Current Preps

A snapshot into Maths

Lesson 1

Learning intention 

We are learning to identify the features of a calendar. 

Learning experience overview

Launch:As a class we explored one type of calendar. We discussed what a calendar is, what it is used for and if/where we have seen one before. 

Explore: A variety of different types of calendars were scattered around the classroom and students went on a gallery walk around the room observing each calendar. During the gallery walk, we discussed the following questions:

• What is similar?
• What is different?
• Which is your favourite and why?
• What are the key things a calendar needs?

Students noticed that some calendars were colourful, some had lots of room to write events, some had an extra space for notes, some had the full day of the week written while others had the first few letters and some started on a Sunday while others started on a Monday. 

Students identified that all calendars had the month, days of the week and dates on them. 

Lesson 2

Learning intention

To use a calendar to locate dates in a year.

Learning experience overview

Launch: As a class we brainstormed all the events we have until the end of the year. 

Students identified the following events:

• Swimming lessons 
• Italian Festa
• Excursion to TwistED Science
• Drama lessons 
• Class birthdays
• Last day of Prep
• Christmas 
• Halloween

Next to each event we listed the date. 

Explore: Then students selected an event and decorated a piece of paper to show that event. Once they had decorated their piece of paper they had to use the date of the event to identify where it goes on the calendar. 

Step 1: Was the event in October, November or December?

Step 2: What date is the event?

Step 3: What day did the event fall on? 

Enabling: Students were given month and day clues. For example, it goes on this October calendar and is on a Monday. 

Extending: Can you work out how many days until your event?

Can you give clues to find an event?

In this learning experience, students will work towards:

• Understanding the features of a calendar
• Identifying months and days on a calendar
• Using a calendar to identify a date
• Labelling a calendar with important dates

Examples of students work

What you can do now to continue the learning at home from this experience:

• Create a calendar at home of all the events you have coming up 
• Use the class calendar we send home to get organised for each upcoming event 
• Practice language used when reading calendars (How many days until…, When is halloween? What month is swimming in? Do you have any upcoming events on a Monday in November? etc) 
• Ordering days of the week
• Ordering the months of the year 
• Listening to songs that go through the days of the week or the months of the year
• Asking what comes before or after Monday a particular day (or what day will it be three days from now)