Year 4JFI Newsletter

March 9, 2015
CLASS WORK AND LEARNING

Dear Families of 4JFI

Transdisciplinary theme:
Who we are.
Central idea: The human
body relies on interacting
systems and external
factors.
We have had a particularly visceral couple of
weeks leading up to the end of this unit of inquiry.
Having researched their dietary habits across a
week, the students explored what happens to
those same products when they are eaten. Using
models of the stomach, students observed what
happens to the food they eat through the process
of digestion. It was certainly a squeamish time as
the students quickly realised that the food that
looks so appetising before digestions takes on a
whole new look once its in the belly!
We have also been investigating the use of
different muscles up in the weights room, the
skeletal system with our life sized replica
skeleton and the functions of the brain through a
series of experiments on focus, concentration
and memory. It has been a very interesting unit
and the students have made some fascinating
discoveries about the ways their bodies operate
and the things we can do to help those functions.

Mathematics We have continued to work

though our geometric shapes unit, researching
all the different aspects of two and three
dimensional shapes. The students have had a
terrific time creating a real life version of Angry
Birds where they create all manner of different
polyhedrons to replicate the conditions of the
game. As we move toward the maths
assessment for this unit of inquiry, the students
will delve deeper into the properties of the
geometric shapes, while revising fractions,
chance and data.
Literacy. We have continued to develop our
writing with our moment in time pieces. The
students have shown some very impressive
growth in their writing samples as they focus
on describing their feelings, emotions and
sensations when relating to a time they have
used their senses be it smell, taste or sight .
We are now in the final draft/ publishing phase
and the class is enjoying hearing what their
peers have written when they are trying to
entertain their audience.
A special congratulations to
Winners of the February student of the
month:
Hoang Nam: For showing amazing
creativity during our study of geometry.
Hoang Nams work with 2D and 3D shapes
illustrated his excellent understanding of
this area.
Master Patchara: For all his enthusiasm in
class. Master Patchara has brought an
amazing energy to the class and we really
appreciate all the effort he puts into class
discussion.
UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday March 14th AIS Open day, 8am

12pm. Parents are most welcome to come
and see examples all the different activities
we are doing in AIS classrooms. It is sure to
be a fun and informative day!
Kind regards,
Mr Jeremy Fitzpatrick and Miss Thu Vo