Our Year 4/5 inquiry is all about materials. We've been examining the properties of materials, comparing processed synthetic and natural materials, considering the best materials for certain purposes, and reflecting on the environmental impact of the materials we choose to use. We have been making bioplastics and comparing their qualities to that of oil-based plastics. We’ve written narratives to explain the journey of plastic and how it could end up in our waterways and eventually in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. We have also looked at materials and resources that were available to the First Australians and how they are traditionally used.

We have been working with our Kinder buddies on our inquiries too. Last week we helped them learn more about kindness and this week we worked on a collaborative artwork illustrating how we reduce, reuse and recycle.

Students have been challenged to make something using materials that could end up in landfill if not recycled or repurposed. So far, they have come up with brilliant ideas and we’re looking forward to showcasing all of them at the end of year assembly. Thank you to the parents who have helped their child source the waste needed to make their project.

In Literacy students have been working on writing procedures and we have been writing instructions on how to make our inquiry projects. Students are publishing their procedures to make a class book featuring all their ‘trash to treasure’ projects.  In Maths we have been focusing on measuring perimeter, area, volume and capacity.