Prep

English

Reading

Prep students practised the reading comprehension skill of ‘visualising’, where they created images in their head while reading a text. Students used words and images to describe what they can see, hear, smell, taste and feel (physically and emotionally). Students continued to learn high-frequency and CVC words. Prep students studied the author ‘Eric Carle’. Students learnt about the author himself and also looked at the different characters, illustrations, words and themes that are found throughout his texts. 

Writing 

Prep students have learnt about writing to socialise and procedural texts this term. They explored the different features found in letters, invitations and notes.  They were guided through sets of instructions for making or doing something. They looked at craft instructions to see how they are organised. Students developed their writing skills by structuring sentences with a capital letter at the beginning, a full stop at the end and spaces between words. They used their knowledge of letter sounds and high frequency words to help them construct sentences.

Mathematics

Prep students continued their work with numbers through activities based around counting to 20, recognising amounts up to 10 (without counting) and  developing the sense of ‘tenness’ by making 10 in different ways using tens frames and bundles of icy-pole sticks, as well as exploring the smaller amounts that would make 10 when put together. They also worked on the idea of sharing amounts equally and developed their understanding of fair shares. 

Prep students also learnt about the measurement of ‘mass’, the idea that things are heavier or lighter than others. They compared and ordered a variety of objects by their mass through lifting and the use of balance scales. Students also developed their knowledge of ‘time’ by exploring different events and how long they go for by exploring daily timetables and their own sequence of daily events. They learnt about ‘location’, the skills of describing the position of objects using words such as ‘between’, ‘near’, ‘next to’, ‘forwards’, ‘towards’, ‘under’ and  ‘on’. They also practised giving and following directions to get from one point to another.

Science

During term 4, the Prep students have been exploring materials and their observable properties.  Students have identified and sorted a variety of objects and materials based on one or more of their properties, such as a book is smooth and flat, a texta is light and small and a chair is rough and heavy.  Students carried out experiments to investigate the effects of water and sun on different materials to help them decide which material would be best for a rainy day, such as waterproof materials, and which materials offers shade for a sunny day, such as thick cotton materials.  Students have investigated materials found around the school, such as brick, wood and metal and have investigated why certain materials are used for certain purposes, such as bricks are used for buildings as they are strong. Well done Prep students on a wonderful first year of Science!

LOTE - Chinese

Congratulations on such a fantastic term Preps, and amazing work throughout the whole year. In term 4, the main topic for Preps were clothes and other accessories, such as T-shirts, shorts, skirts, socks and shoes and so on. Students have finished their project through the whole term, and they will receive their rewards and special gifts in week 11. Meanwhile, traditional Chinese clothes have been introduced in this term and students get the chance to know what they look like. Also, they learnt male in China in the past were like girls that have long hair. Thanks for all your hard work Preps! 

Art

There has been so much positive and creative energy from the Preps in Term 4. The students have continued to practise and apply their knowledge of collaboration in making expressive artworks. As part of this, we looked at colour, shape and pattern in art. Students worked with oil pastels and beads to create unique jellyfish for the school library’s underwater display. We had a lot of fun early on in the term bubble printing. It was great to see the Preps embrace the process of printmaking and experiment with different ways of printing.

We also explored mixed media, artworks that are made using more than one art material or medium. Following discussions about what artworks can be made of and inspired by mixed media artist, Moses Sun, the students invented their own mixed media artworks. Following on, we considered themes or big ideas in art, taking up the challenge of constructing a maze-inspired artwork after viewing a variety of related artworks. Lastly, we read the storybook ‘Picture the Sky’, observing the impressive plasticine illustrations of Barbara Reid. We then copied certain techniques of Reid’s in making our own clay sky pictures. It has been awesome to see all students engaging with such purpose and showing real joy in their creations. Well done on a fabulous year in Art Preps!

P.E

This term the grade prep students completed the year of Physical Education by continuing to learn about how to move their bodies and use different objects to perform a range of different fundamental movement skills. Our students this term worked on catching using two hands and throwing while using the underarm technique. After completing various learning activities to showcase these skills, the prep students began working on the kicking movement skill. Students were asked to show their kicking skills during games of number soccer and working with their peers. Throughout the term our students continued to play class games, work with others, and follow rules with great success. At the conclusion of the year in Physical Education the prep students have worked on throwing, catching, striking, kicking, jumping, running, leaping, and dodging. Congratulations on a fantastic year and I can’t wait to see everyone’s continued development next year in grade 1.