This term our inquiry topic is Geography. We will be integrating this topic into many curriculum areas such as Reading, Writing, Maths and Art.

Over the past week the children have learnt what geography is and have begun their exploration of the world by researching Australia. Through reading and writing the children have learnt many new facts about Australia.

Below is some of the writing which the children produced last week. The have produced some brilliant work!

On Friday we finished off the week by researching an Australian artist – Ken Done.

Ken Done is a painter and is best known for his design work and simple, brightly coloured images of Australian landmarks. Below are some of his famous artworks.

Below are some of the artworks the children created inspired by the unique works of Ken Done. Myself, Miss I and Miss K were so impressed by the incredible paintings the children produced.

Each week we will be exploring a new country . This week our focus in the United States of America.

Over the past few weeks the Grade 1/2 students have been writing information reports.

Grade 1

The Grade 1’s spent one week focusing on the structure and language features of an information report before constructing their own.

The children recently finished writing their first information report on frogs. All the children did an absolutely brilliant job!

Below is a picture of our class contructed information report about frogs which was written prior to the children writing their own. Many students were also asked to assist in editing our class constructed information report as this is an important skill the children need use in their own writing.

Grade 2

The Grade 2’s are still in the process of writing their information reports on an animal of their choice.

As mentioned at our JLC assembly on Friday, the Grade 2 students together made a class writing rubric. The students have been using this rubric to help guide their writing and the gathering of information. Below is some of the great work the Grade 2 children have produced so far.

We look forward to sharing their finished work with you soon.

On Thursday the Grade 1/2’s had a visit from a Border Collie puppy. Thank you to the McKean family for bringing Panda in. Below is a list of some of the things the children learnt.

• Coby – They are omnivores. This is because they eat meat and vegetables.
• Seb – They eat dry and wet food. They eat meat, grains and vegetables.
• Noah – We can breed Border Collies.
• Ella – You can teach dogs tricks.
• Ruby – You can get Border Collies in different colours.
• Thomas – Sometimes when the puppies are born they might have blood on them.
• Eden C/Harrison/Amelia – They are energetic and run a lot.
• Archie – They are born with their eyes closed.
• Riley Knox – They are not soft when they are born.
• Casey – Sometimes they are bad at listening.
• Sophie – They are playful.
• Nicholas – They can bark and growl at you.
• Riley – They run fast.

• Eden Mc – When they are born they can walk a bit. They are not so steady and can sometimes fall over.
• Paden – When the mother is giving birth the puppies can fall over.
• Darcy – When the mothers are pregnant they sometimes walk a bit funny.

This week the Grade 1 students will be using this new information to assist them in writing an information report about dogs.

This week is Catholic Education week. The focus this week is on Mercy. On Tuesday the children were given the opportunity to discuss what Mercy means. Below are some of the ideas the children came up with.

With this new knowledge we then read the Parable of the Good Samaritan. To ensure the students understood the order of events in the story we used picture cards. From here we then discussed who in this story showed mercy and how?

It was quickly realised that it was the Good Samaritan who showed mercy to the dying man on the side of the road. The Good Samaritan saw only a person in dire need of assistance, and assist him he did. He dressed the man’s wounds with wine (to disinfect) and oil (to sooth the pain). He then put the man on his animal and took him to an inn for a time of healing. He then payed the innkeeper with his own money.

This week the Grade 1 students have begun exploring time. Here is what they know.

We know that analogue clocks have…

• Numbers from 1-12. The 12 is at the top and the 6 is at the bottom.
• An hour hand and a minute hand. The hour hand is short and the minute hand is long.
• A second hand.
• 5 minute intervals.

Analogue clocks are round.

An analogue clock isn’t the only type of clock.

Written by all the Grade 1’s.

This week in Maths we have begun learning about the days, months and seasons and how they correlate with one another. After reading the picture story book All Through the Year by Jane Godwin, the children discovered that each season lasts for three months. To imbed this knowledge the children all made season wheels which they can refer to throughout the year.

Thankyou to everyone who has donated money to Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal, Project Compassion. Our donations together can help those living in some of the poorest communities around the world.

Today the whole school worked in home groups to make a coin trail. I am very proud to say that 1/2A did an absolutely brilliant job with how much money we raised. We look forward to finding out how much we raised as a whole school.

Where we can talk to God:

• At school
• At church/chapel/during mass
• In a quiet place
• At home
• At the supermarket
• Under a tree

Ways that we can talk to God:

• In your mind
• When you are alone
• In groups  with friends and family
• Through Mediation
• JAM time (Just a Minute)
• Liturgical Dancing
• By the actions we make towards others

Times when we talk to God:

• To ask God to look after people in Heaven
• To say thank you
• To say sorry to God (forgiveness)
• To ask God for Strength

– Year 1/2 Students 

In Grade One we have been learning about “Friends of Ten” in Mathematics. We have been using ten’s frame flash cards everyday and we also used a rainbow to help us learn all about the Friends of Ten. Below is a picture of a Friends of Ten Rainbow.