Class 1 have finished their second Maths main lesson focus for this term, exploring counting, patterns and grouping.  During this time, we've followed the adventures of the Number Gnomes in the forest of Number Land, helping them to solve problems such as counting pairs of socks in twos, as well as counting in groups of threes and fours.  We've worked out different ways of grouping numbers by adding together and taking away and we've continued to practice numeral recognition as well as learn about odd and even numbers.  We will continue to practice and build on these numeracy skills with games and morning circle activities.

The week of swimming lessons was very exciting and tiring for the Class 1 children.  I think the bus journey there and back was almost as exciting as the swimming itself!  It was great to see their swimming skills improve so much over the course of the week.

I'm excited to be moving onto our next main lesson that integrates science, geography and English by exploring our local surrounds through stories of the Dreaming.  This main lesson will allow us to delve deeper into seasonal observations, supported with songs and stories - perfect for building up to our mid-winter Makuru celebration.  The children will be further developing their writing and English skills during this unit, by writing sentences related to the stories we tell.  Dreaming stories draw on Indigenous knowledge of flora, fauna, landscape and people.  The tales also possess a creation story element that evokes a spirit of wonder in the natural world.  I've been working on some felted animals to use in our stories for this main lesson.

Class 1 children have still been enjoying having pets visits from home - we've had quite a menagerie!