Core Skills Analysis
English
Arrie planned a storyboard and script for a video, developed characters, assigned voices, and directed how the scenes should be created. She also experimented with predictive text to produce short stories, then listened as the stories were read aloud and responded with humour. Through these activities, Arrie practised narrative structure, characterisation, dialogue, audience awareness, speaking and listening. Creating consent forms also helped her use purposeful written communication for a real project.
Science
Arrie independently gathered ingredients for oobleck, measured cornflour and water, mixed the materials, and explored the resulting texture and properties. She observed that the mixture behaved differently during play, providing an introduction to materials, mixtures and changes in physical properties. Arrie used practical investigation and sensory observation while returning to the activity and continuing to explore it. Her experience showed how hands-on testing can help a 10-year-old develop scientific curiosity.
Mathematics
Arrie measured cornflour and water when preparing oobleck, applying quantities and procedural order to complete the recipe. She also organised the stages of her video project by planning characters, voices and production instructions. These actions supported practical measurement, sequencing and planning skills. The activity gave Arrie opportunities to use mathematics in a meaningful cooking-and-making context rather than only through written exercises.
Digital Technologies and Online Safety
Arrie participated in an online learning session and recognised that another person’s username made her uncomfortable. She independently found a way to hide the username while continuing to participate, demonstrating problem-solving and an appropriate response to an online concern. She then planned a digital video, used an iPad to create predictive-text stories, and later joined Roblox. These experiences developed digital creation, communication, privacy awareness and purposeful technology use.
Personal and Social Capability
Arrie communicated her concerns clearly, requested assistance when needed, and remained highly engaged during the video-planning process. She demonstrated initiative by gathering oobleck ingredients independently and making choices about characters, voices and production. She also shared activities cooperatively with the support worker, including reading stories aloud and exploring oobleck together. These behaviours indicated planning, self-advocacy, persistence, collaboration and enjoyment in creative learning.
Tips
Tips: Extend Arrie’s video project by helping her turn the storyboard into a shot list, timeline and short finished production, then invite her to reflect on what worked. For oobleck, encourage her to predict what will happen when she squeezes, taps or slowly pours it, recording observations in a simple science table. Compare measured quantities by changing the cornflour-to-water ratio and discussing how the texture changes. Continue the predictive-text writing by editing one story for punctuation, adding a title and creating an illustration or voice recording.
Book Recommendations
- The Wild Robot by Peter Brown: A creative story about technology, adaptation, communication and problem-solving.
- Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty: Encourages questioning, experimenting and investigating how the world works.
- The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt: A humorous example of character voice, perspective and creative written communication.
Learning Standards
- English – AC9E3LY01: Arrie planned and created an imaginative script and stories, with opportunities for editing and purposeful communication.
- English – AC9E6LA05: Her character, voice and audience decisions connected language choices with audience response.
- Mathematics – AC9M3M01: Measuring cornflour and water aligned with using familiar units and comparing quantities.
- Science – AC9S9I01: The oobleck activity provided an introductory investigation context involving observations, predictions and variables.
- WACAO digital learning connection: Arrie used technology to create, communicate, participate online and respond to a privacy or wellbeing concern safely.
Try This Next
- Storyboard worksheet: draw six frames and label setting, character, action, dialogue and sound.
- Oobleck investigation table: predict, observe and describe what happens when it is squeezed, tapped, poured and left still.
- Digital safety quiz: identify three respectful actions Arrie could take when online content makes her uncomfortable.
- Predictive-text editing challenge: choose one humorous story and improve its title, punctuation, paragraphing and ending.