In Foundation, students have been engaging in an Inquiry unit called Topsy Turvy Tales. The students explored a variety of classic fairy tales, discovering how stories can take unexpected twists and turns. Inspired by these tales, students worked in small groups to reenact a classic fairy tale, creating imaginative characters to bring their stories to life. They then performed their reenactments in front of their peers. Students also designed fairy tale dioramas that included characters and a setting, they showcased their creativity and understanding of storytelling. It has been a fantastic journey of learning, imagination, and hands-on exploration!
Foundation students have been exploring capacity and mass through engaging, hands-on activities. They created their own lolly jars, estimating how many lollies (blocks) could fit inside and then counted and verified their guesses. Students also hefted various objects around the classroom to compare weights, discussing which objects were heavier or lighter. They also had the opportunity to share their findings.
The Foundation students enjoyed a cozy pyjama breakfast morning. They arrived at school in their PJs and chose their own breakfast items – toast, pikelets, fruit, cereal, and chocolate milk. They settled in to watch a movie together, played, and engaged in colouring activities. After a morning of fun and good food, the students changed into their school uniforms independently. It was a great start to the day, and everyone had a wonderful time!
The Foundation students participated in the Living Safely with Dogs program. This program taught them about dog safety, including when dogs should be left alone, how to recognise a dog’s mood e.g. when a dog is happy, scared or angry and safe ways to approach and greet a dog. Students also learnt what to do if approached by an unknown or aggressive dog. They had the opportunity to practice greeting a new dog.
The Foundation students have enjoyed a fun and eventful end of term! As part of our inquiry topic, Our Community, we went on a walk around Avondale Heights and saw some local shops. We also had the opportunity to explore and visit Avondale Heights local library, where we learnt about its role in the community and discovered some exciting new books. Additionally, we were thrilled to have the firefighters visit us for a second time, giving us the chance to explore the fire truck up close!
During Inquiry learning, the Foundation students have been exploring the concept of community and the roles of community helpers. They had the pleasure of interacting with various local helpers, including lifeguards from Life Saving Victoria and firefighters from East Keilor Fire Station. During the firefighters visit, the students learnt the importance of knowing their home address in case of an emergency. They also planned with their families a safe meeting spot in case of a fire. We look forward to our next visit, where we can explore and see the fire trucks.
Our Foundation students had an amazing time celebrating their first Book Week at school! They enjoyed reading CBCA shortlisted stories, including The Bird with No Arms, Concrete Garden, and Every Night at Midnight. The students created their own unique birds with special abilities, created a Foundation garden with chalk and imagined what animal they would turn into at night and dressed up as their favourite book characters. It was a week full of imagination and joy, bringing stories to life in the classroom!
In Foundation, we have been exploring teen numbers, learning to model and record our thinking. This week, we
read "1 is a Snail, 10 is a Crab." Students discussed how different animal legs can represent numbers. They then
created teen numbers using the animals from the story and recorded their findings. For example, a crab (10 legs)
and a dog (4 legs) make 14.
Personal and Social Learning
The Foundation students have been engaging in play based learning, allowing them to explore their interests and
abilities through imagination, investigation, and exploration. It helps students expand their vocabulary, acquire
new skills and knowledge, and develop social skills by interacting with peers. The Foundation students have been
eagerly exploring their new imaginative play area, which features a veterinary clinic, a kitchen, and a costume
corner. These fun activities have been a hit among the students, providing endless opportunities for creative play
and learning. Thank you Mrs Kinniburgh and other community members for donating these amazing resources for
our students.
English and Mathematics
In Foundation, we have been writing facts about various animals, including whales, koalas, lions, cats, and lizards. The students are focusing on constructing complete sentences, which involve starting with a capital letter, using finger spaces between words, recording letter sounds and ending with a full stop.
Minibeasts Incursion
Our Foundation students recently embarked on an exciting incursion all about minibeasts. They had the opportunity to explore the fascinating world of insects and other small creatures up close. Through interactive activities and hands on experiences, the students learnt about the diverse habitats, fascinating bodies and amazing facts about minibeasts. Thank you to Andy from Labcoat Learning for this amazing opportunity.
Numeracy
The Foundation students have been exploring ways to count collections and share their thinking. They have been working collaboratively to estimate, count and order their collections from smallest to biggest. Students have used concrete materials and drawings to represent their collections. They have also been consolidating their knowledge of collecting data by asking yes/no questions to peers and using their data to make a picture graph.
Anzac Day and Literacy
The Foundation students learned about ANZAC Day and the importance of remembering our soldiers. We listened to a story called Anzac Ted. Anzac Ted has worn patches and missing parts, but when he belonged to Grandpa Jack, he travelled across the world to serve as a mascot for ANZAC soldiers, providing them with comfort, courage and hope for their safe return home. The foundation students then created their own Anzac Ted.
In Literacy this term, Foundation students have been strengthening their fine motor skills and reading and writing different CVC words (example; c-a-t). They met Milo the Monkey and his friends to support their letter sound knowledge and the concepts of print.
In Numeracy, we have been learning about the numbers 0-5, through subitising, hands on activities and part-part whole. We have been learning about different patterns, length, and have sequenced the events in our days.
For Harmony Week, we have been celebrating our different cultures in Foundation. We celebrated how we are all different but all the same.
We have enjoyed our first term of learning and fun in Foundation!
The Foundation inquiry topic for this term is "Fairness and Friendship." This week, our focus was on learning about rules and understanding why we need to follow them. In class, we clarified our classroom rules and discussed the reasons behind each rule. Students then illustrated a classroom rule and were able to put some of these into practice during our learning through play session. For example, they practised taking turns, using walking feet, helping each other tidy up, looking after the toys, and asking for permission before leaving the classroom.
The Foundation students were introduced to the Zones of Regulation. They learnt that there are four coloured zones, and within these zones, we may experience different emotions. Students listened to a story that illustrated how we might feel in the coloured zones. Afterwards, students identified which emotions belong to each zone and shared what coloured zone they were in during the session.
Excitement filled Learning Community 2 as our youngest learners, the Foundation students, embarked on their
journey at Avondale Primary School. The first few weeks have been filled with laughter, discovery, and new
friendships. From being in the classrooms to playing in the playground, our Foundation students have eagerly
explored their surroundings, soaking in all aspects of school life. Here's to a fantastic start for our Foundation
students, and to many more weeks of fun and learning ahead!
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