Year 1 News 

English

Reading 

During Term 2, students will be learning how good readers ask questions before, during and after reading to help them make meaning from a text. They will have the opportunity to write or say any questions they have about texts, to strengthen their understanding of the text and to help them look for answers in their reading. They will be learning about new vocabulary and strategies they can use to help clarify unfamiliar words in a text, such as technical words e.g. hatch, scales, diet, mammal.

Students will continue to focus on retelling fiction and non-fiction texts to strengthen their understanding of this comprehension skill. They will also work on making meaningful connections. These connections include text to self connections, where they connect the story to their own personal experiences, and text to text connections where they connect a text to another text they have read before. When reading non-fiction texts, students will be exploring the different structures and features eg. headings & subheadings, contents page, glossary, pictures/diagrams and captions. 

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

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 Procedural Texts. Students will participate in a range of procedures and then work together to write them up. They will learn to understand that procedural texts include a title, goal, materials and steps. 

Mathematics

Grade 1 students will begin Term 2 learning about Money where students will explore the variety of Australian coins we use in everyday life. They will be introduced to the names and the features of the Australian coins. Then after the first few weeks students will begin learning about Addition, Subtraction and Length. Within the length lessons students will be required to use an informal unit to measure objects in the classroom. The Addition and Subtraction unit 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 2, we will be focusing on different 2D shapes, learning about the features  including the edges, vertices and faces.

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. With a intervention hour during each week focused on the individual students needs for Place Value. 

Inquiry

During Term 2, students will be exploring the unit ‘Lean on Me’. Students will focus on understanding how to develop and keep positive relationships, different types of relationships and how we resolve conflict in a positive and respectful way.  By completing a range of tasks throughout Term 2, students will have a better understanding of how positive relationships enrich our lives and foster positive communities. 

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 sun's changing position and the phases of the moon. Students 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.

LOTE-Chinese

I would like to welcome back the Year1 students to Chinese for this term. During Term 2 in Chinese, Year1 students will learn about Chinese national colours (red and yellow) and the basic colours for national treasure – panda (black and white). We continue to do numbers 1-10 in Chinese characters and pinyin as well. Continue to learn some key animal signs related to their birth year. 

Art

Welcome to Term 2, Art, 2023! In Art, Grade 1’s will learn about the element of line and shape. Students will explore how to form different types of lines (straight, wavy, curly, zigzag and spiral) to create shapes. They will also identify if lines are horizontal, diagonal or vertical which will include understanding the vocabulary. Learning this skill will provide opportunities for students to create illustrations and make connections, for example; drawing wavy lines can create waves in a sea landscape. Grade 1’s will be able to analyse artworks and apply their knowledge of what lines and shapes were used to create the artworks of classical artists such as Van Gogh. They will also explain the lines and shapes they used to create their own artworks.  Students will use different mediums to create their art piece which will demonstrate their expression and creativity. Looking forward to working with Grade 1’s and exploring this wonderful element of art! 

P.E

During Term 2, Grade 1 students will be focusing on a range of sporting activities to help continue to develop fundamental motor skills. Our two main topics of work will be basketball and athletics. Last term students were introduced to the correct throwing and catching form and techniques. This term students will be asked to transfer that skill knowledge to the game of basketball and apply these skills to this sport. We are aiming to have students be able to pass, dribble and shoot the ball and begin to apply these skills to game situations. In addition to this specific sport students will continue to work on their running, leaping, dodging and change of direction skill sets. For the second half of the term, students will participate in different athletic events which will showcase their running, catching and throwing. Students will partake in events such as short distance running, relay running, discus, shotput and hurdles. Students will be introduced to the correct running form and the formats in different track and field events. We have lots to look forward to this term, with exciting learning and lots of fun!