For our UOI this week, we have explored what sound is and how it is made. We have discovered the use of vibrations and sound waves for us to hear sources of sound and we have observed sound waves through an investigation. We placed rice on a drumhead, then banged it with varying types of drumsticks in varying degrees of strength to produce loud or soft pitches. Other investigations involved using a hanger and string to feel vibrations and hear the sound that could be made, along with using a string telephone to communicate with a partner.
For maths this week, we had a pre-assessment for 3D shapes as this is our new maths unit. From this assessment, I will be able to focus on those concepts which need further teaching and learning. So far we have explored cubes by feeling them, identifying faces, vertices and edges; then we learned how we can draw cubes. With a partner, we closed our eyes to feel a 3D shape, then tell our partner about the shape so they could record this information.
For literacy this week, we have practised new letter patterns to include the hard and soft sound of /g/. We have used our imagination to describe a magical creature, what it eats and where it lives. For one of our investigations, the students learned how to record it using the scientific method. During our guided reading, we shared stories, then identified the beginning, middle and end, along with noting information about characters and settings. We also enjoyed a visit to the Book Fair…the students thoroughly enjoyed looking at the books and many were happy to make purchases of books to add to their home library.
Please see photos here.
Next week:
Literacy:
- making new words using phonics
- guided and independent reading sessions
- writing our science observations using the scientific method
- speaking and listening through our discussions
- formulating questions
Maths:
- mental maths focusing on numeracy fluency
- 3D shapes and their attributes
UOI:
- Explain that sound is a form of energy that help us experience the world (Function)
- Describe how changes in sound affect what we hear (Causation)
- Recognize that materials interact differently with sound (e.g., absorb, reflect, pass through) (Function)
- Explain that sound can be used to communicate ideas and information (Connection)
- Explain how people use sound in everyday life and technology (Connection)