Learning is Alive in the Yongka Class

A Busy and Exciting Term in the Yonka Classroom

The Kangaroos have had a wonderful start to the term, filled with engaging learning experiences across all curriculum areas. In Week 2, students participated in Swimming, developing water confidence and safety skills. This was followed by our Cahoots Excursion in Week 3, which provided an exciting and hands-on learning opportunity that students thoroughly enjoyed.

From Week 1, the Kangaroos have been participating in EduDance, building coordination, confidence and teamwork. We are looking forward to showcasing all of their hard work at the EduDance concert in Week 8.

English and Literacy

In English, students began the PLD Phonics program, supporting the development of early reading and spelling skills. Alongside this, the Heggerty Phonics program is completed daily to strengthen phonological awareness. Home readers have been sent home to support reading fluency and confidence.

Through Talk for Writing, students have been learning how to write recounts and narratives. The key texts used this term are Max’s Jungle Adventure and Grug at the Zoo. Students are focusing on using writing tools such as descriptive language, past tense suffixes, pronouns, similes and other language features.To further enhance reading comprehension, students have also been enjoying shared reading of The Magic Faraway Tree.

Mathematics

Each morning, students take part in BondBlocks, building fluency in key maths concepts, with a focus this term on bonds of 5 and 10.Using resources such as 120 charts, MAB blocks and number lines, students are learning about place value and partitioning of two-digit numbers, counting from 0 to 100, and identifying numbers that are one more and one less. Students have also explored patterns, including ABAB, ABBA, additive patterns and growing patterns.

Health and Protective Behaviours

In Health and PBs, students have been learning about safe places, what to do during an emergency, identifying safe people, and recognising safe and unsafe choices. Lessons have also focused on strategies to help students recognise and regulate their emotions.

Science

With focus in Biological Sciences, students are learning about the life cycles of plants and animals, including planting sunflowers and exploring the life cycles of frogs, chickens and butterflies. Students are also learning about how to care for our Earth, what plants and animals need to survive, and the different groups of animals such as mammals, reptiles, amphibians, vertebrates and invertebrates.

HASS

In HASS, students have been learning about how Indigenous Australians care for Country, and the difference between a Welcome to Country and an Acknowledgement of Country. They have explored natural, constructed and managed local places, learned to recognise Indigenous symbols on maps, and created their own map keys.

Art

In Art, students have been exploring texture and the different ways it can be represented in artwork. They have also been learning about primary and secondary colours through hands-on creative activities.