Primary Curriculum


The Victorian Curriculum Foundation–10 (F–10) sets out what every student should learn during their first eleven years of schooling at Laverton P-12 College. The curriculum is the common set of knowledge and skills required by students for life-long learning, social development and active and informed citizenship. The Victorian Curriculum F–10 incorporates the Australian Curriculum and reflects Victorian priorities and standards.


In addition to the core subjects, we also prioritise the teaching and learning in the four capabilities of:

  1. Critical and creative thinking
  2. Ethical understanding
  3. Intercultural understanding
  4. Personal and Social Capability

 

ENGLISH

 

Students participate in:

  • 5 hours of Reading each week
  • 5 hours of Writing each week
  • Speaking and Listening is woven into all Curriculum Areas throughout the week
  • One 30 minute Library session each week
  • One 30 minute focus lesson on Spelling each week

At Laverton P-12 College we believe all students can achieve high personal standards in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. Literacy is an integral part of all areas of the curriculum and a key to success.  Each day our students learn within a Reading and a Writing Workshop.

 

The Reading Workshop is a daily session that runs for one hour and focuses on explicitly teaching reading strategies and skills, which students can apply to their own independent reading. We use the Department of Education reading strategies to guide our students developing their reading skills.


Literacy Intervention


At Laverton P-12 College Literacy Intervention is used to support students who have been identified as needing additional assistance in their literacy learning. Teachers work one on one or in small group situations to deliver an explicit teaching and learning program at the point of need of the student. A range of hands-on and interactive resources are used to address individual student needs and interests.

 


MATHS

 

In the early years, young children learn from watching, listening and engaging with the world around them. New skills and understandings can emerge through demonstration, modelling and problem solving. They explore  mathematical language that helps them to explore, describe and understand the world around them.


In our mathematical classrooms students have the opportunity to:

  1. develop and engage their mathematical thinking
  2. solve problems and demonstrate their understanding
  3. apply strategies and conceptual understanding in familiar and unfamiliar situations
  4. use and connect what they are learning to contexts outside the mathematics classroom
     

Students participate in:

  • 5 hours of Maths each week
  • one 30 minute focus lesson on Mathletics each week to practise their skills in an interactive platform
  • lessons that follow our school instructional model (IMPACT)
  • a range of activities to support learners visually or through hands on activities
  • small groups, paired and individual learning tasks based around clear learning goals.

Online Resources and Programs

Year P-6 students have access to Mathletics through personalised usernames and passwords.  The online program is a valuable resource to aid students in developing their skills, understanding and individual learning.

 

Assessments

Students will participate in a range of assessments throughout the year to assess their mathematical thinking and skill developments. This helps teachers to build a clearer picture of the learner. These assessments in may include:

  • pre and post testing to gather data on what students know and still need to learn
  • end of unit Common Assessment Tasks 
  • feedback and reflection
  • student self-assessments

Supporting Numeracy at home

There are many ways you can help your child to learn mathematics and numeracy at home. This can be as simple as:

asking your child ‘what did you learn today?’

  • have a conversation about what your child enjoys about numeracy and what they are challenged by
  • encourage your child to draw, create and describe their own patterns. Include them for creating borders on greeting cards
  • incorporate counting into everyday activities such as cutting fruit into six pieces and ask your child to count the pieces
  • encourage your child to practise simple skills such as multiplication facts
  • bring math skills such as estimating and measuring into everyday activities e.g. cooking.
  • Further information on how to support learning mathematics at home


HUMANITIES

 

At Laverton P-12 College, all students in P-6 participate in Inquiry Investigation sessions that explore concepts in the curriculum areas of History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship and Economics and Business.

 

Through rich inquiry units of work based around ‘essential questions,’ students are provided with experiences that stimulate curiosity, encourage questioning, consider different perspectives, and challenge their thinking. Each year students progressively build upon their knowledge, skills and understandings.

 

The Inquiry sessions also allow opportunities to explicitly teach the Capabilities, which include Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Capabilities, Intercultural Capabilities and Personal and Social Capabilities.

 

 

SCIENCE


Students in Years One to Six participate in ONE session of Science each week in the Primary Science Laboratory. Over the course of the year, all students develop scientific knowledge around the 4 areas of science.


Term 1 - Earth and Space Science
Year 1: The 4 Seasons and changes they cause
Year 2: The water cycle
Year 3: The relationship between the Earth, Sun and Moon
Year 4: The Impact humans have on the environment
Year 5: The Solar System
Year 6: Earthquakes and Volcanoes

 

Term 2 - Chemical Science
Year 1: Observable properties of different materials
Year 2: Simple mixtures
Year 3: The effect of heat on different objects, materials and substances
Year 4: Materials and how they are used in everyday life
Year 5: Introduction to the 3 States of Matter
Year 6: Chemical changes

 

Term 3 - Physical Science
Year 1: Light and sound
Year 2: Pushes and pulls
Year 3: Using heat
Year 4: Magnetism
Year 5: Light
Year 6: Electrical circuits

 

Term 4 - Biological Science
Year 1: Dinosaurs and minibeasts
Year 2: How things change as they grow
Year 3: Living and non-living 
Year 4: Plants and insects
Year 5: Adaptations
Year 6: Micro-organisms

 

As a part of the physical science units, students are also given the opportunities to engage in basic coding.  Years 1-3 use BeeBots to begin understanding how simple input commands make a robot perform basic tasks.  BeeBots are very easy to use with the students only have to remember arrow directions, pause and stop.  


Students in Years 4 & 5 use Ozobots to build on basic coding skills learning in Years 1-3.  Ozobots are small programmable robots and respond to different coloured texta ink.  Students can explore how the Ozobots react when different colour combinations are used.


Students in Year 6 further develop their coding skills by using Sphero robots.  These require more technical coding through an iPad application.  The Sphero robots can move in all directions, flash lights and students can even make them jump.


Victorian Curriculum F-10

VCAA

 

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION


The Health and PE Program provides students with the opportunity to develop a range of fundamental movement and sport specific skills that are essential for future sporting success. 

 

Fair play, teamwork and positive communication are always a focus with students learning to recognize and display these sporting values. 

 

Our school facilities provide a range of venues for physical activity with outdoor basketball courts, oval, soccer pitch and undercover area available. Students also have access to indoor spaces including our College Gym and Performing Arts Centre for classes in the colder months. 

 

All students in P-6 participate in 1 session of Physical Education each week. In addition to this students also have the opportunity to participate in:

  • P-4 Swimming Program that runs for 2 weeks per annum
  • P-6 Athletics program with a junior and senior athletics carnival held each year
  • P-2 Gymnastics program 
  • School visits from professional sporting bodies
  • 5-6 Interschool Sports with the opportunity to represent the College within the district, division & state level
     

 

THE ARTS

 

The Arts curriculum contributes to the development of confident and creative individuals and enriches Australian society. Students express, represent and communicate ideas in contemporary, traditional and emerging arts forms.

 

At Laverton P-12 College the Arts curriculum (at selected levels) includes: 

  • Dance
  • Drama
  • Media Arts
  • Music
  • Visual Arts 
  • Visual Communication Design

Visual Arts includes the fields of art, craft and design. Students create visual art works that communicate, challenge and express their own and others’ ideas. They learn about the role of the artist, craftsperson and designer and their contribution to society, Visual Arts engages students in a journey of discovery, experimentation and problem solving while  exploring visual arts techniques, technologies, practices and processes. Learning in Visual Arts supports students to view the world through various lenses and contexts. They recognise the significance of visual arts histories, theories and practices, exploring and responding to artists, craftspeople and designers and their artworks. Learning in the Visual Arts helps students to develop understanding of world cultures and their responsibilities as global citizens. The significant contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Australia’s arts heritage and contemporary arts practices are explored across the Arts, and students are encouraged to respect and value these unique and evolving traditions.

 

The Visual Arts curriculum aims to develop students’:

  • creative ideas and expressions through design and inquiry processes
  • visual arts techniques, materials, processes and technologies
  • critical and creative thinking, using visual arts languages, theories and practices to apply aesthetic judgment
  • respect for and acknowledgement of the diverse roles, innovations, traditions, histories and cultures of artists, craftspeople, designers, curators, critics and commentators
  • respect for visual arts as social and cultural practices, including industry practices
  • confidence, curiosity, imagination and enjoyment  through engagement with visual arts making, viewing, discussing, analysing, interpreting and evaluating.
     

Laverton P-12 College has well equipped studio spaces and art facilities to offer practices and exploration within a range of 2D and 3D visual art forms. 

 

 

MUSIC

 

The Instrumental Music Program

From Years Prep through to Year 12 students at Laverton P-12 College have the opportunity to enhance their musical abilities through lessons, ensembles, workshops and excursions. Our Band and Instrumental Music Program in conjunction with our classroom music curriculum, provides students with a range of opportunities to grow and develop as musicians.

 

Students participate in individual or small group ensemble practice and rehearsals throughout the week during schooltime. Students have the opportunities to perform at assemblies, school events, and at the end of each semester in the Summer and Winter Concerts. 

 

Rehearsals are compulsory for all Instrumental Music students. Students are reminded to check the Compass and the PAC noticeboard for notices regarding weekly rehearsals.

 

 

Instrumental Music Staff

Josh (Music Coordinator) - Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Piano, Drums 
Ken - Voice, Guitar, Bass, Piano 
Tommy - Drums
Daniel - Violin, Viola
Kristen - Flute, Clarinet
Laura - Cello

 

 

Instrumental Lessons

Instrumental lessons are offered for Voice, Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Piano, Drums, Violin, Viola, Cello, Flute, and Clarinet. All of our instrumental lessons operate on a rotating timetable so that students do not miss the same subject twice in a row. Students enrolled in lessons are expected to bring all required materials and their instrument to every lesson and to regularly check the PAC notice board, and Compass for any notices that may apply to them.

All instrumental lessons are free. 

 

Lessons for violin, viola, flute, clarinet, and cello are only available for students who participate in the afterschool music program - Chrashendo. Voice, Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Piano and Drums lessons are only available for year 6 -  year 12 students. 

 

Crashendo

 

Classroom Music Program

Our Instrumental Music Program is coupled with our Classroom Music curriculum to provide students with the broadest possible range of musical skills, knowledge and opportunities.

 

Music is offered as a subject at Laverton P-12 College for Year 8 and Year 10 students for 2 sessions each week for one semester. The music teacher Mr. Hall is dedicated to passing on his own passion for music to his students, ensuring that students not only succeed academically in the subject but develop as performers and appreciators of music.

 

The Classroom Music curriculum, in conjunction with the Instrumental Music Program, gives students the fundamental knowledge, skill-base and performance experience they need to become confident and proficient musicians.

 

For enquiries regarding the Laverton P-12 College Instrumental Music Program, please email the school or call on 9369 1833.

 

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