Solving the Problems of the World

Hi Parents and friends,
The Junior Crew kids are on an environmental mission. We intend to use 'Pester Power' as a positive force. This week our task is to ask family and friends to switch to washing clothes in cold water. The evidence for switching really does speak for itself and it is such an easy way to help protect the environment. Click on the picture to take a look at the Visy Enviromaniacs site which is packed with great games to play and information about how to protect our environment. Will you help us solve the problems of the world?

Cooking - We like it hot!

Hi Everyone,

The Junior Crew kids have been learning how to make simple meals for themselves this year using all sorts of plug in 'makers' . We have made a variety of pies in a pie maker and sandwiches in a sandwich toaster and over the past few weeks we have learned how to make omelets in an omelet maker.

Learning to use these simple electrical gadgets has meant that all of the children are able to make themselves simple healthy snacks independently. We do watch over the kids while they are cooking to ensure that nobody gets burnt.

When this group of kids were younger they learned how to spread fillings, stack them into sandwiches and how to make simple drinks and desserts by combining ingredients. They also learned how to use a peeler and how to use knives and cutting boards for chopping. This week we have mastered the art of cracking eggs and whisking!

Using heated electrical equipment independently is the next important step in being able to move onto creating whole meals when they reach Middle Years .

Click on the picture to read some fantastic omelet recipes.

Asia Pacific Autism Conference 2009

Hi Junior Crew and Friends,
Today I few to Sydney to attend the APAC 09 conference. I will spend the next 3 days listening to experts form all over the world share their knowledge about Autism Spectrum Disorder. Click on the plane to find out more about the conference.
Paula and Sarah will be supporting Melinda who will be looking after the Crew in my place for the rest of the week.
Yes Tim, I remember saying that I will bring you all back a present from Sydney if you are good. So Crew, make sure you keep up your end of the bargain!
Sue

Signs of Winter, Signs of Spring, Signs of Creativity.

Hi Everyone,
The Junior Crew and staff have been hit by one 'bug' after another this term. Even my lap top got a virus and has been taken away to be fixed.
The Crew have noticed some signs that Spring will soon be here . We have posted some art work in our Virtual Gallery based on our observations of trees in the school yard.
Check out the Kids Blogging Area for ideas the Crew had to reuse or recycle plastic bottles and coffee lids. Very creative indeed!

Settling in for the Day & the 21st Century

Hi Everyone,

The Junior crew kids arrive at school all sorts of ways. Some walk, others come by car but most arrive on buses. The children start arriving at school at 8:40 am and the last one arrives at about 9:10 so we spend until 9:15 each day working on settling in activities.

Tim has been working on this rocket made from recycled materials for over a week. It's fantastic !

I was watching an environmental program during the school holidays which cited that 95% of products manufactured in any one day are thrown away within a week of purchase.

I'm not sure about the accuracy of the statistic but it made me think that it is important to give every object that is manufactured more than one use. I'm glad that the Crew bring in lots of boxes and containers from their home recycling bins to make things with and that the materials used for Tim's rocket have had more than one use before they end up in land fill.

We are all starting to 'see the signs' that our environment is struggling to maintain and repair itself because of our misuse of resources. The Junior crew challenge for this week is to find ways to use an object at least one more time or purpose before it is thrown away. Are you up for the challenge?

Running to Town

Hi Everyone,
Our class blog featured in the 21st Century e Learning Conference today. I participated in a online presentation which showed others how blogs can be used to create links between mainstream and special education schools and help teachers and students in the two settings to learn from each other. I didn't even have to leave my home to show people all around Victoria how capable and amazing our kids are.
In maths sessions this week we are looking at measurement topics. Last week we borrowed a trundle wheel from the Seniors classroom and measured the bicycle track on our school oval. We discovered that it is 140 metres long. We also know that it is a 6 km trip from here to the centre of the next town. Google Maps is such fun to use!
Over the next few days the Crew will be running around the track to see how long it will take us to run the equivalent distance to town. I love integrated units of work. Maths + great exercise+ sensory modulation = 1 fantastic activity.
Click on the hyperlinks or picture to visit the Google Maps site.