Year 1 Curriculum Newsletter
Dear Families,
Term 1 is an exciting time for Year 1s, and we have a lot of fun and engaging learning experiences for your child this term!
Start-Up Program Conclusion:
This week marks the conclusion of our start-up program. We are pleased to inform you that routines and structures are now firmly in place, creating enjoyable and safe learning environments for all our young learners.
Literacy Focus:
In our reading sessions, students will delve into the world of decoding, fluency, vocabulary, phonological awareness, and phonics. These foundational skills will set the stage for a lifelong love of reading. In writing, our focus for the term includes recounting events, retelling stories, creating diary entries, and enjoying language experiences.
Mathematics Focus:
Our mathematics curriculum kicks off with a strong focus on place value. Through engaging warm-ups, interactive games, and explicit teaching, students will explore how one and two-digit numbers can be partitioned in various ways. Understanding that two-digit numbers can be broken down into tens and ones is a crucial skill we will master. As the term progresses, we will delve into the fascinating realms of 2D shapes and measurement.
Inquiry:
The upcoming inquiry unit should be exciting as we delve into the past. Students will learn about how things have changed over time, exploring our school's history, and gaining insights into significant buildings and sites in our local community.
As part of our exploration of local history, we may plan community outings. Details will be shared in advance, and your involvement will be greatly appreciated.
We are excited about the term ahead and the incredible learning journey that awaits our students. Thank you for your continued support, and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Warm regards,
Leah, Dannie and Jody
Japanese
This term in Japanese, the Grade 1 students are learning about the importance of the Japanese New Year. They will learn that this year’s Japanese Zodiac animal is the dragon by making their own ‘Ema’ (a wooden plaque used in Japan to write goals or wishes on). They are beginning a unit about body parts where they will learn to read and say a variety of body parts in Japanese. They will learn to write some of the body parts in Hiragana and Kanji (Japanese alphabets). Students will have the opportunity to apply the body part vocabulary into sentences and a doctor/patient role play. Students will also continue to develop their vocabulary through various games, crafts and small group activities.
Visual Arts
This term students investigate the tools of drawing, creating artworks using pencils, markers, crayons and oil pastels. Students will continue to discover the elements of art – line, shape, and colour. Students will use lines to create drawings and they will identify and name shapes as geometric and organic. When exploring colour, students identify primary colours as red, yellow and blue. These colours can be combined to make secondary colours: orange, green and purple. Students will create works of art that will be displayed for others to enjoy and appreciate.
Performing Arts
During Term One in Performing Arts, Grade One students will be using masks to explore character development and how voice and body language can be used to convey emotions. They will practise their conversational skills when introducing their masks to their peers and develop confidence when performing to a small audience. Through a variety of improvisations and role-plays, students will experiment with the impact of changing their body language and voice to demonstrate character intention and motivation.
Physical Education
In grade 1 PE classes, students continue to build on their fundamental movement skills through fun and interactive activities. They engage in more structured games and sports, learning basic rules and teamwork. Students also explore concepts like spatial awareness and develop social skills through cooperative play.
