Grade 1/2 News

What we have been up to...

Last week, our focus text was A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect Pet. This engaging and persuasive text recommends all the most dangerous and unsuitable pets — the crocodile is described as quiet and peaceful, while regular pets are portrayed as troublesome. The rabbits are even plotting world domination! 

Our comprehension strategy was 'Whoa, Slow, Go'. Students practised stopping when decoding unfamiliar words to think about whether they had heard the word before and understood its meaning. As part of our learning, students linked persuasive reasons to examples in persuasive writing texts.

This week, our focus text is The Little Corroboree Frog. Students have been learning about this unique Australian frog and the importance of protecting endangered animals and their habitats. Our comprehension strategy this week is 'Apply Phonics'. Students are encouraged to think about familiar letter patterns and sounds they have learnt during phonics lessons when decoding unknown words.

In Writing, students have been focusing on persuasive texts. Students are learning how to write persuasive pieces that encourage readers to agree with their thinking by forming an opinion and providing supporting reasons.

In Mathematics, our focus has been measurement. Students have been learning to order objects and solve problems based on indirect comparison of length. Activities have included measuring objects using informal units such as paperclips and string, comparing objects using the language 'longer than' and 'shorter than', and ordering objects from shortest to longest and longest to shortest.

Photos from the last fortnight...

Maths Challenge!

Well done to our Term 2 Week 2 Maths Challenge winners - 1/2 Craig! Please find the new Maths Challenge below!    

Mathematics and numeracy at home

If you’re looking for ways to support your child’s Mathematics learning at home, this website offers helpful videos, resources, and ideas: https://www.vic.gov.au/mathematics-and-numeracy-home

This week's tip helps to explain the strategy of 'Partitioning'.

Partitioning is breaking a whole number, for example 7, into different parts, such as 3 and 4. Breaking this “whole” number into two “parts” is called part-part-whole thinking.

Here are some easy and fun ways to help your child develop their understanding of partitioning.

Toy sort

• Count a collection of your child’s favourite toys, such as construction blocks. This total is the whole.
• Ask your child to rearrange them into two groups (parts) and tell you how many are in each part.
• Bring both parts back into one group and then separate them into two parts in a different way. Ask them, “How many ways can the toys be grouped into two parts?”

Petal parts

• Draw a flower with 9 petals. Have your child count the petals (the whole).
• Ask your child to colour the petals using two different colours; for example, 4 red petals and 5 blue petals.
• Draw a second flower with 9 petals. Ask your child to show you another way to colour the petals using the same two colours.
• If you like, you can draw more flowers with 9 petals and see how many other ways your child can break 9 into two parts using the two colours.
• You can also do this activity with flowers that have a different number of petals.

Upcoming Learning

Week 5 and 6

Reading, Writing and Spelling: 

Our focus texts for Week 5 and 6 are:

• The Bag and the Bird

• The Great Rabbit Chase

   

Phonemes and Heart words for  the rest of Term 2 include: 

Week 5: oo (book)

💗 – look, took, put

Week 6: ow, ou

💗 – out, now, down, house, our

Week 7: oy, oi

💗 – boy, toy/s,

Week 8: oo (boot)

💗 – food, soon, zoo, school

Week 9: eer

💗 – dear, hear, year

Week 10: Revision based on student need

Mathematics: In Mathematics, our focus will shift back to addition and subtraction. Students will revisit adding and subtracting one- and two-digit numbers using a range of strategies. They will also practise representing problems with number sentences and using part-part-whole thinking to understand how numbers can be broken apart and put back together when solving problems. Students will also be introduced to the 'bridging through ten' strategy to support their learning.

Topic: In Topic, students will be identifying how they might contribute to Earth’s waste and the consequences this has for Earth’s resources. They will also investigate ways they can act to help protect the natural environment.

Respectful Relationships: The topic for Respectful Relationships this term is Personal Strengths. Students will be building a 'strengths display in their classroom to help them understand how to use their strengths to be a good friend and family member.

Our team and emails are as follows:

Madie Floyd: Madison.Floyd@education.vic.gov.au

Tegan Edwards: Tegan.Edwards@education.vic.gov.au

Jane Rodda: Jane.Rodda@education.vic.gov.au

Sami Craig: Samantha.Craig@education.vic.gov.au

Chris McClellan: Christopher.McClellan@education.vic.gov.au