Reading

This week, we have revisited two important spelling rules: the FLoSS rule and the ‘-ck’ rule (sometimes remembered as the ‘zaCK’ rule!). We have been learning how these rules help us read and spell words, including when to use double letters such as ss, ff, ll and zz, and when words end in ck.

We have also continued exploring our class text, Dingo by Claire Saxby. Students practised summarising the story by identifying the beginning, middle and end, helping us recall key events and develop our comprehension skills.

Writing

Our poetry adventures have continued, and this week we discovered Haiku poems! Haiku is a traditional Japanese form of poetry that follows a special syllable pattern: 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second and 5 in the third.

After reading and exploring a range of Haiku poems, students had a go at creating their own. We have been carefully counting syllables, choosing descriptive words and discovering how just a few words can paint a picture in the reader’s mind!

Maths

We have continued developing our addition and subtraction skills, exploring a new way to solve equations using the vertical strategy. Students have been practising lining up numbers according to place value and using this written method to work through larger calculations.

We have also introduced regrouping (sometimes called borrowing), which helps us solve subtraction equations when we need to exchange from another place value column. It has been wonderful to see students embracing this new strategy, building their confidence and discovering different ways to solve mathematical problems!

Health

Through our Respectful Relationships program, we explored the lesson ‘Labels Are for Jars, Not for People’. Students discussed what labels are and how placing labels on people can be unhelpful or unfair.

We have been learning that everyone is unique and that we cannot make assumptions about someone based on how they look, act or what we think we know about them. These important conversations encourage students to look beyond labels, appreciate individual differences and treat others with kindness and respect.

Geography

This week, we explored the Kulin Nations seasonal calendar and how seasonal changes can be understood by observing the world around us. Students considered what changes they notice in the weather, plants and animals throughout the year.

We also compared this way of understanding seasons with the four seasons we commonly use, exploring how observing changes in the natural environment can help us understand the changing seasons and our connection to Country.

Reading

This week, we practised our tricky words people, every and laugh, using them in sentences to help strengthen our reading and writing. We also revisited the prefix ‘un’, exploring how adding it to a word can change its meaning. Students practised reading and writing words such as unlock, unzip and unpack.

We also began exploring our new class text, Dingo by Claire Saxby! We unpacked some important vocabulary from the story, including active, determined and protect, helping us build our understanding before diving deeper into the text.

Writing

We have continued our poetry journey, this time exploring the wonderful world of alliteration! We read some fun stories, including 'Some Smug Slug' and 'Walter’s Wonderful Web,' and discovered how authors use words beginning with the same sound to make their writing interesting and playful.

Students then put on their poet hats and had a go at creating their own alliterative poems. Be sure to pop into the Grade 1 area to check out their fantastic creations on display!

Maths

In Maths, we have been strengthening our addition and subtraction skills by exploring the jump strategy and bridging through ten. Students have been practising adding and subtracting one-digit numbers from two-digit numbers, using number lines and jumps to help solve equations efficiently.

We have also been investigating 2D and 3D shapes, identifying their features and exploring the difference between regular and irregular polygons. There has been lots of mathematical thinking as students identify, describe and compare different shapes!

Health

Through our Respectful Relationships program, students have been exploring what makes us the same and different. We have been discussing the similarities we share with our classmates, as well as the things that make each of us unique. These conversations help students appreciate one another, celebrate our differences and build a more inclusive classroom community.

Geography

This week, we explored the three flags that represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Australia. Students learnt to recognise each flag, identify their colours and symbols, and share observations about what they noticed.

We also discussed the importance of showing respect when learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and the significance these flags hold for different communities.

Reading

This week, we have been reviewing the prefix ‘un’ and stretching our reading skills by tackling multisyllabic words with up to four syllables! We have continued enjoying The Day the Crayons Quit and are getting ready to put our persuasive skills to the test by convincing our teacher which crayon colour is the BEST!

Writing

We have been exploring the wonderful world of poetry, with a special focus on rhyme! We have enjoyed reading lots of rhyming stories, including Dr Seuss favourites The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham, as well as Thelma the Unicorn, Pig the Pug and The Very Noisy Bear. The students have loved listening for rhyming words in stories and songs before becoming poets themselves and creating their own incredible rhyming poems!

Maths

We have continued exploring multiplication and division, focusing on making equal groups and connecting our learning to the multiplication symbol (×). Students have been using hands-on materials to create equal groups and work out the total, helping to build their understanding of how multiplication works.

Health

In Health, we have continued our Friendology journey by exploring trust and respect. We have been learning how small actions can show others that we care, why trust and respect are important in healthy friendships, and how we can actively practise these skills in our everyday interactions with others.

Geography

We have continued our learning about Aboriginal Peoples, cultures and connections to Country. This week, students created their own artwork inspired by proud Yuin woman and founder of Ngandabaa, Rheanna Lotter. Through this activity, students explored how art can be used to express identity, culture and connection to community.

Reading

Our focus this week is on the sounds ‘tch’ as in catch and ‘ch’ as in lunch. We have also been reviewing our tricky words other, another and water.

We have been enjoying the story The Day the Crayons Quit, with a vocabulary focus on gorgeous, congratulate and prove. We have been exploring the meaning of these words and using them in our own sentences

Writing

We have been writing school holiday recounts, sharing some of the special things we got up to during the break. We have also been learning about letter writing and are working on writing a special letter to someone we love. 

Maths

In Maths, we are continuing our learning about multiplication. We have been exploring repeated addition, arrays and equal groups to help us visualise multiplication and develop our multiplicative thinking. 

Health

We have continued our Friendology journey by learning about celebrating differences while noticing similarities. We are exploring how friendships can look different because people are different, and learning to appreciate and celebrate the things that make each of us unique. 

Geography

As part of our unit on Victorian Aboriginal Nations and Languages, students have been learning some Woiwurrung language. We are practising saying Woiwurrung words clearly and respectfully and developing our understanding of the languages of the Traditional Owners of our local area.