Monday, December 16, 2013

Survey Raffle Prize Winner

Thank you to all the people who responded to the survey. It was great to see your ideas and we hope we can cater for your needs in 2014.
The lucky winner of our 2014 'Tales of the Dreamtime' Calendar goes to:
Fiona Crisp of Bassendean Primary School
It will be in the post ready for your 2014 class!
That's all for 2013!
Mr Stephen Powell
TDS CoordinatorLevel 3 Classroom Teacher



Tuesday, December 10, 2013

The Year That Was....

It is that time of the year where everyone is getting tired and the children are seeing the holidays on the horizon!
This year Sawyers Valley Primary School TDS team has been able to deliver a range of services to the schools in Western Australia and we are looking forward to continue to support schools in 2014!
This year we have delivered History Cafes at the school where teachers can come a talk about History and the individual needs of their schools. Next year we will be joining forces with Science@Greenmount to deliver more support.
We trialled Centra which will now be utilised in 2014 with 6 sessions planned starting term 1!
We had overwhelming success with the Hikes through History (K-3) and this will continue in 2014 catering for K-6! Exciting times!
We have developed planning documents and lesson plans which are readily downloadable from this very blog!
We have also opened the Old School House which will be available in 2014 for school visits. 
We have also started using Twitter which is one way to spread the word and keep people up to date with what is on offer here at Sawyers Valley Primary School!
On behalf of the Teacher Development School Team, I would like to thank you all for your support in 2013 and we wish you all very safe and RELAXING holiday.
Watch this space in 2014!
That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell
TDS Coordinator
Level 3 Classroom Teacher

Thursday, December 5, 2013

QR Code Test

I have delved into the world of QR codes. If you have a tablet or smart phone, you can scan this code to take you to our blog (Which you are at already at I know, but this is a test). Please let me know by placing a comment at the end of this post if the QR code worked for you! I hope to link to lots of other things in the future. 
That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell
TDS Coordinator 
Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 

Monday, December 2, 2013

Judging Standards in History

The School Curriculum and Standards Authority has released the judging standards tool.
This tool is designed to support teachers when reporting against the Achievement Standards, when giving assessment feedback and when explaining the differences between one student’s achievement and another student’s achievement.
It will be important for teachers to familiarise themselves with these documents before we are required to report in 2015.
Click on the link below, find your year level and click on History. You will open up a rubric (PDF) which will have the A to E Assessment Pointers. 
Reminder: 
Thank you to all those who have completed the survey! 
As part of our journey as a Teacher Development School AC History, we would like to invite you to take part in a very short and simple survey to help us with our planning. This will help us provide the very best possible support for you in 2014 & 2015.
Please follow the link below and complete the survey.
Can you please complete the survey before Monday the 9th of December, 2013. If you place your email address in the final comment box (Question 10), you will be in with a chance to win a prize!
Many thanks for your time,
That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell
TDS Coordinator 
Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Survey Time!

As part of our journey as a Teacher Development School AC History, we would like to invite you to take part in a very short and simple survey to help us with our planning. This will help us provide the very best possible support for you in 2014 & 2015.
Please follow the link below and complete the survey.
Can you please complete the survey before Monday the 9th of December, 2013. If you place your email address in the final comment box (Question 10), you will be in with a chance to win a prize!
Many thanks for your time,
That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell
TDS Coordinator 
Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Learning Plan ~ Making Butter

One of the experiences in the old school house is the kitchen. This learning plan is designed for a Year 1 class and can be done in any classroom. Making butter the old way takes a bit more work than going down to the shops! This plan was written by our Year 1 teacher Mrs Anne Gemser.
Click on the image below and this will take you to the PDF document.

Next week I will be posting a survey that will help Sawyers Valley Sharing plan and move forward in 2014. There are 10 easy questions, please take a moment to fill out to help get History happening in every classroom in WA.

That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell
TDS Coordinator 
Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 

Monday, November 25, 2013

Final History Hike @ Sawyers Valley Primary School

If you have forgotten to register for our very last History Hike K-3 for Thursday 28th of November, it is not too late. Please email me directly stephen.powell@education.wa.edu.au to reserve your place.
The hike starts at 8:50 , then you travel up to the Kindy class to see a history lesson like no other at 9:10! Then you journey across to the Pre Primaries and see some collaborative history action! After your visit to the Pre Primaries, you will be amazed at the sights of the Year 1 class creating questions! Time for morning tea before you embark on the final leg with the Year 2/3 trying to solve the mysteries from the past through questioning. Time to say goodbye and debrief before you head home after an inspiring morning.
That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell
TDS Coordinator Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 

Monday, November 18, 2013

Hills Gazette November 16 2013

That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell
TDS Coordinator Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 

Thursday, November 14, 2013

We are now on Twitter!

You can now follow us via Twitter! Not sure how to use it but we are on!

SawyersValleySharing

@sawyersVsharing

I hope to see lots of followers! 
Just another way of keeping in touch! 
Very exciting!

That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell
TDS Coordinator Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 


Monday, November 11, 2013

Learning Plan - Kitchen Gadgets

Kitchen items have changed over time and this plan created by Tonya Wood, our Kindy teacher, shows how exploring kitchen gadgets from the past can help students make links to the present.
Click on the image below to go to Google Docs to download the plan.
REMINDER!
Our last History Cafe will be on the 19th of November at the school. Please go to the IPL website to register and have the opportunity to meet with our ECE team of Tonya Wood and Carey Stewart who will present "History in a Play Based Learning Environment". You may even get a sneak peak into the old school house while you are there.

That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell 
TDS Coordinator Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 

Copyright notice for use of Australian Curriculum material.
© Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority 2013.
This is an extract from the Australian Curriculum.
ACARA neither endorses nor verifies the accuracy of the information provided and accepts no responsibility for incomplete or inaccurate information. In particular, ACARA does not endorse or verify that:
  • The content descriptions are solely for a particular year and subject;
  • All the content descriptions for that year and subject have been used; and
  • The author’s material aligns with the Australian Curriculum content descriptions for the relevant year and subject.
You can find the unaltered and most up to date version of this material at http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/
This material is reproduced with the permission of ACARA.





Thursday, November 7, 2013

Lessons are old school in the valley ~ The West Australian

Just in case you didn't see the article in Thursday's West Australian Newspaper, I have scanned it for you! We are very excited!
For more information about the Old Victorian Schoolhouse go to:
That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell
TDS Coordinator Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Learning Plan - Making Peg Dolls

This lesson plan has been developed by our Pre-Primary Teacher Carey Stewart. This is designed to be an activity that can be completed in small groups with adult support. Click on the link below to download via Google Docs.

Stay tuned, more lessons to come!

That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell 
TDS Coordinator Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 


Copyright notice for use of Australian Curriculum material.
© Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority 2013.
This is an extract from the Australian Curriculum.
ACARA neither endorses nor verifies the accuracy of the information provided and accepts no responsibility for incomplete or inaccurate information. In particular, ACARA does not endorse or verify that:

  • The content descriptions are solely for a particular year and subject;
  • All the content descriptions for that year and subject have been used; and
  • The author’s material aligns with the Australian Curriculum content descriptions for the relevant year and subject.
You can find the unaltered and most up to date version of this material at http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/
This material is reproduced with the permission of ACARA.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Learning Plan - Outdoor Games

The TDS team have been working on learning plans that you can use straight away with your class. The first plan we would like to share is a 45 minute Year 2 lesson called "Outdoor Games".
To download the lesson, click on the image below and access Google Docs.



We would love any feedback. 
Also, remember to sign up for our final History Cafe on the 19th of November exploring History in the Play Based Learning Environment. Go to the IPL website to register attendance.
We hope to see you there!
That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell 
TDS Coordinator Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 
Copyright notice for use of Australian Curriculum material.
© Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority 2013.
This is an extract from the Australian Curriculum.
ACARA neither endorses nor verifies the accuracy of the information provided and accepts no responsibility for incomplete or inaccurate information. In particular, ACARA does not endorse or verify that:

  • The content descriptions are solely for a particular year and subject;
  • All the content descriptions for that year and subject have been used; and
  • The author’s material aligns with the Australian Curriculum content descriptions for the relevant year and subject.
You can find the unaltered and most up to date version of this material at http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/
This material is reproduced with the permission of ACARA.

Monday, October 28, 2013

History in a Play Based Learning Environment

If you would like a trip up the hill to Sawyers Valley for some coffee and cake, well we have an event for YOU!
Our very last History Cafe will be held at the school and the afternoon will be presented by Tonya Wood (Kindy) and Carey Stewart (Pre-Primary). They will be looking at how to work History into the play based learning environment. You might also get a sneak peek at the Old Victorian School House which is now online ready for bookings in 2014!
Go to the IPL website to register attendance at the last History Cafe for 2013. 
We hope to see you there!

That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell
TDS Coordinator
Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 


Monday, October 21, 2013

Sawyers Valley Victorian Schoolhouse!

There is a buzz of excitement at Sawyers Valley Primary with the opening of the Victorian Schoolhouse on the 7th of November. 
We can now share the excitement with you! 
The Website is now on-line, where you can explore what we have to offer here at the school for 2014!



Bookings can now be made for 2014, so start planning now!

For schools who can't make it here, the TDS team have also been working on lessons to replicate a Victorian classroom and home for the F-2 classrooms. Watch this space!

That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell
TDS Coordinator
Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 

Sunday, October 20, 2013

History Cafe

Please be advised that the History Cafe planned for tomorrow ~ Tuesday the 22nd of October ~ has been cancelled. 
People who have registered on-line have been informed.
Please register via the IPL website for the next Hike Through History being held at Sawyers Valley on Thursday the 31st of October. 

That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell
TDS Coordinator
Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 


Monday, October 14, 2013

Fremantle Prison Online Resources

Check out Fremantle Prison's online teacher and student resources for years 5, 6 and 9.
Easy to find and download as a PDF.
That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell
TDS Coordinator
Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 

Term 4 ~ Watch this Space!

Next week we will be having another History Cafe on Tuesday the 22nd of October at 3:30 - 5:00 in the Sawyers Valley school library. The topic for discussion is "Investigating YOUR History" and we will also be looking at some planning. If you wish to attend, please register via the IPL.There is cake!
Also, we will be having another Hike through History (K-3) on Thursday the 31st of October. 
If you wish to attend this very successful professional learning experience. Again, please register via the IPL website.
We are very excited here at Sawyers Valley as we will be having the official opening of the Old School House on the 7th of November. Hopefully we will be able to share with you the events of the day as well as how schools will be able to access the school house in the future. Watch this space!
That's all for now!
Mr Stephen Powell
TDS Coordinator
Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 

Monday, September 23, 2013

Kindy Museum

In the Kindy, the children have been looking at objects from the past. The classroom created a 'Kindy Museum' with the items brought in by the students and the teacher. 

The student bring in the items as part of the newsbox and the items are left there for a period of time. The children are to observe museum rules and make sure they look but don't touch as the items are precious. 
Historical Knowledge and Understanding:
How the stories of families and the past can be communicated, for example through photographs, artefacts, books, oral histories, digital media, and museums (ACHHK004)
Historical Skills:
Chronology, terms and concepts
· Distinguish between the past, present and future (ACHHS016)
Analysis and use of sources
· Identify and compare features of objects from the past and present (ACHHS019)
Explanation and communication
· Use a range of communication forms (oral, graphic, written, role play) and digital technologies (ACHHS022)

You can find out more about this activity at the Hike through History in Term 4. Please see the IPL web site for details and to register. You can also register for the next History Cafe which will be held on Tuesday the 22nd of October in Term 4. 

That's all for now! Have a great Holiday!
Mr Stephen Powell TDS Coordinator Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 
Copyright notice for use of Australian Curriculum material.
© Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority 2013.
This is an extract from the Australian Curriculum.
ACARA neither endorses nor verifies the accuracy of the information provided and accepts no responsibility for incomplete or inaccurate information. In particular, ACARA does not endorse or verify that:

  • The content descriptions are solely for a particular year and subject;
  • All the content descriptions for that year and subject have been used; and
  • The author’s material aligns with the Australian Curriculum content descriptions for the relevant year and subject.

You can find the unaltered and most up to date version of this material at http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/
This material is reproduced with the permission of ACARA.

Monday, September 16, 2013

C Y O'Connor Research

The Year 2/3 Class have been researching C Y O'Connor.
As a class the students were interested in finding out about C Y O'Connor and the pipeline. The pipeline runs past the school and is of great interest to the students.

Historical Knowledge & Understandings:
Year 2: The history of a significant person, building, site or part of the natural environment in the local community and what it reveals about the past (ACHHK044)
Year 3: The role that people of diverse backgrounds have played in the development and character of the local community (ACHHK062)
Historical Skills:
Historical questions and research
Year 2: Pose questions about the past using sources provided (ACHHS049)
Year 3: Pose a range of questions about the past (ACHHS067)
Analysis and use of sources
Year 2: Explore a range of sources about the past. (ACHHS050)
Year 3:Locate relevant information from sources provided (ACHHS068)

"The students brainstormed a range of questions and these were typed up as a class. As new information came into the class either via web sites, books and even leaflets the children discovered in the community, they looked to see if any questions could be answered. 
The research was done by the whole class and when the sources were exhausted, the children chose which questions they would display as a poster. This was their first project and guidelines for setting out were provided. They also chose which image to place on their work. This was completed over a number of weeks and was integrated into English"

(Year 2/3 - Mr Stephen Powell) 





That's all for now!

Mr Stephen Powell 
TDS Coordinator 
Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 

Copyright notice for use of Australian Curriculum material.
© Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority 2013.
This is an extract from the Australian Curriculum.
ACARA neither endorses nor verifies the accuracy of the information provided and accepts no responsibility for incomplete or inaccurate information. In particular, ACARA does not endorse or verify that:


  • The content descriptions are solely for a particular year and subject;
  • All the content descriptions for that year and subject have been used; and
  • The author’s material aligns with the Australian Curriculum content descriptions for the relevant year and subject.

You can find the unaltered and most up to date version of this material at http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/
This material is reproduced with the permission of ACARA.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Integrated Planning

In our History Cafes we have started to investigate integrated planning. Sawyers Valley Sharing has developed a planning tool that you may find useful when planning for History. 


To see the full version of this planning document click on the link below.

That's all for now!

Mr Stephen Powell 
TDS Coordinator 
Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 

Copyright notice for use of Australian Curriculum material.
© Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority 2013.
This is an extract from the Australian Curriculum.
ACARA neither endorses nor verifies the accuracy of the information provided and accepts no responsibility for incomplete or inaccurate information. In particular, ACARA does not endorse or verify that:


  • The content descriptions are solely for a particular year and subject;
  • All the content descriptions for that year and subject have been used; and
  • The author’s material aligns with the Australian Curriculum content descriptions for the relevant year and subject.

You can find the unaltered and most up to date version of this material at http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/
This material is reproduced with the permission of ACARA.



History Cafe


The History Cafe planned for Wednesday the 11th of September has been cancelled. The next cafe will be held on Tuesday the 22nd of October in Term 4. 


Did you read School Matters? 
There is a terrific write up about our old school house! 
Check it out!



That's all for now!

Mr Stephen Powell 
TDS Coordinator 
Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 




Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Snapshots

If you are looking for some ideas for your year level the Schools Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCASA) have some snapshots for History, currently Years 1-10.

http://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/assessment_principles_and_practice/snapshots

The snapshots have been designed to be a starting point for discussion in regards to assessment.

Each snapshot has the content description focus and links to achievement standards. It describes the nature of the assessment task, the purpose, stage in the teaching sequence, the assessment task, criteria and how the teacher uses the information.

SCASA has also developed some alternative documents for planning. Click the link below to have a look. They can be downloaded in PDF or Word.

http://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/Resources/Curriculum_Planning_Resources

That's all for now!

Mr Stephen Powell 
TDS Coordinator 

Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 

Monday, September 2, 2013

My Story Books - Pre-Primary History!

The children gathered information to make a book about them and their family history. They posed questions to family members about where they were born, where they have lived, where their parents and grandparents were born. They brought the information to school and used a written model to type the information into a word document.

They used Tux paint to illustrate their book.  
(Carey Stewart - Level 3 Pre-Primary Classroom Teacher)




REMINDERS:

Hike through History (K-3) Thursday 5th of September 2013 (2 places available). Email stephen.powell@education.wa.edu.au

History Cafe - Wednesday 11th of September 2013 @ Sawyers Valley PS. 3:30 - 5:00. 
Register online at IPL.

APOLOGY:

Sorry if you received an email that promoted resume writing. This was done by an unknown hacker and I have now changed the settings so this shouldn't happen again.

That's all for now!

Mr Stephen Powell 
TDS Coordinator 
Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 



Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Graphing History in Pre-Primary!

The Pre-Primary Class have been working on graphing and making tables in History.

After gathering information and completing their "My Story" books the children were introduced to some different ways of recording information in tables and graphs. They found the information about where they have lived, how many people in their families and where their grandparents were born and used various means of representing their information pictorially. As a whole group we used the table and graphs to compare and interpret the information from their books. (Carey Stewart - Level 3 Pre-Primary Classroom Teacher)



A reminder that our next Hike Through History is on 
NEXT THURSDAY - 5TH SEPTEMBER 2013. 
Please go to the IPL web site via the portal to register as places are limited.

Also, our next History Cafe is on the 11TH OF SEPTEMBER 2013. 
Registrations are also on the IPL web site.

If you get some time, please have a look at another Teacher Development School's blog. Cooloongup Primary School  is an English Focus School for the Australian Curriculum.

That's all for now!

Mr Stephen Powell 
TDS Coordinator 
Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 

Monday, August 19, 2013

Kindy News!

The kindy children love talking about History and Tonya Wood has incorporated History into her news telling sessions.

Historical Knowledge and Understanding:
How the stories of families and the past can be communicated, for example through photographs, artefacts, books, oral histories, digital media, and museums (ACHHK004)
Historical Skills:
Chronology, terms and concepts
· Distinguish between the past, present and future (ACHHS016)
Analysis and use of sources
· Identify and compare features of objects from the past and present (ACHHS019)
Explanation and communication
· Use a range of communication forms (oral, graphic, written, role play) and digital technologies (ACHHS022)

Lesson Sequence:
Prior to Lesson:
1. A ‘Newsbox’ has been sent home with 3 students including instructions regarding the collection of an item from home that is significant to the child’s family history. 
2. Teacher should look in the ‘Newsbox’ when the child brings it in and locate the modern item or a picture of the item for comparison later.

Lesson
1. Children sit in a circle in a small group of 6 – 8 children. The child with the ‘Newsbox’ is to show and discuss the item they have brought along. The child is encouraged to use the news telling framework of ‘Who, What, Where and When’.  
2. Children within the audience are encouraged to ask questions related to the item or make comments as they relate it to their own experience.
3. The teacher should show the modern day equivalent of the item (a photograph will suffice) and ask for the children to identify and compare features of the items from the past and present.
4. The item is then placed in the ‘Kindy Museum’.
5.  This activity can be followed up with the group of children doing a painting, drawing or collage to show the items from the past and present.

6. Activity is repeated with another small group of children and another child sharing their ‘Newsbox’.


Here are some pictures of paintings completed after the Newsbox session.
"There's brown in the light, it was used for the train."
 
 "The lantern and I painted the train. The lantern stopped the train"
 "Mum use to turn it and get coffee. It was hard"
"A truck 'a' olden days truck"

To see how this all works in the kindy classroom, come along to the next "Hike through History: K-3" on the 5th of September. Places are limited, so make sure you visit the IPL website to register your place!

Happy History Teaching!

Mr Stephen Powell 
TDS Coordinator Year 2/3 Level 3 Classroom Teacher 


Copyright notice for use of Australian Curriculum material.
© Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority 2013.
This is an extract from the Australian Curriculum.
ACARA neither endorses nor verifies the accuracy of the information provided and accepts no responsibility for incomplete or inaccurate information. In particular, ACARA does not endorse or verify that:
  • The content descriptions are solely for a particular year and subject;
  • All the content descriptions for that year and subject have been used; and
  • The author’s material aligns with the Australian Curriculum content descriptions for the relevant year and subject.

You can find the unaltered and most up to date version of this material at http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/
This material is reproduced with the permission of ACARA.