Life Skills

Hands-On Learning Experience – Exploring Japan

In our hands-on learning sessions, students have continued to explore Japan and its connections to the Torres Strait and Australia. We’ve gained valuable insights into life in Japan and compared it to our own way of living in Australia.

Our journey into Japanese culture included delving into its cuisine. The students learned to identify key ingredients used in various Japanese dishes and explored the cultural significance of food in Japan. As part of the experience, they compiled shopping lists of ingredients to create their own dishes, although not all students liked the flavours.

In addition, the students designed and crafted Bento Boxes, incorporating their names in Japanese and featuring characters from Japanese folklore and stories to decorate their lunchboxes. To further enhance their understanding, we visited IBIS, where students shopped for snacks to include in their Bento Boxes.

The students also enjoyed learning about Duifugo (Grand Millionaire), a traditional Japanese card game. We had a great time playing and learning the rules together. Another highlight was studying Japanese fan designs, which inspired the students to create their own decorative fans.

This unit has been a fantastic learning experience. The students worked hard, gaining not only practical skills but also a deeper appreciation for Japan’s culture. They also learned several Japanese words and phrases, which helped them connect even more with the material.

The Hub

Our Year 2-4 students who have participated in The Hub this term have made significant progress in our “Learning to Learn” program. The students have developed strong skills in listening attentively, following instructions, and sticking to our daily timetable.

In addition to becoming more confident in joining group discussions, the students are now able to speak in front of the group and even take the lead in activities. Another key component of our program this term is guided writing. The students have been working on reading stories, then writing and editing passages based on what they’ve read. Through this exercise, they’ve become adept at identifying errors in sentence structure and correcting spelling mistakes.

As we approach Term 2, some students are ready to return to their regular classes, and we are excited to welcome new students to The Hub for the next round of our “Learning to Learn” sessions. We look forward to continued growth and success in the coming term!

Best Regards,
Mr. Jonathan Beales