathematics blocks are timetabled every day and teaching in Mathematics is planned to include whole class lessons, small group problem solving tasks, investigations, games and computer software programs.
A new assembly crew for third term has been selected and many students will have the opportunity to report on assembly in different capacities this year and to build their confidence in speaking before a large group. District and Regional Track and Field Competitions occur in weeks 2 and 7 respectively so some students will be in training for these events. In addition, our big school fundraiser, the Carnival, is at the end of Week 9 and Year 7 students are expected to help out with fund raising activities. As usual there are many opportunities for Year 7 students to play an active and exemplary role in the broader school context and we encourage them to make the most of these opportunities to gain experience and to give something back to the school community.
A new term is a fresh opportunity to reset goals and to strive for improvement.
Term 2
Throughout Term 2 students will be working co-operatively using the interactive CD ‘Exploring the Nardoo’ to discover some of the major and minor causes of pollution of water resources no matter where we live. The CD moves through four geographical regions of the Nardoo River and through a time period of sixty years. Students will investigate:
The connections between the development of the river and the changes in plant and wildlife
The chemical and physical changes the river has undergone as human development of the river resources has taken place
How changes in one location can have an impact on the environment in a location far from the source of the change
Students will conduct a series of investigations to build scientific understandings about the health of rivers and about the interconnectedness of their living and non-living elements. Some of these investigations will take place at our local Fish Creek where students will be able to practise and apply what they have learned.
Assessment for this integrated study will be continuous throughout the term and science books will be regularly assessed to determine understanding of various aspects and of the elements of a ‘fair test’. Knowledge based tests will assess recall of relevant science facts. A final, open book, written assessment will be conducted in class, under controlled conditions.
Also this term, students will be required to sit the National Literacy and Numeracy Assessment tests on the 12th, 13th and 14th May in week 4. Students have undergone preparation for these tests in Term 1 and have completed practice tests.
The Canberra trip takes place in the final week and you will be receiving updates about this as the term progresses. Hard copies of medical forms and permission forms will be sent home shortly and I will also make these available on our class web site for you to download if they go astray.
As you can see Term 2 promises to be a very busy one and it is important for students to begin the term with fresh commitment and some personal goals for their own achievement.
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This term's integrated study focuses on the Nardoo River and the effects of human activity on water quality. |
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Students work like scientists by observing, grouping, classifying, and gathering data. |
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‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ is our shared text and novel study. |
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Maths investigations place Mathematics in real life situations and provide a context for discussion, co-operative learning and problem solving. |
This term our students will be involved in Australian history. They will be learning about the need for various Australian colonies to federate through developing an understanding of the issues surrounding government, transport and distance. These studies will position students to have some understanding of what Australia was like at the turn of the last century leading up to the First World War. Students will undertake a research project on an Australian soldier who died at Bullecourt in 1917.
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Our social studies focus this term is Federation in Australia
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Our main focus in English will be the narrative genre. Through focus lessons, practice activities and literacy group activities students will be encouraged to improve their ability to appreciate and create entertaining narratives. Original student stories will then be published. To begin this term our shared text is ‘The Boy Who Lost His Face’ by Louis Sachar.
In Science the focus will be on the structures that enable living things to survive and reproduce.
Essential Learnings in Mathematics will be addressed through a combination of whole class lessons, manipulation of material, group problem solving activities and relevant computer software programs. Throughout the year students will also have the opportunity to participate in two interschool mathematics competitions.
Major assessment tasks this term will include:
A knowledge test about Federation
A persuasive letter to the editor
A narrative
A research document
A speaking task
All students will be participating in the swimming program and places will also be available in interschool teams for cricket, softball and touch football.
Many opportunities exist in the upper school for personal development and students will be encouraged to take on active leadership roles in a variety of contexts.
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Students are learning about the construction of good narratives and how writers 'Show you, not tell you' about their characters
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The students are really enjoying Louis Sachar's novel, 'The Boy Who Lost his Face.' |
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Everyone was keen to create bright art work to liven up our environment. |
