Learning About Shelters

Year 1 students were very fortunate last Friday to have Abigail Zwart (Bodie's Mum) talk to us about architecture and building shelters. Our H.S.I.E topic this term is 'The Need For Shelter'.


Abigail is a talented architect and she created a fantastic presentation that featured buildings from different cultures. We learnt about what materials are used for building and how architects design buildings for a purpose. We looked at building designs to suit different purposes and the importance of sustainability when building shelters. Year 1 students saw examples of solar panels and batteries used in houses. Year 1 students were a fantastic audience. They listened to what Abigail talked about and asked some thoughtful questions. Classes wrote about the talk and some students even went home doing their own drawings of houses!

Stage One- 'Brain Play'

Albert Einstein said play is the highest form of research.
Our Stage One students spend an hour of play each Friday. Some of the activities are pretend shops, building, creating shelters, 'schools,' dress ups, 'vet clinics' and lego construction plus many more! We call it 'brain play' as students are building their oral language, problem solving skills and critical and creative thinking skills. Students learn to negotiate and work collaboratively as a group. It is also fun as you can see from the following photos.

Welcome to Stage One 2017

Stage One teachers are looking forward to a fun year of quality learning. 

We are a dynamic group of teachers who are passionate about educating children to be lifelong learners.

Year 2 teachers(l to r) Alison Loredo, Rozi Marsh(Stage One Assistant Principal), Jacqui Critchley.(Zena Sutcliffe absent)

Year 1 teachers(l to r) Trish McNeil, Rosemary Swinburn, Amanda McNulty, Bridget Bruce.

Term 4 Overview

Welcome to Term Four! Stage One is looking forward to a fun and successful term of learning. This term there will be swimming school for Year 2 students, a community Christmas Carols night and Presentation Day for our stage. More information about this will be in the newsletter which can be accessed via Skoolbag or the school website.

Here is an overview of the subject areas and content for this term:

Literacy

Students are taught a balanced Literacy program which focuses on:

• Speaking and Listening- daily news, class discussions, answering questions on texts to build comprehension skills, questioning based on using Edward De Bono’s Thinking Hats as a method of critical thinking.
• Reading and Viewing- guided reading activities, big books and multi modal texts such as e-books, websites, blogs, using QR codes and comprehension activities based on texts.
• Writing and Representing- modelled, guided and shared writing based on the Diversity Literature unit for Year 1 and a unit on Persuasive texts for Year 2. Students will be analysing high quality texts such as ‘Window’, ‘Whoever You Are’  and ‘The Day The Crayons Quit’. Writing lessons for Year 1 will focus on texts that entertain such as narratives, texts that inform such as procedures and descriptions and for Year 2, texts that persuade such as expositions. Handwriting lessons will continue to focus on making sure letters are a consistent size, shape and slope.
• Grammar, Punctuation and Vocabulary­ Students will be revising nouns, verbs and adjectives and checking their writing for correct punctuation usage.  Year 1 students will be learning about how to use similes when writing. Year 2 students will be learning how to use speech marks and persuasive verbs and adverbs when writing.
• Spelling- includes phonological, visual, morphemic and etymological words with grammar and writing activities related to specifically treated words.

 Numeracy 

Numeracy lessons involve ‘hands on’ activities, group work, problem solving, maths drills and mixed mentals questions and written work in the Targeting Maths text book.

 
This term, Year 1 will be focusing on:
Addition and subtraction, place value, multiplication and division, 3D objects, time, volume and capacity, mass and chance and data.
 
This term, Year 2 will be focusing on:
Addition and subtraction, place value (2 and 3 digit numbers), number patterns and algebra, division, 3D objects, mass and chance and data.

History
Our History Unit is called ‘The Past In The Present.’ Students will be learning about heritage sites in Newcastle such as Fort Scratchley. Students will also be looking closely at the new court house in Newcastle and how technology has influenced its design. Students will think critically about why we should preserve heritage sites.

Sport/P.E and Health

Each Friday, students will be participating in sport activities. Year 2 students will be participating in the Swim School Program. Year 1 students will continue their dance lessons. Students will continue to consolidate the fundamental movement skills in P.E lessons throughout the week.  

The P.D/ Health program for this term is road safety and awareness.

 

Information Technology
Students will be using a range of educational software websites to enhance learning such as Jolly Phonics, SpellingCity, Galaxy Kids and Study ladder. Students will be using iPad apps to reinforce and consolidate skills. Students will be learning how to publish documents using Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. During Library and History lessons, students will be learning how to use the Internet safely and as an effective research tool.

Creative Arts

Students will be participating in visual art lessons and drama activities linked to all areas of learning. Each week students participate in community singing as part of the K-2 assembly.

What we have loved learning in Term 3.....

Pim T- I loved learning about the water cycle. I didn't know any of this. We did a funny play about the water cycle.

Callan P- I loved doing the computer work in writing groups.

Thomas M- I loved when we got to draw the water cycle.

Taj A- I loved Book Week. I loved everything about it and everyone's costumes.

Kade C- I loved the science and learning about the water cycle. We did art about it.

Molly H- I enjoyed creating butterflies which helped me learn about symmetry.

Samia B- It was great to wear dress ups for Book Week and read some new books.

Austin M-It was great fun to learn times tables and I love mathematics.

Ruby F- I love going to my maths group after recess. I enjoy being challenged. Book Week was interesting and fun to dress up as characters.



The 2016 Olympathon

The Olympathon was a huge success at Belair Public School. Each class created their own country and paraded their flag at the opening ceremony. Then students participated in fun, sport activities, led by senior students. Some of the activities were thong throwing and the pool noodle javelin! We also raised a huge amount of money for our school. Well done Stage One!

Book Week 2016

Stage One had a fantastic day to celebrate Book Week. Students wore amazing, creative costumes which they proudly displayed when we had our parade. Parents and carers were invited to the classrooms to hear a shortlisted story and complete an activity. We love reading and enjoying books in Stage One!