Prep News 

English

Reading 

Prep students will learn about the expectations for reading lessons during the first four weeks.  During this time, students will discuss and learn how good readers choose and care for books to help build and strengthen a motivation and passion for reading. Students will collaboratively develop a classroom library based on their interests and categorise books into sections. Students will learn about the expectations of take home reading and what to expect during our reading blocks, engaging in shared reading, read aloud, conferencing and buddy reading. Throughout the first term, students will focus on previewing texts and making predictions about what they think will happen in books.

Writing 

During the first twenty days of writing, students will engage in language and shared writing experiences, developing their oral language and understanding that writing is a method to communicate a message. They will begin a ‘Sounds Write’ program focusing on matching sounds to letters and forming 3 letter CVC words. Students will explore what good writes do and  learn about the structure of our writing lessons, writing expectations and the writing process through think, talk, sketch and write. Students will also learn about our writing centre and the different materials available, which they can use after completing literacy tasks and during developmental play.

Once the first twenty days are completed and the Prep students are familiar with the writing routine and expectations, we will engage in a retell/recount unit of work. During this unit, students will learn how to share a recount of an experience or story they have been read.

Mathematics

In Mathematics, prep students will be engaged in the 100 days of school routine. This will include keeping track of each school day until students have been at school for 100 days. Some ways of tracking the days include, using a 100 chart, counting icy pole sticks, marking a blank 100s frame, marking a calendar and counting unifix blocks.

Students will explore what good mathematicians do, understand the structure of the maths lesson and explore the materials on the maths trolley and how to use them to help them learn. Throughout the term, students will learn about pattern, shape and counting. With pattern, students will explore how to sort objects by different elements such as shape, colour or size, as well as learn how to make, copy, continue and explain which part of the pattern is repeated. With shape, students will identify simple shapes and sort them. With counting, students will learn how to count each object once, know that numbers are said in a particular order and practice counting forwards and backwards to and from 20.

Inquiry

Students will undertake learning centred around how to be a successful learner and the skills, routines and expectations needed. They will become familiar with the routines and will contribute to establishing a collaborative learning environment in which they will learn different strategies to assist with learning and support them to make positive choices.

Science

Welcome to all our Prep students!

 I am looking forward to seeing all the Preps in our weekly Science session.  This term Prep students will be focusing on the Biological Science strand.  Students will be looking at the needs of humans and animals and identifying that both humans and animals need food, water, shelter and sleep to survive. Students will learn about what plants need in order to survive and will have the opportunity to observe growing their own seed.  Students will learn about their five senses – see, smell, hear, taste, touch – and will use them to explore familiar objects.  Throughout the term, students will be involved in many interesting activities, along with some hands-on experiments, which will provide them with a great introduction to Biological Science.

 This is an exciting term in Prep Science!

LOTE - AUSLAN

It is with much excitement to announce that this year students at Melton West Primary School from Prep to Grade six will be learning AUSLAN as our new LOTE subject! The program will commence in due course when it is available and set up for learning to take place in classrooms. Classroom teachers will facilitate the learning and will be provided with comprehensive resources and a teaching program from Auslan Education Services. We look forward to our students learning this wonderful skill which will provide many opportunities to communicate with the broader and inclusive community. Be sure to look out for notifications in our newsletter and social media platforms for when students have begun to engage in this fantastic learning experience! 

Art

Welcome to Prep Art, 2024! Prep students will begin the term by settling into routines and following expectations in our art room environment. This will include what we do and what we can find in the art room. It will also include using art materials and tools correctly and safely, and how we demonstrate positive behaviours during Art lessons.

The topic for this term is Colour Theory. Students will be introduced to the Primary Colours of red, blue and yellow and how these can be mixed to make Secondary Colours, which are orange, green and purple. Students will use different mediums, such as paint, when creating artworks and mixing colours. They will look at artworks by different artists to explore how colours can be used. Looking forward to an exciting beginning in Art with Prep, with lots of creativity and fun to be had!

P.E 

A huge welcome to the new prep students for 2024! In Physical Education we are working on the fundamental movement skills and introducing the students to game-based learning. During this term the expectations of Physical Education will be covered, and students will learn about being safe and respectful in these lessons. Some of the key fundamental movement skills that will be worked on include running, jumping, skipping, and hopping. In addition to this our students will be learning about how they feel after exercise and what positive impacts being healthy and physically active can have to a person. Every class will engage in games to work on teamwork and problem solving and we will begin to develop each student’s ability to follow rules and play fair. I am extremely excited to work with the prep cohort this year and can’t wait for all the wonderful learning that will take place.    

MUSIC

 Welcome to Term 1, Music, 2024! In Music, Grade Preps are learning about the routines and expectations of their learning environment. This includes using instruments safely and showing positive behaviours. The topic for this term is Sound. Students will get to explore making sounds with their voices and percussion instruments. They will learn the difference between speaking and singing including understanding pitch (high and low). Students will learn about tempo (fast and slow) and dynamics (loud and soft) when exploring with their voices and instruments. Grade Preps will be exposed to many songs including nursery rhymes to support their knowledge of sound. Looking forward to working with our Preps in Music this Term.