Year 1/2 News

Welcome to a Wonderful Year in 1/2 – The Reef 

We are now halfway through the term, and it has been wonderful to see the growth, confidence, and enthusiasm students are showing in their learning each day. Throughout the past few weeks, students have continued building positive learning habits, developing strong friendships, and taking pride in their work across all learning areas. 

Below is a snapshot of what we have been working on together in the classroom. 

🔢 Maths Incursion – Worlds of Maths 

This week, students participated in the exciting Worlds of Maths incursion, where they explored a range of hands-on maths activities and problem-solving challenges. Throughout the session, students worked collaboratively with their peers to investigate mathematical thinking through games, puzzles, and interactive tasks. The activities encouraged students to use their reasoning, teamwork, and communication skills while building confidence in maths in a fun and engaging environment. 

📚 Learning 

Literacy 

In Literacy, students have been exploring persuasive writing and learning how to express their opinions clearly and confidently. We have been discussing how persuasive texts are used to convince others and practising giving reasons to support our ideas. Students are beginning to use persuasive language, strong arguments, and interesting sentence starters in their writing. 

In Phonics, we have been focusing on the /ph/, /oa/, and /ar/ sounds. Students have been building their reading and spelling skills by identifying these sounds in words and practising them through games, reading activities, and writing tasks. It has been wonderful to see students growing in confidence as they apply their phonics knowledge during independent reading and writing.

🔢 Mathematics 

In Mathematics, students have been learning about time and calendars. They have been practising identifying the days of the week and months of the year, as well as exploring how calendars help us organise important events and routines. Students are also developing their understanding of time by reading o’clock and half-past times on both analogue and digital clocks. 

Students have also been building their addition skills through hands-on activities, games, and different problem-solving strategies. They have been practising adding two-digit numbers using methods such as counting on, number lines, and the jump strategy. It has been wonderful to see students growing in confidence as they explain their mathematical thinking and apply their skills during classroom activities.

🏠 Inquiry 

In Inquiry, students have been learning about different types of houses around the world and exploring how homes are designed to suit different environments, climates, and family needs. We have discussed a variety of homes, including apartments, houses on stilts, underground homes, and floating homes, and considered why people may choose or need different styles of housing. 

Students have also enjoyed sharing photos and information about their own homes and houses from their home countries. This has been a wonderful opportunity for students to celebrate their cultures, learn about diversity, and build connections with one another. It has been exciting to see students confidently presenting their ideas and asking thoughtful questions about homes from around the world.