Year One and Two
Welcome to Year 1/2!
We have had a wonderful start to the year with all students settling into the new classroom and routines smoothly. This term we’ve had a new specialist of Wellbeing with Ebony, as well as our usual P.E., Art, and I.T. We’ve had a big couple of weeks filled with lots of exciting learning!
Literacy
In Literacy our InitiaLit-1 learners have been reviewing their previous knowledge, going over tricky words and sounds learnt in the last year. Over the next fortnight, we will begin to introduce new digraphs (where two letters make one sound) and spelling rules.
Our storybooks over the last few week have been ‘Sam and Dave Dig A Hole’, a hilarious story about two friends who dig their way through a portal, and ‘Fang Fang’s Chinese New Year’ which led to great discussions about the student’s traditions and celebrations.
Our InitiaLit-2 learners have embarked on new tricky words (which can be found at the back of the Term Reader Diary) and reviewing Initialit-1 knowledge. Storybooks have included ‘The Snail and the Whale’ which everyone was very familiar with!
You may have noticed there are more books in your child's reader bag! We have begun library sessions on Fridays where the children choose interest books to take home. These are not aligned to their reading ability and so there is no expectation that they read these books independently. Instead, these books are a great choice for you to read to them or for them to flick through the pictures, reading what they can on their own!Independent readers have either a Multilit or Firecracker logo on the front and there is no expectation for them to be read in one night! As students progress, the books get longer, so feel free to read them in sessions.
Numeracy
We began our term with Data Investigations, exploring the use of tally marks as a quick way to record information. “1,2,3,4, shut the door” helped us to remember when to draw a diagonal line, and beginning to practice our skip counting by 5s helped to count our tallies up. Using our tally mark data, we also learnt how to create a picture graph, ending our learning with collecting data about the teachers cars parked out the front, and making a corresponding graph.
Currently we are looking at Place Value, using tens frames, bundling sticks, and MAB blocks to make 2 and 3 digit numbers. We have been learning to break them into hundreds, tens, and ones, in order to support our addition and subtraction skills later on. Students have loved using the MAB blocks and competing against each other to make the largest or smallest number possible and ordering them by amount.
Excursion
As you all know, on Wednesday last week we went on an Excursion to IMAX and the Melbourne Museum. It was a big day, but absolutely worth it for all the ‘Wow!’s, the “It’s like I can touch it!” and the outstretched hands as we sat in the theatre watching (for many of us) our first 3D film. ‘A Beautiful Planet 3D’ showed us the journey of astronauts arriving to the International Space Station and the view of planet Earth from space. Some student comments through the film were, “Are we flying?” “I can see the sun!” “I’m in space!” At the museum we split into two groups to see either animals or insects and dinosaurs. What a great day!
Community Project
You may have heard that we have been learning about space! Over the term we have been learning about all the planets in our solar system and creating them using recycled materials where possible. We are quickly running out though, so if you have any scratched CD’s/plastic lids/cardboard circles or any other circular shaped items we would greatly appreciate the donations! Thank you to the families who have already contributed. 😊 We do ask that anything brought in has no trace of egg or nuts.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to pop your head in before or after school, or message our shared account on Dojo
-Evie and Maddy B