Rea World Problem Solving

In our Early Entry classroom this year we used our developing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) knowledge to guide our investigations into a wide range of interesting topics. The problems we questioned and explored tackled some of the real life challenges we experience today. Through integrated learning and a focus on STEM, the students were faced with a range of problems that their knowledge and skills could help solve. Each week students pondered over new wonderings and questions, and rather than being given the answers, they were encouraged to use their developing 21st century skills through STEM to form solutions. As research suggests, there is a growing need and demand for these types of skills, in particular, considering their connection with the real world after school and the opportunities it will provide our boys. This relevance and authenticity increased student interest and engagement in their learning. Developing active critical thinkers and problem solving individuals was our focus of 2022.

Our Integrated Units throughout the year took us on many real world problem seeking missions. We explored what it means to be human in our ‘Who Are We?’ Unit. We explored whether change is necessary for growth in our Built Up and Cycles and Systems Units. Finally, we delved into some problems faced when trying to be a responsible global citizen in our Let's Get Global Unit.

Here are some of the wonderings and problems we pondered and some of the ways we used our STEM skills and experiments to test out our solutions:

Is life possible on Mars? (1)

What makes us unique? (2)

What does it mean to have a special connection to a place? (3)

What if invisible air pollution was made visible? (4)

Why do we need community helpers? (5)

What cycles of change impact living things? (6)

How can we protect ourselves from earth's wild climates? (7)

Some things we loved about our time in Early Entry

Harley: Being the calendar boy and checking the weather

Hendrick: Choosing what to do during Free Play

Sebastian: Visiting Terrey Hills and playing rugby on the big field

Riccardo: Making new friends

Isaiah: Learning maths and seeing Caleb in assembly

Mads: Walking to the church for Chapel

Dilin: Playing in our construction room and building with the couches

Jenson: Using the B-Bots during our STEM lessons

Archie: Using the VR goggles with Mr Blackband

Albert: Going on the rollercoaster with the VR Goggles

David: Filling up the buckets in the sandpit