Grade 2 News

Important Reminders

Wednesday 14th April- Hooptime Minis

Monday 9th June - Monarch’s Birthday Public Holiday (no school)

Thursday 3rd July- Cultural Day

Friday 4th July - Last Day of Term 2 (2:30pm dismissal)

Production dates:

Tuesday 2nd September

Wednesday 3rd September

Weekly Timetable

Learning in action - a preview

Literacy

Over the past two weeks, the Grade 2 students have continued to engage in our literature units. In the first week of term, we read the text, ‘My Grandad Marches on Anzac Day’, where we explored the meaning behind Anzac Day and discussed how and why we commemorate Anzac Day. The students have also engaged with the text, ‘An Amazing Australian Road Trip’, which includes fiction and non-fiction aspects, allowing the students to learn facts about Australian landmarks, such as the Great Barrier Reef, Coober Pedy and the Daintree Rainforest. 

To begin the term, the students continued to consolidate their knowledge of identifying and using the conjunctions ‘because’, ‘but’ and ‘so’ to expand sentences. We have also been learning to develop questions (who, what, where, when and how), using a picture prompt. The students have also been introduced to subordinating conjunctions by learning to finish sentences that start with ‘before’, ‘after’, ‘if’ and ‘when’.

Preview: Our next literature unit is ‘Connection to Country’, where we will introduce the students to the big idea that people connect to Country in different ways, through a variety of Indigenous texts. In Sentence Level Writing, the students will continue to learn how to use subordinating conjunctions by finishing sentences that start with ‘before’, ‘after’, ‘if’ and ‘when’.

Word Work: 

Maths:  

This term, we have started our addition topic in Maths. To help us with addition, we look closely at addition strategies to help us solve equations. During our first week, we looked at the different parts of a number sentence. When we look at an equation, we can use the following number sentence cards: part, part and total.

We then looked at how our number sentence cards can be put into any order and showed the students how the total can go at the start, followed by our two parts. For example: 8 = 4 + 4 or 8 = 6 + 2

We have also discussed how we can add the different parts in any order. For example, if I had:

3 + 2 + 7 = I could add the 3 + 7 = 10 first (friends of 10)

Then I could add 10 + 2 = 12

Over weeks 2 and 3 we have started learning about the different maths strategies that help students to problem solve addition equations. The maths strategies we have looked at are the following:

• Make 10
• I can add the ones and tens
• Doubles up to 20
• Near Doubles

During goal practice, students have been working with their teacher, fluency practice and solving worded problems using their focus strategy.

Preview: We will continue using the above strategies, taking our learning further by applying them to worded addition problems.

Knowledge Rich:

Over the term, through both literature and Knowledge Rich units, we will be exploring built and natural geography. The Grade 2’s were so excited to jump in and begin looking at one of Australia’s most significant natural geological features, Uluru. Students have been developing their knowledge through slides, articles, dream time stories, questionnaires and plenty of class discussions! Here are some fun facts that have stuck with our students:

• “It is a reddish colour because of the iron minerals and rust”
• “Even though it's a desert, there are heaps of animals and plants called an ecosystem”
• “Did you know Uluru was formed over 550 million years ago, and it used to be under water?”

Preview - we will continue developing our knowledge on Uluru, then move into Literature units to support our new understandings.

Wellbeing:

This term we have started looking into the topic of problem solving during our 4R’s sessions. Firstly, students listened to a story where the main character faced a problem, then as a class, we all shared possible solutions using the ‘problem-solving model.’ It was great to hear the students talk about the positives and negatives of each solution, focusing on the idea of thinking before acting. Once students were familiar with this model, they broke into small groups and practised with different scenarios. The steps and solutions that students thought of included:

• Take a deep breath
• Talk it out and apologise
• Suggest something different
• Ask a friend or adult for help

Students have also visited our new Curious Corner which has connections to our Knowledge-Rich units in Prep and Grade 2. The students have been exploring our indigenous corner, a zoo, a vet/animal hospital and different animal habitats. 

Grade 2 Homework options 

Click Here 

Grade 2 Teachers

Bronte Darvidis, Mikayla Harvey and Taryn Bailey

Updates from around the school

Green Team News:

Under the guidance of Mrs Stokol and Mrs Alexander, the Green Team met for the first time this week. What a meeting it was! All up across years 3-5 we have close to 50 very excited and passionate students wanting to do their part. Whether it’s helping to keep the school free of rubbish, looking after and developing the plants gardens, educating the school community about sustainability, there was a buzz in the air as students shared their ideas and signed up for roles. A new initiative we’ve introduced this term is the collection of 10c containers. The special lunch day during last term raised $21. We look forward to saving these containers on a daily basis from going to landfill and turning them into cash. Money raised will be invested back into Green Team initiatives. 

Involvement in the Green Team is all inclusive. It’s not too late for your child to get involved should they wish.