Grade 1 News

Assembly

Foundation and Grade 1 students had their assembly last week, where captains and vice-captains were chosen from each class. Congratulations to all the students!

Foundation and Grade 1 Assembly

Literacy Activities

The grade 1 students are enjoying the various literacy activities held in class, such as a 2 minute word challenge, reading and word activities.

Literacy Activities in Grade 1!

VIEW GALLERY

Literacy Activities in Grade 1!

Click images to enlarge

Sandpit

A new sandpit area has been created for the students and there has been an overwhelming response to it. The students look forward to it each recess and lunch and have become creative in the sandpit. Like playing in water, playing in sand is soothing and entertaining for children. There are eight reasons why playing in the sand is good for kids:

1. It Is an Open-Ended Medium
   Children learn the most when faced with open-ended questions and tasks, and sand is a medium that is inherently open-ended. No matter the skill or cognitive level of the child, sand is an appropriate play object. Very young or underdeveloped children can simply sit in sand and take in the texture and qualities of the medium while older children with more sophisticated thought processes can use sand for exploration and creative play.
2. It Stretches the Imagination
   As children begin to understand the physical properties of sand, they have the opportunity to extend their play. Older children can expand their creativity and imaginations through the designs of a variety of buildings, towns, and castles. Once they realize the malleability of the sand, many children investigate the possibility of constructing entire cities and other areas of play. Many children find playing with sand to be relaxing and non-threatening, allowing these children the freedom to express their imaginations in safety and without consequence.
3. It Promotes Physical Development
   Muscle in the arms and upper bodies of children are developed further through sand play. By digging, pouring, sifting, and scooping sand, children use their upper bodies and arms in ways that many of their other toys do not require them to work. The legs and lower bodies of children get involved from squatting in the sand or from lifting and carrying buckets or bowls of sand to other areas. Additionally, hand-eye coordination and small muscle control is improved through small movements as children play with sand accessories, such as scoops and small shovels. Most children do not notice the physical involvement of sand play because they are too focused on their play and the task.
4. It Encourages Social Skills
   When children play together in a common sandbox or at a sand table, they are often faced with problems involving sharing tools, negotiating for play space, and compromising on what to build in the sand. Although each child may have a separate play space, many of them engage in pretend play as young boys and girls come together to "cook" with the sand or construct roadways, dig tunnels, and build towers for a small city. By playing together in a common space, children learn empathy and how to recognize and understand the perspectives of the other children while working together and sharing sand tools.
5. It Promotes Cognitive Development
   Children learn the inherent physical properties of sand by playing with it and by comparing wet and dry sand. They can also learn the theory of the conservation of matter as they pour sand from one container into another and compare the amount of sand that fits in each. While playing in sand, children learn to problem solve as they try to figure out how to prevent their towers from continually falling over or their moats from collapsing in on themselves. They discover cause and effect from learning what happens when water is added to the sand. Finally, children learn more vocabulary words that fit specifically to sand play as well as from chatting with other children in the sand play area.
6. It Teaches Mathematical Concepts
   Playing with containers of varying sizes and shapes helps to teach children about ideas such as "more than," "less than," and "equal." Through trial and error, children are able to make predictions about which type of container holds more or less sand. Providing measuring spoons or cups could help children learn more specific measures as well as other mathematical terms, such as "empty" and "full" or "heavy" and "light." In time, and with maturity, children can learn how many scoops of different sizes it takes to fill a container. This is an early precursor to learning teaspoons, tablespoons, and cups.
7. It Encourages Scientific Experiments
   Bury metal treasures for children and provide magnets. Children can learn about magnetic force while going on a treasure hunt. Set up a rope and pulley system for children to move buckets of sand up to a table or across a sandbox to teach about levers and pulleys. Punch holes of varying sizes in plastic bottles for children, and watch as they discover the differences in hole sizes
8. It Incorporates Artistic Expression
   Encourage children to draw pictures in the sand, develop elaborate sand castles, and create interesting molds from household objects, like cups and bowls in addition to sand buckets. As children experiment with the properties of sand and create their own buildings and towns, they can decorate the objects with stones, leaves, and flowers that they find in nature. Provide sand combs and discuss different patterns and designs with children as they draw in the sand. Playing music while children work and play in the sand is another opportunity to encourage children to sing along.

We enjoy playing in the sandpit!

VIEW GALLERY

We enjoy playing in the sandpit!

Click images to enlarge

ICT – Elective

Students for ICT elective have commenced using Tynker. The interactive curriculum is organized into grade-specific courses where students move at their own pace through scaffolded lessons to learn concepts and apply them creatively. Students solve coding puzzles and get familiar with basic programming concepts such as sequencing, conditions and repetition using loops. To complete each level, you need to connect visual blocks in the right way. There are over 60 levels in fun adventures such as Codey's Quest, Lost in Space, Lazer Racer and Dragon Journey.

We enjoy ICT!

VIEW GALLERY

We enjoy ICT!

Click images to enlarge

Grade 2 News

Learning and Fun!

This term the Grade 2 students have been writing narrative texts in class. Students have been encouraged to include an orientation (setting, characters), problem and resolution in their narrative writing pieces. Students have enjoyed reading and listening to classic narratives and writing pieces that include funny or scary endings. Students have been encouraged to use adjectives and paragraphs in their writing pieces.

Grade 2 students have enjoyed writing Narratives this term!

VIEW GALLERY

Grade 2 students have enjoyed writing Narratives this term!

Click images to enlarge

Upcoming Concert Practice

Grade 2 Students have been busy practicing for the upcoming Concert. Here is a peek of some of their moves.

Reader Bags and Homework Books

Grade 2 students should continue to keep up the good work in getting those reader bags to school every week. Well done to all students who remember to bring them along, especially to those students who recognise that it is their responsibility. Congratulations to the many students who read each night, as a result of this, their improvement in comprehension and reading skills is amazing! Homework folders are due in to teachers on Fridays and will be handed back out on Mondays.

Numeracy in Grade 2

During Term 4 we have continued learning about many Number & Algebra topics, such as place value, multiplication, division and worded problems. Students will continue to use the problem solving strategies they learnt throughout the year and learn some new strategies as well. Students in Grade 2 will also be completing some practice Grade 3 NAPLAN tests in class, this will ensure that each child has a feel of what is expected for next year. The following are some multiplication and division worded problems that some students completed:

To assist your child with Numeracy at home you can:

• use cards or dice to add and subtract basic number facts (e.g. 8 + 3, 10 – 4)
• talk about maths in real life situations with your child
• involve your child in handling small amounts of money, for example paying for something and working out how much change should be received
• encourage your child to use kitchen scales to order various items by mass (weight)
• use playing cards or dice and ask your child to read different numbers
• ask your child to tell you what time it is using an analogue and digital clock
• talk with your child about what they are learning about in maths.

MATHLETICS & READING EGGS

This term we will continue using Mathletics and Reading Eggs in the classroom to complement our teaching of Numeracy and Literacy. These programs should also be used at home to provide opportunities for your child to improve his/her mathematics and reading skills in an engaging and fun way. Each child has their own username and password to access the programs. If you require further information about Mathletics and Reading Eggs and how to use these programs at home, please contact your child’s teacher. The websites are listed below.

Grade 3 News

Classroom Fun with Grade 3 Students

Term 4 has started with great excitement in the Grade 3A classroom. Students were busy learning about living and non-living things during our Integrated Studies unit Fur, Feathers and Leaves. They enjoyed participating in interactive learning tasks while investigating a range of specimens in our schoolyard and classifying them into common groups. Students were also involved in other exciting events such as the Primary Art Show where the students toured the displays proud to notice their talented art pieces showcased.

It was an overall engaging start to term 4 for all students.

Classroom Fun with Grade 3A Students!

VIEW GALLERY

Classroom Fun with Grade 3A Students!

Click images to enlarge

Writing in 3C

3C has been working hard this term to produce some phenomenal Information Reports on Lyrebirds. Each student went through our writing process with a graphic organiser, scaffold, drafting, editing and publishing. Their effort and collaboration throughout the unit has been a true reflection of their growth in learning. Looking back six months ago to now, 3C has made great strides in many of their learning areas. Come see some results displayed outside our classroom – and glean some information while you’re there.

3C have been working hard with writing!

VIEW GALLERY

3C have been working hard with writing!

Click images to enlarge

Grade 4 News

Balloon Rocket Push

Grade 4 students are looking at the types of forces that exist. We have done lots of work on this and have taken part in class experiments. Our experiment on the balloon rocket push was a lot of fun. Students used a string, balloon, straw and some tape to conduct the experiment. Students understood that energy is created by the balloon forcing the air out. This energy creates motion called thrust that pushes the balloon forward.

Balloon Rocket Push!

VIEW GALLERY

Balloon Rocket Push!

Click images to enlarge

Introducing our MC’s for our 2017 Sirius College Concert!

Grade 5 News

Mathletics Online Assessment

A reflection of our Matheletics Online Assessment by Grade 5 Students

SOLAR SYSTEM PROJECTS

Our Term 4 Integrated studies topic is exploring the Solar System. Teachers were impressed with student’s dedication and efforts during their project presentations. Well done, to the students who presented their projects and showed me how much they have actually learned by working on their Solar System project.