Year 5

Did you know that Tokyo is now one of the most visited cities in the world by Australian tourists? That is good news for any of our Grade 5s planning a trip to Japan in the near future because we are learning all about how to order food at a fast-food restaurant. Our students can now confidently order a hamburger or fries (or two!) as well as learning specific Japanese phrases like ‘Let’s eat’ (Itadakimasu) and ‘Cheers’ (kanpai). Perhaps the most useful phrase we have mastered this term is ‘Sumimasen – Excuse Me’, very helpful to get shopkeepers attention.

Year 6

This term the students have explored the very Japanese topic of ‘Mottainai’ – or ‘Don’t Waste It’. We have explored the evolution of Japanese kanji symbols for various nature words, from their picture origins to how they are written today. It was amazing to see the students match the picture to the correct kanji before they were even taught. We have looked at basic forms of kanji that are straight pictographs – kanji symbols that are used to express literal things, which has been great for visual learners. Year 6 students also had the chance to make these characters in play dough which was lots of fun and then apply their knowledge in a scavenger hunt in the Sustainability Garden where Sensei made sweet potato mochi, harvested direct from the garden, for those who completed the challenge.