Specialists Wonga Weekly

Week 2, Term 1

STEM

Grade 1 - 6

Your STEM teachers this year will be Nathan Percy, Jenny Barr and Emma Broadhurst. Classes will take place on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

This week in STEM we are explaining what STEM is and how these classes are going to look this term. We will be discussing our classroom agreements and expectations to ensure everyone is safe and supported in our STEM classes. To complete the lesson, we are issuing students a mystery challenge they must complete as a team.

AUSLAN

Prep

Prep students began to explore how hand gestures help us to communicate with other people. They explored simple hand gestures and their meanings, including hello; stop; good job; and be quiet, to name a few.

Grade 1 and 2

Students reviewed how to greet one another in Auslan. They were also introduced to how questions are signed in this visual language. Using this knowledge, they asked their friends what animals; colours; and numbers they like.

Grade 3 and 4

Grade 3 and 4 students reviewed how to sign questions in Auslan, specifically how to ask about a persons’ favourite things. They used these skills to find their class mates favourite animals, colours, numbers and sports.

Grade 5 and 6

Students reviewed the signs for the question beginnings; what, when, where, why and which. They applied this knowledge to find out information about their classmates and completed a ‘Getting to Know Your Class’ activity.

Physical Education

Prep

Students will be introduced to the basic routines in a Physical Education lesson, such as responding to a whistle and staying safe. They will participate in whole class activities which promote cooperation and teamwork.

Grade 1 and 2

Students will continue to consolidate the fundamental motor skill of overarm throwing, with a particular emphasis on accuracy. They are continuing to build up their endurance running in preparation for our Whole School Cross Country.

Grade 3 and 4

Students will be introduced to the key skills of bowling, batting and throwing in our Cricket unit. They are continuing to build up their endurance running in preparation for our Whole School Cross Country.

Grade 5 and 6

In our Cricket unit, students will consolidate the key skills of the game while participating in modified matches. They are continuing to build up their endurance running in preparation for our Whole School Cross Country.

Sensory Gym

Prep

Sensory Gym is a program designed to develop and improve a students’ core strength; balance; fine and gross motor skills; coordination; and their ability to work cooperatively in a small group.

Some of the activities prep students will participate in this week include: jumping hurdles; balancing on ‘river rocks’; propelling themselves forward with their feet on a scooter board; and catching balls in a cone.

Performing Arts

🎵 Prep

Students will be welcomed into our performing arts room. They will have the opportunity to notice what is in the room and share the names of any instruments they see. We will sing songs together and add movements to match the music and lyrics.

🎤 Grade 1 and 2

To bring our 1/2 classes together, students will start the year by singing with each other. They will begin learning the words to 'Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes' in Woiwurrung (the language of the Wurundjeri people). Students will also explore drama activities to practise how we take turns and accept offers in performing arts classes.

🎶 Grade 3 and 4

To help build our 3/4 community in performing arts classes, students will have the opportunity to participate in a range of drama and music activities and games. Students will sing together, as well as develop their focus, gestures and collaborative skills through drama tasks.

🎭 Grade 5 and 6

Students will participate in drama activities and games to develop our classroom community. They will begin to explore focus, speed and characterisation. Students will have the opportunity to work together as an ensemble with both the whole class and smaller groups.

Visual Arts

We are all enjoying the new art space after it's fresh paint and cupboard installation over the holidays!

Prep

Students will draw a self-portrait and paint coloured stripes in order of the rainbow.

Grade 1 and 2

Students will be printing different sized 'fireworks' with cardboard pieces and neon paint on black paper. They will trace the numbers '2024' onto neon paper to paste on top. Be on the look out for some of them to appear in the foyer display board later in the week!

Grade 3 and 4

Grade 5

Students will be creating a 'Super hero Self' portrait over the next couple of weeks. This week they will take a photo of themselves, edit it using the contrast and filter tools, print it and then trace their main facial features.

Grade 6

Students will be creating a name sculpture over the next couple of weeks. This week they will be drawing their interests and passions inside bubble letters of their name.