F-2 Curriculum Overview
Foundation
We are celebrating a fabulous start to our Foundation Year!
The children have experienced a smooth transition into school and have settled well into class routines.
Inquiry into Reading
All children in Foundation Year are expected to read daily at home.
Take home reading books have been issued to all students early in the year along with the Oxford Words that will support their reading. Please make it a daily habit of listening to you child read.
The home reading program at GWPS is differentiated and based upon children having access to rich literature. Children are free to choose their own take home books from a wide selection which allows for individual needs, interest-based, favourite authors etc. It is important that the children choose the books they will take home for themselves. Of course some books will be selected by teachers to ensure they are reading to build on and practice skills.
This term the Foundation students have been working on various ‘Concepts about Print’ which enables them to learn the value of book’s front cover, the pictures to support the story, 1:1 matching when reading and about the author. They are learning to recognise that texts are made up of words and groups of words that make meaning.
As children read they are beginning to recognise upper- and lower-case letters and the most common sound that each letter represents. We read often to the children to enable them to develop and enjoy a passion for reading.
Inquiry into Writing
In Writing, we have been focussing on language experience and children have illustrated and written about their experiences at school and at home. We have been taking photos and capturing their learning daily.
The children are learning that spoken sounds and words can be written and many are having attempts at writing their own sentences. We write every day to build on these skills so that children will learn to write some high-frequency words. Many of our students are able to write familiar words including their name. Children are beginning to see themselves as writers.
Speaking & Listening
Students have the opportunity to share their knowledge and communicate who they are using an ‘All About Me’ bag. Students are encouraged to work in small groups and encouraged to demonstrate the Learner Profile attributes.
They are beginning to understand that English is one of many languages spoken in Australia and that different languages may be spoken by family and classmates.
We undertake activities so the children learn to identify rhyming words, syllables and some sounds in spoken words. We encourage children to express themselves at all times.
Inquiry into Numeracy
In Numeracy, we have been exploring number, 1:1 matching, patterns and sorting objects. Students have been using concrete materials to support their learning. We have also been learning about days of the week, seasons, shapes and location words.
The children are establishing an understanding of the language and processes of counting by naming numbers in sequences to 20 and beyond. The children undertake maths activities daily to build on number knowledge. We design activities to build on children’s current knowledge and extend them as they learn.
Unit of Inquiry
Our Current Unit of Inquiry is ‘Who We Are’. We have been inquiring into the central idea, People can learn about themselves. We have been exploring school procedures and routines, essential agreements, responsibilities and friendships. In their ‘All About Me’ bag children collected artefacts that represented themselves and shared it with their classmates. Our next Unit of Inquiry is ‘How We Organise Ourselves.’ The central idea is, People in a community help each other. We are looking forward to inquiring into this unit.
Grade 1/2
CURRENT UNIT OF INQUIRY
TRANSDISCIPLINARY THEME – Who we are
Central idea
Relationships can make us feel that we belong
(human relationships including families, friends and communities)
Key Concepts
Form
Connection
Responsibility
Related concepts
communities
support
families
friends
relationships
Lines of Inquiry
Next Unit of Inquiry - end of Term 1, beginning of Term 2
Central idea
Communities and their environment are interconnected
Key concepts
Reflection
Responsibility
Connection
Related concepts
Community
environment
home
Lines of Inquiry
The start of the year for 2018 has been a very good one. It is great to see the number of parents who have introduced themselves and offered to help in the classroom. We have had Pancake Day, games night and meet and greet. It was lovely to see so many parents and students involved in all the extra activities that GWPS offers.
Inquiry into Reading
In Term 1, grade 1/2 students have been working on various comprehension strategies. These include; visualisation, prediction, making connections and summarising the text by sharing their knowledge. We have been inquiring into our central idea of ‘relationships can make us feel that we belong’. Students have been busy setting individual reading goals in literacy. Students have been using digital technologies, such as, Reading Eggs on the iPads to support their learning at school and at home.
Inquiry into Writing
In Writing, we have been looking at various text types. These include; procedural, narrative and Writer’s Workshop. Students have personal writing goals that include spelling, text structure, handwriting and using different punctuation types. We have been exploring narrative writing by writing about relationships based on different reading texts. We have also been writing about what qualities a good friend has.
Speaking & Listening
Students have the opportunity to share their knowledge and communicate their ideas with their peers. Students are encouraged to show Learner Profile attributes and attitudes, such as, communicators, inquirers and being open-minded whilst working cooperatively in groups.
Inquiry into Numeracy
In Numeracy, we have been exploring number patterns and addition. Students have been using materials to support their learning. We have also been learning about time, days of the week, months of the year and the seasons. Each morning, students independently complete 10 minutes of number fluency work followed by an hour of number or non- number activities.
Unit of Inquiry
Our current unit of Inquiry is ‘Who we are’. We have been inquiring into ‘relationships and how it can make us feel that we belong’. We have been exploring what a relationship is, where relationships occur, what a good relationship looks and sounds like as well as how it can make us feel that we belong. Our next unit of Inquiry is looking into the transdisciplinary theme ‘Sharing the planet. We will be learning about the central idea, ‘Communities and their environment are interconnected’. We will be having an excursion to Werribee Zoo to support our inquiry.
Homelearning
Students are given home learning weekly. It is given out on a Monday and is expected to be returned on a Friday. Home learning consists of a numeracy, reading, writing and inquiry task. All home learning is a continuation of what students are inquiring into at school. Students are expected to complete 15 minutes of reading at home each night. GWPS also offers Mathletics and Reading Eggs to all students which is also completed weekly at home.
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