Grade 1

Literacy: 

In Grade 1 we have continued learning about long vowel sounds. Recently we added the letter y and the trigraph igh to our understanding of how to make the long i sound. We also began exploring adjectives! We’ve learnt that adjectives are words that describe nouns. Students practised pairing adjectives with nouns and even created their own sentences using them. This made their writing more interesting and helped the reader create a clear picture of the noun being described. Ask your child to give you an adjective to describe a bunny or a tree!

Maths

In Grade 1, students have been practising recalling numbers that are one more and one less than a 2 digit number by using a number line. They participated in engaging activities such as creating paper chains with sequencing numbers, memory match up games by finding one less or one more than the first number they flip over as well as the traffic light game. Ask your child about the traffic light game!

Writing 

In Week 3, the grade 1 students explored onomatopoeia by reading poems and stories to find words that sound like the noises they describe. Using whiteboards, the children wrote down these fun sound words and shared their ideas confidently with the class. We practiced speaking clearly when presenting and gave each other positive feedback through “two stars and a wish.” We also focused on sentence structure by identifying where sentences begin and using capital letters correctly. The class responded creatively to the picture prompt, “Lottie woke up with wings. What did she do next?” as we brainstormed ideas together.

In Week 4, we explored how different texts are written for different audiences by reading Let’s Get a Pup! and discussing why it might appeal to both children and adults. The students noticed features like illustrations, simple language, and the story’s message to the readers. To support our writing with data, we collected information about our class’s favourite pet. Everyone voted once, and we represented our results using a simple column graph. They then had a discussion around it. We were also introduced to the conjunction "but", learning how it connects two ideas that are different or opposite. We revisited the story to find examples and explored new vocabulary like immediately, briefly, and glance. Another focus this week was understanding that every sentence ends with a full stop. Students took turns identifying where full stops should go in shared sentences.

Additional Subjects

Over the past fortnight, Year 1 students have engaged in a range of purposeful learning experiences across several subject areas. As part of our inquiry into family and identity, students explored how families can be different and discussed the importance of celebrating these differences. They also reflected on the strengths of their friends and classmates, recognising the unique qualities that make each person special. In History, students learned about toys used over time, with a particular focus on the experiences of First Nations families. During Literacy, students were introduced to the features of non-fiction texts, learning how to identify the title and understand what the book is about. As a special part of our wellbeing and creative learning, students created thoughtful gifts to celebrate Mother's Day and show appreciation for their loved ones.