Classroom Gallery
Year 1/2 Newsletter item
🌟 A Wonderful Few Weeks of Learning in the 1/2 Classroom.
Our Year 1 and 2 students have been working exceptionally hard these past few weeks! From exploring new concepts in mathematics to expressing creativity through art, it's been a few weeks filled with growth, happiness and achievement.
Religion: The Easter Season
As we approach the conclusion of our Easter unit, students have been delving into the profound symbols of the Easter Vigil. They've explored the transition from darkness to light, understanding how the lighting of the Paschal Candle symbolizes Christ's resurrection and the triumph of light over darkness . We've also discussed the connection between Easter and Baptism, emphasizing how receiving the light of Jesus guides us to live as children of light. All students wrote beautiful, reflective prayers.
📚 English: Building Strong Foundations
Initialit Time
Every morning from 9 to 10, students engage in Initialit sessions with Mrs Flanagan (Year 2) and Mrs Makeham (Year 1). This structured program focuses on mastering sound combinations, enhancing both reading and spelling skills.
Reading
Our budding readers have been honing their fluency by practicing sound chunking strategies. This approach aids in decoding unfamiliar words, boosting their confidence and reading proficiency. All students have improved with the number of words they can read in a minute.
Writing
With guidance from Mrs Hoy, students have been crafting informative reports, showcasing their ability to organize and present factual information.
This week, they completed a compelling persuasive piece of writing titled "Everyone Should Learn How to Cook!" as part of our school's Cold Write assessment.
Handwriting
Students are practicing correct posture, pencil grip, and letter formation. An interesting fact they've learned: all lowercase letters are formed from the top, except for 'd' and 'e'!
Having a rhyme to start the lesson can be a fun way for students to engage in the correct posture and position. We use:
1, 2, 3, 4
Are my feet flat on the floor?
5, 6, 7, 8
My chair is in, my back is straight!
9, 10, 11, 12
This is how my pencil’s held.
📊 Mathematics: Exploring Data and Graphs
This week and last, our Year 1 and 2 students have been budding data detectives! They've been learning how to collect information, record it using tally marks, and represent it through simple graphs.
We began by posing fun questions like, "What's your favourite fruit?" or "Do you have a pet?" Students surveyed their classmates, using tally marks to keep track of responses. This hands-on approach helped them understand how to gather and organize data effectively.
After collecting the data, students transformed their findings into picture graphs, where each image represented one response. This visual representation made it easier for them to compare results and identify the most and least popular choices.
Through these activities, students are developing essential skills in data collection and interpretation, laying a strong foundation for future mathematical learning.
🎨 Creative Arts: Exploring Abstract Expressions
In our art sessions, students have been exploring the world of abstract art. They've created striking black and white pieces, experimenting with curved and straight lines in separate artworks. Mrs Flanagan is particularly impressed with their creativity and expression.
Last week we submitted artworks to the UNESAP and NERAM art competition titled "Let's Hang It." Every student in our school has contributed, and we wish all participants the best of luck!
Here are examples from our Year 2 students: Mackenzie, Jack, Edwina, Reid, Campbell, Charlotte, Levi (absent: Harper)
Final Message from Mrs Flanagan:
It's inspiring to witness the growth and progress our Year 1 and 2 students have made so far this term. Students’ commitment to achieving learning goals, and understanding new concepts, is evident every day. As we continue this journey, we celebrate their achievements and look forward to the learning adventures ahead.