Educate

Adelaide’s Best Kids Cooking Classes

Stressed about too much egg shell in the batter, or just don’t know where to start with teaching the kids how to cook simple, easy recipes? Check out Adelaide’s best kids cooking classes and get the professionals involved! (Pssst… and you won’t have to do the clean up!!)

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Decoding the secret to reading and writing at St Peter’s Woodlands

St Peter’s Woodlands has introduced a new literacy program for its ELC, Reception, Year 1 and 2 classes, Let’s Decode. As the only Independent school in SA running the evidence-based program, after just five months, they are already seeing some remarkable results. Typically, students who attend schools running the Let’s Decode program are reading proficiently by the end of Year 2.

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Getting the low down on unhealthy foods

National surveys show that kids are currently eating up to 8 times the recommended daily intake of unhealthy foods. Try these tips for families to see how you can make small changes to reduce unhealthy food in your household!

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STAY INFORMED AND GO BEHIND THE NEWS WITH BTN CLASSROOM!

BTN is creating even more education focused content this term… Still national and still all made in SA! Our favourite news source BTN now has a Teachers tab and a Subjects tab on their homepage and YouTube Explainers on all sorts of different topics as well as their weekly show and BTN Newsbreak every weeknight. Check out one of their latest episodes on how Covid-19 is effecting kids below! There’s also content on how to deal with upsetting news, BTN Investigations and how to get your voice heard on the news: abc.net.au/btn/ They’ve also got a page all about COVID-19 for kids: abc.net.au/btn/newsbreak/coronavirus-covid-19/12137268

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HISTORY FESTIVAL POETRY TAKEOVER CHALLENGE OPEN FOR ENTRIES

SOUTH AUSTRALIA‘S YOUNG POETS TAKE OVER
 – History Festival Poetry Takeover Challenge open for entries Throughout May 2020, the History Trust of South Australia is inviting budding poets in years 4 to 11 to participate in the History Trust’s first ever online poetry challenge. Asking young South Australian poets to answer questions such as:What does local history mean to you?Why are objects important and why should we care?Why would a museum have that particular object on display?What’s the story? Originally part of South Australia’s History Festival 2020, which was this year postponed, the Poetry Takeover Challenge aims to engage young people with history and museum collections in a new and creative way – even if they can’t visit in person. Poetry Takeover Challenge participants will create a poem taking inspiration from the collections of the History Trust and other museums and galleries across South Australia. South Australia’s History Festival Manager Karen Blackwood said the theme of the Poetry Takeover Challenge is change which is now more relevant than ever. “In times of change and uncertainty, poetry offers a unique outlet to express complex emotions, to connect, to sooth the soul or simply have fun playing with words.” “The Poetry Takeover challenge provides a platform for young people to take some of the fascinating items held in the collections of South Australia’s cultural institutions and to interpret them through fresh eyes. We’re excited to see how our state’s young poets respond to the challenge,” Karen continued. The History Trust will publish Poetry Takeover Challenge poems in an online gallery and share across the History Trust’s social media. Every young poet who submits an original poem will be in the running to win one of six $50 Dymocks vouchers, chosen by a panel of peers. Community Choice prizes will also be decided online by popular vote. Entries close on Sunday 31 May at 5pm. The Poetry Takeover Challenge was originally planned as part of the South Australia’s History Festival education program. The History Festival, which usually takes place from 1-31 May each year, is one of the state’s largest community festivals. The 2020 festival program included almost 700 events, presented by over 400 organising groups. Entry is FREE, to access forms, resources, links to online collections and further details https://poetrytakeover.com.au/ History Festival Poetry Takeover ChallengeWhen: 1 – 31 May, 2020For: SA students in years 4 – 11.Where: https://poetrytakeover.com.au/#HFPoetryTakeover@HIstoryFestival

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MINI MAD THINGS ISO CRAFT KITS!

MINI MAD craft kits are brimming with crafty fun ready for you to get creative at home! The kits are designed inspire open-ended creativity. With their range of beautiful, engaging materials, you can either follow the Mini Mad Things craft tutorials or create your own fun projects. There are lots of options. Check out the Collage Creative Craft Kit below: COLLAGE CREATIVE CRAFT KIT With the COLLAGE CREATIVE craft box you have the option of making the following MINI MAD CRAFT projects:Collage RainbowCollage RobotsTexture printingPaper Bag Monster masksPLUS extra materials to make your own creations The box includes the following materials:Cardboard rainbow template x1Cardboard robot body parts x1Large paper bag to make a mask x1Cardboard printing block bases x1Textured materials to make printing blocksReady cut collage materials in rainbow coloursA sheet of monster and robot eyes to cut outPaper fastenersA4 white and coloured paper x8 sheetsPom PomsFelt shapesTo complete these projects you will also need the following tools/materials that are NOT supplied in this box:PVA glue or glue sticksPaint and brushesColoured marker pensScissors MINI MAD CRAFT kits are all beautifully presented and packed with care, no plastic packaging materials are used AND you can use the cardboard packing box to start building your own CARDBOARD BOX TOWN! Suitable for ages 3+ Check out more boxes at MINI MAD THINGS 

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WHAT IS SHARENTING? THE TROUBLING BEHAVIOUR BY LOVING PARENTS

Troubling behaviour by loving parents ‘Sharenting’ is a word now so overused and ‘punny’ that it actually undermines the important cause the term was originally coined to highlight. Sharenting – for those who don’t know – is when a parent regularly shares photos and/or stories about their child without any consideration of the impact this might have on the child’s privacy and agency, either at the time, or when they’re old enough to be on social media themselves. The ironic thing about sharenting is that many of the most engaged, conscientious, and caring mums and dads around, have been shown to be the main culprits. A 2018 study by the London School of Economics titled ‘What do parents think, and do, about their children’s online privacy?’ revealed that three in four parents who regularly use social media, posted pictures and videos of their kids. In fact, the study went on to say that “parents who say they are concerned about privacy are more likely to share images of their children online – both with close family or friends, and with wider contacts”. I’ve been hearing that when it comes time for kids to establish their own social media accounts (around the age of 13), they are frequently unsettled and very embarrassed to discover that they already have a significant historical digital footprint they knew nothing about. Discovery of this unknown footprint, created by the people in their lives who are supposed to have their best interests at heart, can leave many children feeling upset, humiliated, or betrayed. Posting the obligatory first day of school snapshot quickly becomes less appealing when we consider how many strangers will view that photo with the name of the school, possibly the full name of our child, and quite likely, the geo-location of where the picture was taken. What about a photo of our child in their bathers at the beach? If we wouldn’t hand out images or information to a stranger in the checkout line at the supermarket, should we be posting it online? Even without our social media settings switched to public, if any friend comments on or likes our post, their friends may receive access to it too, and once online, it can end up anywhere. So before any of us posts another pic or video of our child or grandchild online, we need to stop and consider the impact it may have on that child down the line. If we can hear them objecting, we should consider that not posting it might just end up strengthening the trust that exists between us. That way, when it does come time for them to be making decisions about what they do post about themselves online, they will be able to turn to us for guidance and reassurance – and surely no number of ‘likes’, ‘shares’ or ‘comments’ could be more important than that! Try out my practical tips for being a ‘Smartparent’ when using social media at ccyp.com.au/guides-and-fact-sheets/ If you’re a child, young person or parent who would like to get in touch with me send an email to CommissionerCYP@sa.gov.auor visit ccyp.com.au 

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GOODSTART AT HOME – THE HOME LEARNING FOR UNDER 5’S YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR

Goodstart At Home provides parents with access to world’s best practice online learning Parents with young children at home now have access to world’s best practice online learning, packed with fun, play-based learning activities provided by the nation’s largest, not for profit, early learning provider, Goodstart Early Learning. Goodstart At Home is an extraordinary new way to learn for children who can’t attend early learning centres. Provided free to Goodstart families and for just $1 per month for other families, the website provides resources created by some of the world’s leading early childhood practitioners. “Many families have very young children at home during the current Covid-19 crisis and we want to support them to keep learning during this time,” Goodstart CEO, Julia Davison said. “Our team of pedagogical experts, harnessing local and international experience, have been hard at work developing Goodstart At Home and our families are embracing it. “More than 18,000 families have already subscribed to the online hub with this number expected to grow significantly as we begin sharing with the wider community across the nation.” Goodstart General Manager Pedagogy and Practice Sue Robb, OBE, said children learned best through play, and some of the activities would even let parents take a well-earned break while their child explored and learned independently through play. “These activities have been developed and approved by a team of Goodstart experts from across our nation-wide early learning network of educators, teachers, and behaviour and learning specialists. “They’ve been assessed by international academics as meeting the early learning benchmarks for children across all age groups. We are already receiving inquiries from governments and international early learning providers to use the on-line hub. “The resources are easy to use and great fun for children and their parents – many of our families are sharing wonderful photographs and videos of them putting the new resources to use,” Ms Robb said. Key benefits for families• Continued learning in the home environment for children in the early years• Access to the Goodstart at Home online village with easy to do learning activities that are updated regularly.• Recipes and ideas for cooking with children• Support, articles and resources for parents• A brand new Behaviour Support Kit that you can order to be sent to your home which is designed to help parents support their children during this stressful time Goodstart Families can subscribe online for while the program is available to all other families for a small fee of $1 per month at athome.goodstart.org.au/ The Goodstart Family Behaviour Support Kit Families are spending more time together than ever before, and sometimes that can mean emotions (and behaviours) can go a little off track. Goodstart are really excited to share with you a new resource that they have developed for families to help them guide and support their children’s behaviours and emotions. The Goodstart Family Behaviour Support Kit has information and resources to help support your child to understand and manage their emotions and help them learn how to communicate their needs in an appropriate way. It’s a physical kit delivered straight to your door and includes a multitude of helpful tools and tips! You can purchase this kit direct from our Goodstart website!  athome.goodstart.org.au/

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AGSA DELIVERS ONLINE EXPERIENCES, ARTMAKING AND EVENTS

AGSA delivers online experiences, artmaking and events The Art Gallery of South Australia is responding to its temporary closure with enhanced digital experiences for audiences to engage with its collection, exhibitions and their own artmaking online. AGSA now offers extensive resources and online workshops for educators, activities for children of all ages, online events, curators’ tours and podcasts online. AGSA Director, Rhana Devenport ONZM, says, ‘The Gallery is physically closed yet digitally open. People look to artists and cultural institutions for a sense of community, learning, wonder and to find solace. AGSA remains deeply committed to connecting people through art. Our free and newly enhanced digital experiences have been created for audiences of all ages to meaningfully connect with art, no matter where they are in the world.’ Each week, via its website and social media, AGSA will release new video episodes, podcasts, interviews with artists, and curator talks and tours of the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Monster Theatres. Audiences can also remotely operate and live-stream Stelarc’s Reclining Stickman as part of Monster Theatres, an artwork that is fully operational during our closure. On Saturday 25 April, AGSA will deliver the Monstrous Neo Digital Teen Takeover online and live-streamed. Neo is the Gallery’s dedicated program for teens, programmed by teens. This first online Neo will deliver new and imaginative activities including live bands, artist talks, online games, TikTok dance challenges and much more. Over 90 education resources and art activities are available online with online workshops for educators, and daily activities for students and children, as well as Start at Home and Start Online: Monster Sounds, an audio- sensory experience on Monster Theatres. Visit AGSA’s website for updates on digital experiences, resources, events. AGSA’s digital offerings Online Collection AGSA is focusing efforts on delivering content around its 45,000 collection records to view read and listen to online. Virtual Tours AGSA will visualise the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Monster Theatres through virtual tours, artist video interviews. Live Streaming Stelarc’s Reclining Stickman, a nine-metre robot is streaming live from the Gallery and can be operated remotely from wherever you are! Monstrous Neo Digital Teen Takeover Saturday 25 April | 6pm | Free | Ages 13–17 Neo, AGSA’s dedicated program for teens, is shape shifting into a digital space with Monstrous Neo Digital Teen Takeover. An exclusive online program will launch on the Neo home page becoming a portal for teens to engage with new and imaginative activities relating to Monster Theatres. Start at the Gallery Free | Ages 3-12 | Start at Home Activities and Start Online: Monster Sounds Start at the Gallery continues to introduce children to art with Start at Home activities, including an exclusive April program for the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, Start Online: Monster Sounds. Education Free | Learning resources for primary and high school aged students AGSA’s resources prompt students to examine, explore and respond to works of art and the concepts they evoke. Podcasts & Video Weekly Tuesday Lunchtime Talks, other artist podcasts and videos will be regularly updated here. Also available on AGSA’s SoundCloud and videos on AGSA’s Vimeo.   @agsa.adelaide | #agsaadelaide 

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A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF EDUCATION – SCHOOLS OPENING FOR TERM 2

The Department for Education has been in lockstep with our senior health officials from the outset of this COVID-19 pandemic. We have, and will continue to follow their advice when making decisions that affect our schools, preschools and early childhood settings. The health and wellbeing of our staff and students is our top priority. Advice from SA Health and Australia’s expert health body, AHPPC, remains unchanged. Schools, preschools and early childhood facilities are low risk environments for COVID-19, and should remain open. With the current low rates of infection in South Australia, we are encouraging students to return to school for term 2. Parents and carers can choose to send their children to school, preschool or childcare, and feel confident that they are not placing their children at increased risk of COVID-19. South Australia’s Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, has taken the time to write to you and to the parents of your students. She asked me to ensure you all receive this letter from her – please see attached. Leaders, please pass the parent letter and accompanying infographic onto parents as soon as possible, also attached. Of course, we will continue to respect the preferences of parents. If they don’t feel comfortable sending their children to school or preschool for whatever reason, they won’t be obliged to. Please continue your remote learning offering for students learning from home during this time. This will be particularly important for children and young people with medical conditions who may be more vulnerable to COVID-19. As we begin the transition from more students learning at home to more students learning in the classroom, I know there will be a period of adjustment. We had planned for the opposite. The start of term 2 won’t be seamless and that’s ok. All of you – our leaders, teachers, early years educators and school support staff will, as always, handle the situation superbly and continue to guide our students through these changes. I have every confidence in you and your teams. You are doing brilliantly through this very difficult time. While schools are low risk environments for COVID-19, there are measures we will continue to take to further reduce the risk of transmission. The department will maintain increased cleaning schedules at all sites, and will centrally source hygiene products such as hand soap, sanitiser and tissues for those sites who can’t source supplies through their usual means. Thank you again for your continued professionalism during such a difficult time, and for your agility as we quickly adjust against the settings of this pandemic to support our students. You’re doing a brilliant job. Best,Rick

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THE SHOW MUST GO ON(LINE) – WINDMILL @HOME!

Welcome to Windmill at Home. A new online platform that hopes to bring a little bit of Windmill joy into your home. Windmill believe that good stories bring people together and can make even the darkest days brighter. They have worked closely with their wonderful team of artists and creatives to share some of your favourite stories in a whole new way. There is a whole suite of stories with Grug, a collection of hands-on activities and interactive (and award-winning) digital experiences. Windmill will be back onstage as soon as they can. For now, find them here and on your screens! A message from Artistic Director Rose The amazing thing about artists is their boundless creativity. When faced with the prospect not being onstage for a little while, our incredible family of creatives at Windmill took it as a challenge. We asked, ‘how does Windmill tell stories in the digital space?’ The answer is Windmill at Home. A suite of digital experiences, content and activities that bring some of our favourite characters, stories and faces into your home. We’ve worked with artists to revisit some of our best friends, including Grug and Beep, to reinvigorate some of our digital experiences and interactive journeys and have created exciting ways to get people young and old up, moving, building and creating We hope this little bit of Windmill will inspire you, fascinate you and make you smile. With lots of love (from a safe social distance), Rose Here are some of the stories to choose from:  WATCH HERE 

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