Prep-2 Sector 

PREP

Hello families and friends! 

What a wonderful start to Term 4 it has been!

Here is an update on what has been happening in the Prep area: 

Reading and Writing

During the first hour of each day, we have been using our little whiteboards and learning about Phonics!

We have been learning:

- to read and spell consonant-consonant-vowel-consonant (CCVC) words for example: brag, speck, crab, plum.

- to read and write singular and plural words with the suffix  –s, such as dots, pets, cots

- to identify vowels and consonants

Something new that we have been doing is “Partner Repeated Reading”. In pairs, Partner A reads a short text while Partner B tracks (points to the words and listens). Then we swap roles and repeat three times. This is to encourage smooth, expressive reading.

In our writing sessions, we have been learning to give our opinion and be persuasive! We are also working hard to write upper and lower-case letters on dotted thirds lines.

Mathematics

We have been learning to share collections of objects into equal groups. We use unifix blocks or counters and we share the items out one by one to ensure that our groups are equal.

Here are some examples of problems that we have been solving:

• 20 bananas shared between 2 people

• 12 strawberries shared between 2 people

• 9 grapes shared between 3 people

• 12 apricots shared among 3 people.

Fire Education

We had our second visit from our local Caroline Springs firefighters!

During this second incursion firefighters provided a 45 minute interactive presentation with the following messages:

• observation and discussion of the students’ Safe Meeting Place Worksheets

• introduction to the concept: Stop Drop Cover Roll (what to do if your clothes catch fire)

• a visit to the fire truck

Werribee Zoo Excursion

We had our first excursion of the year! It was a warm, sunny day at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

While at the zoo, students explored “Habitat Haven” using their senses and open-ended play-based activities.

Students learned:

• The basic needs of living things
• Animal life cycles
• Interdependence between animals and their habitat
• How to use curiosity, wonder, imagination and questioning

We also had a Safari Bus tour where we observed many different animals such as the bison, antelope, rhino, giraffe, zebra and ostrich. 

It was an exciting day!

The Prep Team

Year 1

Literacy

Our Year 1 students have been busy building on their phonics knowledge. They have 

been learning to identify, read and spell words using a range of letter-sounds patterns, including digraphs (two letters that make one sound such as oi and or and trigraphs such as igh and air. 

Our students have started learning all about persuasive writing. They have been reading books such as The Day the Crayons Quit and I want my hat back! Students have been writing their personal opinion about the characters in the story.

Numeracy

Our Year 1 students have been mathematicians. In Number, they have been learning about different addition and subtraction strategies such as bridge to 10, counting on, count back, split strategy, doubles, and near doubles. In our measurement unit this term, students have consolidated their understanding of length by using informal units such as counters, paper clips, icy pole sticks to measure the length of a variety of objects. They also developed their estimation skills, and some students learned to use a ruler with growing confidence. We are now learning about mass and learning about hefting and using mathematical words such as heavier, heaviest, lighter, and lightest.  Students will engage in lots of hands-on learning in mass by using balance scales and learning about different metric units such as grams and kilograms. 

'You can if you think you can'

The Year 1 Teachers

Year 2

Wow! We are now in Term 4! The Year 2 teachers have loved welcoming back all the smiling faces ready for another amazing term of learning. There was much excitement as students connected with friends again after the break and shared their stories. At the end of Term 3, we explored making connections, kindness and caring for others during our R U OK? Day activities.

We have the Year 2 Sleepover and Puffing Billy excursion to look forward to as special events later this term. 

In Maths this term we are exploring multiplication and division. We are looking at arrays and using the language of rows and columns to describe what we see. We will record related facts for these arrays. 

Be on the lookout for arrays that can be found around your home, at the shops or when in the great outdoors. 

In Literacy we are exploring the familiar fairytale The Three little Pigs and the fractured fairytale, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by A. Wolf (written by Jon Scieszka), which is from an alternative viewpoint compared to the traditional telling. Together we have had many interesting discussions about characters can see the same events in different ways. We have begun writing to persuade others using the techniques of using emotive language, rhetorical questions, exaggeration and text evidence to support our views. 

In Science we are closely observing living things including the bean seeds we have planted and mealworms. We will be exploring the needs of living things and their life cycles, including understanding how butterflies, frogs and birds grow and change over time.

In Humanities we have been looking at toys from the past and present and discussing their similarities and differences. Enjoy having a go at playing some classic games with your family.  Try Pick Up Sticks, Tiddly Winks or Jacks.  

Yr 2 Team