---

| BOS website Index page | BOS K-6 website index page | What's New? | Contact us |

• Update on the Linkages Project (K-6)
• Human Society and Its Environment K-6 Briefings
• A Resource of Classroom Practices

Update on the Linkages Project (K-6)

The Linkages project, which commenced in 1998, will have three focus areas this year:

• the mapping and publication of information about links across the curriculum
• research into practices that involve the use of integrated curriculum materials, and
• reporting on the work being undertaken in some schools.

Suzanne Ziems (Senior Curriculum Officer, Primary), who has been appointed project manager for the Linkages project, has been involved in a number of activities since taking up her position in February. Some of these activities have included:

• the mapping of skills that can be located across K-6 syllabus documents
• the preparation of website pages to highlight links in some specific areas
• interviewing teachers in a sample of schools about their use of syllabus documents
• the collection and analysis of recent research reports in the area of curriculum integration.

It is expected that some of the material arising out of these activities will be added to the Linkages site on the Board's webpage (http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au) at the end of March.
Following discussions with teachers at workshops over the past few weeks there has been great interest expressed in the project. Teachers are pleased that the project will identify appropriate syllabus links that will save them time with their programming. They also like the idea of there being a variety of ways to link the KLAs, such as through literacy, computer-based technology and generic skills. Other teachers hope that the Linkages project will assist them to develop greater familiarity with syllabus outcomes, enabling them to make clear links between concepts and skills across the key learning areas.

Human Society and Its Environment K-6 Briefings

The Office of the Board of Studies will be conducting briefings on the recently released Human Society and Its Environment K-6 Syllabus and information about K-6 syllabus development in general during March and April. These briefings, which have been organised throughout NSW by BOSLOs (Board Of Studies Liaison Officers), are part of the hand-over of the HSIE K-6 syllabus to schools and school systems. Schools have received information from their BOSLO about the briefings to be held in their local area. The dates and locations for these briefings are below.

• March 22 Maroubra
• March 24 Campbelltown
• March 25 Yass
• March 26 Griffith
• March 29 Penrith
• March 30 Cardiff
• April 21 North Sydney
• April 22 Nyngan
• April 23 Broken Hill
• May 4 Merimbula

Schools are encouraged to contact their local BOSLO for additional information about the briefing/s in their area.

A Resource of Classroom Practices

A Resource of Classroom Practices, a publication developed following the release of the 1998 English K-6 syllabus, is now available for purchase from the Board for $15. This publication outlines a range of useful classroom suggestions for teaching and learning activities and for assessment. Schools should use the General Order Form (page 8) if they wish to purchase this new publication.
If you would like further information regarding these items or K-6 curriculum matters in general, contact Margaret Malone, Inspector, Primary Education, ph (02) 9367 8199 or fax (02) 9367 8476.