Year 3/4 Neighbourhood Blog Term 1 Week 4

As we finalise week 4 of our learning journey in the 3 /4 neighborhood we have been focusing on collaborating as learners and have begun to understand how we as a learning community can work jointly on an activity or project. 

We have had two workshop on collaboration which have included investigating how to build and construct the highest and longest:

• Icy Pole Tower, and
• Paper Bridge.

Our goal of these workshops has been on collaboration whilst ensuring children make friends with each other and are treating each other with respect. 

Collaborating: Paper bridge construction 

Collaborating: Icy Pole Tower Construction 

Paper Bridge Construction 

We began this workshop by engaging the students into a theme they all have asking to participate in, constructing an item to withhold some weight. We advised that the only items we will use is paper to construct a bridge whilst using MAB blocks as the supporting beams. 

• Students were put into mixed groups of 5 students to explore their own individual designs.
• They all had 1 minute to explain if their individual design should be built.
• Through collaborating they all voted which team members bridge should be built by asking questions and elaborating.
• As a team they constructed their bridges.
• Finally they had to evaluate which teams bridge was designed the best by placing rocks on the bridge to find out how many rocks the bridge could withstand.
• 

Constructing our paper bridge

Student comment:

We collaborated very well. We all agreed on the same thing. People were very nice to each other.

Collaborating: Icy Pole Tower Construction 

To continue with our theme of collaboration this week we posed to the neighbourhood who could create the highest tower using icy pole sticks, clips and pegs? We utilised the same inquiry process as constructing a paper bridge. 

Student comment:

“It’s important that we work together- imagine if you’re making a something with one of your friends and they do something completely unrelated. We want to make sure it’s all related”. 

Students discussing their ideas of how to build an Icy Pole Tower.

Ruby and Aidan have enjoyed meeting parents/carers of students of the 3 /4 neighbourhood this week and if you have missed an appointment with Meet the Teacher we are happy to arrange a separate meeting with you by emailing years34@phps.vic.edu.au. 

We look forward to the students welcoming you all to the Welcome Expo in the 3 / 4 neighborhood in a fortnight’s time on the 8th March.