Where has the year gone? I can’t believe we are at the end of Term 1 already.

What a great time we have had reading our Books of the Week ‘Sitting in My Box’ and ‘I Love Me’. The students have been emersed in the language and have used their vivid imaginations to create their own versions of the books. Their use of expression and acting out the stories, using the animal props, enthralled their audience. All this made for a meaningful and purposeful real-life experience…and they loved it!

Role play and having discussions is a daily activity in our busy room. Increasing our vocabulary is so important for little ones. Through listening and communicating, whether verbal or non-verbal, through gestures, expressions or using their Proloquo2Go, we listen and observe how well the students describe the world around them and the range of words they use or sign.

Singing and moving to numbers and shapes, has been great fun! We are building our everyday understanding of numbers, what they look like, sound like, amount they represent and their order. Even though the students are at different levels, adding music and movement to the task adds joy and stimulates their memory. Sitting on the carpet and completing number games is another favourite activity.

Within measurement we have been looking at length. How tall are you? How many blocks tall are you? Who is the tallest or shortest? We have been sorting objects in sizes and using comparative mathematical language of big, bigger, biggest, small, smaller and smallest.

Our Shapes so far have included circles, squares, triangles and rectangles. There have been discussions about counting the number of sides, corners and what curved sides are. Shapes are everywhere in our world!

On The Move is the theme of our science unit this semester. Students have been looking at how things move. This led to them identifying the force of push and pull. This force is one that we use every single day – Opening and closing a door, getting dressed, playing in the playground and even standing up uses the force of push and pull. Using our little vacuum cleaner has helped to reinforce the push-pull actions whilst being lots of fun!

Coach Tim has been teaching some wonderful basketball sessions. Students have been learning to sit and wait their turn, share and pass the ball, throw and catch to a partner and even shoot hoops in the wheelie bin using a Prep sized basketball hoop. Students are also developing their gross motor skills, stance and eye hand co-ordination. We all look forward to seeing Coach Tim each week.

Horse riding is the mid-week excitement! Even though the wet weather has claimed a few weeks, the students thoroughly enjoy the bus trip. Once there, they are excited about putting on their safety helmets, being supported in mounting their horses and having the gentle beasts lead around the paddocks.

To all the parents and carers, from the Team here in EY5, THANK YOU for all that you do day to day for our precious students. Your continued support is valued and very much appreciated.

Enjoy your Easter Break Holiday.

Cheers from Miss Gaelle and Miss Codie.