Grug inspires an explosion of connected learning as Suncoast Year One and Two students fuse creative writing, art, story storytelling, geography, digital technologies and indigenous studies.
What is our Grug Connected Learning Project?
Our Grug Project is an adventurous, curious and creative learning experience centred on a series of books written by Australian author Ted Prior, whose main character is a fictional creature called Grug.
Connected Learning in Action
As students read stories about Grug, he “sent” letters inviting the children to learn about his environment to build a community and make friendships. These interactions catalysed explorations in the geography of natural and built environments and resource management.
Firstly, the students created layered maps to plan their work. Analogous to a layered digital file, these maps built a complex story over several sheets of overlayed translucent plastic. The students then made natural environments in dioramas and added constructed features like homes, schools and hospitals. Sky backdrops lead to explorations of atmospheric science – day, night, sky and weather phenomena.
Each week Grug either mailed the students a question or left tell-tale evidence that he had visited the school, sparking curiosity and stimulating an explosion of creativity. For example, Grug cheekily sent a snowball from the snow. After being shipwrecked on a deserted island, he also sent a message in a bottle and left rainbow chalk drawing in the playground. The most fun, the students even found a crashed aeroplane in the classroom – it seems that Grug was not a great pilot!
Digital Grug?
Connected learning continued with Suncoast’s Digital Technologies department assisting the children in designing, building and coding a Lego robotics Grug launcher! Poor Grug.
Grug Expo
The term-long project culminated in a Grug Expo. The students shared their unique learning with parents and the wider school community. Grug himself even made an appearance!
This connected learning, where various disciplines are integrated, captures the heart, ignites imagination and inspires little minds’ to know more!
