Junior School

Year 2, Term 1 Wrap Up 

Article by Prue Haggerty, Year 2 Level Leader  

It seems unbelievable that we are at the end of the term and heading into our first term break.  

Term 1 is an important time for building strong foundations that sets up the year ahead, it has been wonderful to see how positively students have embraced the start of the year. From the very first weeks, students learnt new routines, developed independence and have become familiar with classroom expectations. It has been a busy and rewarding start, with everyone settling in well and showing enthusiasm for their learning.  

Within the classroom, there has been a strong focus on building positive learning behaviours. Students have adapted and transitioned from Year 1 to Year 2 successfully, forming new friendships and strengthening existing ones. They are working with increasing independence, remain organised and take greater responsibility for their learning. It has been pleasing to see students demonstrating the school values, showing respect for one another and building confidence as they take on new challenges. 

Some Year 2 classes had the opportunity to participate in Writer’s Workshop led by Year 9 students. During this experience, the Year 2 students shared information about themselves, that included their interests and what makes them unique. The Year 9 students then used this information to create a personalised book for their Year 2 buddy. It was a fantastic opportunity to build connections across year levels. The finished story books were amazing and clearly reflected the interests of the student’s shared information. All Year 2 students will have the opportunity to be involved in this experience throughout the year.    

Next term will see further engagement in experiences that provoke problem solving and curiosity and look forward to another exciting term ahead in Year 2.  

Year 4 Forces in Action Incursion 

Article by Abby Du, Mandarin Teacher 

During Mandarin lessons this term, Year 4 students explored a science-integrated unit through the central idea, “Force causes objects to move.” They have been learning about different types of forces and how they push, pull and influence movement in everyday contexts. 

On Tuesdays in Weeks 7 and 8, all Year 4 classes participated in a 90-minute Forces in Action incursion.  This engaging experience brought science to life and deepened students understanding of how forces affect the movement of objects. 

Highlights 

• Balancing Forces 

Students carefully balanced 10 nails on top of a single nail, developing their understanding of stability, equilibrium and force distribution. 

• Floating and Sinking (Cartesian Diver Demonstration) 

Students observed a demonstration of the classic Cartesian diver, exploring how changes in pressure and buoyancy affect whether an object floats or sinks. 

• Newton’s Third Law in Action 

Students enjoyed a fun demonstration using a balloon. As air rushed out, the balloon moved in the opposite direction, showing that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. This helped students visualise how forces work in pairs. 

• Measuring Force 

Working collaboratively, students tested different surfaces and tools to measure the force required to move objects. They explored how friction can either support or oppose motion. 

The sessions provided rich, hands-on learning opportunities that allowed students to actively engage with scientific concepts in a meaningful and memorable way and can continue to apply this knowledge throughout the year to a myriad of situations.