Primary Extension And Challenge Program
On Wednesday 31st May 2023, some of our clever and creative Year 3’s from around the Busselton region attended our PEAC CHALLENGE DAY at West Busselton Primary School.
The students enjoyed a full day of problem-solving, working through a series of higher-order thinking and challenging tasks. I saw some ingenious work produced throughout the day and some great thinking skills and strategies put to the test.
Here’s a snapshot of what the students got up to:
Real-World Maths Problems: Understanding maths is one thing but applying what we know is another. Using real-world math applications increases student engagement, improves how well students can remember and recall key concepts, and encourages them to think creatively, critically, and logically. Most importantly, it gives students the skills to solve problems that help them to investigate and understand the world.
Using Ryan’s Thinker’s Keys: Ryan’s Thinker’s Keys allow us to place emphasis on the development of innovative and creative thinking for three important reasons:
1. Creative thinking can be exciting and enjoyable. This active participation can then create a positive attitude toward the learning process.
2. The stimulation of creativity in learning heightens the emotional link with that learning. This emotional involvement boosts the effectiveness of our memory systems.
3. Developing our creative potential will strengthen our ability to cope with change. When our thinking is open-ended and accepting of new ideas, we become much more capable of adapting to changing circumstances.
Using the CONSTRUCTION key, students were required to work collaboratively to create a seed planter using only ice block sticks, straws, and paper.
The Hour of Code: The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify “code”, to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. It has since become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science, starting with 1-hour coding activities but expanding to all sorts of community efforts! Over the past years since its inception in 2014, the Hour of Code has reached tens of millions of students in 180+ countries.
Breakout EDU
A Breakout EDU experience is the perfect collaborative, kinaesthetic activity that reinforces learning. Breakout EDU challenges provide an immersive experience all students can benefit from.
The “Four C’s” of learning all come into play here: Critical thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity. Students must work together, thinking critically and creatively, to complete each challenge. Beyond these four C’s, Breakout EDUs add a fifth: they support Content. Each challenge can be specifically designed to focus on the skills and content to be reinforced.
Word Play: Playing with words and word building helps to build spelling skills and vocabulary. It encourages the manipulation of words for different purposes and audiences. The following activity provided students with a creative and original group of words through which to develop a unique Limerick.
Julie Gardner – PEAC Teacher
