Gifted at Del Monte

Discover the Atlas Club – a creative hub for kids

The Atlas Club, offered by the State Library of NSW, is a fantastic initiative that opens up a world of creativity and learning for children aged 5–15. Through free junior membership, students gain access to engaging online clubs focused on artmaking, reading and writing.

Each school holiday, members are invited to participate in a special event – designed to spark imagination and connect young learners with others who share their interests.

It’s a wonderful way to nurture creativity, build literacy skills, and explore new ideas from home.

Learn more and sign up here.

Kindergarten Inquiry

This term, a group of our Kindergarten and Prep students are embarking on an exciting inquiry learning project using atlases to research a special place of interest. Through this hands-on exploration, students are encouraged to ask and respond to their own questions – sparking curiosity, wonder and a deeper connection to the world around them.

Inquiry-based learning empowers children to connect new knowledge with what they already know, leading to meaningful and lasting understanding. As they investigate and discover answers for themselves, they build confidence, develop critical thinking skills and take ownership of their learning journey.

We can’t wait to see where their questions lead them!

See the tips below for encouraging deeper thinking at home…

Ask open-ended questions: Instead of yes/no questions, try: ‘What do you think will happen if we mix these colours?‘ or ‘Why do you think the moon changes shape?‘

Follow their interests: If your child is fascinated by bugs, space or cooking – lean into it! Explore books, videos or simple experiments together.

Model curiosity: Show your own wonder: ‘I’ve never seen that kind of bird before – let’s look it up!‘ This teaches that learning is lifelong.

Use everyday moments: Cooking, gardening, shopping or walks can become inquiry-rich experiences. Ask questions like: ‘Why do some fruits float and others sink?‘ or ‘How does yeast make bread rise?‘

Encourage exploration and play: Provide materials like magnifying glasses, building blocks, art supplies or nature items. Let kids experiment freely.

Celebrate questions, not just answers: Praise your child for asking thoughtful questions – even if you don’t know the answer. Say, ‘That’s a great question! Let’s find out together.‘

Fold and Fly

This term, students have launched into an exciting hands-on unit focused on the science and design of paper planes. Fold and Fly invites learners to explore the principles of flight and aerodynamics by investigating what makes a paper plane soar successfully.

Throughout the unit, students will build, test, and refine their own designs – applying critical thinking, creativity and collaboration to improve performance. This engaging enrichment experience supports key learning in science and maths, while fostering teamwork and problem-solving skills.

We’re looking forward to seeing their ideas take flight!

Brooke Panagopoulos
Gifted Education Coordinator P-6/Year 2 Teacher