Focus on Learning 

Mathematics: 

Year 1/2 has been working hard on their number and addition facts for the past week and a half.  We have been focussing on being able to solve simple addition problems using a wide range of strategies.   The students are always asked to explain HOW they got their answer, rather than just the answer.  

Some of the strategies we have explored, and will continue to learn about are: 

• Using number lines 
• Using concrete materials such as counters when needed 
• Counting on from the larger number 
• Breaking one number apart to make it easier to add with
• Jump strategy 
• Split strategy
• Bridging to the nearest ten 

As you can see, there are SO many ways of adding!  Students are exposed to many different strategies, in the hope they can find one that suits their learning style; this will become their most efficient strategy which we can build on in later years. 

To assist your student, continue to regularly practise "Friends of Ten" (numbers that add together to make 10), as well as other quick number facts.  Explain to your student your strategies for adding numbers together, too! 

See below for some photos of our learning in Maths lately: 

Science 

This term in Science we are investigating Living Things.  We have learnt about the things that living things do: grow, move, reproduce, eat.  Now we have moved onto an experiment about how tall a bean seed can grow in 5 weeks.  Students wrote their hypotheses and we are now anxiously waiting for the seeds to germinate and start to show signs of growth...cross your fingers for us!!   We will keep you updated with photos as the beans begin to sprout. 

Literacy: 

The last two weeks, Stage 1 has been learning about procedural texts.  We have been learning about the style of this text type, and are now starting to write our own procedures.  Some students will be writing recipes for their favourite treat, others will explain how to play a game or even how to build something.  You can support your child in this learning by giving multi-step instructions and discussing the order in which they should be done. 

Sport: 

Year 1/2  students have joined with Kindergarten in our Sport time, to learn the Athletics skills needed for our upcoming carnival.  So far, we have mastered the skill of sprinting and relays.  We have also been joined by our leaders in Year 5/6, who shared some of their PE skills with us in rotations.  See below for photos of the fun: