News from 1/2

Lovely literacy:

Wow! What a wonderful, wacky week! As you can tell we have been investigating poetry starting with alliterations. The grade ones and twos have been making some very creative poems over the last two weeks during writing. They have also been looking at rhyming poems and will be moving into acrostic poems.  Below are some samples of the poems that have been published last Friday. There will be more to come next newsletter.

During reading, the students have been reading their own leveled reading books each morning. We are focusing on different ways of making meaning from the stories such as oral retelling, answering literal comprehension questions and some deeper thinking questions that get them to think beyond the texts.  Everyone is doing a wonderful job of investigating their books in greater detail. 

Marvelous maths: 

Over the last few weeks in maths students have been investigating different types of maps and following directions. They have looked at the purpose of symbols on a map, compass directions and the use of a key. At the conclusion of the week, students got to make their own treasure map, using symbols, directions and keys. All these maps were drawn to scale and the children got very creative with what they included on their maps. I'm certainly glad I'm not trying to find the treasure they hid with the number of traps, false treasure and guardians they created.  

This week in mathematics students have learned about lines of symmetry, symmetrical shapes. They have also explored flipping, sliding and turning shapes, also known as transformation. Below are several symmetrical drawings.

Inquisitive Inquiry:

Our new unit kicked off with interviews with another class member and talking about changes through the generations. This term we are exploring how things have changed over time with local places and how people's lives from past to present have also changed.   

Future happenings:

Our class will be bringing in an item from the past in the next few weeks to make our own classroom museum.  Then we will be going to the Melbourne museum in week 5 to complement this.  In week 8 we are hoping to interview several parents or grandparents to find out how their lives are different from ours. So if you are interested or know of any willing grandparents who would like to visit and share their knowledge with our class please let Mrs. Vranken or Ms. Durrant know asap. A note will be emailed to you at the end of this week to let you know further details.