Arawang Primary School

Arawang Primary School is implementing the Australian Curriculum (AC) as a foundation for successful, life-long 21st century learning and participation in the Australian community. Our curriculum areas are:

English

The Arawang Primary English program follows the Australian Curriculum which is based on the three interrelated strands of Language, Literature and Literacy. Together the three strands focus on developing students' knowledge, understanding and skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing and viewing standard Australian English.

The three strands are:

• Language- knowing about the English language
• Literature - understanding, appreciating, responding to, analysing and creating literature
• Literacy- expanding the repertoire of English usage

Mathematics

The Arawang Primary Mathematics program follows the Australian Curriculum. The curriculum is organised around three content strands; Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry and Statistics and Probability. Embedded across these three areas are four proficiency strands, aimed at ensuring students' proficiency in mathematical skills. These are developed throughout the curriculum and become more sophisticated over the years of schooling. These strands are understanding, fluency, problem solving and reasoning.

We encourage families to support children in their understanding of mathematics, and below, have provided some information to help families be as helpful as possible. If families have questions about the meanings of mathematical terms, or don’t understand the way a concept is being taught, it is important that they contact their child’s teacher. The way parents and other care-givers were taught maths at school is often different to the current methods, so questions are perfectly understandable and encouraged.

Early years

• Patterning in Mathematics
• Counting and Subitising
• Partitioning Place Value Parts

Across the years

• Number Facts: Addition and Subtraction
• Mental Strategies for Addition and Subtraction
• Written Methods for Addition and Subtraction
• Mental Multiplication and Division Strategies

We would like to acknowledge that many of these resources were developed by the Queensland Government, and thank them for sharing their resources.

Science, History, Geography and Technology

The subjects Science, History, Geography and Technology are often taught as an integrated inquiry unit at Arawang Primary School. The subjects follow the Australian Curriculum in these areas.

Science is divided into three main strands - Science Understanding, Science as a Human Endeavour and Science Inquiry Skills. Each main strand then has different areas of its own. For example the strand Science Understanding is broken into Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Earth and Space Sciences and Physical Sciences. Across each school year, students at Arawang Primary School are taught the required content from each strand.

History is organised in two interrelated strands - Historical Knowledge and Understanding and Historical Skills.

Geography is also taught through the Integrated Inquiry process. The Geography curriculum is organised under Knowledge and Understanding and Inquiry and Skills.

Technology is integrated across all curriculum areas.

Japanese

The Japanese program at Arawang Primary School follows the guidelines set out by the Education Directorate. Students participate in a session once a week.

Environmental Program

Arawang Primary School offers an Environmental Science program to students across the school. This program covers a broad range of subjects from recycling and waste through to climate change and sustainability. Students use a variety of methods to help explore and understand environmental ideas, including scientific experiments, research and discovery tasks and workshops with visiting specialists. As an extra-curricular activity, a Green Team has been formed to tend to the vegies, plant new gardens and cook with the produce. Students gain valuable insight into the process of growing a variety of plants and all the little jobs that make a garden.

The Arts

The Arts is an important component of the Arawang Primary School curriculum. The Arts focuses on developing students' capacity to create, present and appreciate a range of art forms, including dance, drama, music, visual arts and media. Students at Arawang Primary School have opportunities to participate in the ACT instrumental music program including the School Brass Band in Years 5 and 6 choirs across the school, recorder ensemble and dance and drama programs. Our music program has an outstanding reputation winning Eisteddfod and Band Festival competitions.

Information Communication Technology (ICT)

ICT is used across the school in many different ways at Arawang Primary School. Every classroom has an Interactive whiteboard, an iPad and a set of computers which are incorporated into all curriculum areas. The school raised money to purchase a Mac trolley which is shared among all classes. Educational applications have been placed on the devices to actively engage students and support their learning in the 21^st Century.

Sports and Physical Education

At Arawang students participate in physical education lessons ranging from fitness, fundamental movement skills and cooperative games. Students have opportunities to participate in the athletics carnival, swimming carnival, cross country, cluster school sport, PE clinics, gross motor, K-2 swim school program, gymnastics, netball and rugby.