Big week for inquiring minds

Gloria, Dom, Jade, Liam and Jodie at Mount Marnebek, a volcano that students and teachers made. Picture: Shannen Symonds

By BRIDGET COOK

THE spotlight was on the students of Marnebek School during the last week of term two as they were given an opportunity to show off their work to the wider community.
The Cranbourne school held a ‘celebration of learning’ exhibition where students’ artworks and projects that they had been working on throughout the term were on display for their families to come and see.
Leading teacher Rhett Watts said all the students at Marnebek engaged in a whole-school approach to inquiry-based learning, and that was what they were showcasing with the expo.
Each term the school focuses on a different unit of inquiry, with term two focusing on natural disasters and weather.
“At Marnebek we believe children possess a natural curiosity about their surroundings,” he said.
“Inquiry-based learning capitalises on student curiosity and their desire to investigate the world around them.
“With inquiry-based learning, students carry out an in-depth exploration of a topic based on student interests.
“Throughout the inquiry, students learn and develop basic essential skills, such as questioning, analysing, hypothesizing, imagination, creativity and problem solving.
“A hands-on learning approach is also extremely important for our students learning at Marnebek.”
The expo showcased learning from all students and included sensory created artwork, students’ project posters, digital presentations, numerous models of volcanoes, tsunamis and other forms of natural disasters.
Some of the biggest attractions of the expo where the masterpieces created by the junior school students including a replica volcano named Mount Marnebek, a large tornado created from chicken wire and a textured mural of a Tsunami.
The expo also included various interactive activities for parents, students and the local community to participate in.
“The celebration of learning exhibitions at Marnebek are always a positive and great opportunity for parents and the community to see and experience the outstanding talent and work produced by the students across the school,” Mr Watts said.