Class 8 Biology Main Lesson 

Class 8 began their Biology Main Lesson by pondering the question, “How can you tell if something is alive?” This may seem like a simple question to begin with, but when we look at something like an orange, which is no longer connected to a tree but does contain seeds, many interesting conversations can arise. What about fire? It can move, grow, take in nutrients, give off waste, but would a Biologist consider it to be alive?

After agreeing on some characteristics of living things and appreciating the wide variety of life forms that exist on earth, the class started to look at the human Musculoskeletal system. As well as learning the names for many of the bones, we have also observed how the shape of each bone and joint fits with its function. We then need ligaments, tendons and muscles to connect and use the structure provided by the bones. We have also compared the skeletal structure of the human being to that of other Vertebrate animals.

In this last week of the Main Lesson, we will be looking at the form and function of the Eye and Ear. We will conduct some experiments to learn more about what they can and can’t do. We will also look at the life stories of some inspirational people such as Louis Braille.

By Annabelle Kellenberger

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Fun and dancing at the Class 8 Social

On Friday night, Class 8 students from both the Perth Waldorf School and Parkerville campuses joined together in Williams Hall for a fun evening of socialising and dancing. Class 8 students from both campuses have spent Term Three’s Physical Education lessons to date learning a number of dances in preparation for the Social, with PSC students spending the last few Fridays taking the bus to the Parkerville Hall where they have been guided in a series of Ballroom Dances by the energetic Adam Penn. 

The evening of the social saw the students attired in their dancing finery where they tangoed, heel toed and progressively danced the evening away, firstly to showcase what they had learnt and later inviting parents, carers and guardians to dance, which was followed by some free dancing.  

The evening's festivities were a nice way for our students to meet and build connections with the other Class 8 students with whom they will be going on camp with later this term. It was heartwarming to see the grace and comradery displayed by the students and the ease in which they settled into simply dancing once the initial awkwardness of meeting so many new students wore off.