Untitled

Time

Subject

Feature used

Activity

Learning Outcome

Daily – 8:45 & 2:45

Oral Language / Reading

All features

Students act as reporters and view a feature on the site. They have 10 minutes to read the info and then report their findings to the class. They also lead and record any voting that is required.

Students learn to summarize information.

Retell information.

Assist in decision making.

8:50

Spelling / Reading Vocabulary

All features

New words learned are asked for. Students post the new words on our Word Wall and present the word and meaning to the class.

Students will increase their reading vocabulary and use of the dictionary for meanings of words.

Monday - Friday

Spelling

All features

A Spelling Contract is given to students at the beginning of the week. This is composed of ‘new words learned’. The Contract is worked on during the week and a test of the words given at the end of the week.

Students will be able to spell the words associated with the Australia Quest.

WednesdayOctober, 18th

Spelling

All features

Students participate in a Spelling Bee of words learned during Australia Quest.

Students improve their ability to decode unfamiliar words.

Week 1

Writing

Quest Map

Students make a Passport with details of themselves. The cities / towns the team visits are recorded in the Passport.

Use of a map to track direction and location.

Week 1&2

Reading / Oral Language

Fox Files

Students read the Fox Files with a partner. Discuss and summarize information.

Students are able to summarize information and participate in a discussion.

Reading Comprehension

Kid Profile

Class reads the Kid profile together. With a partner, the students re-read the Profile and answer comprehension questions

Students will develop an ability to comprehend what is read and be able to answer questions about a text.

Reading Comprehension

Kid Profile

Students read the profile and design quiz questions for a partner to complete.

Students will be able to identify details of a story and compose a list of questions about the story.

Reading

Myths and legends

Students read the Dreaming story and retell the story using a drawing.

Students will be able to identify the important details of a story using illustration techniques.

Reading

Team Update

Students read the team Update and then list the sequence of events.

Students will be able to sequence events.

Tuesday

Oral Language

Dan’s Dilemma

The student ‘reporters’ report to the class the dilemma the team are facing. Students discuss the problem and possible solutions in groups.

Students participate in classroom discussions and are able to express their opinions regarding the problem discussed. Decision making skills are being developed.

Daily

Oral Language / writing

All features

Students report on what’s new with the team. The news is written on cards and posted next to the team members’ photo.

Students are able to deliver an oral report in front of a group.

Week 2

Writing

Message Board

Students write a persuasive piece about why our class would like to adopt a kangaroo.

Students can present their written ideas in a persuasive manner.

Week 2

Study skills

Fact Sheets

Students take notes of the Fact sheets provided.

Students are developing their note-taking skills.

Weekly

English

Kid Profile

Students are given a modified text from the Kid profile. Students rewrite the profile using correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Students are able to identify the need for correct grammar. They are able to correct spelling errors and add punctuation where necessary.

Week 3

Writing

Fox Files

Students are given information about the ‘stolen generation’. They form groups and plan a letter expressing their opinions.

Students are able to use the conventions of letter writing and express their opinions in the form of a letter.

Weekly

Writing

All features

Students write a weekly review in their Portfolio of what was learned during the week.

Students develop the ability to review and evaluate their learning. Parents also have an opportunity to comment on their child’s learning in the Portfolio review for the week.

Week 2

Music / Singing

Daily Movie

Students view and listen to Aboriginal music and singing. They learn 2 songs – G’day and Home among the gum trees.

Students gain an appreciation of Aboriginal music and are able to participate in the singing of Australian songs. Students gain an understanding of unfamiliar Aussie words.

Weekly

Art / Craft

Fox Files / Quest Critters

Students make paper koalas and gum trees.

Weekly

Art / Craft

All features

After listening to how the Aboriginal people created their art, students make their own dot paintings.

Students develop their knowledge of the Dreaming and stories told within their art.

Week 2

Art / Craft

Fox Files

Students paste Aboriginal designs onto a paper boomerang.

Students increase their understanding of Australian Aboriginals art symbols.

Week 2&3

Art / Reading

Myths and Legends

Students read the weekly myth and illustrate a section of the story. The sections are then sequenced correctly to tell the story.

Students will appreciate the central beliefs in the Dreaming and explore these beliefs through art.

Weekly

Social Studies

Fact Sheets

- Geography of Australia

-Australian animal

-Aboriginal people

Students read the Fact sheets as a group and then work with a partner to brainstorm the 10 most important details contained in the fact sheet.

Students will develop the ability to identify the important facts in a text.

Tuesdays

Writing / Reading

-

Students plan and write email / penpal letters to their class buddies in Australia.

Students use the written conventions for letter writing. They gain an insight into Australian way of life. They also are given opportunities to write in a real context.

Weekly

Technology

All features

Students navigate the Classroom.com site and other related sites to gain information about Australia Quest.

Students are becoming familiar with a web site and the related features. They are able to use technology to enhance their learning of Australia.

Weekly

Technology

All features / related web sites

Students use http://www.gigglepotz.com to find information for the Native American / Australian Aboriginal Project.

Students are able to navigate recommended sites to find information for the Social Studies Project.

Daily

Writing

-

The class mascot from Australia – Aussie ironbark goes home with a student each night. Students write a Journal of it’s activities (1 page) and share these with the class the next day.

Students are able to write creatively in a Journal, detailing the events of a day.

Week 3

Writing / Oral Language

Message Board

Students brainstorm things they would take on Australia Quest. They then write what they would take and give reasons why.

Students are able to support their writing with logical reasons.

Week 1

English / Reading

Quest Critters

Students read the information about kangaroos. They write 8 sentences using correct punctuation and capitalization.

Students are able to write complete sentences and identify the subject and predicate of each sentence.

Week 2

Writing / Reading

Quest Critters

Students read the Quest Critters feature. They then plan and write a Quiz for a partner to complete.

Students develop good comprehension skills.

Weekly

Social Studies

Quest Map

Students plot the route of the Team on an Australian Map. They also record the names of towns, cities visited in the Passport.

Students develop the understanding of latitude and longitude when reading a map and plotting the course of the Team.

Week 2 and Week 4

All Subjects

All features

Students keep an Australia Quest binder. This binder includes all written work, printed information and art work. This Binder is assessed using the Rubric Assessment Grid, in Week 2 and Week 4.

Students develop the ability to organize their work in a logical way and understand the need to produce work of a good standard.

My Name : ________________________________________________________

How often does your child use the Quest site at home? _________________________________

What improvements in your child’s work have you seen during the Quest? ______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Is your child interested and enthusiastic about the Quest? Why or why not?__________________

______________________________________________________________________________

After reading the Learning Outcomes attached, do you think your child has benefited from the Quest experience? Can you tell how? _______________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

How has the Quest helped your child in the Spelling, Reading, Writing areas? _______________

______________________________________________________________________________

General comments : ____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

Back to Australia Quest

Time	Subject	Feature used	Activity	Learning Outcome
Daily – 8:45 & 2:45	Oral Language / Reading	All features	Students act as reporters and view a feature on the site. They have 10 minutes to read the info and then report their findings to the class. They also lead and record any voting that is required.	Students learn to summarize information. Retell information. Assist in decision making.
8:50	Spelling / Reading Vocabulary	All features	New words learned are asked for. Students post the new words on our Word Wall and present the word and meaning to the class.	Students will increase their reading vocabulary and use of the dictionary for meanings of words.
Monday - Friday	Spelling	All features	A Spelling Contract is given to students at the beginning of the week. This is composed of ‘new words learned’. The Contract is worked on during the week and a test of the words given at the end of the week.	Students will be able to spell the words associated with the Australia Quest.
WednesdayOctober, 18th	Spelling	All features	Students participate in a Spelling Bee of words learned during Australia Quest.	Students improve their ability to decode unfamiliar words.
Week 1	Writing	Quest Map	Students make a Passport with details of themselves. The cities / towns the team visits are recorded in the Passport.	Use of a map to track direction and location.
Week 1&2	Reading / Oral Language	Fox Files	Students read the Fox Files with a partner. Discuss and summarize information.	Students are able to summarize information and participate in a discussion.
	Reading Comprehension	Kid Profile	Class reads the Kid profile together. With a partner, the students re-read the Profile and answer comprehension questions	Students will develop an ability to comprehend what is read and be able to answer questions about a text.
	Reading Comprehension	Kid Profile	Students read the profile and design quiz questions for a partner to complete.	Students will be able to identify details of a story and compose a list of questions about the story.
	Reading	Myths and legends	Students read the Dreaming story and retell the story using a drawing.	Students will be able to identify the important details of a story using illustration techniques.
	Reading	Team Update	Students read the team Update and then list the sequence of events.	Students will be able to sequence events.
Tuesday	Oral Language	Dan’s Dilemma	The student ‘reporters’ report to the class the dilemma the team are facing. Students discuss the problem and possible solutions in groups.	Students participate in classroom discussions and are able to express their opinions regarding the problem discussed. Decision making skills are being developed.
Daily	Oral Language / writing	All features	Students report on what’s new with the team. The news is written on cards and posted next to the team members’ photo.	Students are able to deliver an oral report in front of a group.
Week 2	Writing	Message Board	Students write a persuasive piece about why our class would like to adopt a kangaroo.	Students can present their written ideas in a persuasive manner.
Week 2	Study skills	Fact Sheets	Students take notes of the Fact sheets provided.	Students are developing their note-taking skills.
Weekly	English	Kid Profile	Students are given a modified text from the Kid profile. Students rewrite the profile using correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.	Students are able to identify the need for correct grammar. They are able to correct spelling errors and add punctuation where necessary.
Week 3	Writing	Fox Files	Students are given information about the ‘stolen generation’. They form groups and plan a letter expressing their opinions.	Students are able to use the conventions of letter writing and express their opinions in the form of a letter.
Weekly	Writing	All features	Students write a weekly review in their Portfolio of what was learned during the week.	Students develop the ability to review and evaluate their learning. Parents also have an opportunity to comment on their child’s learning in the Portfolio review for the week.
Week 2	Music / Singing	Daily Movie	Students view and listen to Aboriginal music and singing. They learn 2 songs – G’day and Home among the gum trees.	Students gain an appreciation of Aboriginal music and are able to participate in the singing of Australian songs. Students gain an understanding of unfamiliar Aussie words.
Weekly	Art / Craft	Fox Files / Quest Critters	Students make paper koalas and gum trees.
Weekly	Art / Craft	All features	After listening to how the Aboriginal people created their art, students make their own dot paintings.	Students develop their knowledge of the Dreaming and stories told within their art.
Week 2	Art / Craft	Fox Files	Students paste Aboriginal designs onto a paper boomerang.	Students increase their understanding of Australian Aboriginals art symbols.
Week 2&3	Art / Reading	Myths and Legends	Students read the weekly myth and illustrate a section of the story. The sections are then sequenced correctly to tell the story.	Students will appreciate the central beliefs in the Dreaming and explore these beliefs through art.
Weekly	Social Studies	Fact Sheets - Geography of Australia -Australian animal -Aboriginal people	Students read the Fact sheets as a group and then work with a partner to brainstorm the 10 most important details contained in the fact sheet.	Students will develop the ability to identify the important facts in a text.
Tuesdays	Writing / Reading	-	Students plan and write email / penpal letters to their class buddies in Australia.	Students use the written conventions for letter writing. They gain an insight into Australian way of life. They also are given opportunities to write in a real context.
Weekly	Technology	All features	Students navigate the Classroom.com site and other related sites to gain information about Australia Quest.	Students are becoming familiar with a web site and the related features. They are able to use technology to enhance their learning of Australia.
Weekly	Technology	All features / related web sites	Students use http://www.gigglepotz.com to find information for the Native American / Australian Aboriginal Project.	Students are able to navigate recommended sites to find information for the Social Studies Project.
Daily	Writing	-	The class mascot from Australia – Aussie ironbark goes home with a student each night. Students write a Journal of it’s activities (1 page) and share these with the class the next day.	Students are able to write creatively in a Journal, detailing the events of a day.
Week 3	Writing / Oral Language	Message Board	Students brainstorm things they would take on Australia Quest. They then write what they would take and give reasons why.	Students are able to support their writing with logical reasons.
Week 1	English / Reading	Quest Critters	Students read the information about kangaroos. They write 8 sentences using correct punctuation and capitalization.	Students are able to write complete sentences and identify the subject and predicate of each sentence.
Week 2	Writing / Reading	Quest Critters	Students read the Quest Critters feature. They then plan and write a Quiz for a partner to complete.	Students develop good comprehension skills.
Weekly	Social Studies	Quest Map	Students plot the route of the Team on an Australian Map. They also record the names of towns, cities visited in the Passport.	Students develop the understanding of latitude and longitude when reading a map and plotting the course of the Team.
Week 2 and Week 4	All Subjects	All features	Students keep an Australia Quest binder. This binder includes all written work, printed information and art work. This Binder is assessed using the Rubric Assessment Grid, in Week 2 and Week 4.	Students develop the ability to organize their work in a logical way and understand the need to produce work of a good standard.