From earth to space and back again
(Meg Philp)
Purpose
Through expressive arts (including artists’ books), Six thinking hats method, research skills and wondering, Year 3 students are engaged in exploring how living things use the earth's resources and those of the solar system to meet their needs.
Description
The unit develops over one term. It is driven by the following 'Big questions'
- What if you were sent off on an expedition to explore another planet?
- Which would be the best planet to live on?
- What would you need to survive there?
- What would make you want to stay there?
- What would make you want to return to planet earth?
- Where do you belong?
Procedure
Prior knowledge and skills of students:
- Science: observation and labelling
- Visual Arts: exploration of line and texture and free play with the resources on the art trolley
- English: familiarity with previously covered genres including: Description, Recount, Information report, Told stories, Drama games.
Teacher preparation:
- gather resources, e.g. buy materials from recycling shops
- order videos
- make a dummy 'Earth book' and 'Memory tin' to see what's involved
- read Aboriginal stories about the land
- take digital photos of local land features.
- Unit plan [new window 78 kb
]
Resources:
Unit bibliography [new window 43 kb ]
Artists’ books
Artists’ Books Collection, James Hardie Library of Australian Fine Arts. available in the new State Library of Queensland at South Bank.
Queensland Studies Authority (QSA)
- Artists’ books (Levels 4 and 5, Visual Arts Strand, Years 1 to 10 The Arts Syllabus)
[new window http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/yrs1to10/kla/arts/docs/modules/va_45_ab.pdf ]
Websites
- State Library of Queensland: Artists’ books
- Artists’ books online - redefining the book
- Queensland Studies Authority: Years 1 to 10 - The Arts [new window http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/yrs1to10/kla/arts/ ]
Assessment
Assessment is highlighted in learning intentions and teacher's activities in the unit plan, through
- sources of evidence - reflective drawings, work in progress, visual texts created by students, and digital photos of group activities
- consultation - teachers, workshop leader
- recording instruments - self assessment, peer assessment, criteria sheets, graphic organisers, rubrics.
Learning outcomes
Technology
- Technology Practice - TP 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4
- Information - INF 2.1, 2.2
- Materials - MAT 1.2
- Systems - SYS 2.1
English
- Operational - OP 2.2, 2.3
- Cultural - CU 2.3
The Arts
- Drama - DDR, ME & VA 2
- Visual Arts - VA 2.1, 2.2
Studies of Society and Environment
- Culture and Identity - CI 2.3, D 2.8, D 1.6
- Time, Continuity and Change - TCC 2.1
Productive Pedagogies
Last updated: 6th July 2007
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