4M News
Year 4M have been mapping out ideas for their assembly item and after some creative thinking decided upon a re-enactment of the Claremont Quarter business excursion. With some guidance from their teacher, the boys developed a dual approach to their assembly presentation. One aspect entailed a technology based 'action group', cutting video and photographic footage and crafting three short films for presentation at the assembly. The remaining boys worked on their theatre and acting skills in order to reenact three of the nine businesses that 4M interviewed and surveyed. The final product, after several laughs along the way, was a mixed media presentation in a recount theme of the excursion. As they say in the business, "break a leg" boys! (A special theatrical way of wishing a performer good luck. Saying "good luck" is considered by actors to be a jinx).
The boys have recently tuned into a new unit of inquiry that focuses on exploration and explorers. Within the framework of this unit the boys have begun to investigate explorers and exploration; past, present and future. They have developed some of their own questions and provocations for this unit in order to drive some personally directed inquiries. Some of these questions include: what is there left to explore? And, why do we still need to explore? Many students have begun to answer some of these broad and interesting style questions with statements such as medical research, nanotechnology, viruses and bacteria that are unknown, space, and the deep oceans. The iPads have come into good effect as a powerful research tool, for searching for clues to answers, with guidance given to suitable kid friendly websites and search engines such as 'Kidrex' by the teacher. There are many mathematical and mapping/social science based inquiries that were being effectively linked such as: create your own island with legend and coordinates, using a compass, map and articulate directions for a buddy to follow, a focus on degrees and mapping investigations and, more.
Thinking routines has been big news in 4M and whilst this is not new in itself, Mr Mann has been clearly articulating to the boys which routines the class has been using and why. Without going to far into this concept, thinking routines are used over and over again to support specific and directed thinking moves (Ritchhart et al., 2006). Some examples 4M use are: Quaker read, generate-sort-connect-elaborate, think-puzzle-explore, circle of viewpoints, arc of learning, I used to think... now I think, what makes you say that?, and Six Thinking Hats.
We have had a new member join the classroom during the last couple of weeks. Shadow Junior the dog (a fluffy cute toy) joined 4M this week and was sent home with one of the boys along with his journal. Boys volunteer to take Shadow Jnr home for a few days over the weekend or holiday break. They can take photos using their iPad, write about Shadow from first person (dog-point view), and add to his journal. This promotes journal writing through a fun and cute medium. We look forward to reading about the many adventures Shadow Jnr will have and people that he will meet over the coming weeks and months. He is destined to be the most popular and famous dog at Scotch.
Stuart Mann
Year 4 Teacher
