Hands-On Science Learning Every Week
At Pender’s Grove Primary School, science is taught as a specialist subject by Tessa Gangell in our dedicated Science room. All students from Foundation to Year 6 participate in a weekly science session, designed to foster curiosity, critical thinking, and a love of learning about the world around us.
Inquiry-Based Learning Across the Curriculum
Each term, our integrated classroom units are taught using an inquiry-based approach (Immerse, Question, Plan, Investigate, Act). These units guide students to explore significant questions, issues, and ideas related to the natural and human world. Students build their understanding through rich, strategically planned experiences that often span multiple curriculum areas, with a strong focus on one or more key learning domains.
Students also undertake individual “passion projects,” using the inquiry model to explore areas of personal interest. These investigations often lead to meaningful action or the creation of a final product.
Our Four Key Learning Organisers
To guide student inquiry and support meaningful learning, our investigations focus on four key organisers:
– Learning to Learn
– Learning About Ourselves and Others
– Learning to Live in the Environment
– Learning How Things Work
Student-led inquiries are central to the Investigations program. Technology is integrated throughout the curriculum, enhancing learning and encouraging creativity. Incursions and excursions are also used to enrich the experience and connect classroom learning to the real world.
F-2 Investigations and Oral Language Development
In Foundation to Year 2, oral language is the cornerstone of learning. It supports literacy, wellbeing, and cognitive development. Our oral language investigations aim to:
– Support a smooth transition into school with a fun and engaging, developmentally appropriate program
– Provide opportunities for students to strengthen social, interpersonal, and organisational skills through play
– Develop problem-solving and critical thinking
– Facilitate oral language development to support future reading and writing
– Build a love of language through art, music, technology, and science
Why Play Matters in Investigations
Play is a vital part of our approach. Research shows that play enhances development across five key domains:
– Social: Builds awareness of group dynamics, cooperation, empathy, and behavioural boundaries
– Emotional: Helps children process feelings, manage stress, and experience accomplishment
– Cognitive: Encourages exploration, classification, experimentation, and analysis
– Language: Expands vocabulary, encourages creative use of words, and supports communication
– Physical: Develops and refines motor skills
Play is not just a break from learning—it is a powerful tool for learning.
Our Aims for Student Development
Through the Science & Investigations program, we aim to enhance students’ abilities in:
– Listening comprehension
– Expressive language
– Vocabulary and phonological awareness
– Grammatical knowledge
– Social language and communication skills
– Using language for learning
– Memory, attention, and information processing
At Pender’s Grove, we believe that building strong investigative and communication skills early on helps students become curious, capable, and engaged learners for life.
