What Do Year 4 Students Do?

With their first semester at an end, we stepped inside the Year 4 classrooms to discover some of the amazing learning experiences and hear from the students about their exciting curriculum, sport and music schedules. This is what they have shared:

Everyone loves Mr Hassett’s DigiTech classes and who wouldn’t when we can learn about the world’s most advanced robots, driverless cars and how to code our own “Ozobots” robot. This year, we have learnt about how computers work and the devices we can attach. We coded our robots to parade down the catwalk, spin and turn in different directions. We had to dress them in some designer outfits which we had fun making too! We also learned how to code our own animations on Scratch with block coding. In Term 4 we will learn about using technology to present data by creating spreadsheets for our assignment. We will gather and interpret data to identify a solution to a very common school problem… rubbish!! We are getting ready to get our hands dirty.

It has been a busy term in Mathematics as students developed their Mathematical skills. Term One focused on consolidating and extending the foundational mathematical understandings of place value and addition. We then measured everything as we explored how we accurately measure and compare the length of objects. This term, we converted between different units of time, solved problems and delved into the fascinating relationship between fractions and decimals. We’ve also had great fun undertaking statistical investigations to generate a range of data and document their findings. A favourite investigation was recording the speed of cars going past the College using the Slow for Sam sign. After collating the data we constructed graphs to communicate our findings. You would be surprised the speeds that some cars travel!

As Scientists, we explored properties of different materials, investigated and designed clothes that would insulate us most effectively if we explored damp, dark caves or even up into the heights of space. Very cool! Or… or warm?! We explored the exciting and explosive side of Science when we took part in a hands-on incursion with Big Bang Science. We felt the effects of force and motion and we designed and played with rockets, bouncy balls and other explosive toys.

In English, we started the year presenting a PowerPoint to the class about ourselves which helped us all get to know each other a little better. We also wrote an historical recount about Captain James Cook. We continued to follow the path of history into Term 2 when we learnt how to write a structured paragraph from a historical perspective. We wrote about the impact the arrival of Europeans had on the Awabkal people of the Lake Macquarie region.

Humanities has been all about History this semester. We’ve tracked the early Dutch explorers who visited Australia, through to Captain Cook and the First Fleet. We also profiled one of the early convicts and were amazed at what led to their being sent to Australia, the journey itself and their lives once they arrived.

The impact Europeans had on the indigenous people who had called the land home long before Europeans arrived was devastating. A closer study of the Awabakal people from the Lake Macquarie region provided us with evidence as to just how much life changed for them after the arrival of Europeans. Next semester we investigate the world around us, develop our mapping and graphing skills to learn about the continents of the world and learn about natural environments. We look forward to designing an enclosure for a zoo which will cater for the needs of an animal or creature from a different climate.

Building on our work from Term 1, our Japanese vocabulary continued to develop as we learned more about the Japanese culture. We have learnt some basic Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji, developed an understanding of a range of Japanese past-times, including Origami, Calligraphy, Japanese Toys, and Folk Tales. We really enjoyed the visit from our Japanese sister school and got to test out some of the Japanese that we have learnt. Throughout semester 2, we will study traditional food and beverages, dining etiquette and make Onigiri (rice balls).

In Religious Education, Year 4 took a deep dive into The Bible this term, exploring the different parts and some of the more well know stories from within. Our introduction to Religion earlier in the year helped us learn about the challenges faced by the Catholic Church in Australia in the nineteenth century. As part of this we heard the stories of the first Christian Brothers who travelled to Australia in 1868 – Brothers Bodkin, Lynch, Nolan and Treacy.

Always looking at what’s happening in the world around us, Visual Arts encourages us to reflect on what we know and to use our imaginations to create what is yet to be! Year 4 experiment with a wide range of materials and techniques focusing on various Australian artists. Collage and clay butterfly creations inspired by Pete Cromer floated into the Art Room and around the College as students created an incredible kaleidoscope of butterfly creations. Margaret Ollie and Margaret Preston are key artists we glean from in observational and still-life drawing. We also developed knowledge and skills in our creation of mixed-media portraits, based on Vincent Namatjira’s series of well-known Australians with a twist.

Music classrooms at ATC are always filled with energy. We are always ready to sing, play, listen and move to all sorts of music with Mrs Tyson. Most recently we have been exploring ways that Music can be changed to reflect different styles and moods and to help with storytelling. Music is a whole-body experience and very much a kinaesthetic one as we develop our musical literacy. We are currently exploring aspects of metre, melody and rhythm by conducting, performing patterns on xylophones, singing our own compositions, analysing and listening to others’ work. Let the music continue!

There’s always plenty of outdoor activities at ATC and in Health & Physical Education this semester, we started the year off with swimming lessons in the pool which was a cool way to start the year during a hot summer. This term we’ve been hitting the tennis courts, making the most of the amazing facilities we have at the school. Learning how to take care of our social, emotional, physical and spiritual selves has been the focus of our classroom health lessons. Term 4 is where we really step up with our Hip Hop Dance Unit that culminates with a dynamic performance of our polished routines at the Celebration of Excellence in front of an audience of over 2000 people. This dance is not to be missed.

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

SPORT

In Sport Year 4 students have developed new skills and learned about the value of teamwork as we participated in Year 4 Legends AFL and cricket in Term One. Football (soccer) and Rugby featured in Term 2 and were great chances to participate in a sport whether we were experts or first time players. Lots more to look forward to next Semester. We can’t wait to get back out on the ovals!

MUSIC

Our Music Program is very popular! We have over 390 ATC students who learn a musical instrument, play in a band, sing in a choir and take Drama & Communications lessons. With so much talent in the school, we sound pretty good and won some awards too!

The Junior Band and Junior Choir recently performed at the Ensemble Concert. There’s always lots of opportunities to perform at ATC, and with Jazz by the River, Formal Music Concert and the Summer Music Concert still to come. We will be seasoned professionals by the end of 2024.

CLUBS

What do all these awesome activities below all have in common?

• Esports
• Gardening
• Golf
• Homework Club
• Mountain Biking
• Golf
• Homework Club
• Mountain Biking
• Cooking Club
• Art Club
• Chess Emerging Players

The answer? They are all part of the amazing ATC Clubs Program. You’d be exhausted if you engaged with just a few! There’s something for everybody in this list and would keep your before school, after school or weekends full of action.

Why not hang out with us at the next College Tour? We’d love to see you!

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