Learning areas

In English, students learn to read, write, speak , view and represent language. They learn about the English language and literature through working with a wide range of spoken, visual, multimedia and digital texts. Students learn how language varies according to context, and how to communicate with a range of audiences for different purposes. They learn to read for information and pleasure. Students gain a sound grasp of language structures, punctuation, spelling and grammar and learn to think in ways that are imaginative, creative and critical.

In Kindergarten

Students:

• communicate appropriately and effectively within the classroom using agreed conventions, eg staying on topic, asking for and offering assistance

• give short talks and express ideas, eg tell news, describe a favourite toy, describe a science experiment

• begin developing reading and comprehension skills, eg recognise simple sight words, recognise most sounds of the alphabet, use illustrations and picture clues to make predictions about stories when reading

• recognise rhymes, syllables and sounds (phonemes) in spoken words.

Mathematics in K–6 focuses on developing students’ mathematical understanding, fluency, communication, reasoning and problem-solving through their study of Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability. These capabilities enable students to respond to familiar and unfamiliar situations, using strategies to make decisions and solve problems relevant to their further education and everyday lives.

In Kindergarten

Students:

• count aloud to 30 and recognise numbers 0 to 20

• manipulate objects such as counters to help add and subtract numbers

• use the language of money in everyday situations, eg coins, notes, dollars

• count forwards by one to add and backwards by one to subtract

• name the days of the week

• tell the time to the hour, eg four o’clock

• identify and name simple shapes, eg circles, squares

• use position terms, eg between, behind, right, left

• recognise that halves are equal parts.

By the end of Early Stage 1, students identify familiar places and recognise why some places are special or important to people and how they care for them. They recognise that places can be represented on maps.

Students acquire information by observing, talking to others and viewing, reading and/or listening to texts. They use geographical tools and communicate geographical information in a range of forms. Students reflect on their learning from the findings of their inquiry.

History provides opportunities for students to explore the past and present to develop an understanding of their personal and community identity. They investigate the interactions between people, places and environments that shape their nation and world. They learn to participate in society as informed, responsible and active citizens.

In Kindergarten

Students:

• tell stories of family, school and local events that are celebrated or observed at home

• talk about how families are similar or different, using stories and/or photographs

• discuss holidays and special events in Australia and other countries

• listen to stories from other cultural backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

• talk about the importance of the places they live in and belong to

• show care for their home, classroom, school and/or the environment.

Science and Technology develops students’ skills in thinking, investigating and problem-solving. It gives them knowledge and skills in scientific investigation and inquiry, design and applying technologies. Children pose questions, test ideas, and develop and evaluate arguments based on evidence.

In Kindergarten

Students:

• sketch or model ideas for a product, place or space and recount how their ideas suit their purpose

• explore a range of existing products, places and spaces, and discuss their likes and dislikes

• observe the way a variety of familiar objects move, eg sliding, rolling, spinning and bouncing on the ground

• describe what plants and animals, including humans, need to stay alive and healthy, eg food, water and air

• describe how people respond to familiar changes in their environment, eg day and night and seasonal changes

• identify how plants and animals respond to changes in the environment, eg trees losing their leaves and the thickness of animals' fur.

Creative Arts gives students experiences in the visual arts, music, drama and dance. They have opportunities to explore their creativity in each of these areas.

Students learn to appreciate the meanings and values that each artform offers. They perform and express themselves through the visual arts, music, drama and dance.

In Kindergarten

• make their own artworks about real and imagined experiences using materials such as paints, watercolours, sponges, crayons, brushes and sticks

• make simple 3D constructions with boxes and use playdough or clay to create models

• perform dance and drama with movement and expression

• sing, play and move to music, and experiment with sound

• copy the beat of music using clapping, tapping or percussion instruments.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) develops the knowledge, skills and attitudes students need to lead healthy, active and fulfilling lives. Students learn about the importance of good food and regular exercise and develop positive attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle.

Students learn how bodies grow and change over time. They learn skills to play individual and team sports, and the values of sportsmanship and teamwork.

In Kindergarten

Students:

• become aware of safe and unsafe places and situations, eg near roads or water

• identify people who can help, and describe actions such as ‘no, go, tell’ that might be taken in unsafe situations

• label different parts of the body and name their functions, eg ears are for hearing

• identify how people care for each other

• participate in regular physical activity through creative play and minor games

• learn and practise fundamental movement skills such as hopping and jumping.