Delivering a cross-curriculum unit in a Central school
The cross-curriculum unit developed at Norfolk Island Central School was designed to provide students with the opportunity to appreciate the significance and interconnected role that different subject areas play in addressing issues of common concern.
Burn Baby Burn
The focus of the unit was on human skin and the impact of the sun. This unit involved the staff from Mathematics, Science, PDHPE, Industrial Arts, Home Science and Art collaboratively teaching the relevant syllabus content.
Overview
Mathematics
Students will assist in the design of a project by examining ratios and scale, drawing a scale diagram of a shade shelter and calculating the area of shade cast by a tree. Students will also calculate the surface area of the human skin which will assist in the investigation of the skin during the science part of the unit. This activity will require students to develop and implement a plan to find the surface area of the skin, document and present both the method and their findings.
Science
Students will examine the different layers of the skin and their purpose. The skin will be identified as a bodily organ, with a focus on skin pigmentation and the causes and prevention of skin cancer.
PDHPE
Students will examine the effects of the lack of hydration on the body by measuring weight loss after a sporting activity. They will calculate percentage weight loss and find out what percentage weight loss will result in dehydration.
Industrial Technology
Students will construct a scale model of the school for the purpose of designing a scale model of a shade shelter. The model will be used to examine shade patterns, practicality and aesthetics for a shelter that the school is currently looking into providing for students.
Textiles Technology
Students will take a materials approach and examine the shade properties of different materials used to construct a shade shelter, advising students in industrial arts on the appropriate material to use in their design.
Art
Students will learn to take digital images and download them to a computer. The aim is to assist students to take images for their presentation and documenting the activity for the school newsletter, local paper and school magazine.
We aim to provide students with a fun activity that has a common theme to explore the Quality Teaching dimension, significance. The purpose of the cross-curriculum unit is to develop staff confidence and experience. The plan for the future is to include all faculty areas and develop a unit of work to incorporate students from both Stage 3 and 4.
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