Curriculum News

English

Reading and Viewing

This term we will continue with our weekly reading foci.  In our whole group daily sessions of introducing and exploring different texts hardcopy and digital, we  will be using the Strategies of CLOSE reading where we will look at unknown words to better understand the text, main idea of the text, summarise the main points, what connections the children can make with the text and what is the purpose of the text.

The students will use Fountas and Pinnell leveled texts to work on comprehension strategies about, within and beyond the text.

Writing

This term students will focus on ‘Historical Narratives’ as it supports the literacy needs of our history unit. They incorporate factual historical events with fictitious characters and situations. Texts will be created following text structure and features. We will then move on to 'Poetry Writing' and this will be supported by aspects of Figurative Language in Grammar.

Spelling will be continued following our scope and sequence for the year.

Speaking and Listening

This term, the students will continue to be required to be active listeners and respectfully respond to the work of others such as the individual Genius Hour presentations. They will be given opportunities to listen and contribute to conversations and discussions, to share information and ideas. In collaborative groups students will also plan and deliver short presentations on given topics.  

Maths

Fraction and Decimals

Students will extend their understanding of fractions and decimals from Term 3. They will explore the relationship between fractions and decimals, looking at equivalence between the two and recognising that the place value system extends to tenths and hundredths. They will explore converting fractions to mixed numbers and improper fractions.

Students will revisit and extend on their knowledge of multiplication and division and investigate algebraic patterns.

Measurement and Geometry:

Students will revisit learning to tell time to the minute, convert from digital to analogue time and identify Time duration through reading calendars and timetables.  Students will use am and pm notation and solve simple time problems.

Shape

The children will make models of three-dimensional objects and describe key features. They will identify symmetry in the environment and work with tessellations and  transformation where we look at how an object can flip, turn or slide.

Inquiry/Religion

We begin this term with our History unit ‘Our Story - The Australian Story’.  During this time the students will learn about the arrival of Indigenous Australians 60,000 years ago. We will explore life in London in 1787 and the reasons that led to British Colonisation of Botany Bay in 1788 and the impact this had on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander way of life. 

We will connect this theme to Religious Education looking at the history of particular ancestors in the Old Testament, for example Moses and his faithful journey. We will discuss our early faith and the relationship between God’s values and our purpose today. During Mission Month we will focus on the missionary work of the Good Shepherd Sisters in Thailand who, through their Kindergarten Centre, are bringing about generational change to some of the poorest communities in Bangkok. 

In December our focus shifts to Advent. We will explore our history of Catholic traditions such as lighting the advent candles, their meanings and how we can live out these values in our everyday lives.

Vocabulary

First Australians, Indigenous people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, First Fleet,  ships, hulks, journey, Botany Bay, Sydney Cove poverty, crimes, explorers, convicts, penal colony, settlers, Europeans, Australia, colonisation, Old Testament, Advent Christmas, celebrations

Social & Emotional Wellbeing

In our current climate, we see our student’s well-being becoming increasingly important. As we help our students transition back to onsite learning, our focus will relate to our ‘Show Me Five’ Rules and consequences. The topics that we will cover over the ten weeks are Respect, Teamwork, Perseverance, Excellence and Responsibility. We will  develop these skills through the use of storytelling, book responses, song, circle time and class discussions where we will encourage all students to contribute and share. 

We will continue working with the Zones of Regulation where the students identify emotions in various situations. We will use the strategies taught to overcome negative emotions and to get back into the green zone.