Example of approaches covered at Glen Waverley Primary School, Melbourne

A number of these sessions were pre-arranged with consultation and bookings by teachers.

On other occasions I visited classes off-the-cuff, observed what was occurring and jumped in to support the teachers with alternative ways of exploring information.

The following is an indication of some of the sessions conducted.

• Grade 4M: new ways of exploring literature. Several activities involving the text Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
  
  
• Grade 2MS: flight theme. Physicalising of learning- movement involving an awareness of the differences between hot air balloons and jet aircraft. Physicalising the concepts of flight- air pressure and wings as well as the operations of a jet aircraft.
  
  
• ESL Year Six: using photographs as a stimulus for further activities and to promote interest. Students recreated a Norman Rockwell print through a human sculpture. This was brought to life- characters spoke and we explored thoughts and feelings.
  
  
• ESL Six: games and activities that stimulate students i.e. psychic game in which students had to guess the code that was being communicated to one student.
  
  
• ESL: puppetry- supporting teacher with two young students who had created own puppet show- explored new ways of bringing puppets and show to life i.e. sound. Aim to build confidence in students.
  
  
• ESL: working with one prep student. Exploring strategies that an ESL teacher can use with one student. Covered method of using objects within room as a stimulus in writing.
  
  
• Puppetry- a range of year levels. Using recycled goods to create character puppets. In a number of classes i.e. grade three created scenarios in which characters could come to life- sitting on bus, at bus stop. Building confidence and public speaking skills and sense of characterization.
  
  
• Prep: Exploring physical activities to teach the clock and an awareness of time.
  
  
• Grade Two: exploring a range of physical activities aimed at making students more sensitive to shape and, texture in maths and everyday life.
  
  
• All classes- focusing and concentration activities that change student’s attention and tend to moderate the excitement of the class.
  
  
• Prep / Grade One classes- flight simulation. Creating a simulated aircraft aimed to make students more aware of the roles and routines of a passenger airliner and destination.
  
  
• Grade Six- both grade six classes involved in activity – People Bingo based around space theme. Demonstrating technique to teachers of how to involve large number of students in self-sustaining activity- i.e. school camps.
  
  
• End of year activities- visited a range of classes supporting teachers in the final weeks of teaching by showing many activities that can be of use at the end of year or on wet days- team and communications games specifically.
  
  
• Grade 3H: visualization activity in which students listened to a piece of classical music and were asked to give feedback on what they visualized with their eyes closed. Explored feelings, noted ideas and how images and feelings can be built into own stories.
  
  
• Grade Four: Exploring the pattern of doing multiplication by creating a dance in the same pattern - an idea generated and developed by classroom teacher.
  
  
• Grade Four/Three- communications activities based on translation- students translating to each other through nonsense language. Extended into use of Chinese and translation to dignify experience of Chinese background students.
  
  
• Grade 4M- exploring nonsense. Based on use of nonsense words in Harry Potter text here students explored the creation of nonsense poems- supports an awareness of vocabulary and grammar.
  
  
• Grade 3H- Physical activities to make students even more aware of the differences between verbs, nouns and adjectives.
  
  
• Grade Two: reading of text- creative ways of working with texts- included physical activities, questioning techniques and creative writing tasks.
  
  
• Prep: exploring text- creatively exploring a text to engage students- physical activities that were built from text.
  
  
• All classes- range of circle games in which seating pattern within the room is changed. Space is used differently.
  
  
• Activities with Prep and Grade One- Using a hula-hoop to engage and stimulate students. A session in which teachers were shown the many activities that can be built from an everyday object such as a hula-hoop.
  
  
• Grade Prep/Four: Exploring ways of using objects within a classroom to create characters/puppets and to ring them to life.
  
  
• Art- prep. Dance, music and art. Use of music and dance as stimulus towards artwork.
  
  
• Grade Five- conceptual games challenging the detective skills of students. Range of drama games that can be used to support curriculum or to build confidence and creativity.
  
  
• Grade 4T: activities as alternative ways of choosing students for activities.
  
  
• Grade Four: Activities building student awareness of self and others- physically creating and exploring space of own bedroom.

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