What does it mean to be a critical thinker in the Junior School? It begins with curiosity. It is evident when a student asks a thoughtful question about the natural world, perseveres through a challenging mathematical problem or seeks to understand how technology works rather than simply using it. Throughout Term 2, students across the Junior School have embraced opportunities to inquire, investigate and solve problems, developing the critical thinking skills that underpin future learning and leadership.
In Science, our Year 6 students have embarked on an exciting journey with the University of Technology Sydney’s Combined Schools Science Initiative (CSSI). Working alongside their Year 10 mentors, students are exploring this year’s inquiry theme, Balancing Nature: How Do Living Things Keep Ecosystems Healthy? Through their investigations, students are examining the intricate relationships between plants, animals and their environments, while considering the impact of human actions on natural ecosystems.
As young scientists, students are moving beyond the acquisition of scientific knowledge to engage in the practices of authentic scientific inquiry. They are posing questions, designing investigations, collecting and analysing data, and communicating evidence-based conclusions. Through this process, students are developing a deeper understanding of sustainability and biodiversity while recognising that scientific understanding is constructed through observation, investigation and critical evaluation. The partnership with Year 10 mentors provides a valuable collaborative learning environment in which students exchange ideas, challenge thinking and deepen their understanding through shared inquiry.
Critical thinking has been equally visible in Mathematics. Students have participated in the highly engaging Inquisitive Minds workshops, where classrooms have been transformed into hubs of collaboration, strategy and problem-solving. Faced with complex challenges and mathematical brain teasers, students have worked together to test ideas, identify patterns and justify their reasoning.
These workshops have encouraged students to move beyond finding answers and instead focus on the thinking processes required to reach them. Logical reasoning, perseverance and resilience have become essential tools as students explore multiple solution pathways and refine their strategies. It has been inspiring to see students embrace challenge with enthusiasm, demonstrating both confidence and a willingness to take intellectual risks. The depth of thinking has matched the energy in the room, as students discover that some of the most rewarding learning occurs when problems do not have an immediately obvious solution.
Students have also been strengthening their digital literacy and computational thinking skills through our digital technologies program. Across Years 1, 3 and 5, students have participated in specialised coding workshops that provide hands-on opportunities to explore how digital systems operate.
From investigating algorithms and digital systems in Year 1 to exploring data representation and visual programming in Year 3 to examining networks and data transmission in Year 5, students are developing an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the technologies that shape their world. Importantly, they are learning not only how to use technology but how to think critically about it. Through coding, troubleshooting and designing digital solutions, students are developing the confidence to become active creators and problem-solvers in an increasingly digital society.
Collectively, these experiences are developing students’ capacity to think critically, engage with complexity and apply their learning in authentic contexts.
Sheridan Sweeney
Deputy Head of Junior School