Discovery Centre

Curriculum

Selamat Siang Families!

Wow what a fun first week back at school! A short week but a very busy and fun filled week nonetheless.

In Literacy, students had the opportunity to share with the peers all the adventures they got up to over the school holiday break. We began by sharing in a circle time and then drew and wrote to communicate their ideas. As Monday was the Anzac Day public holiday, students were engaged in various activities throughout the day to learn more about what Anzac Day is and why we stop to remember. We listened to stories and shared what we already knew about the Anzacs. Following this, students created their own Poppy flowers to wear to the schools Anzac Day service. 

As we have begun a new term, students have made new learning goals for themselves to work on throughout the term. Additionally we have begun a new facet of our Speaking and Listening program- the Take Home Toy Program, where students will have the opportunity to stand up in front of the class each Monday to share their journal entry after their adventures with their class’s toy. We discussed what we might need to practise to make sure we are speaking clearly to the class when we are presenting, these ideas have been used to inform our Term Goals.

In Maths, students continued to look at the different parts that make up a number through playing a fluency game. Fluency games are short familiar Maths games that are targeted at practising a particular Maths skill. Students independently begin their game at the beginning of a Maths session as part of the warm up for the lesson. Last week we focused on seeing the different smaller parts that make up a number, then recorded what we found as a number sentence on our whiteboards. In Maths, students were introduced to a new Mathematical concept, Money. We had a lot of fun exploring coins and notes and were engaged in creating our own shopping experience by using our Play Based Learning areas of our classrooms. Students had jobs at the bank and were responsible for giving out money to the customers, other students were working in the different shops we have set up such as ice cream shop, pizza shop and a café. Within these shops, student shad different jobs or responsibilities, such a food preparation, cahier, washing dishes or clearing tables. The last group were the customers, who collected money from the bank and went shopping. At the end of the day, students were paid from their job and collected more money from the bank, then the groups swapped so each student had the chance to go shopping. Students were highly engaged and excited to have the opportunity to be involved in this real world learning.

In Wellbeing, students were introduced to the Let’s TALK program, where we discussed that the T in TALK stands for ‘Tell’. We linked this to our Zones of Regulation which we explored in Term 1, and discussed that if we are not in the green zone, then this is ok but ‘telling’ someone about how we are feeling can be a strategy to help us make our way back to the green zone. 

Are you interested in being a parent helper? In the coming weeks we will have a number of opportunities for parents to be involved in working with our students to practise reading and as a PMP helper. We have PMP each Friday with Mrs B in the hall and would love the extra support of 3 parents per class to run a station. If you are interested, there will be a sign up sheet in the office. Please only sign up in the time slots for your child's class PMP time. If you would be available during other times to help out, feel free to contact your child's teacher to determine what would be best for you and the students.

Have a wonderful week,

Brooke Henwood, Ella Gasowski and Jessica Tossell

Student Voice

Foundation students were asked what their favourite job was during Play Based Learning:

• Abdutt R - "I loved being the person on the cash register so I could take people's money" 
• Olivia F - "My favourite was being a customer so I could buy yummy little treats"
• Vaanya S - "I liked working in the ice cream shop because I could scoop ice cream and wear an apron" 

Reminders

• We will continue to hold our weekly PMP sessions. We suggest that students wear bike shorts under dresses and avoid wearing tights on these days as students are required to remove their shoes and socks.
• This Friday 6th of May is a Crazy Hair Day to raise money for Kindergartens that were impacted by recent flooding in NSW. 

Pupil of the Week

FG: Jerome T -

For showing leadership and teamwork when using money to buy things from our classroom cafe. You helped our cafe to run smoothly! Well done, Jerome!

FH: Ryan H -

For demonstrating leadership during Play Based Learning sessions when we practised using money. You took your role at the Bank very seriously and supported your peers to sort the money into colours and values. Keep up the super work Ryan!

FJ: Debyansh J -

For showing teamwork and a love of learning when working in the class ice cream shop during Play Based Learning. You took turns to serve your customers and help other's take ice cream orders. Well done Debyansh!