This term, our Kindergarten and Year One students are diving into the fascinating world of Living Things through a fun and integrated ‘Deep Learning’ approach that brings  together Reading, Writing, Science and Creative Arts. This cross-curricular method helps students make connections between subjects, allowing them to apply what they learn in multiple ways and really deepen their understanding.

Kindergarten – Discovering Ducks!  

In Kindergarten, students are absolutely thrilled as they watch real ducklings hatch  and grow right in their classroom! This hands-on experience (including cleaning up their mess!) has sparked so much  curiosity, encouraging them to observe the life cycle of ducks up close while learning about their characteristics, habitats, and needs.

Through an integrated approach, Science is connected with Reading, Writing, and Creative Arts, giving students many chances to explore and express their understanding of living things. They engage with both imaginative and informative texts about various animals and insects, building their literacy skills while deepening their scientific knowledge. As they read about the features and behaviours of living things, they also practise writing to organise their ideas. This helps them use descriptive language to describe what they’ve learned about life cycles and habitats of various animals.

In Creative Arts, the children have taken their observations of ducks and turned them into beautiful visual representations using oil pastels and paint. This creative process helps them connect what they see in real life with how they express it artistically. By blending art with inquiry-based learning, students develop a well-rounded understanding that combines knowledge and creativity. Their ‘duck artworks’ are adorable!

Year One – Watch It Grow!

For our Year One students, the Watch It Grow! integrated unit is all about exciting hands-on learning, starting with the baby chickens hatching right in their classrooms! This amazing experience sparks their curiosity as they explore how living things change, grow, and reproduce through both scientific inquiry and creative expression linking to Reading, Writing, and Creative Arts.  

In Reading, they dive into both fiction and non-fiction texts about living things, enhancing their comprehension and vocabulary. Through Writing, they organise their scientific knowledge and construct clear, descriptive texts that explain processes like plant growth or animal development. This helps them communicate scientific concepts effectively. In Creative Arts, students visually interpret their learning by using artistic expression to represent life cycles and the characteristics of living things. This blend of creativity and observation encourages them to think critically and share their learning in exciting ways.

Integrated teaching and learning is all about bringing together different subjects like, Science, literacy, and the arts, to create a more meaningful experience for our students. By linking these areas, children can build and apply their knowledge across various contexts, reinforcing their understanding in a cohesive way. This approach not only strengthens essential skills like reading, writing, and creative expression but also expands critical thinking and problem-solving abilities - and, most importantly, it’s a lot of fun!

The benefits of integrated learning include deeper engagement, fostering interdisciplinary connections, and helping students see how their learning applies to the real world. It allows children to approach learning holistically, making connections between subjects and building a more comprehensive and lasting understanding. We’re excited to see the joy and enthusiasm our students are bringing to their exploration of living things in both Kindergarten and Year One this term!

Nerissa McCartney

Leader of Teaching and Learning