‘Our Project’ provides children with the opportunity to engage with the Humanities, Science, Health and Wellbeing, and Capabilities curricula as active inquirers. Through participation in this shared project, children develop the capabilities and skills needed to view and understand the world in critical and reflective ways. Children are taught curriculum content through a multi-perspective lens, enabling them to consider diverse viewpoints and develop a more nuanced understanding of complex ideas and issues.

Grounded in an explicit model of instruction, teachers intentionally teach and scaffold inquiry processes, enabling children to build the skills required to question, investigate and reflect. Through this structured and supported approach, children engage in rich, hands-on learning experiences and encounters that broaden their perspectives and deepen their understanding of the communities and world in which they live.

We believe that children have the right to learn about and experience our Reservoir context, using it as a meaningful pathway to connect with curriculum content. In Years Prep to Two, children are immersed in an inquiry process that is closely connected to their personal and familiar experiences, supporting early skill development through guided exploration. In Years Three to Six, children engage in cycles of inquiry, where explicit teaching and practice of varied inquiry approaches support them to apply their learning in developmentally appropriate and increasingly independent ways.

At St. Gabriel’s, children transfer explicitly taught skills and knowledge into purposeful, hands-on learning experiences that are developmentally appropriate and intentionally designed to deepen understanding. Children’s voice and agency are central, with opportunities to make choices, share perspectives and take increasing ownership of their learning.

In Prep to Year 2, during Inquiry Time, children are explicitly taught to apply skills across curriculum areas through a balance of guided and increasingly independent investigations. Carefully designed provocations support children to explore, create and respond through hands-on learning experiences. They engage in painting, making, designing, building, role play and cooking, building confidence and growing independence as learners.

In Years 3 to 6, through ‘My Projects’ children engage in individual and small group extended projects, investigating social and cultural issues of interest. Through a scaffolded process, they generate ideas, pose rich questions, conduct sustained research and present their learning to authentic audiences, exercising increasing autonomy and responsibility.

This approach embeds the Victorian Curriculum capabilities, strengthening critical and creative thinking, collaboration and self-regulation. It ensures children are actively engaged socially and emotionally, while making meaningful, relevant connections in their learning. Our approach builds our children’s understanding of the real world and strengthens the connection between school, the local area and the global community.