Classroom Gallery

Year 1, Term 2 Update

Welcome to our latest classroom update! It has been an incredibly busy, productive, and exciting few weeks in Year 1. Our students have been bringing so much energy, curiosity, and creativity to school every single day.

Here is a look at the fantastic learning happening across Maths, English, and Art this term!

Maths Update

This term, our mathematics program has focused on foundational number skills and data.

Developing Our Addition Skills

We started the term by exploring addition. The students spent time learning how to combine groups, use hands-on materials, and practice different strategies to add numbers together.

Delving into Data

Following our addition unit, we learned about data. The students had fun collecting information from their classmates and practiced putting their findings into clear lists and picture graphs. The students did a great job interpreting the data and comparing their results using terms like 'more', 'least', 'same', 'most', and 'less'.

Beginning Subtraction

Now, we are officially moving on to our new unit on subtraction. We are learning all about "taking away", counting backward, and finding the difference between numbers using hands-on counters and story problems.

Tips for Parents: Combining and separating quantities

Combining and separating quantities focuses on using addition and subtraction to solve problems.

You can help your child at home by:

practising quick recall of double numbers to 10. Use double domino tiles to extend thinking to doubling numbers to 20
finding and discussing numbers in everyday life that are not meant to be used with place value, such as phone numbers, pin numbers, bus numbers and postcodes
using number bonds, or ‘friends of 10’, to assist with simple addition and subtraction problems. For example, 4 + 6 = 10, 6 + 4 = 10, 10 - 4 = 6, 10 - 6 = 4
How To Teach Number Bonds? | Maths – No Problem!
using number bonds to solve addition problems by making groups of 10. For example, the problem of 26 + 8 can be solved by taking 4 from the 8 and adding it to the 26. The new problem of 30 + 4 is much easier to solve
solving problems using their knowledge of doubles. For example, the problem 8 + 9 can been seen as double 8 (8 + 8) which is 16. Add one more to make 17.
building number bond knowledge to understand ‘friends of 20’. These number pairs are 11 and 9, 12 and 8, 13 and 7, 14 and 6, 15 and 5.

"Persuade Me!"

In English this term, our writing focus is all about the power of persuasion! We are learning how to plan and write a persuasive text that uses strong reasons, time connectives, and high modality verbs to thoroughly convince the reader.

So far, we have explored:

Opinion vs. Fact: Learning how to distinguish between personal feelings and proven truths.
Conjunctions: Using words like because, so, and and to make our arguments sound much more convincing.
The Day the Crayons Quit: We read this wonderful book and wrote passionate responses arguing why a particular colour crayon definitely shouldn't quit the box!

Student Writing Sample

Daisy

“Dear Pink Crayon,

In my opinion you should not quit because I will use to draw lots of pictures. I will colour a pink horse and draw cowgirls with you. You should definitely not quit! From Duncan”

Finn

“Dear Blue Crayon,

Please don’t quit you are my favourite colour. I will do anything like give you a break. Blue crayon I will help you!

From Duncan”

Dusty

“Dear Blue Crayon,

Blue is my favourite colour and it is my team house colour so please don’t stop and think before you leave. You can be on holidays for 100 days or more than 200! That’s in days!

From Duncan”

Creative Arts

We have been very busy this term with our artwork, channelizing our inner artists to complete two major projects: the Mother Mary Art Competition and the Let's Hang It Art Competition. The children showed immense focus, effort, and care with their entries.

Our Wonderful Mary Artworks

Mary by Tessa Mary by Matilda Mary by Poppy

Year 1/2 busy creating their masterpieces

Drama and Film

We have started an exciting new drama unit exploring performance and film. The students are learning how to use dramatic skills and digital technology to communicate stories, emotions, and characters across different film genres. So far, we have been working on:

Understanding different film genres (like making an audience laugh or feel scared) and exploring how camera movements affect the viewer.
Learning how to tell a story and express meaning using body movements, facial expressions, and non-verbal cues.