Learning News 1/2

Years 1/2

Circus and Gymnastics

1/2 students have been thoroughly enjoying their circus and gymnastics lessons with the amazing Mrs Abell and the talented PCYC gymnastics teachers. These sessions have given the children wonderful opportunities to build their coordination, balance, strength and confidence while having a lot of fun.

Students have been learning a variety of new skills, including forward rolls, hula hooping, dancing and juggling. They have also been exploring trampoline skills, practising safe landings and developing confidence in bouncing and balance.

It has been fantastic to see the children’s persistence and determination as they practise, often discovering that trying again is the key to success. The lessons also encourage collaboration, as students cheer each other on and celebrate their progress together.

We are very grateful to Mrs Abell and the PCYC gymnastics teachers for sharing their skills and expertise with us, and for providing such a fun and enriching program.

Stage 1 Mathematics – Division through Grouping

In Mathematics, our Year 1/2 students have been learning about division by exploring grouping and sharing. Students have been solving problems where objects are shared equally or grouped into sets, helping them develop a deeper understanding of how division works.

Tips for Parents

There are many easy ways you can support this at home.

• Share everyday objects – Ask your child to practise division by sharing objects equally. For example, share 8 toys, pieces of food, or buttons into 2 equal groups. Using real objects helps them visualise what the calculation means and keeps them engaged.
• Check for equal groups – Begin by asking your child how many objects there are altogether. Help them share the objects one at a time between two groups. When all have been shared, ask: How many are in each group? If the groups are the same, explain that the objects have been shared equally, which is the same as dividing by two.
• Talk about remainders – Sometimes numbers don’t share equally. For example: “We started with 11 objects and shared them into two groups. I have 6 and you have 5. Are they equal?” Discuss how some numbers can’t be divided equally into certain groups without remainders.

These short activities help your child see that division is about fair sharing and grouping, making it easier for them to understand and apply in the classroom.