The second Unit of Inquiry for Stage 2 has been a Sharing the Planet unit where the boys have been exploring our Central Idea: Earth is a dynamic environment affected by human activity. These six weeks have been filled with engaging learning experiences that have raised great awareness of how our Earth is changing and has resulted in some persuasive action from the boys on ways to reduce our human impact.

Our inquiries began by exploring the natural processes of our Earth. The boys investigated the rock cycle and how rocks change over time. This led the boys to identifying these different rock types in the environment around them and our classrooms soon became an evolving geology site, filled with various rocks, crystals and gemstones. After researching about various natural processes of the Earth such as erosion, weathering and deposition, the boys began to conduct experiments to demonstrate how these processes were changing the Earth’s surface. The boys were then able to link these processes to Australian landmarks such as Uluru, the Twelve Apostles, Wave rock etc.

Then, our Unit of Inquiry shifted to explore how human activity is affecting the Earth. After a good provocation around sharing finite resources, the boys soon became very aware of the need to reduce our impact on the Earth’s surface. As whole classes, Years 3 and 4 brainstormed all the activities humans were doing that drastically affected the Earth’s surface. These then became areas of passion for the boys and they were grouped according to the issues that they wanted to fight for. These included deforestation, pollution, housing, farming and mining. The boys conducted guided inquiries to define what their issue was, how it was affecting the Earth’s surface and areas of action we can take to reduce this impact and create more of a balance. It was so rewarding to see the boys explore a concept they felt so strongly about. As a way to spread their messages, the boys are now in the final stages of preparing a Persuasive Play that addresses their issues and informs the audience on ways to reduce our human impact on the Earth’s surface.

It has been a very engaging and purposeful Unit of Inquiry for Stage 2 and we hope to see their future actions reflect their learning this term.

Shayne Pollard – Year 4 Teacher