Year 1

Reading:

In Reading this term, students will be reading and exploring a range of non-fiction texts. Students will learn about the different text structures and features of information reports, explanations, procedures and persuasive texts. They will explore the purpose and use of text features such as headings & subheadings, contents page, glossary, pictures/diagrams and captions. While exploring these non-fiction texts, students will also be learning to apply a range of comprehension strategies in order to understand texts. These include activating prior knowledge and predicting, making connections, visualising, and retelling. Students will also learn strategies to determine the meaning of new and unfamiliar vocabulary, such as technical words e.g. hatch, scales, diet, mammal.

Students will continue to work on strategies to read and process text such as, fluency, word solving strategies and the phonological awareness skills of blending, segmenting and manipulating the sounds in words.

 

Writing:

Grade 1 students will start Term 2 looking at Information Reports. Students will learn that information reports contain facts about a specific topic. They will also be introduced to the structure of an information report such as title, classification, facts and diagrams. Students will be given multiple opportunities to learn new information about different topics and be supported through the writing process. They will make a number of booklets where students will record facts about different topics and add diagrams to match. Towards the end of Term 2, students will spend a few weeks looking at Poetry. Students will be shown a variety of poems such as shape poems and free verse poems. They will learn to understand that poems do not need to rhyme and that they are a way of expressing feelings and emotions. 

 

Maths: 

Grade 1 students will begin Term 2 focusing on Length, where students will be required to use an informal unit to measure objects in the classroom.

Following Length, Addition and Subtraction will be the main focus for the term as this is a pivotal part to all other areas of mathematics. The students will learn to use a number of different strategies such as; count all, count on, and known facts, to solve simple addition and subtraction problems and scenarios.

The last few weeks of Term 1, we will be focusing on different 2D shapes, including the number of sides and corners on each one, and Transformation where students will be investigating the changes of one step slides and flips on 2D shapes.

Furthermore, counting will continue to be an ongoing focus throughout the term, with students working on individual counting goals which they are practising with a ‘maths mate’, using materials.

 

Inquiry: In inquiry learning this term students will be exploring a unit titled ‘Lean on Me’, where we will focus on identity and self-expression and how these commonalities help us maintain healthy relationships. By the end of this inquiry students will be able to identify that positive relationships enrich our lives and foster positive community. Students will also be able to identify different relationships in their lives and develop positive coping strategies for resolving conflict. The key questions guiding our inquiry are: How do we develop and keep positive relationships? What type of relationships can we have? How do we resolve conflict in positive and respectful ways?

Further to this, through thinking routines ‘see, think, wonder’ and ‘hexagonal thinking’ students will continue their good work in making thinking visible and developing critical and creative thinking skills. Not only do these routines support meta-cognition but they also encourage curiosity and wonder as students engage in the learning experiences.

I am looking forward to engaging and creative term ahead. 

 

ART: It is so exciting to be back in the art room with the Year 1 students this term! We will begin the term with directed drawing, identifying and describing different types of lines in artworks. From there we will move into activities that give us the opportunity to practice creating a variety of lines to apply to our own artworks. The mediums we will explore include oil pastels, etching, paints, chalks and paper marbling. We will also make sure to revisit and consolidate our knowledge of colour theory from Term 1, weaving this into our projects. I have been so impressed by the students’ capacity to jump into activities and take risks when making. I know the students are looking forward to bringing home more of their fabulous works from the semester!

 

LOTE: Welcome back to a new term! In term two, the grade ones and twos will be learning basic language skills in Chinese Mandarin, including listening and speaking, recognising sounds and pronunciation. They will learn about some Chinese festivals such as the Tomb Sweeping Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival. They will also learn Chinese words and phrases about clothing and action words. This term, students will learn about the Terra Cotta Warriors. They will also engage in actions games, songs, books, arts and crafts throughout the term.

 

SCIENCE: This term in Science, students are focusing on the Earth and Space Science strand where they will be learning about the features in our environment, both land and sky, and observing the constant changes that occur.

Students will look closely at our school and local surroundings. Students will learn the difference between man-made features and natural features that occur in our environment. Students will identify the natural changes that take place in the sky, focusing on the suns changing position and the phases of the moon. Student will finish the unit by exploring how animals are affected by changes in the weather and investigating why some animals hibernate.  Students will participate in various activities, including whole-class activities, individual hands-on and through information technology.

 

PE: Welcome back all students to Term 2. This term in grades 1 & 2 we will be having a major focus on athletics towards the later end of the term where all students will be building up their knowledge on certain athletics events along with the importance of keeping active! We will also be developing our skipping technique based on rhythm and pursue our soccer kick this term. Students have continually been gaining more and more independence through Physical Education classes and we will continue to do this throughout by implementing small groups and having students try to run the groups themselves. Looking forward to another fantastic term of PE!