STUDENT  LEARNING

Year 1/2's in Term 2

Spelling

This term, we have continued to build on our knowledge of sounds within the extended code. Students have been exploring the many spellings for each sound and applying this knowledge into their writing. We have practised breaking words into their syllables and accurately spelling each syllable in the word. 

Each day, students participate in fluency practise as part of their phonics instruction. We have read a range of decodable texts with our focus sounds, as well as our fluency of high frequency words. 

Students have also engaged in one hour of Word Study each week. In this session, students build on their understanding of rich vocabulary from a picture story book, our first study being built around the Julia Donaldson book, ‘The Snail and the Whale.’

Reading

We began our term in reading with learning about ANZAC Day through making connections to the world and ourselves with the books that we shared.

We then moved on to Indigenous texts where we learned the skill of inferring the feelings of different characters and behaviours that we read about.

For the last few weeks, our focus has been on analysing and critiquing texts. We looked at the different ways authors use features such as illustrations, bold text and rhyming in fiction texts to make their stories entertaining for the reader. We also delved into the features of non-fiction texts and how diagrams, maps and photographs, amongst other things, help readers to understand the information they contain.

Writing

We kicked off the term by learning about ANZAC Day through engaging writing activities. Students crafted thoughtful acrostic poems and explored traditional recipes by making delicious ANZAC biscuits.

Next, we delved into figurative language, focusing on techniques such as alliteration, onomatopoeia, and the power of three to make our writing more expressive and engaging.

In recent weeks, our writing has been closely linked to our Integrated Studies unit on Biodiversity. We've explored different text types, including descriptive and persuasive writing. Students described various habitats, examined the impact humans have on animals and their environments, and wrote compelling expositions on why it is important to protect animals and their habitats, along with practical ways we can help keep them safe.

Numeracy

In Numeracy this term students have been engaging in many wonderful hands-on learning activities. We have been using our Numeracy Trolley resources to explore multiplication and division. We represented groups and made arrays. We also explored the concept of capacity. Using different sizes containers we compared, estimated, and measured how much each could hold. Students enjoyed hands-on experiments where they poured water between containers to test their predictions and deepen their understanding of capacity. 

Integrated Studies

This term we are learning about Biodiversity. We have been learning lots about animals and the habitats they live in. We have also learnt about the impact that humans can have on animals and their habitats and the importance of doing our best to look after our planet.

As part of our learning, we are lucky enough to have a visit from the team at Wild Action who introduced us to lots of different Australian animals and shared lots of amazing facts about them!

Respectful Relationships and SWPBS

This term in Respectful Relationships we have been learning the many ways that we can show respect and how that looks from a First Nations perspective. We understand there are many ways we are similar and different to one another and celebrate that these differences are what makes us interesting.

We have also focused on positive coping strategies for when we need to take turns and how we manage our emotions when we are feeling angry or sad.  

In SWPBS we have been learning about being responsible and how that includes taking care of our own personal belongings as well as school resources. We display excellence by celebrating each other’s success and encouraging one another to do their best. 

Japanese High Ability Sessions

Year 6 students who participated in the High Ability Japanese Program in Term 1 have received a certificate at assembly last Friday.

The High Ability Japanese Program is aimed at students who are strong at Japanese and wish to extend their Japanese language skills by providing an extra lesson of learning per week.

Each student was buddied up with a Japanese student at Showa Primary School in Okayama Prefecture and exchanged a greeting card. After that, they met each other through Zoom, which was a highlight for students.

After the Zoom meeting, students were introduced to a Japanese Hiragana game called Karuta. There is a Karuta competition in the Ballarat Region in November. For students who are keen to go, practise will start in Term 3.