Year 3/4 

As we near the end of Term 2, we would like to give you an update on what we have been learning and some of the exciting things that have been happening in our space.

This term, our literacy focus has centered around informative texts with a connection to immigration and local histories. In Reading/Lettura, we first looked at features of informative texts while reading historical pieces on Australian immigrant stories. Here, students explored the stories of diverse immigrant populations, while considering how writers use different literary features to support comprehension and engagement with informative texts. Concurrently, students researched, took notes and practiced organising  information based on subheadings while writing their own informative text based on an Australian historical event or moment. We found students were highly engaged in this unit and it was great to see the wide range of interests that shone through in students’ chosen topics. 

Currently in Reading/Lettura, students are practicing the complex skill of summarising using a range of short, informative texts on various historical and social topics. Students have been presenting their summaries orally, and it is evident the improvements they are making in finding and communicating main ideas of texts. Our current Writing/Scrittura project is creating an informative text in poster form of a chosen country. Students are practicing researching and organising information from multiple digital and print sources and have been super engaged! 

We have just wrapped up several weeks of measurement. This was a highly practical unit and students were up and about the school, applying their growing knowledge of units of measurement. We focused mainly on units of length and students explored using rulers, measuring tapes and benchmarks to both estimate and accurately measure lengths of objects and spaces.

Our final Maths cycle of this term is exploring algorithms. Students are learning that algorithms are everywhere, and understanding their applications in mathematical thinking can help us efficiently solve problems. We are creating art, music and programming robots in multi-modal explorations of algorithmic thinking.  

After spending Term 2 exploring the idea of “Change” in regard to local and Australian History, students are now busy working on their end of term project to be showcased to families in Week 11. It has been a valuable term of learning in this space, with two excursions and many rich discussions and explorations of diverse perspectives throughout Australian History.