Public Speaking
Throughout Term 3, our Year 6 Girls have been dedicating their time towards developing some EPIC Public Speaking presentations. We began by analysing videos of young (and older) Australians speaking with enthusiasm and heart to an audience, from Julia Gillard to school students just like us. The girls used these examples as a springboard of inspiration with which to consider their own passions and create speeches accordingly. We organised our ideas, considering purpose and audience, and determining how we wanted others to feel after listening to us. The girls were guided by the challenge: What can other people learn from hearing me speak?
Some of the topics the girls chose included: ‘It’s Normal to be different’; ‘Do boys and girls really have the same rights?’ and ‘Being perfectly imperfect’.
In addition to meaningful content, we have been learning about the elements of a successfully delivered speech: hand gestures, eye contact, emphasis and intonation to support the meaning of our words and enhance connection with an audience.
‘The more you practice public speaking, the better you are prepared for situations in the future. The tips we get from each other during feedback help us know what we need to work on to become more confident and successful.’ – Evelyn T
‘We have learnt adult skills from a young age to prepare us for business life!’ – Olivia B
‘You get to learn about what other people think about society.’ – Lana M
‘A new part of my brain opened up! As an audience member, I got to see different perspectives about other people’s views on life,’ – Lillian H
We are now in the midst of our class heats, where each girl delivers their carefully developed speech, earning points for their House in the process. The GJS will battle it out at the end of term in a final round of Public Speaking Champions on 12 September.
Allison Prandolini | Head of Girls’ Junior School
The Gold Rush
Our Year 5 girls have been exploring the exciting era of the Gold Rush. The girls have explored the value of gold trading before currency, life on the goldfields and more. Throughout the Term, our class has been playing ‘The Gold Game,’ where students take on the roles of miners, paying for licenses, panning for gold, buying equipment, earning money, and even purchasing businesses. This has been an enjoyable way to explore some of the challenges and experiences of the time.
An overnight stay at Sovereign Hill was a highlight that brought learning about Australian history to life. A standout moment of the visit was the reenactment of the Eureka Rebellion, where the students dressed up and created a visual timeline of the events, taking on the roles of angered miners and harsh European authorities. They also ventured into underground mines and travelled through the story of the largest gold nugget ever found, the ‘Welcome Stranger’. These hands-on experiences made the learning fun.
To reinforce a deep understanding of the era, the girls will be creating trioramas that showcase key figures, significant events, and essential equipment from the Gold Rush era.
Critical thinking and consideration of the broader effects of this significant period in Australian history have been developed using the ‘Question Matrix’ thinking routine.
William Fogarty | Year 5 Teacher
