Year 1 News
Reading
Last fortnight, the Year 1 cohort learnt how to answer retrieval questions in Reading. Retrieval means going back into the text to “find and copy” the answer. Students have discussed how to recognise a retrieval question – it usually asks for facts or details already written in the story and often begins with words such as what, who or how. They practised with short stories and are becoming more confident at finding the exact words or sentences that answer the question. This helps them strengthen their comprehension skills.
Writing
Last fortnight, Year 1 students focused on poetry. They explore writing poems about a theme, writing acrostic poems, where each line of the poem begins with a letter from their chosen word. Using words from themes such as the weather and animals (for example, sun, rain, lion and frog), students created their own acrostic poems. A particular highlight was seeing how much the students enjoyed working together to brainstorm all the words they could think of that start with each letter.
Following our trip to the Zoo, students wrote acrostic poems about their excursion using the words “Zoo Trip”. It was fantastic to see students build their vocabulary throughout these lessons. Students then completed a recount of their zoo excursion to talk about which animals they saw, what they did during the activity, and what their favourite part was about the day.
“My favourite part was seeing the Giraffe” - Lucas (1C)
“I saw a blue fish, a jellyfish and meerkats!” - Laiarah (1C)
“I wrote an acrostic poem using my own name!” - Saanvi (1C)
Maths
In Maths this fortnight, Year 1 students have been exploring 2D shapes. They have been learning to name and recognise shapes such as circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, hexagons and more. Students have been noticing the different features of each shape, including the number of sides and corners. They have also been practising how to sort shapes into groups based on their properties. For example, they looked at whether shapes have straight or curved edges, and how many sides they have.
Another part of the cohort’s learning has been using shapes to create patterns. The students enjoyed making repeating patterns using colours and shapes, and many challenged themselves to extend and explain their patterning rules. Through hands-on activities, games, and problem-solving tasks, Year 1 students are developing confidence in recognising shapes in the world around them and understanding how they can be used in creative and mathematical ways.
Inquiry
The Year 1 cohort has been exploring habitats and the living things that depend on them. Students began by looking at the plans they created and then worked towards the learning intention: to create a habitat with living things. Together, they unpacked new vocabulary such as habitat, living, environment and added these words to the classroom word wall. Using recycled materials, students designed and built their own diorama habitats, including plants and animals made from paper, paint and other craft supplies.
Teachers supported students by modelling how to create simple animals and plants, while also providing extension opportunities for those ready to add more detail or adaptations. This hands-on project encouraged creativity, problem solving and speaking and listening, as students shared ideas and asked questions to help bring their habitats to life.
Auslan
In Auslan this fortnight, Year 1 students have been learning about greetings, questions, and things around the home. They have been practising how to greet each other in Auslan, using signs such as hello, good morning, good afternoon, and goodbye. The students are becoming more confident in using these greetings to start simple conversations with their classmates.
They have also been exploring questions in Auslan, including signs for:
- What’s your name?
- Is your day good?
- Ready to learn?
- How do you feel today?
Students have enjoyed practising these in short role-plays, asking and answering questions with their peers.
Another focus has been on learning signs for everyday things around the home, such as house, home, window, door, stairs. The students had fun acting out scenarios and matching signs to real-life objects. Through games, songs, and partner activities, Year 1 are building their confidence in using Auslan for practical communication.
Social and Emotional Learning
This fortnight in SEL, students have been focusing on listening carefully and following instructions. Teachers emphasised the importance of listening to all the words and waiting before acting, discussing what helped them know what to do and what might happen if they didn’t listen all the way. The learning intention was to listen carefully and follow instructions, with success criteria including listening the first time, asking for help when unsure, and showing what it looks like to follow instructions – as well as what it doesn’t.
Students have been learning how to manage their anger in positive ways. Students discussed and practised different strategies to help calm down, such as taking deep breaths, counting slowly, or walking away to have some quiet time. The learning intention was to explore how we can recognise and manage angry feelings, and students were successful when they could practise strategies that helped them stay calm and in control.
Lastly, students have been learning how to manage their anger by exploring different calming strategies. The students’ learning intention was to understand ways to manage strong feelings, and success was shown when students could practise and use strategies to calm down. Through discussion and activities, they discovered that everyone can choose tools that help them stay in control and respond in positive ways.
Special Event
Year 1 Zoo Excursion
Year 1 had a wonderful day on their excursion to the zoo! The students took part in the Habitats, Features and Lifecycles programme, which helped them learn more about how animals live, grow, and survive in the wild. During the session, the students explored the life cycles of different animals and discovered how they change and grow from babies to adults. They also looked closely at the special features of animals, such as wings, claws, beaks, and fur, and discussed how these features help animals survive in their habitats.
The cohort were especially engaged in the classification activities, where they sorted animals into groups such as mammals, reptiles, birds, and amphibians. They learned that each group has unique characteristics that make them special.
As the students explored the zoo, students were excited to make real-life connections to what they had learned in the programme. They loved spotting animals in their habitats and noticing the different features that help them live there.
