Curriculum News 

Australian Curriculum – Refined – Version 9

The Australian Curriculum sets the learning goals for all students as they progress through their school life – wherever they live in Australia and whichever school they attend, and when parents/carers are actively involved in their children’s education, children achieve better results.

The goal for the Australian Curriculum is to develop successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed young people who are ready to take their place in society. To achieve this goal, the Australian Curriculum includes 3 parts:

• 8 learning areas which are sometimes referred to as subjects, 
• 7 general capabilities which as sometimes known as the 21st century skills 
• 3 cross-curriculum priorities

From 2025 our teachers and students will be operating in Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum, in subject English and Mathematics, with other subject areas to roll out over the coming years.  This gradual release schedule allows schools to make adjustments, changes and refinements to our curriculum delivery at a reasonable and steady pace.  

What do English and Mathematics look like in Version 9.

Over the coming newsletter instalments, I will be giving you a brief tour of what is expected in subjects English and Mathematics across difference sectors of primary schooling.

Years 1 and 2

In Years 1 and 2, priority is given to the important areas of literacy and numeracy development. English and Mathematics are the core subjects for this, but literacy and numeracy are found in all subjects. By the end of Year 2, students have a much stronger understanding of themselves and have begun to connect with the wider community.

English

Students develop literacy using texts that entertain, inform and persuade, such as picture books,
non-fiction books and films. Students grow into more independent readers, learn to create a range of different texts and become more confident when they communicate.

Students learn to:

• listen to and discuss information books, stories, films and digital texts
• independently read simple books and discuss what they have read
• discuss the characters and events in texts written by First Nations Australian and wide-ranging Australian and world authors
• decode words
• write to express thoughts and ideas
• tell a story or talk about topics they have learnt in class
• use simple punctuation, such as capital letters and full stops
• spell common words and write in sentences  
• create texts using digital tools
• give short oral presentations on topics of interest
• develop legible handwriting.

 Mathematics

Students develop number sense as they build their understanding of place value. They are introduced to mathematical symbols and learn different ways to represent numbers. They begin to use mathematical language to communicate and explain mathematical ideas, pose basic mathematical questions, and develop simple strategies to investigate and solve practical problems.

Students learn to:

• describe number sequences and locate numbers on a number line
• begin to use number sentences with mathematical symbols to represent simple additive situations
• represent simple fractions using pictures, words, objects and events
• describe and draw shapes and objects
• use informal units to measure length, capacity and mass
• tell the time from both analog and digital clocks
• use a calendar to determine the date
• position and locate objects using directions and pathways
• investigate data collected through surveys, observations and experiments.

Classroom News 

Prep D 

This term in Prep D we have settled into the life as a learner at Aspley. We have learnt about what it is to be an Aspley learner and to be apart of Prep D community. Prep D learners have enjoyed exploring many different subject areas but have really immersed themselves into Science. We have been identifying living and non-living things around our school community. The learners can identify what the needs are of living things are- food, water, air, shelter and warmth. To show our learning we created a drawing of a healthy habitat for Australian animals and crafted a mobile of the needs that make a habitat healthy. 

1D

This term, 1D students have been busy exploring different materials and their properties. They have been testing which materials are waterproof, discovering which ones are best for making strong containers, and even designing their own containers to hold marbles. Through hands-on experiments, they investigated strength by putting their creations to the test. There were some surprising results, lots of excitement, and plenty of learning along the way. Well done 1D – we have some future engineers and scientists in the making!

2D

Cardboard Construction: Building the Future with Science!

Hey there, future engineers and scientists! Did you know that something as simple as cardboard can help you learn all about science, building, and problem-solving? Let’s dive into the exciting world of Cardboard Construction and discover how this everyday material can teach us big things!

What is Cardboard Made of? Cardboard might look like just a flat, brown sheet, but it's a special material made from paper fibres. These fibres come from trees, which are turned into pulp and pressed together to make a strong, flexible surface. The cardboard is often made of layers, with a wavy middle part called fluting, which helps give it extra strength. This is why cardboard can be so sturdy, even though it’s lightweight!

What Makes Cardboard Great for Building? When we build with cardboard, we get to test the properties of materials, which means we explore what makes different materials special. Cardboard is:

• Lightweight: It's easy to carry and handle.
• Flexible: It can bend and twist, which helps us create all sorts of cool shapes.
• Strong: When folded in the right way, cardboard can hold a lot of weight! Ever tried stacking books on top of a cardboard box? It works, right?

By using these properties, we can build models of houses, bridges, cars, and even whole cities—all out of cardboard!

Building with Cardboard in 2D Science Lessons!

In the 2D classroom, we became Cardboard Engineers! Here’s how it helped us learn:

1. Understanding Shapes and Structures: Scientists and engineers use shapes like triangles, squares, and circles to make strong and stable structures. Cardboard helps us understand how to use these shapes to make things that don’t collapse.
2. Testing and Experimenting: When building with cardboard, you get to try different designs and see what works best. What happens if you fold the cardboard a certain way? How many layers of cardboard do you need to hold something heavy? It’s all about trial and error, just like real scientists!
3. Learning about Materials: Cardboard isn't the only material we use in building. When you try different things, you’ll learn how cardboard compares to wood, metal, or plastic. Which material is the strongest? Which one is the lightest? You’ll discover the properties of materials in the most fun way possible—through play!

Why Is This Important?

By learning how cardboard works, you’re not just making cool projects. You’re also learning important skills that can help you in the future! Engineers, architects, and scientists use similar techniques to solve big problems, like building skyscrapers, bridges, and even rockets! So, the next time you play with cardboard, remember you’re a scientist, engineer and a builder in training!

So, next time you see a cardboard box, think about all the exciting things you could build and learn. Maybe you’ll be the next big inventor to design something amazing—all thanks to cardboard!

Happy building, little scientists!

3D

In this semester’s HASS unit, students have been investigating how people contribute to their unique communities. They have been exploring how and why people participate in and contribute to their communities, and the importance of different celebrations and commemorations to different groups of people. 

With April 25quickly approaching Year 3 has been discussing how Australians and other communities around the world commemorate ANZAC Day.

Students in year 3 were particularly interested in their virtual incursion with the Australian War Memorial in week 9. This incursion helped them to gain a better understanding of ANZAC Day, Australians who served in various wars and the meaning and significance of the poppy.