To investigate this question students talked to a partner through different materials including a balloon, mini whiteboard, fabric and paper. Each group had varying results in how well they heard their partner through the materials. Everyone found the fabric cushion made it harder to hear and listening through a balloon changed the sound of people's voices.
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When posed with the question 'Does sight affect touch?' there were varying answers in the class. Some thought yes, some thought no. Keshav commented you need sight so you don't touch what you are not supposed to. Swini said you can still touch even if you can't see. After forming our hypotheses we did some investigating by doing a blindfold walk across different textured materials. Afterwards during our time of reflection we discussed that we could all feel even though we couldn't see. We used interesting words to describe the textures of the leaves, stones, shaving foam, cotton wool and water. Some of us were nervous about feeling different things as we couldn't see them, but we were all risk takers and did the walk. While we were waiting our turn to do the blindfold walk we did a listening activity in the garden. As we sat quietly we heard many different sounds all around us and drew/wrote about what we could hear. We also did some quiet reading from our Daily 5 folders in the shade of the trees. We enjoyed being outside and learning in the outdoor environment.
Zahin showed us some drawings he had done in a book at home. He said he used pens and coloured pencils. Amanda asked how the drawing was about the senses. Sota helped to answer saying you have to look at the drawing with your eyes. Sophia said you touch the pens to write. Then Zahin said he had to hold the paper with his hands. Amanda brought in a detailed drawing of a body with labels explaining each part and how each sense was connected to the body part. She said she had to use her hands to draw it and her brain to think about it. Amanda also showed us a book she likes to draw in which she got at Jiwoo's party. Gaku showed us some origami birds, fish and a boat he had made and then glued onto a backing paper to make a picture. Origami is a cultural tradition in Japan. We wanted to know how he had made them so Mrs. Hayward gave us some origami paper to have a go. Sophia said she knew the steps for making a boat so we followed her instructions. When we got stuck Ms. Shradha helped us to finish the boat at the end. Jiwoo showed us a finger painting book and demonstrated how to touch the paint with the tip of her finger and then stamp the colours on the picture. She also added some extra details with a pencil. Then Jiwoo passed the book around so everyone could have a turn at trying to finger paint one dot.
This week we began our next unit of inquiry under the transdiciplinary theme 'How We Express Ourselves' with the central idea 'We experience art using our senses'. For our pre assessment we scanned QR codes which linked to videos of singing, puppet shows and people playing instruments. We identified which senses we were using to experience these art forms and wrote down our wonder questions about each piece. We did the same task with a lilly flower display and a wooden sculpture. The next day we took time to unpack the central idea using the compass point visible thinking routine. N - What do you NEED to know? E - What are you EXCITED about? S - What SUGGESTIONS do you have? W - What WORRIES you? To begin tuning in to our senses Mrs. Hayward left a drawing of a blank face and arms with no hands on the chart paper. We started commenting that it had no eyes, ears, mouth, nose and hands. We drew these on and briefly discussed the function of each body part and added a matching label. To continue tuning in to our senses we had the opportunity to focus on and use each sense in a set of rotational activities. With Ms. Hima we felt different textures of items in a feely bag so we could not see what we were touching. With Mr. Tony we explored the sound of different musical instruments by wearing a blindfold and guessing which instrument was being played. With Mrs. Vaughan we tasted different flavours, salty, sweet and sour. With Ms. Leah we explored optical illusions and with Mrs. Hayward we guessed what smells were in hidden inside cups. We had a lot of fun using all our different senses.
With the focus of our field trip on teamwork we began with a group effort sandcastle building competition. The children had previously planned their design in class and listed resources they would contribute to the team. It was great to see the children excited and working together to create their sandcastles in many creative ways. Some built the tower structures while others dug a moat and added walls. During the Forest Adventure trip we saw many children as risk takers taking on the challenge of climbing and ziplining. The children encouraged each other through the course using positive praise to cheer on their friends. Many children were able to complete the course because they had a friend's encouragement. Some children were initially nervous but overcame their scared feelings and took on the challenge, even asking to go again!
Gaku had visited the Civil Defense Museum and Fire Station with his mum. He showed photos from his visit of the fire engines, firefighters and an ambulance. Amanda asked why there was an ambulance at a fire station, Keshav suggested it was to help the fire fighters rescue people. We then discussed the team work needed for these type of rescue situations. To continue on the same theme Sophia brought in an ambulance the next day. She showed us all the special instruments that are used inside an ambulance by the paramedics. Sophia shared some pages from a non-fiction book about helicopter ambulances too. We discussed the need for helicopters in a rescue team when roads are blocked. Siu shared about chefs using team work to cook delicious foods. We brainstormed the many roles of people involved in restaurants and came up with the chefs which might be specialised in certain foods, servers and cleaners. Jiwoo showed us her toy dentist set and explained what the different tools were for. We discussed visits we have had to the dentist. Zahin showed us some pictures of his family on trips together. Some of us were very interested to find out how the background of the picture was added. This is something we will look into more at some point soon. We have been doing some research in class about different community helpers that we were interested in finding out more about. We noted down our questions, then researched in books and on the iPads and computers to find answers to our questions.
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