Foundation News
Learning in the Classroom
What a wonderful Term 2 we have had! Throughout our Unit of Inquiry, Communities rely on people fulfilling different roles and responsibilities, Foundation students have been exploring what makes a community and the important contributions people make to help it thrive. We were fortunate to welcome several parent volunteers into our classroom to share their occupations and explain how they contribute to our community. These real-life experiences helped students develop a deeper understanding of the many roles and responsibilities that support communities and the ways people work together to meet the needs of others.
Students enthusiastically extended this learning through role-play in the Developmental Playroom, where they took on the roles of different community helpers and applied their knowledge through imaginative and collaborative play. This understanding was further strengthened through our reading program, with text studies of Helpers in Our Neighbourhood and Whose Hat Is This? These texts provided valuable opportunities for students to explore community roles while developing their comprehension skills. During reading sessions, students focused on recalling important information, identifying new vocabulary, and learning about nouns and verbs. Through rich discussions and learning activities, they strengthened their language skills while making meaningful connections to our Unit of Inquiry.
In Phonics, students have worked hard to learn all upper-case and lower-case letters and their corresponding sounds. We are incredibly proud of the progress they have made this term. As their knowledge has grown, students have begun exploring digraphs, where two letters work together to make one sound, such as ck in duck and wh in when. Students have shown increasing confidence during dictation sessions, with many eagerly challenging themselves to complete extension sentences and apply their phonics knowledge in new and exciting ways.
In Mathematics, students have been busy investigating a range of concepts, including length, mass, capacity, patterns, and 2D shapes. They enjoyed creating and identifying patterns using a variety of materials such as playdough, Unifix blocks, stickers, and stamps. Students demonstrated a strong understanding of familiar 2D shapes and were excited to extend their knowledge by learning about new shapes, including the rhombus. Their creativity shone as they designed and constructed imaginative pictures using a range of 2D shapes.
One of the highlights of the term was learning about Australian money. Students explored different coins and their values before applying their knowledge through hands-on learning experiences. Working collaboratively, students designed and created their own shops, made products to sell, and took on the roles of shopkeepers and customers. This provided a meaningful connection to our Unit of Inquiry, as students developed an understanding of the important role businesses and shopkeepers play within a community while practising their money skills in authentic and engaging ways.
To conclude a busy and successful term, Foundation students participated in an exciting Kaboom Sports incursion. Students worked in mixed groups and rotated through a variety of sporting activities that encouraged teamwork, cooperation, and participation. There was plenty of dancing, laughter, and fun as students celebrated their learning and enjoyed being active together.
Students have also thoroughly enjoyed participating in our Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) this term. Through a variety of engaging activities, students have been developing their gross motor skills, balance, coordination, spatial awareness, and confidence. PMP sessions have provided opportunities for students to challenge themselves, practise persistence, and work cooperatively with their peers. It has been wonderful to see students encouraging one another and celebrating their achievements as they navigate different obstacles and activities.
