Learning Areas

Foundation

A huge thank you to all the families who have supported their children in settling back into the school routine this term. Moving forwards, we would appreciate it if parents and carers could please aim to drop their children off before 9am each day (the classroom opens at 8:50am). Allowing them the opportunity to change their reader and put their bag away by themselves will help build their independence with the morning routine. 

In Reading, we have been focused on learning about the purpose and features of a procedural text and this included making a pirate hat (see pictures below). In Writing, we have been writing our own procedural texts on “How to grow bean sprouts” and this has been very well received by all students. 

We have of course continued our Phonics work through lots of hands-on activities and the singing of our chants. Please continue to practise the chants as well as the ones below, which we will learn during the next two weeks.

Crazy kites, /k/, /k/, /k/

Water on the web /w, /w/, /w/ 

(Combine the /k/ and /w/ to practise the /qu/ sound)

Zebras in the zoo /z/, /z/, /z/

Yellow yoyo /y/, /y/, /y/

In Mathematics, we have been exploring addition and making friends of ten. We have been looking at all the numbers from 0-10 that can be made into ten. E.g (5 and 5, 4 and 6 etc.) We have also been experimenting with different games to improve fluency. The students have been extremely keen on finding numbers that can make friends of 10. If you are keen to do some practice at home, you can always get your child to roll a 6- or 10-sided dice and then ask them what number they need to make a friend of ten. Partitioning other numbers is also useful (eg. what numbers can add to make 7? 9? 5? Etc.)

In Integrated, we are continuing to work on our unit of ‘My Family’. We have been exploring celebrations and where our families come from. As a part of this unit of work, the students will be creating a class museum about their families. If you haven’t already, we ask that each family please send in a photo of an object that is special to your family and child. In past years we have had: medals, mementos of special occasions, handmade objects, clothing items etc. The idea is that students will be able to draw, write and talk about their special item. Thanks to all parents who have sent a picture or brought an item in to showcase. 

If you haven’t sent a picture of an item to your home group teacher yet, please do so as soon as possible. We look forward to showcasing the student created museum at the end of term.

From Lexie, Joe, and Arwen.

Grade 1/2

Well here we are, well into the middle of Term 2.  We have been busy, busy, busy and having lots of fun at the same time.  Have a peep at the wonderful work we have been doing.  Look at some of the information reports about our favourite animals.  The children have worked really hard on these and they were very pleased with the end product, so were we!!  Impressive!!  That was one highlight!  The recent highlight was making Fairy Bread.  Crunchy colourful sprinkles not only landed on their bread but travelled into their tummies and landed on the carpet.  We were also impressed with their buttering skills.  The fun and hard work hasn’t stopped.  More news next time about the great learning in the 1/2 Area.

Well done everyone.

Enjoy, from the 1/2 teachers.

Grade 3/4

Hello families,

Grade 3/4s are still reeling from their exciting 3-day trip to Cave Hill Creek campsite! It was a two hour bus ride to picturesque Beaufort which is Wadawurrung country. Camp activities included map reading, bush cooking, hut building, biking, archery, bushwalking, a game called ‘I Spy’ that took them all over the campsite finding clues, and last but not least, a low ropes/initiatives course that required a lot of teamwork.

They also enjoyed post-dinner activities including trivia, a night walk as well as watching a movie. It was such a fantastic time and we all made a lot of new friends and tried many things for the first time.

A short while before camp, Grade 3/4s embarked on a walk to Merri Creek. They are set to go again very soon. We would love to have lots of parent volunteers on our next walk! This is part of our Integrated unit of work all about learning from the Merri Merri. They will soon start work on their dioramas and present them in the last week of term.

In Maths, we have brought our unit on Addition and Subtraction to a close and are moving on to a short unit of Data and Representation. Afterwards, we are set to turn our attention to Shape and Symmetry, Angles and then Money.

Reading and Writing this term has had a continued focus on nonfiction texts with the Grade 3/4s finishing off their information reports on a place in Australia. They also began writing procedural texts this week and will then move on to biographies. The Reading focus recently has been on making connections, finding the big idea from a text and learning information using graphics in a nonfiction text.

Overall, there is only 3 weeks left to go until the end of term and it will be busy with lots of learning and fun!

From Elena, Daniel, Kieran, Lauretta and Stefanie

Merri Creek Walk

Camp Photos

Grade 5/6  

We can’t believe it but it’s already over halfway through Term 2. It has completely whizzed by.

A few weeks ago the 5/6s had a wonderful time at camp Woorabinda. Although it drizzled (and occasionally rained horizontally), the kids had great attitudes and put their best foot forward. The activities the students got to enjoy included GPS mapping, zip-lining, hut building, environmental studies, farming and cooking on a campfire. For many students, there were a lot of firsts including preparing a fire from scratch. It was wonderful to get out in the bush and enjoy some fresh air

In the classroom, we have begun an open-cycle writing unit of work where students will get to choose and develop any text type they please. This could be anything from a narrative to a book review to a script. The students are really excited to begin developing a text from the initial ‘seed’ phase, where the students brainstorm and think about things they might want to write about, all the way through to publishing. In reading, we are also beginning literature circles wherein students will read a text of their choice in small groups and study the text comprehensively through a range of activities. 

We hope you are all staying warm and dry!

Tori, Kerry, Lina, Thomas and Sandra

Camp Photos