Year 1 News 

Reading

In Reading this fortnight, Year 1 has been focusing on summarising and answering retrieval questions.

When summarising, they practised picking out the most important parts of a story or text, instead of retelling every detail. The students have been learning to think about the beginning, middle and end, and to explain what happened in their own words. They have been summarising using the structure; somebody, wanted, but, so, then. They have been working on this for a few weeks and have been building their skills throughout the lessons. 

Students have also been working on retrieval questions. These are questions where the answer can be found directly in the text. They practised going back into the story to find key words, phrases or sentences that give them the answer. This helps build strong comprehension skills and reminds them that the text always holds the clues we need.

The students have enjoyed reading a range of stories and information texts and using these strategies to show their understanding. It has been wonderful to see them becoming confident, thoughtful readers who can explain what they have read.

“The quokka wanted to be scary, but all the other animals thought it was too cute!” - Saanvi 1C

“Summarising is talking about the main things that happened in the book” - Jordan 1C

Writing

The Year 1 cohort has been learning how to create a simple informational text. Students worked to include a title and subtitle, as well as sections on appearance, diet, habitat, and a fun fact. As part of their research, they studied fascinating animals such as tigers, Komodo dragons, and the box jellyfish. Using the information gathered during the previous lesson, they published their work by organising it into a clear structure, adding detailed drawings to match their facts, and using their best handwriting. This activity allowed them to combine research, writing, and presentation skills, resulting in well-structured and engaging informational reports.

I learned lots of things about tigers - Alana 1B

I enjoyed finding out the fun facts about the animals - Celeste 1B

I like it learning about different animals - Israel 1B

Maths 

The Year 1 cohort has been learning about grouping objects equally in Mathematics. Students explored the question, “What is grouping?” and investigated how to organise items into equal sets. They worked either in pairs or individually, using teddies provided by the teacher to solve problems such as, “There are 24 teddies. 

Put the teddies into groups of 6. How many groups will there be?” Through this hands-on activity, they developed a stronger understanding of early division concepts in a practical and engaging way.

I have enjoyed grouping because its fun - Aashrita 1B

I like grouping because we get share with other people - Evie 1B

We have to share equally and I like to do it - Panjab 1B

In Mathematics, Year One students have been exploring patterns. Students are learning to create their own pattern sequences and continue existing patterns using colours, shapes, numbers, and everyday objects. 

This helps them recognise order, predict what comes next, and build strong problem-solving skills in a fun and creative way.

Year One students have also been focusing on measurement. Students are learning to order objects from shortest to longest, lightest to heaviest, and by capacity. Using hands-on activities, they have been comparing the size, weight, and volume of different items. These experiences help children make sense of the world around them and develop important mathematical language.

Inquiry

During Inquiry this fortnight, Year 1 students have been learning about habitats and the living things. We explored how animals and plants need certain places to survive, such as deserts, oceans, rainforests, and grasslands.

To show their learning, the students created their own habitat dioramas. Using boxes, paper, and craft materials, they designed and built a miniature habitat, carefully adding animals, plants, and features such as water or shelter. Each diorama showed how living things rely on their environment to get food, water, and protection.

The students loved being creative and hands-on, while also thinking carefully about how the animals in their habitat survive. It was exciting to see their knowledge come to life in 3D form, and they enjoyed sharing their projects with their classmates.

 Auslan

This fortnight in Auslan, Year 1 students have been learning how to sign different feelings. They have been exploring ways to express how we feel through both signs and facial expressions. Students practised recognising and signing emotions such as happy, sad, angry, tired, and excited.

They enjoyed playing games to match feelings with their correct signs and had fun acting them out with friends. Using Auslan has helped them understand that body language and facial expressions are just as important as hand signs when communicating.

They are beginning to use the new signs in class when sharing how they are feeling during the day.

“I can sign the feeling happy and excited.”- Mokshitha 1A

“I can sign the feeling angry and bored.”- Hanin 1A

Social and Emotional Learning

This fortnight in SEL, Year 1 students have been learning about how labels can be harmful.

They have unpacked what labels are, compared labels on things and people, and discussed why it’s not helpful to label people. They practised using positive statements to challenge gender labels. 

Students also revised listening to instructions the first time. If they don’t understand, they can ask for help. Students roleplayed what it looks like to follow instructions and what it looks like when instructions are not followed. 

Students identified situations that can cause fear and looked at choosing coping strategies to help deal with any fears. By recognising what makes them feel scared and practising ways to stay calm, students can build confidence and feel safer in different situations.

Special Event

Book Week

For Book Week, students explored the theme of adventure. They created colourful posters to share their favourite books and characters, and the students loved showing their creativity through drawings and words. During the week they looked at different adventure stories and the features of them. A big highlight was the Book Week Parade, where everyone dressed up as their favourite story characters.

Science Week

During Science Week, Year 1 students became little scientists. They investigated how things move through the air and created their own helicopter seeds from paper. Just like real helicopter seeds that fall from trees, like the maple tree, their paper models spun as they dropped. Students learned that the shape of the seed creates air resistance, which slows it down and makes it spin. This helps real seeds travel further away from their tree so they can grow in new places.

The students experimented with different sizes and shapes of helicopter seeds, tested them, and compared how long they stayed in the air. They talked about why some spun faster or slower, and how changing the design made a difference.