What's Happening in Grade 1?

Inquiry

Our students commemorated ANZAC day alongside the rest of the school with a memorial service. The students did a wonderful job creating our class wreaths and their individual poppies, they are to be commended for their efforts.

We also started a unit on history, where we are exploring what communities, families, technology and places looked like in the past, and why they are significant. To enrich this learning, the students participated in a history incursion which included learning from Mrs Sargood, from National Trust about what school was like for kids in the olden days. Next week we will also be making some butter to show the kids how it was made in the olden days. 

Mathematics

During term 2 in Mathematics, students have been expanding their knowledge of 2 and 3-digit numbers and practising counting groups of things. The students have been using a range of things to support their learning including unifix blocks, number lines, and tens frames.

We have finished learning about measuring length using uniform informal units like icy pole sticks and unifix to measure a range of small objects. They have also been learning about words and techniques they can use to compare the length of various objects, including whether they are longer than, shorter than, taller than, smaller than, wider than, thinner than, or the same as another object. 

We have also started working on a new unit of maths all about shapes! We have been able to talk about the different features of shapes including the number of sides and corners, and whether they are round or straight. We will continue our work on shapes including 2D shapes until the end of term.

English

In English this term students are learning about ‘Recounts’. We have explored events and how we can use descriptive vocabulary to describe those events. When reading, students have been working on identifying the structure of a recount, past tense verbs and time connectives in recount texts. 

We will be continuing to extend our students’ phonemic and phonological awareness skills this term. This term, students were introduced to the concept of long vowel sounds and different ways these sounds can be represented in written words. Students will be learning about the following sounds (phonemes) /ay/, /ee/.

This has been implemented through the phonics program called ‘Sounds-write’. We are excited to see more growth in our students using these learning tools!

SWPBS   

During SWPBS (School-Wide Positive Behaviour) sessions, the Year 1 students have been learning about the expected behaviours in the classroom, play areas, sports zones, walkways, the canteen and toilets. We have been learning about the four routines including stop, walk and talk, and how we can be upstanders with our peers. 

The Year 1 students created their Classroom Matrix which we have been practising using as part of our expect respect learning. 

Students have been doing some great work throughout the term so far, and we can't wait to see how their learning will evolve over the rest of the term.

Warmest Regards, 

The Year 1 Team

Perri Telford and Anastasia Bouzinis.