Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Spotlight on Student Research

Our students are building research skills through their units of inquiry. Across all grade levels students ask questions, explore resources and gather information at developmentally appropriate levels. Students engage and navigate with a variety of print and electronic resources available in both our physical and virtual libraries.

Pictured below, Primary and Grade 1 students investigate worms. After encountering worms in the playground and Outdoor Learning Area, students had many questions about worms' habitat, life cycle, diet and bodies. 


Students worked collaboratively to collect and share information from books and databases. Our youngest researchers love tools such as PebbleGo that read aloud to them, allowing our emerging access to sophisticated Science content.

 
Students used graphic organisers to gather information about worms by drawing and labelling picture and/or writing words.


Our Grade 2 and 3 students can be seen below researching insects and plants as they ask questions about how our ecosystems are connected. Students considered what information was important, what was surprising, what new words they encountered and what they wondered as they explored nonfiction print resources.


A highlight for our Grade 2-3 learners was investigating land forms and bodies of water. Students discovered a variety of databases such as PowerKnowledge Science, which allowed them to research in their home language. Students gathered and synthesised information from multiple sources and presented their research findings on through models and video presentations.


Our students are learning to formulate questions, identify reliable sources of information, gather research and share their findings. Research skills are essential transdisciplinary skills for students as they grow and develop along their learning journey. We can't wait to discover what our budding researchers will wonder and discover next.

Monday, May 3, 2021

Library Choice Boards for May

As we move into another (hopefully short this time) round of DLP, please explore the options in the new Library Choice Boards. The April/May Choice Board features readings around the theme of earth and working together. Poetry activities include the awesome "Poetry Machine" and a drag and build "Digital Magnetic Poetry" builder. Several art, puzzle and game choices are also included.

Click the image below to start your adventures:

Don't forget that all of our community resources are available through our FISW Library Media Center virtual space. Click on the image below to explore:

All students have a shortcut on their iPad home screens or a bookmark in their browser on their laptops. The link has also been shared on SeeSaw (First Steps - Grade 5) and Google Classroom (Grades 6-8).


Many students were excited to discover a special choice board to celebrate Star Wars Day: May the 4th Be With You: