NYAH District Primary School students have begun an intriguing journet around Australia from the comfort of their classroom.
In a Facebook post last week, Prep/Year 1 teacher Pam Paynter asked people to send in postcards so her students would be able to learn about different parts of Australia.
The post was shared by hundreds of people from places such as Brisbane, Geraldton and even Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory, who have committed to sending in postcards.
Principal Luke Dalton was looking forward to seeing postcards get sent to the junior classroom from different parts of the country.
“The classroom has a map of Australia and the children will use the map to work out where the postcards have come from,” he said.
“We have got past Nyah District kids living on the Nullarbor in Western Australia and all different types of places around the country.”
The activity factors in so many different parts of the curriculum.
“Pam is teaching the students about Australia including the states and capital cities with a focus on geography,” Mr Dalton said.
“The postcards will also feature landmarks in different locations so the young children can associate them with areas in Australia.
They will also learn about what it’s like to live in a different part of Australia.
For example students will explore how living in the Northern Territory is different to living on the Murray River in north west Victoria.
The activity has got so many other advantages including the reading of the postcards and writing replies. It’s a dynamic activity that includes lots of community involvement.”
Mrs Paynter is also trying to tie in Indigenous elements to the activity, with the students recently painting Indigenous Australian flags and learning about the first Australians.
“That is a big part of our focus, especially for our Indigenous students learning more about their culture,” Mr Dalton said.
“We have a number of Indigenous students at our school and they enjoy connecting to their culture.”
All students will be involved in NAIDOC Week activities at the end of this term.
For anyone looking to send a postcard to Nyah District students, you can address them to Grade Prep/1, Nyah District Primary School, PO Box 177, Nyah West 3595.
