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The Built World.

9/3/2017

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What makes a city attractive?
What makes Sydney attractive?

Year 5 had some answers: the ocean and beaches; food from different countries; a clean environment -- little pollution; parkland nearby. Then we watched five minutes of a video which made us consider how a city is designed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy4QjmKzF1c&t=202s
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Do you agree with the narrator that old cities are often more attractive than new cities?
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Tools and Technologies.

6/2/2017

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Last week, I asked a class of 7 year olds how we could find out what the weather was like in Sydney. The heat was coming in through the windows, the sun was obviously shining outside. “Mobile phone?” said the first child to pipe up.

The seductiveness of e-tech means, even at a young age, people ignore or discount their own senses, their own ability to find out first hand, to think for themselves or consult a human being. Some of you may remember the Leunig cartoon which showed a family watching the sun set on television while, through the window, the sun was setting, unwatched.
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What’s the difference between tools and technologies? There’s an interesting take on that question here: http://reflexions.typepad.com/files/the-difference-between-tools-and-technologies-090309.pdf

​In STEM, the Stage 3 children have been trying to work out which simple tool works best to help them cut pop sticks. This activity is not just about teaching children how to safely work with tools, or even about how to make a model with simple materials; it’s about how tools have shaped the built environment and, in turn,  how we think about the world and our capacity to change it. - mjp
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"It's too hot!"

5/2/2017

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A ringtail possum is woken from its snooze in the hollow of a tree. It's mid-afternoon and the temperature in this Sydney driveway is close to 40 degrees Celsius. mjp

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Happy New Year!

1/1/2017

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A friendly python from Taronga.

2/12/2016

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Children in Years 5 and 6 enjoyed learning about some of our native animals from Rodney who works at Sydney's marvellous Taronga Zoo.

We had the opportunity to touch a lively and friendly python. Other creatures to arrive on this hot, early summer's day included a possum, turtle, frog and phasmid. It was good to hear how each is so well adapted to its habitat. 

Congratulations to Imogen S. and sisters, Grace and Hannah, who will become the new owners of the STEM phasmids next week. Their names were drawn this morning at assembly from those who had written letters expressing their interest in keeping these fascinating insects. -mjp

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Help for Filomena and Francesca

12/11/2016

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We are Filomena (blonde) and Francesca (brunette).
We are the STEM phasmids – interesting specimens of the insect world.

You may ask: if we are Australians, why do we have Italian names?
Well, our parents were Italophiles. We eat gum leaves but sometimes we dream of living in an olive grove.

Those of you who have been studying the living world this term may have had the opportunity to hold us.

But now to the point of our letter: we need your help!
Over the summer holidays, there will be no one to care for us.
If you would like to take either of us home in the next few weeks, then please write a letter addressing it to Filomena or Francesca.

The letter needs to:
  • explain why you should be chosen and how you will look after one of us
  • say that a grown-up in the family agrees
  • state your name and phone number so you can be contacted
  • be sent to the website, www.handsupnow.com.
 
The winner will have submitted a letter which is persuasive and covers all the above points.
If you are successful, you will be contacted in the next few weeks to take one of us home.
Good luck!
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Equal and Opposite Reactions.

29/10/2016

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We learn about the Sun, Earth and Moon system but it's not long before our thoughts turn to ... rockets. The local park provided just enough space for these water-powered rockets to fly. Wind gusts meant finding the right spot and moment for launching.
Click here to see a short film.

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Grains of Sand.

12/10/2016

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What is the ideal mix of sand and water to build a sand castle?
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To see a World in a Grain of Sand 
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower 
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand 
And Eternity in an hour 
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-- William Blake
P.S. At least one of the chickens hatched at the school has begun laying eggs. Thanks Lorenzo for the news!
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A Delivery of Dry Ice.

10/9/2016

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It's always exciting to see the bubbles and fog generated when solid carbon dioxide is dropped into hot water. For pics and a video clip, click here.
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The Great Escape.

2/9/2016

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Over the last few weeks, one dozen snails lived in polystyrene boxes in the STEM Lab. We enjoyed studying them and their slow, graceful ways. Now, with the lids taken off their boxes, the snails wasted no time escaping. They seemed to enjoy the fresh air and renewed contact with terra firma. The snail dubbed "Usain Bolt" was the first to make it out of the box, stretching its foot and extending tentacles in anticipation of freedom. -mjp 
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"After weeks of around-the-clock companionship, there was no doubt about the relationship: the snail and I were officially cohabiting. I was, I admit, attached. I felt some guilt that it has been taken, unasked, from its natural habitat, yet I was not ready to part with it. It was adding a welcome focus to my life, and I couldn't think how I would otherwise have passed the hours" (from Elisabeth Tova Bailey, The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating).
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Preview the new STEM calendar.

22/8/2016

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Would you like a calendar with photos highlighting some of our great activities in STEM this year? It's A4, spiral bound and can be wall mounted. It's available here.
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Science Festival!

17/8/2016

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It's Science Week and the Australian Museum hosts the Science Festival.
Experiments with water? Tick.
Bubbling liquid nitrogen? Tick.
Phasmids on the loose? Tick.
We were there to see it all. Check out the photo gallery.
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STEM Parent Evening

12/8/2016

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Parents stepped out on census night to attend a STEM gathering at the school. They had the opportunity to try out some STEM activities -- ones their children may have completed in the same space during class. Thank you to the parents who participated and to those who expressed an interest in sharing their expertise with the children. 
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Building an icosahedron with straws.
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Trying a few STEM activities.
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Growing Up.

31/7/2016

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It's always wonderful to hear back from the families who chose to rear a pair of chicks: the close relationship between them; realising that one of the chicks is becoming a rooster; their behaviour out in the garden; the growing anticipation about when a pullet may lay its first egg. Thank you to the family who sent in these latest endearing photos. -mjp
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From STEM to STEAM.

14/6/2016

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Classes studying heat have now had the opportunity to see close-up the model steam engine in operation.

Some of us had particular tasks: oiling moving parts; pouring water into the boiler; lighting the fire; watching the pressure gauge; blowing the whistle; turning on the steam valve; emptying the receptacle for waste water and oil; calling out the voltage produced by the generator.

If you haven't yet seen the engine running, here is a short video clip for you to enjoy! -mjp


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Families adopt nine-day-old chicks.

21/5/2016

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Notes and letters from many interested families were dropped in the "Chicken Post Box" for the chance of rearing a pair of chicks hatched only nine days ago at the school.  The draw was made and on Thursday and Friday all 10 chicks found new, caring homes. Although we will miss the little fluff balls, the experience of seeing them hatch and grow will not be forgotten. We plan to keep in touch with the adopting families to see how the "Chicken Project" is faring. -mjp
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STEM has high eggs-pectations!

11/5/2016

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Early this week, ten eggs were delivered in an incubator. Many of us were asking the same question: When will they hatch? By the end of Tuesday, there was still no change, although some of us with sharp eyes thought they had seen one or two eggs wobble ever so slightly.

On Wednesday morning, two exhausted chicks had emerged from their eggs. By the end of the day, there were seven fluffy chicks cheeping at the three remaining eggs as if to say, "Come on slow coaches!" Healthy chicks are moved from the incubator to the brooder where they can drink water, eat food pellets and scratch around in the wood shavings. A light bulb will keep them warm.

In the week commencing 16th May, there will be a cardboard post box near the chicks. Families who would like the chance to take home a pair of chicks at the end of the week should post a letter in this box. The letter is to be written by an adult explaining that the family is prepared to give the chicks a good home. It should include contact details. If there are many offers from families, we will select a small number at random and contact them. - mjp.




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Looking Good.

29/3/2016

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Last week, new furniture arrived for the STEM "flexible learning" space. Thank you to the children who excitedly helped unpacking and arranging it -- well done!

​The chairs and tables can be moved into different configurations (the tables are also height-adjustable) which is ideal for the wide range of activities covered. There are new partitions which might remind older visitors of Lost in Space (yes, the 1960s American series about the Robinson family). What's the connection? Come and tell me! -mjp.
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STEM is growing!

21/2/2016

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Thank you for all the positive feedback about STEM! By all accounts, these special classes have been a hit with the children with hands-on, collaborative activities across Grades 1-6. 

Already there are exciting plans in the pipeline. If you would like to share your ideas and assist with STEM, please get in touch with me through this website. I would particularly like to hear from you, if you or someone in your family works in a STEM field and might be able to come in and speak to the children.

Also, well done to those children who have managed to earn a STEM Award. -- mjp
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Christmas Wishes

6/12/2015

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To the mathematical, musical and 'mazing Year 4 class of 2015, let's raise a glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice: may you all enjoy a wonderful Christmas and continue next year to be the students who care so well for each other, and thrill to enjoy all that the school has to offer!

Let's fill our glasses again. This is a toast for those students in Helsinki we have just begun to know. May they also enjoy the Festive Season and soon receive with our good wishes the writing and postcards we have sent them. Hyvää joulua ja onnellista uutta vuotta! -mjp



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The Living World

16/10/2015

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Some living things are not so easy to identify. What can you see in this photo taken during the term break? 

We have begun by thinking about Australian native animals. How can we classify them? What are special Australian groups? How can the lifecycle of a marsupial or monotreme be described? This YouTube video we watched in class shows the lifecycle of an echidna.

Read some of our animal prayers under Year 4 Posts.

Take a look at our excursion to Taronga Zoo.
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Oui, Chef!

19/9/2015

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The children follow instructions closely as they prepare to make crepes. They learn the names of the ingredients in French: farine, sucre, lait, sel, oeufs. Now comes a big decision: sweet or savoury?
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Happy Father's Day

4/9/2015

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Dads' shirts produced by our Year 4 tailors.
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It's Book Week.

30/8/2015

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To celebrate Book Week, listen to an extract from the novel we are reading in class,
The Voyages of Dr Dolittle. 

Just click on play below.
"Screwing up my eyes, I searched the rim of the sea north, east, south, and west: no land, no ships, nothing was in sight. I was alone in the ocean!"
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Elegant Mathematics.

11/8/2015

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The syllabus describes Mathematics as a "powerful, precise and concise means of communication". There is so much to learn about numbers, patterns. measurement, geometry, chance and data. Find out more about Mathematics in Year 4 by clicking on the photo.



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