Prep News
Five Senses Field Walk
Prep A
Our recent Five Senses Walk gave students a hands-on opportunity to explore their environment in a fun and meaningful way. The cool autumn weather made it the perfect time to notice all kinds of sensory details around us.
The children were very engaged as they looked closely at the bright autumn leaves, noticing the different colours and shapes. They enjoyed the satisfying crunch of the leaves under their feet as we walked. They also spotted birds flying in the sky and planes passing overhead.
Prep B
We stopped along the way to smell the fresh scent of eucalyptus leaves and the calming smell of lavender. The children used their sense of touch to feel a variety of surfaces—rough asphalt paths, soft leaves, and the cold, smooth metal on the playground.
Prep C
There was plenty to hear too! Cars and trucks driving along Reserve Road, birds chirping, and the happy sounds of other students playing and talking. At the end of the walk, we paused for a drink at the fountains, adding a little taste to complete the five senses experience.
This activity helped students build awareness of their surroundings and explore how their senses help them learn about the world.
Maths Teen Numbers
This term, the Preps have been focusing on teen numbers and how to understand, write, and represent them in different ways. The children have been practising correct number formation on their whiteboards to make sure they write teen numbers neatly and accurately.
Prep A
To help them understand what teen numbers are made of, they used unifix cubes to build the numbers physically. For example, they grouped ten cubes together and then added more cubes to show numbers like 12 or 15. Using ten frames, the children placed counters to see how teen numbers are made up of ten and some extra ones.
Prep B
The children have been writing teen numbers both as digits (like 14) and in words (like “fourteen”), which helps connect the symbols with their names. They have also practised making simple addition sentences such as 10 + 2 = 12 to show how teen numbers are formed by adding ten and some more.
Prep C
SMART Spelling Craft
In Prep, SMART Spelling teaches sounds and letters from the ‘Word of the Week’ and common words from the ‘Sentence of the Week’.
Sounds and letters are taught explicitly and systematically in a carefully structured sequence. The Word of the Week inspires curiosity, excitement, hands-on shared experiences, rich oral language and most importantly…fun…and that makes learning stick!
The Sentence of the Week places the most commonly seen words into meaningful sentences. These common words are explicitly taught by the classroom teacher during our morning phonics lessons.
The Preps enjoy a meaningful way to learn sounds, letters and common words in a related way that makes the most of meaning and is enjoyable!
Every week the Preps enjoy a craft activity related to their Word of the Week. Last week the Preps enjoyed tracing around their hands on coloured paper and turning their hand into an animal of their choice.
Here are some photos of some cool animals the Preps made during our craft session...
