We warmly welcome our students and families back to Term 4! During Term 4, our Junior students will be busily working on the following:

Literacy

Phonics 
Students will continue to build on their knowledge that sounds can be represented by letters (spellings). They will be introduced to the idea of two-letter spellings such as ff, ll, ss and zz and that they represent the same sound as the individual letters do on their own. Students will also explore the idea that two-letter spellings can represent one sound, such as sh, ch and th.  They will continue building, reading and spelling longer words through a variety of engaging hands-on activities to consolidate their learning. Some students will continue using the Sounds Write program to build their knowledge of more complex sound patterns and how to segment and blend sounds to read and write words. 

Reading
During shared reading, students will be learning about the features of non-fiction texts. They will learn that text features are used to help navigate and locate specific information, in an easier and more efficient manner. Together we will explore text features such as headings, sub headings, bold words, captions and glossaries. Students will also continue to expand their vocabulary through exposure to a variety of fiction texts and will use this knowledge to facilitate their ability to comprehend what they are reading. In Grade 1, students will be focusing on characters, their actions and feelings and then making connections to themselves. 

Writing
Students will be exposed to the genre of informative writing. They will learn to use facts to describe people, places, animals and objects and will learn about the basic structure of an Information Report. Students will continue to show emerging use of word choice, spelling and punctuation when writing personal recounts, short imaginative stories and transactional writing pieces, such as letters, cards and emails. They will begin editing their own writing to check for spelling, basic punctuation and to ensure their writing makes sense. In Grade 1, students will revisit narrative writing and will further develop their skills in creating imaginative narratives with engaging characters, a logical structure and a problem and resolution.

Numeracy

Number and Algebra
Students will further develop their understanding of two-digit numbers. They will be introduced to the language of digits, place and value and will explore numbers and their meaning using resources such as tens frames, bundles of ten and ones, arrow cards and bead strings. They will learn about Australian notes and coins using money to pay for goods in play situations and will have lots of fun shopping in St Angela’s very own version of K-Mart! In Grade 1, students will explore fractions and how to read, write and make ½ and ¼. 

Measurement and Geometry
Students will learn about telling time to the hour and the features of an analogue clock. They will identify days of the week and make connections with their everyday school and family routines. Students will sequence familiar events in time order and will learn to compare and order the duration of events using the everyday language of time.

Inquiry
In our Inquiry, ‘Then and Now’, students will explore stories from and about the past. They will begin to understand how things have changed from long ago to today and will investigate these changes by making many comparisons. Students will learn how daily life of the present is different to the past and will also explore how it could change for them in the future. Together, we look forward to exploring the past by going on a journey of endless discovery aboard Puffing Billy later on in the term!

Religion
In our Inquiry, ‘Making a Difference’, students will explore ways in which they can contribute to a society that accepts, respects and values others. They will be encouraged to empathise and learn more about people unlike themselves and will explore the emotion of gratitude. Students will learn through initiatives such as Socktober, how our school community can make a difference for children in need all around the world.