3-4 Neighbourhood Research Inquiry    

 

Dear parents,                                                                                                  27/11/12

 

This is a letter to keep you updated on our neighbourhood research inquiry unit so that you can best support your child’s learning.  At the moment, students have begun their own ‘research stories’. We are supporting students to move away from an understanding of research as only a fact finding  process based around a limited topic such as ‘the sea’ or ‘animals’ for example, into an understanding that research is a narrative, determined by the perspective and evidence provided by the researcher. Research is not just finding out what is already known and re-stating it but is also about creating new thinking.

 

Each student has begun to think about their own research narratives by creating a mind map and having this conferenced with a teacher. We are emphasising the process of research (rather than the product) and we are asking student to think about how they can use a range of research mediums (for example creating surveys, designing experiments, contacting and interviewing experts, visiting specialist libraries or centres, organising excursions or school visitors). We are also emphasising goal setting, problem solving and project planning skills required for this process.

For this reason we have encouraged students to refine their research into topics that are possible to attempt locally.

For example

An interest in Anne Frank can become a research title “Is there an ‘Anne Frank’ in Melbourne?” which can be developed through various research methods including a trip to the Holocaust Museum’. “Why do Kookaburra’s laugh?” becomes ‘”Why do people think Kookaburra’s laugh?”

Ways to support your child

·         Discuss the topic your child has started exploring and ask to see their mind map

·         Discuss the research mediums (methods) they are planning on using

·         Discuss the step or goal they are currently up to

·         Discuss what kind of an expert may be suitable for their project and consider if there are any experts within their existing community.

·         Discuss any smaller excursions that may extend their research

 

Thanks in advance for supporting this learning and thanks generally for giving us the opportunity to work with your children.

Alexandra Hilvert and Sheryal Musumeci

Patrick's Blog

Patrick has created a blog to inform us of what he has been up to since he left us in term 2. Click on the link below to access the site. The password is "PHPS34".

patrickstriptotheuk.tumblr.com

If you would like to Skype him, his username is patrick.taylor308.

Camp Manyung

All Year 34 went to Camp Manyung, Mt Eliza for three days September 10th - 12th.
Great times were had by all.


How to use a bow and arrow
Archery via
Archery via
Archery via

An explanation of archery at camp
2012 Camp Manyung

State Library of Victoria Gusto Excursion 30/10/12

Gusto! A culinary history of Victoria
We will see the rich culinary history of Victoria in this exhibition, featuring gastronomic treasures from our collections – from the first Australian cookbook, published in 1864, to an actual World War I army biscuit.

Gusto! explores Victoria's historic and contemporary culinary landscape, covering subjects such as the history of viticulture, Indigenous foods, sustainable food practices, fine dining and food rationing, and also features the fascinating stories of significant Victorian culinary figures including Jacques Reymond, Rita Erlich, Guy Grossi and Stephanie Alexander.

The program has been divided into blocks: equal time looking at the Gusto! exhibition, in the computer lab having a look at the online resources, showing how research is done using the library catalogue and seeing some other parts of the Library to tie in with the research aspect (eg. the Newspapers room).

We will be leaving school on Tuesday at 9.15AM and returning at approximately 1.30PM.
If you are able to accompany us please contact your home group teacher.

http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/event/gusto-culinary-history-victoria

Research Project on Assessment.

A letter is being sent home with the children this week. It outlines a research project that some teachers are involved in over the next 6 months with Professor Marilyn Fleer at Monash University. The letter outlines the project “Assessment beyond borders: Potentive assessment in Primary School”. The project is looking at varied ways to assess children both at school and at home. It also includes consent forms for you to fill out and return to school as soon as possible. We would appreciate your support in this research project.

Establishment of a Parents Gardening Club

School Council Facilities committee has recommended that a gardening group be officially formed in order to more effectively coordinate the gardening plots in the school. Members of the Facilities Committee and school staff will be in attendance. We wish to invite all interested parents to attend this meeting on Wednesday 7th November at 5.00pm in the meeting room opposite the school office.

Research Interviews

During this term, students will be planning and carrying out their interviews for the research inquiry. The main objective of this interview is for the students to discover different conceptions of the term 'research' by asking purposeful questions to people who use research in their profession. By collecting this data, and sharing it with others in the Neighbourhood, we hope to collate an insightful picture on research and the act of researching.