Primary

Inquiry-based learning from Prep to Year 6

Discover our Primary Pathways program, where we nurture an energised learning community through inquiry-based exploration and authentic personalised learning. Our learner-centred approach empowers students to explore, question, and grow, preparing them with essential skills for our ever-evolving world.

Learner-Centred Teaching Approach

At Faith, we use inquiry-based learning to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills. We nurture genuine curiosity, recognising that learning flourishes when students are inspired by real-world phenomena and authentic problems. Moving beyond memorisation, we promote personalised, self-directed learning and independence and ignite a lifelong passion for discovery.

Our approach embraces hands-on interactive learning, inviting students to boldly experiment and explore new ideas. Guiding students through three distinct stages of inquiry skill development:

Playful Pathways

Our youngest learners engage in play-based inquiry, encouraging wonder, exploration, and meaning-making.

Discovery Pathways

Year 3 and 4 students delve deeper into the inquiry cycle and design thinking, honing their questioning and research skills.

Exploration Pathways

Year 5 and 6 students explore human-centred design thinking and project-based learning, delving even deeper into inquiry, problem-solving and entrepreneurship.

Learning Threads

At Faith, our six overarching Learning Threads are aligned with the Australian Curriculum and Lutheran Christian Studies Framework. They act like a thread connecting everything students learn in school, similar to how a thread holds together the fabric of a garment. These big ideas help students see how different subjects are connected and fit into the bigger picture of learning.

Throughout each school year, from Prep to Year 6, students explore each of these Learning Threads through a unit of work, increasing in depth and complexity each year. This ongoing exploration allows them to deepen their understanding and explore the complexities of these concepts as they progress.

Our Minds and Bodies

An inquiry into self-discovery and the uniqueness of individuals.

Sharing our Story

An inquiry into expression through the arts and communication.

Living in Community

An inquiry into local and global communities and citizenship.

Our Changing World

An inquiry into change at personal, local, and global levels.

Our Physical World

An inquiry into the systems governing natural and built environments

Caring for Our Earth

An inquiry into environmental stewardship at local, national, and global levels.

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Learning Environments

Our classrooms are carefully crafted to ignite curiosity and encourage exploration. Equipped with tools, technology, and flexible seating arrangements, we support children in investigating, solving problems, and confidently sharing their discoveries with others. In these dynamic environments, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration flourish.

Student Agency

We encourage students to actively participate in their learning by making choices and decisions about their inquiry topics, ways of working and modes of presentation. Through a gradual transfer of responsibility, students take ownership, build self-determination, and recognise their strengths and capabilities as learners.

21st Century Skills & Dispositions

Our Primary Pathways program progressively develops 21st-century learning skills and dispositions. Beginning with foundational skills in collaboration, communication, self-management, and research through play, students advance into complex inquiry-based learning. This enhances their research, critical thinking, and presentation abilities, cultivating resilience and adaptability for academic and personal success.

Prep – Year 2

Nurturing Young Minds Through Play-Based Learning

Our Playful Pathways program provides rich, play-based inquiry learning tailored to the developmental needs of our youngest learners. It integrates multidisciplinary indoor and outdoor activities that inspire curiosity, nurture children’s interests, and foster holistic development. By encouraging exploration and discovery, Playful Pathways lays a strong foundation for lifelong learning in an environment where children feel safe, valued, and excited to learn.

Key Features:

Play-Based Inquiry: Engages students through imaginative play, sensory exploration, and hands-on experiences.
Holistic Development: Supports cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth.
Student Agency: Encourages young learners to make choices and take ownership of their learning experiences, helping them to become active participants in their own learning.
Collaborative Learning: Fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility by promoting collaboration through teamwork and peer interaction, creating a dynamic learning environment where everyone feels included.
Integrated and Aligned Curriculum: All Australian Curriculum learning areas are integrated into transdisciplinary inquiry units, ensuring that students receive a comprehensive education while exploring concepts and ideas across various subjects.
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy: Foundational literacy and numeracy skills are taught discretely and within the Playful Pathways program.

Year 3 – Year 4

Structured Inquiry for Deeper Understanding

In Discovery Pathways, our Year 3 and 4 students engage in guided and independent inquiry using the Inquiry Cycle and Design Thinking. They explore innovative units that foster critical thinking and collaboration, empowering them with essential skills and igniting their passion for learning. Students are encouraged to think critically, collaborate effectively, and pursue their interests with determination, preparing them to tackle future challenges with confidence.

Key Features:

Guided Inquiry: Provides scaffolding for students to develop inquiry skills such as questioning, researching, and synthesising information. This approach helps students learn how to navigate the complexities of inquiry learning while gaining confidence and independence
Innovative Curriculum Integration: Integrates concept and service learning with models that connect academic content with real-world applications, making learning relevant and engaging across all Australian Curriculum learning areas in transdisciplinary Units of Inquiry.
Literacy and Numeracy Skills: Taught through dedicated skills sessions that provide explicit instruction in phonics, reading, writing, speaking and listening, and mathematics. These skills are applied and extended in meaningful ways through our Discovery Pathways program.

Year 5 – Year 6

Empowering Students Through Inquiry and Project-Based Learning

Exploration Pathways empowers students through guided and free inquiry combined with Project-Based Learning (PBL). Students take charge of their learning, diving into real-world projects that make a positive impact locally and globally. This stage prepares students with the skills and mindset needed for lifelong success in an ever-changing world.

Key Features:

Authentic Projects: Engages students in meaningful projects that address real-world problems, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These projects provide opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in practical ways, making learning relevant and impactful.
Innovative Curriculum Integration: Facilitates interdisciplinary learning, helping students make connections between different subject areas. This approach encourages students to see the interconnectedness of knowledge and apply their skills across various contexts.
Literacy and Numeracy Skills: Literacy and numeracy skills are developed through dedicated skills sessions that offer explicit instruction in English and Mathematics. These essential competencies are further applied and extended in authentic ways through our Exploration Pathways program.