Out-of-the-box art lessons invigorate primary school STEAM program

Margaret Ryan

By Margaret Ryan
Published September 22, 2019

Hands up if you’re sick of seeing near-identical student artwork stuck up on primary classroom walls? Think stencils and templates.

McAuley College teacher Cathy Hunt sees digital literacies and soft skills (or general capabilities) such as problem-solving and communication converging naturally with visual arts.

Instead, what do ‘salad selfies’ or a ‘fish out of clay’ using pinch potting techniques conjure up for you?

According ...

This story appeared in the September 2019 edition of Australian Teacher Magazine.

Facilities and Maintenance Officer - St Therese's School, Bentley Park - St Therese's School

Catholic Education - Diocese of Cairns Bentley Park

St Therese's School, Bentley Park is seeking applications for an enthusiastic Grounds and Maintenance Officer to join their school community.

Non Teaching Positions/Roles / Jun 04, 2026

Industrial Technology & Design Assistant - St Mary's Catholic College - QLD|Cairns,St Mary's Catholic College

Catholic Education - Diocese of Cairns Woree Queensland

St Mary's Catholic College, Woree, Cairns is seeking applications for an Industrial Technology & Design Assistant to join their team.

Non Teaching Positions/Roles / Jun 04, 2026

Teacher - Religion and History- St Stephen's Catholic College, Mareeba - St Stephen's Catholic College

Catholic Education - Diocese of Cairns Mareeba

St Stephen's Catholic College is seeking applications for a Religion and History Teacher to join their College community!

Teaching - Secondary / Jun 04, 2026

School news / Union demands 24 per cent pay rise for Qld teachers as industrial dispute rolls on

Queensland’s largest education union has insisted on a pay increase of 24 per cent over three years for teachers and school leaders, as its industrial battle with the State Government shows no sign of ending anytime soon.

School news / NSW voters back union push to get more help for classroom teachers

Teachers demanding more hours to plan for the classroom lessons have been backed by Australian voters across the political spectrum.

School news / Bridge-building event warmly celebrates diversity, friendship and cultural connection

Kids Breaking Bread (KBB) hosted its second event last week, bringing together primary school students from different religions in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs for a heartwarming initiative designed to foster friendship and cultural connection among y...

School news / Minns’ education claims don’t match reality for NSW school students, Opposition says

More than 25,000 NSW teachers and school support staff who were previously on uncertain temporary contracts are now in permanent roles, keeping more teachers in the classroom and delivering better outcomes for students across the state, the Minns ...

Opinion / Explicit instruction: what works, what doesn’t, and why it matters

Explicit instruction has become a familiar term in Australian education. But as the saying goes, familiarity can breed contempt.

School news / Empathy, inclusion and confidence: new game to change way kids learn about periods

Menstrual stigma remains a significant issue in Australia. Rooted in a culture of secrecy and poor education, it often leads to widespread embarrassment, “period poverty”, and a delay in seeking medical help for symptoms of conditions like endomet...

School news / Male entrepreneurs are capitalising on rising misogyny in Australian schools: study

A host of male entrepreneurs are essentially profiting off ‘resurgent masculinity’ in Australian schools and sidelining the authority of female teachers in the process, some researchers say.

School news / Parents push for expanded scrutiny at Tas jumping castle inquest

Families of children who died in a primary school jumping castle tragedy in Tasmania want teachers and the then-principal to give evidence at a looming inquest.

School news / ‘Leadership did nothing’: women teachers gaslit amid rising manosphere abuse

Too often the misogynistic language and behaviour fuelled by the manosphere that women teachers face in the classroom is downplayed by school leaders, unchallenged by male colleagues and framed as an isolated student behaviour issue, new research ...

School news / Better equipped: experts call for honest, empowering climate education

A host of concerned Australians have signed an open letter calling for honest, age-appropriate climate science education in schools, saying knowledge equips children to cope with the climate reality they are already experiencing.

Comments