Upper Primary Learning

Mathematics

Over the past few weeks students in Upper Primary have been learning how to collect, sort, represent and interpret data as part of the maths curriculum - Statistics and Probability. To engage students in their learning classes have been involved in a variety of investigations which have included most popular fruit as well as the number and variety of chocolates in a Favourites box.

The Favourites box analysis was a hugely popular with all classes across Upper Primary. Students discussed ways to gather information about the chocolate sample. Categories were established by the group and chocolates were sorted accordingly.  How to display the collected information was discussed by students and the idea of graphing the data was explored.  They worked with their teachers to create a basis for their class graph, which included the axis labels and axis scale.  Students referred to the axis labels to place information correctly on the graph.  The classes had loads of fun manipulating the chocolates to create a physical graph representing the chocolate sample.

Classes have been exploring different types of graphs and how to read the information represented on simple pictographs and bar graphs. This has involved using the axis scale to determine how many in each category. Some classes are beginning to compare data from one category with another to answer simple questions such as which group has more/less, how do we know, how many more does one group have compared with another?

English

Reading comprehension continues to be a major focus for all classes. Students have worked intensively on developing strategies to support their understanding of texts. At the start of each reading session students are orientated to the book.  This involves exploring images, words and phrases, making predictions and using prior knowledge to make connections with the text. Throughout the reading of the book students are questioned to ensure that they are able to follow and understand the story. The students are learning to refer back to the text to locate images and information to answer questions about what has been read.

To support learning across environments the Upper Primary Team have sent home ‘A Parent’s Guide to Home Reading’.  This leaflet provides an overview of the home reading program as well as some tips to support your child with reading.  It is important that parents spend a few minutes asking their child questions before, during and after reading.  Questioning supports the reader to make connections with the text and deepens their understanding of what they have listened to or read. 

Writing recounts based on a personal experience was highly motivating for our students.  The children wrote about a variety of experiences including: what they did on the weekend, classroom based learning, specialist programs and the electives program.  They thoroughly enjoyed sharing their writing with classmates. All classes have now completed work on recounts and will focus on personal narratives in the coming weeks.   The recount below was written Jason based on what he did over the weekend.

On the weekend I did a lot of things.  I played X-Box at home.  I rode my bike outside. I played kick to kick with Brock.

Social Competencies

In Social Competencies lessons, classes will be learning about Personal Safety. This will include identifying 5 people they can trust if they feel a need to confide in someone. Students will also discuss the roles of ‘People in the Community’ that they can approach if they find themselves in unsafe situations. These people will include: Police, Security people, Paramedics, Nurses, Firemen and Teachers.

Students will role play a variety of ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe’ scenarios and then discuss what they could do to make sure they are safe in those situations.  Puppets will also be used in these lessons.

Integrated Unit

As we head towards the end of a very busy term the students will continue their studies on the ‘First Fleet’. The students will engage in activities that will help them understand what it was like for those that travelled to Australia in the First Fleet.

Some students will watch a video called ‘The Voyage’. This shows the living conditions of those on board the First Fleet. The students will have the opportunity to participate in various games which explore different aspects of life on the ship. These include: catching fish, washing the decks, washing clothes, chasing rodents and storing their food.

Other classes will explore the Aboriginal and Australian flags, read Dreamtime stories in the quiet room in the Discovery Centre and participate in some Aboriginal drawing.

In the last week of term classes will be busy with Easter activities and celebrations.

Focus on Fun

Help your child to transfer learning from school to home. Ask them to survey family members on dinner preferences for the week. Discuss how they are going to record the information (graph or tally) and make the data record sheet together. Have your child survey all family members and document information on the record sheet.  Once all information has been collected ask your child present the results.  Discuss which dinner was most/least popular. Your child may even like to help build a shopping list based on their findings!

Chris Norman - Upper Primary Team Leader

Kirsten Coulter - Teaching and Learning Coordinator