​We wrote to one of the Story Box Library creatures, recommending a story that we thought they would enjoy, based on their interests.

We all know the story of the Gingerbread Man. When he was taken out of the oven, he jumped up and said, “Run, run as fast as you can! You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread man!” and bolted out of the door. 

During remote learning, Simon Learning Community was challenged to use their ingenuity and engineering skills to brainstorm, innovate and build traps to catch the gingerbread man. Their vivid imaginations were given free reign to use any materials they found in their home – blocks, Legos, paper, connecting stick, boxes, etc. 

​Truly, they were so incredibly creative. Each of their designs were unique, from trap doors to chocolate “bait” to walls that closed around them. 

For this activity, we needed to use our problem solving skills to figure out how to continue a pattern. We figured out the pattern used the first letter of each month of the year. Some of us even finished the extension where we needed to continue the pattern past the month of December.

To our Simon Learning Community members - Us teachers are so proud of your efforts during this time. We know you have been very busy learning from home. It is so lovely to see your smiling faces, keep up the great work!

​We have been learning an important life-long skill – AUSTRALIAN MONEY!

We learnt how to recognise, describe and order different coins according to their value. We also learnt how to count and order small collections of coins.

​We challenged our selves to show money values in multiple ways, and how to record coin values using numbers, words and symbols.

​Wow! That was a lot to cover during Term 2, but we kept our engagement levels high with hands-on activities such as, using our giant-sized Australian coins and our exciting farmers market.

​We couldn’t contain our excitement when we saw our real-life market – so excited we broke out in cheer and some of us in dance!  

Look at how we worked together to run a farmers market in our learning community. 

There is something very special in the air this time of the year. The crisp Autumn breeze and bristling leaves, floating delicately onto the ground - It inspired many of us in Simon Learning Community to celebrate and learn about nature, growing plants and the picturesque season. 

​After planting bean seeds, Simon Learning Community students have been learning the importance of taking care of them while observing their growth. They are fascinated how the seeds are tucked into the soil and cotton wool, and they take great care by watering them daily, waiting for them to grow. 

​When the first sign of luscious green popped through the soil, the biggest smiles erupted from their faces.

The experience was a wonderful way to expand vocabulary and develop interesting writing sessions, filled with lots of powerful writing strategies such as, The Power of Three, Onomatopoeia and Alliteration.