TERM THREE 2023, MUSIC & PERFORMING ARTS OVERVIEW
Teacher: David Shinn
Promoting home/school connections and creating opportunities for informative conversations with your child
Welcome to Performing Arts & Music! The Performing Arts & Music space is a place where we all learn to listen and work together as a team towards a common goal. Fostering a strong sense of community in the class is a key focus. This term will also lay foundations that will enable us next term to create an enjoyable and memorable end of year concert.
Reception This term in Performing Arts & Music, our Reception students will continue to build their rhythmic skills while adding movement and dance to their musical journey. They will explore the exciting world of rhythm stick line dancing, learning to coordinate their movements with rhythmic patterns. Through creative and fun activities, they will develop a strong sense of timing and coordination while expressing themselves through dance. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to experiment with different movements and create their own dance sequences, fostering their creativity and confidence. As they progress, they will also learn to listen and respond to different rhythms and music, laying a solid foundation for their musical development.
By the end of the term, our Reception students will have developed their rhythmic abilities, gained confidence in dance, and cultivated a love for expressing themselves through music and movement.
Year 1 This term in Performing Arts & Music, our Year 1 students will continue to build their rhythmic skills while exploring melodies on the xylophone and through the use of boom whackers. They will embark on an exciting musical journey, learning to create delightful melodies with these instruments. Through engaging activities, they will develop their ability to play simple tunes and recognize musical patterns, fostering their musicality and creativity. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to integrate their newfound rhythmic skills into their xylophone and boom whacker performances, creating harmonious ensembles and discovering the joy of making music together. Alongside their instrumental exploration, they will also delve into movement and dance, expressing themselves through coordinated rhythmic motions. Through this multidimensional approach, our Year 1 students will develop a well-rounded understanding of music, enhancing their musicality and appreciation for the arts.
By the end of the term, they will have accomplished a vibrant repertoire of melodies, rhythm, and dance, nurturing a love for music that will continue to flourish as they progress in their musical journey.
Year 2 This term in Performing Arts & Music, our Year 2 students will dive into the captivating world of rhythm as they focus on bucket drumming and exploring other types of drums. They will embark on a rhythmic adventure, learning to create captivating beats and patterns using buckets and various percussion instruments. Through engaging and fun-filled activities, they
Wh.will develop their sense of timing, coordination, and ensemble skills, learning to play together as a cohesive group. As they progress, they will explore different drumming techniques and experiment with combining various rhythms to create dynamic and infectious musical compositions. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to engage in movement and dance, synchronizing their movements with the drumming, and enhancing their performance as a unified ensemble. Throughout the term, they will not only build their rhythmic abilities but also develop their listening skills and sensitivity to musical nuances.
By the end of the term, our Year 2 students will have honed their rhythmic talents, acquired a deep appreciation for percussion, and be eager to showcase their rhythmic prowess through vibrant ensemble performances.
Year 3 This term in Performing Arts & Music, our Year 3 students will continue to build their recorder skills while venturing into new musical territory with a mixed ukulele and recorder ensemble. They will embark on a harmonious musical adventure, with ukuleles providing the harmonic structure and recorders taking on melodious melodies. Through engaging activities and ensemble rehearsals, they will develop their ability to play together as a cohesive group, blending their musical voices to create captivating and harmonious performances.
Students will explore different musical styles and genres, experimenting with how the ukuleles and recorders can complement each other to create a rich and varied ensemble sound. As they progress, they will also learn about musical arrangements, dynamics, and how to bring out the best in their ensemble performance. In addition to their ensemble work, students will continue to develop their recorder skills, learning new notes, melodies, and techniques. They will also have the opportunity to explore improvisation, allowing them to express themselves creatively within the ensemble context. Throughout the term, they will not only enhance their instrumental skills but also deepen their appreciation for ensemble playing and teamwork.
By the end of the term, our Year 3 students will have honed their recorder skills, mastered the art of ensemble playing with ukuleles, and be eager to showcase their delightful performances in front of an audience.
Year 4 This term in Performing Arts & Music, our Year 4 students will dive into the world of music arrangement and digital recording, as they are tasked with arranging a popular tune for their class performance. With creativity and collaboration at the forefront, they will work together to explore different musical ideas, adapt melodies, harmonies, and rhythms, and bring their unique musical voice to the piece. In addition to their instrumental work, students will be encouraged to experiment with different elements of dance and movement, discovering how they can enhance their performance through coordinated motions and expressions.
Throughout the term, students will learn about the process of music arrangement, deepen their understanding of musical structure and expression, and develop their technological skills. Additionally, they will gain a newfound appreciation for the synergy between music and movement, discovering how dance and performance enhance their musical storytelling.
Year 5 This term in Performing Arts & Music, our Year 5 students will further their ensemble skills through an engaging and creative project. They will be tasked to work in small groups and take on the challenge of creating a mini music video that showcases both music and movement. The project will require them to consider the abilities of themselves and their peers, collaborating to build the necessary skills for a captivating and seamless video performance.
Students will explore different musical genres and styles, choosing a piece that resonates with their group's artistic vision. They will delve into music arrangement, adapting melodies and harmonies, and experimenting with different instrumental and vocal combinations. Alongside their musical exploration, students will develop their abilities in dance and movement, choreographing and coordinating motions to complement their musical performance.
By the end of the term, our Year 5 students will have developed their ensemble skills, their abilities in music arrangement and choreography, and their understanding of video production. They will be proud to present their mini music videos, a testament to their artistic growth and collaboration as a class.
Year 6 This term in Performing Arts & Music, our Year 6 students will embark on a modern and engaging project. They will be tasked with identifying a popular tune from social media networks that resonates with them and learning to play it on class instruments. Through careful exploration and collaboration, they will work together to adapt the piece, creating their own unique arrangement that showcases their musicality and artistic expression.
In addition to their musical work, students will also integrate dance and movement into their performance, choreographing and coordinating motions that complement the music. Emphasizing creativity and collaboration, students will work in groups to collectively create an engaging and captivating performance that intertwines music and dance seamlessly.
Throughout the project, students will be encouraged to think critically about their artistic choices, exploring how to make the performance their own. Using recording technology, they will capture their performance to be shared with their peers and families. This process will foster their technological skills and provide an opportunity for them to reflect on their growth as performers and artists.
By the end of the term, our Year 6 students will have deepened their musical and dance abilities, honed their arrangement and choreography skills, and gained a sense of accomplishment and pride in their engaging and innovative performance. Their final recorded piece will serve as a testament to their creativity, talent, and teamwork.
SPECIAL EVENTS THIS TERM
The “Really Good Recess” concerts will be back with a focus on small student led groups. Get practicing with your peers and register your interest in a performance opportunity with Mr Shinn!
Key contact details
David Shinn dshinn@stjopayn.catholic.edu.au
TERM THREE, 2023, STEM OVERVIEW
Teacher: Nicholas Polvere
Promoting home/school connections
and creating opportunities for informative conversations with your child
Wh. Receptions
Receptions will continue to enhance their programming abilities by focusing on following, describing, and representing sequences of steps and decisions, also known as algorithms. Receptions will be actively engaged in programming activities using Bee Bots. Through this hands-on approach, they will develop problem-solving skills as they navigate and guide the Bee Bots through various tasks and challenges. This practical experience with programming will empower them to think critically and logically, fostering their understanding of computational thinking concepts in a fun and interactive manner.
Year 1
Year 1 students will continue to advance their understanding and skills in computer programming. Building upon their existing knowledge, they will focus on giving and following directions to familiar locations using a diverse range of robots, including Bee Bots, Probots and Botley. Through engaging with these various robotic platforms, students will gain valuable hands-on experience in programming and problem-solving. By programming the robots to navigate to different familiar locations, they will not only enhance their computational thinking abilities but also develop their spatial awareness and logical reasoning. This interactive and enjoyable learning process will foster their confidence in using technology as a creative tool and prepare them for future challenges in the digital world.
Year 2
Year 2 students will embark on an exciting journey of exploration with the introduction of Sphero robots. Through engaging hands-on activities, they will begin their exploration of geometry and measurement. Students will be tasked with measuring and using those measurements to identify and describe the angle of turn for the Sphero robot, fostering their understanding of spatial concepts and mathematical principles. Furthermore, students will be encouraged to embrace the engineering process as they undertake a creative challenge – designing and developing their own Sphero Maze. By programming the Sphero to navigate and escape from their unique mazes, they will not only strengthen their problem-solving skills but also foster their creativity and critical thinking.
Year 3
Year 3 students will take their programming skills to a higher level by exploring the intricacies of programming elements and the diverse outcomes they can produce. Through engaging with Sphero robots, they will gain a deeper understanding of how specific instructions and variables can lead to varied results in their programming project By applying their knowledge of the engineering process, students will embark on an exciting journey of designing and programming their very own 'Hot Potato' game.
Year 4 Year 4 students will create algorithms, learn how to design, modify, and follow simple sequences of steps, as well as explore the powerful techniques of branching and iteration (repetition). Armed with this fundamental knowledge, they will be ready to take on the challenge of programming their own 'Simon Says' game using Sphero robots. They will follow the engineering process, a systematic approach that involves brainstorming, planning, prototyping, and refining their game designs.
Year 5 Year 5 students will embark on an exciting journey of discovery as they are introduced to the fascinating micro:bit computers. This innovative platform will open new doors for them to explore the world of technology and digital systems. Through hands-on activities and practical projects, students will gain valuable insights into data management and the seamless integration of digital technologies.
Year 6 Year 6 students will be introduced to the captivating world of micro:bit processors, marking the beginning of an exciting journey of discovery. Through a series of engaging and hands-on activities, students will have the opportunity to delve deeper into data management and the art of seamlessly integrating digital technologies. Students will use their creativity and inventiveness by using micro:bit computers to develop their own innovative ideas with the potential to make a positive impact on the world.
STEM MAD STEM MAD is designed to acknowledge and promote STEM learning initiatives that address real-world problems, giving students in Catholic schools the opportunity to take action that matters by designing a service, product or innovation, to make a difference (MAD) to others or the environment.
Key contact details
Nicholas Polvere
npolvere@stjopayn.catholic.edu.au
