SOSE: Adventures in Time and Place

The dimensions of thinking for SOSE in term 3, 2009, for the Year 4 class will focus on:
- critical thinking and creative thinking
- assess significant local and current affairs from a variety of sources, with a
focus on examining bias and distinguishing fact from opinion
- historical thinking use primary sources to broaden understanding of historical events and issues
- geographic thinking construct and interpret various types of maps (i.e., historical, physical, political maps) to broaden understanding of topics being studied
- decision making and problem solving
- propose and apply new ideas, strategies and options, supported with facts and
reasons, to contribute to decision making and problem solving.

Research and resource materials will focus on:

1. Volcanic activity
2. Tropical Rain forests
3. The Great Barrier Reef

Student communication will focus on:

- Communication by oral, written and visual literacy
- Student will express opinions and present perspectives and information in a variety of forms, such as oral or written presentations, speeches or debates.

Student skills involve initially watching a class SOSE DVD then working on the topic to research information, have small group then whole group discussion. Topics for discussion will involve the gathering of new information and the writing of a spelling word bank. Factual reports will be written and given orally.

Activities:

Introduction to topic -
1. Keyword strategy
2. 'What I know' pre testing by journal writing

Background -
Study of the SOSE DVD to gain insight into the topic and then analysis and illustration of the research completed in class using classroom computers.

Presenting and sharing competed themes -
By class circle time, by presentation using electronic media.