Dancing

We were lucky enough to have a dance session with Mrs Kundycki-Carrell's very talented daughter. She incorporated our Inquiry topic of Simple Machines into our session of creative dance.

Simple Machines

We are having lots of fun figuring out how all the simple machines from the Science Alive kit work!

Lego - House of Bricks

We had a wonderful visit from The House Of Bricks and the students completed four Lego challenges related to our Inquiry topic of Simple Machines.

Welcome to Term 2!

5 May 2016

Kia ora koutou

Welcome back to term 2. I hope you managed to spend some time with the family these holidays and that the children are all feeling refreshed and ready for another action packed term.

Inquiry Topic

This term we will focus on Science: “The Physical World”- Simple Machines. We will be investigating how simple machines (lever, wedge,screw...) help us in everyday life. We will be starting this off with a visit from Imagination Station on Wed 11 May from 9-11.45am who use Lego to motivate and inspire children to learn creatively. We need a few parent helpers, so if you are able to help, please let me know.

Science Alive then visit us on Friday 10th June (11.00 - 12.30pm) to help us with some “hands-on” learning. Room 10 need 3 parent helpers to assist during this session. If you are keen to help please email to let me know. susanne.stack@olv.school.nz

Religious Education

For RE this term we will spend the first five weeks learning about The Holy Spirit and then move onto learning about The Church. We will also cover the Ascenion and Pentecost.

Mathematics

For maths we will continue to work on addition and subtraction strategies and building up our number knowledge. For two weeks in the middle of the term we will focus on Geometry, investigating shape, rotation and transformation and a week of fractions at the end of the term.

In addition to Mathletics, we are now using Skoolbo which is an online Literacy and Numeracy programme that can be used at home as well as school. Keep an eye out for the sign-in information coming home on Friday.

Literacy

For writing this term, we will be starting with explanations which will work well with our science inquiry focus, then revisiting recount writing. It is great to see how independent the older children are becoming now!

Reading continues with building up strategies to de-code unknown words, more emphasis on comprehension strategies, and increasing fluency.

Te Re Maori

We are exploring colours, feelings, instructions, animals, and parts of the body. The Junior School are meeting once a fortnight to learn these concepts together, and then will practice them back in our own classrooms.

The Arts

We are focusing on Construction this term, which will tie in nicely with our Simple Machines inquiry. For drama we are using the theme of Matariki and working together with the other classes in the junior school to produce a small performance near the end of the term.

Physical Education

This term we will be developing large ball skills through playing winter sports, focusing on the foot dribble, punt and kick.

If you have any questions about anything, please email me at susanne.stack@olv.school.nz, or make a time to come and see me. Don’t forget to check out our classroom blog on the OLV website and make comments on the Seesaw learning journal!

Ngā mihi nui

Susanne Stack