Year 1/2

Year 1/2 Cluster News

We hope you enjoyed the break during the holidays. We are excited to be in our new classrooms, which continue to evolve as we receive our new furniture. You are welcome to pop in to see the new spaces. 

Oral Talks 

Please help your child to prepare a talk to share in the next few weeks. The topic is to recount a festival or special event that has happened in your child’s life that they can remember e.g. a cultural festival, a concert, a special friend or relative visiting. Your child might create a presentation of photos e.g. a PowerPoint or bring a photo album. If you choose to send a photo or video via email, please limit it to one. An information sheet will be sent home and posted on Toddle with more detail and  specific day for your child to share. 

Take Home Books 

Please bring these to school on Mondays in the clear plastic envelope for changing. On other days the clear plastic envelope can remain at home. 

Reading – We encourage approximately 10-15 minutes each night.  

Home Inquiry 

Y1: How long does it take you to do things you do every day? e.g. brush your teeth, tie your shoelace, get ready for school. Can you describe which can be done in seconds and which in minutes? 

Y2: What in your home can you divide into equal parts e.g. food, shoes, books? You might like to draw what you can find and bring it in to share. 

Mathematic learning ideas 

Year 1 Duration of time https://youtu.be/fTRSp45arvY?si=UhF3Rya7AXYdGfIe 

 Year 2 Fractions https://youtu.be/akxO8eNSXJ8?si=YvVv8e0rZxef488O  

Learning for Week 2:   

Literacy:  

In Writer’s Workshop mini lessons, students will begin learning strategies for writing fiction, and in Reader’s Workshop mini lessons, we will begin a character study of Melanie Watt’s Scaredy Squirrel. 

Spelling  

Each week there is a focus ‘sound of the week’. Students are introduced to groups of words which use spelling patterns and revise the alternative spellings of vowel sounds. 

The sound of the week is not intended to be a spelling list for you to teach your child at home. It is for you to be aware of what we are teaching at school, and you are welcome to use the sound as a starting point for your child to share what they are learning. 

Year 1: ‘ng’ e.g. ring, sang strong 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmtOKfTEBh8 

Year 2: ‘wa’ for /wo/ e.g. wasp, wash, wand 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1ZXDM3y_CM 

Grammar Focus 

Year 1: alphabetical order 

Year 2: using a dictionary 

Mathematics: Year 1s will begin inquiring into time durations (seconds, minutes, hours), and year 2s into fractions (halves, quarters and eighths). 

Unit of Inquiry: How the World Works 

Central Idea: Design and science involve an understanding of properties and processes. 

Line of Inquiry 1: how scientists work 

Line of Inquiry 2: the process of designing 

Line of Inquiry 3: designing solutions to problems 

Students continue exploring the way scientists work to collect and record information. 

Christian Studies: Christian Beliefs 

Key Idea: The person and work of Jesus the Christ is cental to Christianity. Students will begin learning about who Jesus was and the special events in his life. 

Reminders 

Each day students need to bring the following. Please label everything.  

Take Home Bags which are also for Library borrowing. 

water bottles 

a fruit/veg snack 

recess 

lunch – ‘nude’ food (no wrappers), leave chocolates or lollies for home 

Cancer Council recommends hats and sunscreen when the UV rating is 3 or above. 

Volunteers 

During the year we have excursions, a Year 1 Sleepover and a Year 2 Camp. We are planning excursions this term. If you would like to put in an expression of interest, please ensure you are a registered volunteer. 

This involves having the following up to date: 

Working With Children Check (WWCC)  

Responding to Abuse, Harm and Neglect training (RRHAN-EC)  

Valuing Safe Communities (VSC) training 

https://www.goldengrove.sa.edu.au/parent-portal/volunteering/  

Library Borrowing  

The whole class goes to the library on Wednesdays (Year 1/2Z) and Thursdays (Year 1/2AK). A reminder that individual students can borrow books on other days during the week if they would like new books before the class borrowing day. 

May God bless your week, 

Melanie and Ellen  

Melanie Arnold arnold.melanie@goldengrove.sa.edu.au 

Tim Kriewaldt kriewaldt.tim@goldengrove.sa.edu.au 

Ellen Zimmer zimmer.ellen@goldengrove.sa.edu.au