English

What a great time to be learning about recount writing with so much happening in our community. Students have been exploring the purposes and structure of a recount by identifying features in writing samples. They have incorporated these features when writing their own recounts. We have explored sequencing events, compound sentences and the use of past-tense verbs. The students have written a range of recounts with topics including weekends, short films and holidays. 

In addition to our rich variety of writing activities, students have been working on their self-monitoring skills in reader’s workshop. Students have been using their rereading skills and noting information they understand and find interesting or identify as important. This has been supported by our lessons on finding good-fit texts and the characteristics of a successful reader. Students are encouraged to use their good-fit books to continually add to their vocabulary in reading. 

In spelling we have been learning about blends, syllables and rhyming words. We have been practising weekly spelling words through a variety of activities such as rainbow words and chalk words. To consolidate our knowledge of the words and their meaning, we have been completing a word of the week activity at the beginning of our spelling lessons. We’ve also been practising our high frequency words in the morning by writing sentences including the words and making the words with objects such as lego. 

Maths

In Mathematics this term our students have been engaging in a range of number lessons.

During our number unit, children have been creating number lines and skip counting by 2s, 5s, 10s and 3s using number charts. We have also explored two and three-digit numerals, using manipulatives such as multi-attribute blocks and place value charts. By using a ‘think board’ the students represented a number in a variety of ways. They were able to draw the numeral, think about its position on a 100 chart, as well as discuss other ways to create that particular number.

In Mathematics our students have been enthusiastic learners about place value. Children have been identifying number groupings of Hundreds, Tens and Ones in place value. This has been a great hands on activity working with our smart boards, and MABs in a collaborative work environment. 

HASS

We live in an incredible world. Our families are influenced and shaped by where they originate. Investigating connections we each have to these places and others were timed perfectly with the Harmony Day celebration last week. Students have been very enthusiastic about participating in Our Wonderful World Presentations. They have been sharing their unique cultural heritage through presenting artefacts and other resources from their homes. 

We have also investigated and discovered that the streets in Ngunnawal are named after Ngunnawal words or significant Australian individuals.

We have looked at the world and how it is divided into continents and oceans. We have also looked at maps to find countries that we know. Exploring photographs and artefacts from the olden days has been fascinating! Many of the appliances we use today have changed over time as new technology develops, and we have found new, more interesting ways to do things. We have also spent time wondering how life might be different 50-100 years from now! The highlight of our HASS unit will be our excursion to The National Museum of Australia this week where we will participate in an educational programme: Then and Now, exploring the artefacts from the past. 

Digital Technology

Speaking of how things have changed... We have been making use of the Chromebooks at school, for research (like our street names) and touch typing (to help us type quickly and safely). We have also been following Hector's World, an eSafety Commissioner's program, to think about how to be safe online. Some of the biggest take-homes we have come across are the importance of not sharing our personal information online and making sure we check with a trusted adult if we are feeling unsure or unsafe online. The eSafety Commissioner has a great collection of resources for kids and teachers, but for parents too. Follow the link for more information: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents.

Harmony week celebrations