Grade 1

Reading

We’ve had a strong and engaging start to Term 3 in Literacy! Over the past two weeks, students have been exploring vowel patterns, digraphs, and suffixes through both whole class and independent activities. 

In Week 1, our focus was on recognising and spelling words with the split digraphs e_e (as in eve) and u_e (as in tube). Students played word games, sorted bossy 'e' words, and used mini whiteboards to build and spell target words. We also began revising our tricky words learnt last term, using a variety of hands-on activities like rainbow writing and super sentence building to reinforce learning.

In Week 2, we introduced the digraphs ow (as in cow) and ou (as in cloud), as well as the suffix ‘ed’ for past tense. Students engaged with the decodable text The Owl Cam and searched for words with the focus sounds. They then completed spelling tasks to consolidate their learning. We continued our tricky word review by extending to Set 9, and students have enjoyed using games and creative tasks to boost their confidence with reading and writing these words. It’s been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and progress already this term!

Writing

In the first week of Term 3, Year 1 students spent time revising content learnt in the previous term. This included practicing the use of capital letters and full stops, as well as different types of writing like persuasive writing, narrative writing, and holiday writing. They also reviewed spelling patterns and worked on forming letters correctly.

During the second week, students were introduced to the story The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name. The story is about a boy named Zimdalamashkermishkada, who tries many different ways to make his name shorter. However, in the end, his friend Elly learns how to say his full name properly, which helps the boy feel seen, heard, and valued.

Along with this, students have been exploring prepositions in sentences, specifically words that show where or when something happens. They have been identifying these prepositions in sentences and using their new understanding to rewrite sentences in more interesting and clear ways.

In addition, the students were introduced to four new vocabulary words this week: shrink, crumple, explode, and reverse. They have been practicing using these words in their writing and discussions.

Maths

Over the last two weeks, students have been learning about measuring length using informal units. They have used a variety of classroom items such as unifix blocks, counters, and popsicle sticks to measure the length of different shapes and objects. Students explored how to choose suitable informal units for measuring and discussed why some units are better than others for different tasks. They also learned the importance of placing same sized units end to end without gaps or overlaps and measuring in a straight line from one end to the other. Students practised comparing the length of objects and shapes by counting and recording how many units long each one is.

Additional Subjects

It’s been a great start to term 3, and students have been settling back into routines while diving into a range of engaging topics in their additional subjects. 

This fortnight in Geography, students have been learning to define and identify natural, managed, and constructed places within our school and local area.  They explored different areas around the school, observing how these places are used and cared for in various ways. Through classroom discussions and map activities, students developed their observation and questioning skills while deepening their understanding of the environments around them.

In the Respectful Relationships sessions, students reflected on the importance of friendship and how we can support each other when problems arise. They discussed helpful ways to be a good friend — by listening, offering support, or simply being kind and present. 

In Culture, students focused on how we can show appreciation and respect for important people in our school community. To celebrate Principal’s Day, they put this learning into action by creating heartfelt cards for our school principals — a thoughtful way to say thank you and acknowledge the valuable role they play each day. 

Library sessions this fortnight centred on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, with a special focus on oral storytelling traditions. They began by learning about “Welcome to Country”, gaining an understanding of how storytelling is used to share culture, history, and strong connections to land. Students then listened to the Dreaming story “How the Birds Got Their Colours”, which explains how animals and their features came to be. The story highlighted the value of helping others and the positive outcomes that come from kindness and compassion. It’s been a wonderful start to the term, filled with curiosity, creativity, and meaningful learning.