Little did we know when PHN daily news reporters added the weather to their program, that the inspired inquiry journey would wash from one learning space to another and back again.

“I love researching the weather for PHN as there is so much information out there and different ways it can help you” Oscar

“It’s so helpful that we can use the UV to let everyone know if they need a hat” Kiki

When the reporters began researching the weather they decided they also wanted the UV index so they could see if hats were required each play time and by doing so, came across weather maps and charts.

“The top of Australia is closer to the equator, you can see it on the map. That makes it hot which is why it is tropical and hot.” Rohan

Suddenly students were in the Studio space drawing maps of Australia and adding colours and scales to show temperature variations or other weather predictions in full detailed, colourful glory!

Meanwhile in the Learning Commons, there were numerous collaborations beginning to use i pads to dive deeper into researching the weather and how the data is collected, displayed and the language used for this. Some of this flowed back to help the reporters in PHN while some also flowed back into the Studio to enhance and deepen the drawings and representations that were being created.

By the time we had visited Royal Park and worked alongside the Rangers, the students had a new interest in native animals and vegetation. This led to a workshop on biomes, with researchers working with books and ipads in the Learning Commons and illustrations beginning in the Studio.

Just before our current lockdown a growing collaboration began amongst the construction workers of our neighborhood, as they began to build a large representation of Australia from blocks. Mimicking the weather maps they had seen, we soon saw colours appear, state borders and then details of topography, capital cities and more.

A sign was created to ask for care to be taken while moving through the space, positioning this as an ongoing, important installation the those working on feel proud of and committed to.

We look forward to seeing how this will progress once we are back onsite and in turn, how this provocation will surface or evolve across the other learning spaces in the neighborhood..