Grade 1 and 2

As we enter the last few weeks of term it is lovely to see how much our students have grown so far. We're looking forward to a productive few weeks as we finish off the term.

Literacy

In Reading our Grade 1's and 2's have been focussing on persuasive texts. We have been identifying the author's opinion, their reasons and any facts that they use to back up their arguments. Students are learning to distinguish facts from opinions and the importance of using reasons to support a persuasive piece of writing.

In Writing our Grade 1's and 2's are continuing to build their writing stamina. Grade 1 students are learning to incorporate rich vocabulary to add detail to their written pieces, bringing their stories to life. Over the past few weeks the Grade 2 students have researched and written information reports about an animal of their choice. We are now revisiting narratives, how to plan write and edit a story and are in the process of writing our own sequels to the well known storybook "Pete the Sheep". 

Numeracy

Our Grade 2 students are learning about measurement. They have been measuring length, capacity and mass using informal units and have started learning about the metric system and measuring in mm, cm, m, km for length; ml and L for capacity and g and kg for mass. We've had lots of fun measuring the length of different items and ourselves around the classroom, estimating and measuring the capacity of different containers in the sandpit and with water and comparing the mass of different objects using balance scales.

Grade 1Z students are having a great time with hands-on learning! Students created their own place value pictures! Students can see the real-world application of how ones, tens, hundreds, and thousands fit together to form larger numbers. This method also allows them to practice adding and organising numbers based on place value, which is a critical foundational skill. This approach makes abstract ideas more tangible, easier to understand and fun. 

Resilience Project

Our Grade 2's enjoyed their Resilience Project lesson on 'Strengths in my Heart'; a Gratitude lesson where they explored and identified their character and personal strengths. Students were able to build their understanding of how their strengths help them each day, and the importance of noticing the positive strengths of others. At the end of the day they took home a picture of a heart listing their individual strengths in their hearts that they can save and reflect on at home.

Our Grade 1's enjoyed their Resilience Project lesson on 'My Gratitude Bag'; a Gratitude lesson where they build a mindset of gratitude by appreciating the positive aspects of their lives. We reflected on our most cherished belongings (e.g., a teddy, a card from a birthday, a note from a special relative), recognising that these possessions are more than just physical items; they are likely connected to a special memory, an important relationship or an experience. Engaging in gratitude practices helps us cultivate thankfulness and appreciation for what we have in our lives, rather than focusing on what we don’t have or what we want.

                                 Important Dates 

                                                Tuesday 25th March - School Photos

                                             Saturday 29th March - Warrandyte Festival

                                     Friday 4th April - Colour Run and Harmony Day

                                                                                 Term 2

                                                   Tuesday 22nd April - School Starts Back

                                          Friday 25th April - ANZAC Day Public Holiday

                       21 May 2025 at 12pm (AEST) - National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) 

                                 Friday 13th June - Sunday 15th June - Seussical Production