Upper Primary Learning

Welcome

Welcome to week 9!  We hope you all enjoyed some time with family and friends over the long weekend.  This week PJF and PMB are on camp in Blackwood.  We are looking forward to hearing about their adventures when they return.

English

Classes have been learning about how texts work.  They have been exploring features of non-fiction books and have been learning how to use the features to navigate a familiar text.  Some of the features the students have been learning to use include:

• title
• contents page
• page numbers
• index
• glossary

Students have become increasingly confident using the contents page, index and page numbers to locate specific information within a text.

The students have been busy working on recount writing pieces over the past few weeks. During the planning phase students used graphic organisers to document important information to be included in their writing (when, who, where, what why, feeling). Students discussed writing in the first person (I, we), past tense (was, went, were), connectives (first, then, next, finally) and interesting words (WOW words) they could use to make their recount more engaging for the reader.  The graphic organisers and word banks were used by the students to construct their recounts.  The students have written about a variety of experiences including the excursion to the Polly Woodside, Bee Incursion, Science investigations and activities they have been involved in over the weekend.

The following recount was written by Leah from PSP.

The Polly Woodside

On Tuesday the 1st of May, PSP PMB, and PJT went to the Polly Woodside and discovered how it worked in the olden days. 

Sabrina drove the bus to the Polly Woodside.

We ate our snack. 

Next we boarded the boat, it was a blast.

Next we went onto the deck.  The deck was interesting because we had never been there before.

When we finished on the deck we went to the bedroom.  We saw a sign in the bedroom that said ‘growl you may but go you must’.

Next I saw the kitchen.  It was full of food.  Then I saw the captain’s quarters.  There was a bed, lamp and a book.

Next we went down the basement and saw lots of fake rats and cats.  I was shocked and surprised.

Next I had lunch with Danielle in the park.

It was an extraordinary day.  I felt surprised and happy!

Mathematics

Last week students across Upper Primary worked on a Subtraction moderation task.  The task was an opportunity for the students to show what they had learnt about subtraction over the past few weeks and discuss strategies they use to solve problems with their teacher.  Teachers will use the task to target the specific learning needs of the students.

Students have been thoroughly engaged by the location activities they have participated in over the past couple of weeks.  Through practical activities students are learning to follow and give directions to locate objects and move between locations.  The focus has been on building an understanding of location words as well as expanding the student’s vocabulary (in/out, on/off, between/next to). Some classes have extended this learning to plotting coordinates on simple maps.

Social Competencies

Recently, Upper Primary have been looking at Public and Private. We started with body parts using correct anatomy and identified our “bathers areas” as private.

Currently, we are looking at public and private spaces. All grades will identify what makes a room private (it’s just you, closed door, people have to knock) and have made a sign for their bedroom door requesting people to knock. This is to help the students have privacy when changing, bathing, sleeping, etc.

Integrated Unit

Over the past two weeks classes have undertaken a variety of different activities as we wind up the integrated unit on the First Fleet.

PJF and PCS made love tokens with air dry clay, they were painted to look old . They wrote about all the facts the have learnt about the First Fleet and completed 'Dot' paintings. PCS  have drawn their own ships which could have been used in the First Fleet. They named them and even decided on what their ship would be transporting.

PDJ have looked at the voyage of the First Fleet. They put together a large jigsaw map of Australia. The students made ships out of play dough and skewers and put them on the map near Sydney Cove and Botany Bay. Tall ship replicas were made using a variety of materials, grissini for masts and cheese for sails. The students then named their ships using one of the eleven  ship names e.g. Lady Penrhyn. Wonderful discussion was held regarding the Polly Woodside excursion and the photos taken during the experience.

PJT read about convicts and drew pictures of ' A day in the life of a Convict'. Model ships were made and a map and timeline were used  to follow their journey they wrote about.

PSP students made love tokens out of quick dry clay in the Discovery Centre. They wrote messages on them to their 'loved ones' back in England. The tokens were then painted in  black and then gold to make them look old.

PMB   drew their own ships. They researched pictures and YouTube to help them. They found it tricky in the beginning but they all enjoyed the challenge.

Focus on Fun

Set up an obstacle course with your child, either inside or outside the house.  As a family member or friend moves through the obstacles course have your child give a running commentary of what is happening.  Encourage the use of words such as in, out, oven, under, between, next to, around. Swap roles.

Chris Norman - Upper Primary Team Leader

Kirsten Coulter - Teaching and Learning Coordinator