Specialist Teachers Term 2 overviews
STEM with Lauren & Alex
In Term Two, Prep students will be introduced to the exciting world of digital technologies through hands-on, play-based learning experiences. Students will learn to recognise digital technology in the environment around them and understand their purpose. They will explore the basic hardware of iPads, learning about key features such as the camera, screen, and buttons and apply this to a range of learning experiences, such as taking photos to create a classbook. Students will also design and contsruct their very own digital device out of cardboard materials.Early coding concepts will be introduced through engaging ‘unplugged’ activities, where students practise giving and following simple instructions and sequence steps. These skills will be extended through hands-on, interactive experiences using Osmo, where students use code blocks to guide characters through problem-solving tasks, building confidence in coding and logical thinking. A strong focus is also placed on digital safety and wellbeing. Students will be introduced to the 'Mighty Heroes,' a group of small Aussie animals who teach big messages about how to be safe online. Through these stories, role-play and discussion, students will learn how to be responsible, respectful and safe digital citizens.
Year 1 and 2 students will dive into Digital Technologies as they explore how computers work and how we can control them. Students will learn about the parts of a laptop, identifying key hardware components and how they fit and work together. They will also explore the difference between hardware and software by sharing and drawing the apps and programs they use in their everyday lives. Students will also begin creating their own simple programs by learning how to give clear instructions and follow sequences of steps. Through activities such as Program the Teacher, programming using ScratchJr, and coding Bee-Bots, students will test their ideas, see what happens, and debug their programs when things don’t go to plan. Throughout the term, students will build their understanding of sequencing, instructions, and how digital systems work.
Year Three and Four students will explore Digital Technologies by learning how to design, sequence, and improve their own programs. They will begin by creating and following algorithms, coding their classmates to perform a series of movements as robots and learning how to debug when instructions don’t work as planned. Students will then use Sphero BOLT robots to bring their code to life, programming movement, shapes, lights, and sounds while building their skills in sequencing and control. As their confidence grows, they will explore more complex coding concepts such as loops and conditional statements, allowing their robots to respond to different situations. To finish the term, students will take on a design challenge, building and testing their own chariots powered by Sphero BOLTs, before racing, evaluating, and improving their designs.
Year Five and Six students will explore how computers store information and how code is used to control digital systems. They will begin with binary, using 0s and 1s to represent data through hands-on activities like creating binary bracelets and encoding/decoding messages. Students will then move into text-based coding, using JavaScript to modify functions and program Sphero robots. As the term continues, they will explore conditionals and how programs make decisions using inputs and sensor data, before applying these skills through robotics challenges with Sphero BOLTs and Lego SPIKE kits. Students will design, build, and code moving models, testing and debugging their programs as they solve problems and refine their ideas.
Art with Gen
In Term 2, Prep students will continue to deepen their understanding of the Elements of Art in particular colour, line, shape and texture and begin to explore the principles of form and space through hands-on making. Students will investigate the natural beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, observing the vibrant patterns, shapes and colours found in coral and marine life. Drawing on these observations, students will design a Coral Reef sculpture using mixed media materials. Students will also explore portraiture, by first studying ways in which artists represent faces and identity. Students will learn how to draw a self-portrait by dividing the face into four sections to help develop an awareness of facial proportions. Students will create a self-portrait using plasticine, gradually layering facial features such as eyes, nose and mouth, considering facial proportions, colour and texture to represent themselves in a creative and expressive way.
Years 1 and 2 students will deepen their understanding of the Elements of Art including shape, form, colour and texture, while exploring the principles of form and space through clay. Students will investigate how artists use clay to create sculptural works and develop an understanding of how form can be manipulated to express ideas and personality. Students will begin by experimenting with essential clay techniques required to construct a successful creature pinch pot. They will learn how to shape clay into a pot, create attachments (e.g. eyes, teeth, limbs) by rolling coils/balls and cutting from slabs and lastly using techniques such as scoring, slipping and blending to securely attach pieces to their clay creature. Students will develop confidence and control working with clay tools to create a sculpture full of personality and expression. Once dried, students will explore the importance of colour combinations and how they can enhance their creature’s features.
Chinese with Shan
In Term 2, Prep students will be introduced to the topic of family and home. They will learn basic Chinese vocabulary to identify family members and understand simple sentence structures.Students will use modelled language to communicate meaning and share information about their family and home. They will develop their listening and speaking skills through songs, games, and interactive activities that support engagement and communication in Chinese.Students will also participate in cultural learning through celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival, developing an awareness of Chinese traditions and cultural practices.
Years 1 and 2 students will develop their Chinese language skills through the topic of family and occupations. They will review and extend vocabulary related to family members and learn to identify different jobs and professions.Students will use simple sentence structures to describe what people do and communicate information about family members and future aspirations, including what they would like to be when they grow up. They will develop their speaking and listening skills through interactive activities that support communication and confidence in using Chinese in meaningful contexts.Students will also participate in cultural learning through celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival, exploring its traditions and cultural significance.
Years 3 and 4 students will develop their Chinese language skills through the topic of food, including fruits and vegetables. They will build on their prior learning of numbers and prices and use this knowledge to communicate in real-life contexts.Students will use Chinese to ask and answer questions about prices and items and apply their learning in a market role-play, where they communicate in a simulated shopping environment.Students will also learn about Chinese culture through exploring the Eight Great Cuisines of China （中国八大菜系）, developing an understanding of regional food traditions.Students will further engage in cultural learning through celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival, exploring its traditions and cultural significance.
Years 5 and 6 students will develop their Chinese language skills through exploring Chinese culture and everyday communication. They will learn about the Twenty-Four Solar Terms, with a focus on Cold Dew (寒露), and understand its cultural meaning and seasonal significance, while using language to describe related concepts. Students will develop their ability to describe weather conditions and temperature in Chinese and apply this language by preparing and presenting simple weather forecasts.Students will also learn about traditional Chinese clothing, including Hanfu （汉服）, and develop vocabulary related to clothing and dressing appropriately for different weather conditions. They will use this language to make connections between weather and clothing choices in real-life contexts.
Music with Charlotte
In Term 2, Years 3 and 4 students will further deepen their musical knowledge and skills through listening to, and playing instruments from different musical instrument families. Students will develop their practical musical skills by learning to play the Ukulele and the Glokenspiel. They will build upon, and work with the musical elements of pitch, dynamics and tempo to communicate the ideas in storylines and perspectives of characters within picture story books.
Years 5 and 6 students will be developing their listening and practical music skills through playing, composing and performing. Students will further explore the musical elements of pitch, dynamics and tempo to achieve expressive effects with musical instruments. When composing and practising for performance, students will aim to communicate the ideas, perspectives and meaning within visual prompts such as costume, paintings, photographs and book covers.
Physical Education with Curtis and Megan
In Term 2, the Prep students have continued to deepend their understanding of rules and routines in PE. We will embed their learning of Locomotor movement skills (such as skipping, galloping, sidestepping etc.) into games. Students will begin work on catching, focusing on watching the item the whole way, having catching hands ready and using soft hands. We will also complete a unit on over-arm throwing. For the first time at CGPS, the Preps, with the assistance of our wonderful Year 6 helpers, will take part in weekly PMP lessons. These sessions focus on building strength, balance, coordiation and developing fine and gross motor skills.
In addition to their weekly PE lessons, our Prep students will be taking part in PMP (Perceptual Motor Program). PMP is a well-established program that has been known to increase balance, coordination, visual tracking, fine and gross motor skills, among others. Students are placed in small groups and rotate through activity stations that are run by our amazing Year 6 students. Activities range from balancing beams, holding certain poses and manipulating smaller objects to develop fine motor skills.
Year 1 and 2 students are completing the unit they begun in Term 1 on over-arm throwing and catching. The rest of the term revolves around different types of kicking; kicking off the ground and AFL-syle punting. We will build our knowledge of how to adapt our kicks to suit the situation, such as short, accurate passing or longer kicks. Students will have opportunities to use these skills in mini games to allow them to consider when each skill is more useful.
Years 3 and 4 students will practise the basic skills of pivoting, passing and goal shooting, while participating in a netball unit. The students will demonstrate these skills when playing modified, small-sided games with their peers. They will engage in a striking and fielding unit that aims to develop their catching, throwing and batting across different distances. The students will develop their skills of cooperation and explore how working as a team helps to prevent the opposition from scoring points. They will engage in track and field events designed to refine their throwing, jumping, and running skills, to prepare them for our school athletics carnival in Term 3.
Years 5 and 6 students will practise specialised movement sequences when participating in a netball unit. They will practise the skill of pivoting, goal shooting and effective passing when playing small-sided games and demonstrate skills to work collaboratively, play fairly and encourage others. They will participate in a striking and fielding unit that aims to develop their catching, throwing and batting across different distances with accuracy. The students will develop their skills of cooperation and explore how working as a team helps to prevent the opposition from scoring points. They will engage in track and field events designed to refine their throwing, jumping, and running skills, to prepare them for our school athletics carnival in Term 3.