What are we learning in Foundation?

The School Wide Key Understanding we are exploring this term is;

There are thinking processes that can help us manage our responses. This supports us to collaborate with others and understand their perspectives.

Our first Big Idea linked to this understanding is;

We need to problem-solve as part of our everyday lives.

We expect this portion of our Inquiry to go for approximately 6 weeks starting in week 5.

This inquiry cycle will also include our Step Up program to help support students in their transition to Year one.

We have broken down this Big Idea into four key stages. These stages are;

Identify the problem.

Generate suggestions for solving the problem.

Choose a solution to action.

Assess how effective the problem solving action was.

To enhance this portion of our Inquiry, in English we will explore these texts;

Bing, Balloon episode

Power of Yet song from Sesame Street

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

The English concepts that we will explore through these texts are;

Predicting
Responding to Text

The Maths concepts that we will explore through this Big Idea are;

Students will be using positional language and direction to describe the location of themselves in relation to other people of objects nearby.

Students will also explore the use of money in real life situations, using concrete materials.

We are continuing our whole school Wellbeing program called RRRR: Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships. The program teaches social and emotional learning and respectful relationships. Our focus will be on our transition to Year 1 the specific topics to be explored are listed below.

The main Wellbeing concepts that we are exploring includes:

Problem solving

Stress management

Positive coping

Help seeking

Towards the end of this Inquiry, we will be celebrating our Foundie accomplishments through our Fun Day excursion to the pool!

To support your child's learning in English we encourage reading from a wide range of sources at home or visit your local library. To further support your child’s learning you could ask some predicting questions before, during, and after reading such as,

Looking at the front cover, what do you think this story will be about?
What do you think the problem in this story will be?
What do you think might happen at the end of this story?

Another activity you could do is to collaboratively write and draw a response to a text you are reading at home.

To support your child's learning in the Math concepts outlined, it may benefit you to engage them in discussions about new spaces and locations which they have visited throughout the year. Another idea could be to highlight the various fundraisers and market events occurring within the school community and imagine how much money might have been collected at the various stalls and events.

If you have any questions about this Inquiry, or you have any skills, resources, experiences or talents that may help us as we explore the concepts, please contact your classroom teacher. If you have any craft supplies or materials to donate please leave them in the donation drawers at Stela’s entrance doorway.

Formal assessment will be communicated through Semester reports at the end of the semester.

As we approach the end of the year we want to say a massive thank you to all of our Foundation families! It has been such a joy to teach your kids and we cannot wait to celebrate the final stretch with you!

With kindness,

Foundation Team

Classified