Grade 1

Reading 

Students have been exploring the different concepts and features that are included in non fiction texts. Features such as a table of contents, glossaries, captions and diagrams were some of the features that students identified in word hunts and by creating their own non fiction mini text. They have also been learning the different characteristics of nouns, verbs and adjectives and how they can add detail and structure to texts. While engaging in non fiction texts and grammatical features, students have also continued to practice the different jolly phonic sounds and actions while also practising sight words that don’t always follow the rules! 

Writing

During writing this fortnight we have introduced ‘Information Reports’. Students learnt about the structure and purpose of this type of text, this included; Title, Subtitles, descriptive language (adjectives), facts and paragraphs. 

Students have noticed the connection between our focus in reading (Non-Fiction texts) and our topic of ‘Information Reports’.

As a class we have researched and brainstormed a few different topics, this included Builders and Penguins. Students had the opportunity to practise writing information reports, and we are over the moon with the progress they have shown throughout the topic. We can not wait to see what they can achieve over the next two weeks of this focus.

Maths 

For math, students have been exposed to two different concepts, chance and location and transformation. Students have practised the different language that is used when identifying chance outcomes and have engaged in a range of games and activities that have encouraged students to analyse the possible outcomes. Students were also given the platform to frequently share their understanding of things not happening, maybe happening or that they will happen in their own real life experiences. For location and transformation, students have engaged with a range of manipulatives to practically transform the original location or orientation of their item, by sliding, rotating and flipping. Maps were also a constant theme for location, with students interpreting coordinates and plotting their own coordinates on various maps.   

Integrated 

Grade 1 students have continued focusing on history over the last two weeks. Students were provided insight to Victorian schools in the “olden days”, with many students commenting on how different it was and how much they preferred how schools are in the present. The history focus then shifted from comparing the differences between the past and present, to places of cultural importance. Students got to explore in a mini museum tour in our learning community, places of cultural significance around Australia and the world including Uluru, the Kokoda Trail, the Taj Mahal and the Pyramids. It was an exciting exploration for the students with some students even sharing experiences that they have had at some of these significant places!