Grade 1 Fortnightly Snapshot - Term 3 Week 3 and 4
August 2021
Grade 1 News
It was great to welcome back all our Grade One students last Wednesday after the recent lockdown in Victoria. Our students have had a smooth transition back to learning onsite and they have enjoyed reconnecting with their peers.
We would like to thank you once again for all your support during the lockdown.
Please remember to consent on compass ASAP for the Grade 1 excursion to Chesterfield farm on Wednesday 18th August.
We invite you to read about what is happening in Grade One and encourage you to chat with your child about what they are learning.
English
Reading
Last week in reading sessions, students explored text features in nonfiction books such as headings, images, captions and table of contents. They particularly enjoyed going on a hunt to find text features in nonfiction texts. Students found that there are a lot of text features in these books.
This week in reading, students are learning to identify the text features in fiction books such as a title, table of contents chapter headings and pictures. They discovered that fiction books have less text features than nonfiction books. Students have also been learning that characters and settings are always in stories and they all have a beginning, middle and end.
Hunt to find text features in nonfiction books.
Hunt to find text features in nonfiction books.
Writing
Last week in writing, students learnt how to use transition words to show the sequence of events. They enjoyed drawing the steps involved in their morning routine and were able to explain each step using transition words to signal the order. Towards the end of the week, students started using transition words to show the sequence of a process. They particularly enjoyed sequencing the steps from milk to ice cream and were able to use the correct transition word.
This week in writing, students have been learning how to use the conjunctions ‘before’, ‘after’ and ‘when’ in a sentence. They have also enjoyed writing creatively using a prompt such as, ‘If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?’
Word Work
Students are continuing to revise the codes they learnt in Prep as well as adding new codes to their classroom working pack each week. Below is a PDF of the first 60 codes if you would like to continue revising these at home. If you click on 'present' and then click the code it will play the sound/s each one makes. A link to a video of the codes being said is also included below for your child to revise.
Last week in word study sessions, students were introduced to Rule 23 – We use ‘dge’ after ‘a’, ‘e’, ‘i’, ‘o’ or ‘u’. Students are doing a great job remembering this rule and applying it during word study sessions.
This week in word study sessions, students are inquiring into the sound ‘er’. There are five spellings (codes) for the sound ‘er’. They include ‘ur’, ‘ir’, ‘er’, ‘ear’ and ‘wor’. The code ‘or’ may say ‘er’ when it follows ‘w’ (wor of works).
Students have boot camped the following rules so far this year:
Rule #1 - q doesn't go anywhere without u.
Rule #6 - y replaces i at the end of an English word.
Rule #2 - c makes its second sound /s/ when followed by e, i or y.
Rule # 3 - g usually makes its second /j/ when followed by e, i or y.
Rule # 26 - Capital Letters
Rule #7 - Silent final e (SFE).
Rule #18 - oi or oy/ai or ay
Rule #17 - FSZL Gang
Rule #25 - ck after a, e, i, o, u
Rule #23 - dge after a, e, i, o, u.
Below you will find the codes for your own use at home.
Mathematics
Last week in Mathematics, students learnt how to give and follow directions to familiar locations. They revisited positional language and developed their understanding of ‘clockwise’ and ‘anticlockwise’. Students particularly enjoyed learning to code using directional language and we were very impressed with the algorithms they created.
This week in Mathematics, students are focusing on subtraction and the strategies they can use to solve subtraction problems such as ‘counting back’ and ‘tens facts’. They have been practising their subtraction skills through games and hands on activities.
Unit of Inquiry
Last week in inquiry sessions, students were learning to make predictions and put steps in the correct sequence. After watching the video about potato production, students were able to put photos in the correct order, match a caption to each photo and use arrows to create a flowchart.
This week in inquiry sessions, students have been creating their own flow charts on a simple process they know, such as making a sandwich. They have also been learning about the role of processes and why we need them.
Well being
In well-being sessions, students have been learning about inclusion and why it is important to include others. They had to explain how they were going to include others. During these sessions, we have also been focusing on ‘teasing’. Students watched a Bluey episode called, ‘Teasing’ and then had a discussion about what teasing is and is not.
Reminders
9th August - BPS Junior Olympics (new date).
13th August - Pupil Free Day.
18th August - Grade 1 Chesterfield Farm Excursion.
23rd - 27th August - Book Week.
14th September - French Day (new date).
17th September - Last day of Term 3 and Fun Lunch. Early finish 2:30pm.
Grade 1 Team
Michelle Flood 1A
Nicole King 1B
Zoe Picton/Jewel Jackson 1C
Tessa Woodgate 1D - Learning Leader
Amy Chadwick HU