Year 2 News 

Maths in Year 2 – Exploring Fractions and Shapes! 

This term, our Year 2 students have been busy exploring the world of fractions. They have been learning to recognise and describe one-half as one of two equal parts of a whole, and have extended their understanding by connecting halves, quarters, and eighths through repeated halving. Using hands-on activities, concrete materials, and engaging games, students have enjoyed discovering how fractions apply to shapes and collections. 

The students have also been learning to recognise and describe the features of 3D shapes. They've been on the lookout for spheres, cubes, cones, and other 3D objects in their everyday environment—both at school and at home! It’s been wonderful to see their excitement as they connect classroom learning with the world around them. 

Literacy

This week our spelling focus was the diagraph /ay/ making the sound “A” as in tray. Our students enjoy our weekly PowerPoints and various activities to consolidate their learning. 

The students learn decoding, where they are taught sounds and how to ‘blend’ or ‘synthesise’ these sounds to read words correctly (e.g. dog – /d/ /o/ /g/ – ‘dog’). Then encoding and are taught to ‘break up’ or ‘segment’ spoken words into their sounds and represent each sound with its corresponding grapheme –phoneme correspondence GPC to spell words correctly (e.g. dog – /d/ /o/ /g/ – 'dog'). 

Our students enjoyed writing directly on their tables this week to practice their spelling words.  

Our literacy block includes reading, writing, and spelling. A highlight of the week for the students is our partner reading where students read a prepared text focusing on our weekly spelling focus. They are placed in pairs, and they take turns reading to each other to work on their fluency. The students and teachers provide regular feedback during this time.  

This week during our writing sessions, our focus has been on writing a weekend recount and learning how to write persuasive text. The students are learning the art of persuasion through writing activities and have also been working on persuasive PowerPoints.  

Where We Are In Place & Time 

We have had so much fun starting our new unit – Where we are in place and time. 

Our central idea is: The past influences our present and future. 

The lines of inquiry are: 

• Family histories 

• The reasons people migrate and their influence on our culture 

• The significance of celebrations that people have brought with them from other cultures 

We began the unit by watching ‘Back In Time for Dinner” where a family is taken back in time to the 1900s, 1910s, 1920s,1930s and 1940s. 

We observed how different life was through the ages and reflected on how different things are in our own lives today. We then looked at all sorts of items from the past such as, old phones, record players, radios, sewing machines and VHS and DVD players. We had a fun discussion about how the teachers used to watch TV, look up directions in a Melways or call their friends on the home phone. 

Students then considered some old-fashioned items, such as a penny-farthing bike, a candle, and an old telephone. Students had to identify what the item was and how this has changed over time. They were then asked to consider how this item might continue to change into the future. 

Assembly

Congratulations to all students who shared their learning or the newly learnt dance at assembly last week. Please enjoy watching the video of the children dancing the Tarantella! 

Ciao Italy Incursion

As part of our current Unit of Inquiry 'Where we are in place and time', students have been learning about the significance of other cultures and the traditions and celebrations they bring to Australia with them. 

On Friday 10 October, the year 2 students were very lucky to have Mr. Emilio Fagiolo visit in the morning and present his very entertaining Ciao Italy experience. The presentation covered the journey his father took from Italy to Melbourne when he migrated to Australia during World War 2. 

The presentation was highly interactive and provided students with lots of hands-on learning experiences. Students were able to see real life items that were bought over on the boat from Italy and see firsthand the size of the suitcase used when migrating. Students were shocked to hear the boat journey from Italy to Melbourne took 42 days and upon arriving in Melbourne Mr. Fagiolo’s papa could not speak any English.  

Students learnt how people from different cultures could find common interests despite the obvious language barrier. Some of these common interests included sport (soccer and AFL), food (pasta and Aussie BBQs), and family. Students were able to see first-hand traditional Italian items including an espresso machine, pasta maker, bottle capper used for pasta sauce and a traditional pizzelle iron used to make Italian Waffles.  

To conclude the presentation students were taught some traditional Italian dances that are still used in celebrations today. 

The experience was highly valuable for all students and helps set the scene for students as they begin to prepare for their own 'migration' around the school coming up later this week.