Classroom News
Foundation
Decoding
In Decoding, we have continued to introduce students to consonant digraphs. A digraph is where 2 letters come together to make 1 sound. We have looked at /ng/ as in ring and /sh/ as in shoe. Students read stories about ‘A pink thing’ and Nan and Pop having a great time on a ship. Students have enjoyed exploring the /ng/ and /sh/ sounds and have demonstrated increasing confidence in recognising and using them. Many have successfully applied these sounds when reading decodable texts and during classroom tasks.
Text Construction
In Text Construction, we have continued to write retells about the fables we are reading. Students have been learning how stories follow a clear structure, including a character, setting, problem, feelings, actions and ending. This understanding has supported them to confidently retell familiar stories and create their own narratives.
Last week students re-told the story of the “Lion and the Mouse” and learnt that little friends make great friends and ev en if you are small you can do big things! This week we have read the fable “The Tortoise and the Hare”. Students have been building their understanding of how stories unfold by focusing on sequencing events in the correct order. Through reading and retelling familiar fables, students practised identifying what happened first, next and last, and used sequencing language to explain key events. This has supported their comprehension and helped them confidently retell stories with greater detail and accuracy.
Maths
In Maths, students have been developing their number sense by working with collections and grouping objects in different ways. They explored how items can be arranged into equal groups and used counting strategies to determine how many groups could be made from a given number. Students have explored sharing in meaningful real-life contexts, including dividing cupcakes onto plates, sharing Freddos between friends and placing animals into paddocks. Through these hands-on activities, students practised making equal groups and determining whether each group had the same number. These experiences helped students develop their understanding of fair sharing while strengthening their counting and problem-solving skills.
Discoveries
In Design and Technology and Performing Arts students have now completed creating their puppets and puppet theatres and are busy rehearsing their fairytale performances. Working collaboratively in groups, students have brought their characters and stories to life through drama and creativity. As they practise, they are focusing on speaking clearly, using expression and working together to present their fairytale to an audience. We are looking forward to seeing the confidence and enthusiasm students bring to their final performances.
Junior School
Content Knowledge
Our Junior students have continued their fascinating journey into Ancient Egypt. They have been learning about famous pharaohs, including Hatshepsut, one of Ancient Egypt’s most successful female rulers.
This week, students have explored the story of Tutankhamun, or King Tut, and the remarkable discovery of his tomb by archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922. They were fascinated to learn about the incredible treasures discovered inside, including the famous golden mask, jewellery and King Tut’s mummy.
Text Construction
Students have been developing their narrative writing skills. Using a simple sentence as a starting point, students have practised transforming their ideas into more engaging and detailed sentences by incorporating adjectives, adverbs, sensory language and question prompts such as who, what, when, where and why.
Throughout the week, students have focused on the different parts of the narrative structure, including the orientation, complication and resolution. They have then carefully edited and published their completed narratives, continuing to develop their ability to create well-structured, detailed and engaging stories.
Numeracy
Over the past three weeks, students have been developing their understanding of time. They have learnt to sequence the months of the year, use calendars to identify and interpret dates, and calculate the duration between events. Students have also been practising reading and representing time to the hour, half-hour and quarter-hour using both analogue and digital clocks.
Indigenous studies
In Indigenous Studies, students have been learning about Dreaming stories. Each week, they have explored a different story and contributed their ideas and learning to a class concept map. Students have discussed the messages and lessons within each story and made connections to our school Values Matrix. They have also explored how Dreaming stories can explain the creation of different features of the natural world, animals and places. Throughout the unit, students have learned about the important tradition of oral storytelling, where stories were shared by Elders with younger generations and passed down over time, helping to preserve knowledge, culture and connections to Country.
Middle School
Content Knowledge
Students have continued building their knowledge of Medieval Europe, exploring what life was like during the Middle Ages, particularly King Arthur and The Round Table.
Students have been developing their subject-specific vocabulary and using information from our shared texts, note-taking and highlighting to answer questions and build their understanding of this fascinating period in history. We have particularly enjoyed making connections between what we have been learning in the classroom and the experiences we will have at Kryal Castle.
Text Construction
In Text Construction, students continue to develop their ability to construct clear, detailed, and interesting sentences.
We have been focusing on using information from our Content Knowledge lessons to help us write a Narrative. Students are practising using conjunctions to join ideas, expanding their sentences and selecting precise vocabulary to communicate their ideas clearly.
Students are working hard to develop a Narrative they are proud of. They are following a writing process that includes characters, orientation, complication, and resolution, then editing, publishing, and reading it to our Junior School students.
Numeracy
In Numeracy, students have been strengthening their understanding of temperature.
They have been practising using efficient strategies to accurately read temperature, explaining their reasoning behind their answers and how and why they are accurate. Students also enjoyed using scales during our hands-on sessions when learning about Mass and Capacity.
Students are continuing to build automaticity with number facts through our Daily Review sessions. Students are developing confidence in explaining their mathematical thinking and working collaboratively to solve problems.
Thank you for your continued support of your child's learning!
Kryal Castle Excursion
The students were very excited during our excursion to Kryal Castle on Thursday.
This excursion provided students with the opportunity to bring our learning about Medieval Europe to life. Students participated in a range of activities throughout the day, including Sword Training, Archery, Arms & Armour, Heraldry, Feudalism, and Siege.
Students had a great time exploring the castle, getting through the hay maze and having lots of fun in the sunshine.
Senior School
Literacy
We are continuing to explore our unit on The Golden Age and are now bringing our studies of the Renaissance, Reformation and Golden Age together. Students are creating a timeline that highlights the major events, people and developments from each period, helping them to see how these important periods in history connect and influence one another. There have been so many fascinating things to learn throughout this unit! Ask your child about what they have learnt so far and see how much they can remember and share with you.
Numeracy
We have been learning about 24-hour time, reading timetables and calculating elapsed time. Students have had the opportunity to explore local high school timetables and practise using these skills to work out start times, finish times and how long activities take. It has been very exciting to begin applying these skills to a real-life context, particularly as students prepare for the transition to high school!
Upcoming dates:
Camp Kangaroobie 19th-21st of October
Graduation: 15th of December
Grade 6 Celebration Day: 16th of December
Science
The TPS students have learned so much in Science this term.
Junior School.
The Junior School students have been learning about the observable features of plants and animals. They recently re-constructed paper flowering plants and labelled the physical features.
Middle School
The Middle School students have enjoyed learning how heat energy can change the behaviours of molecules in liquids, solids and gases. They enjoyed learning how materials can be recycled by adding heat energy, specifically making their own recycled crayons.
Senior School
The Senior School Students have spent the term learning about animal and plant behavioural and structural adaptations. They are currently summarising their learning by creating their own mythical plants or animals, which have existing adaptations enabling them to survive in a chosen habitat.
