Welcome to Term 3!

Hello all,
Welcome to another term in Room 11.
We have a VERY busy term coming up, so please keep checking back frequently to find out what is happening and see photos of the events.

Literacy Blocks are continuing to run smoothly in our class. Students have shown a great improvement in their attitude towards home reading. I can't wait to hand out more Reading Certificates and prizes. During Term Three we will be focusing on the writing genres of Reports and Poetry. If you find any examples of these at home we would love to see them.

We are using a new maths resource this term, called Prime Mathematics. It is looking mostly at the number outcomes, but we are really hoping to extend the students in their problem solving abilites and will even learn our 6, 7, 8 and 9 timestables and some tricky division work.

This term in Science we are looking at the topic "Melting Moments". We will be investigating how objects change when heat is added. We will look at solids and liquids, the differences between them and how objects can change from one state to another. You can also look at things that melt at home. Some yummy experiments include watching ice cream melt and melting chocolate- you may even turn it into fondue!

We are also looking at Sustainability this term. We have learnt that sustain means to keep on going and able means can do, so we are looking at how we can treat the earth so that it can keep on going for future generations. Each student has made a 'Plastic Free Pledge' in an attempt to 'go green' and we would love it if you could also help them to keep this promise at home.

We are also busy practising for I Run for Ipads, Cross Country, Faction Carnival and we even have our class assembly this term. Phew! It's going to be a big term, so please make sure to keep an eye on the blog to find out about our events.

Miss Ruddick

Healthy Lifestyles

This term in Health we have been looking at Healthy Lifestyles. In pairs, students brainstormed all of the things that people do to have a healthy lifestyle. We then looked at each of these aspects.

Most importantly we looked at diet. To have a healthy diet you should be following the 'Healthy Plate" guide. This means you eat the most Vegetables, the next largest portion is Healthy Proteins, then Whole Grains and Fruit. The best thing to drink is water! We also investigated which of our favourite foods are the foods that you should eat most, eat moderately and eat least. We were lucky enough to make some healthy milkshakes one Friday Afternoon. We made Strawberry Surprises, which were milk, strawberries and strawberry yoghurt. Most people liked them, but some people found them a little bit bitter.

Here is the recipe if you want to make it at home.

We also researched why exercise is good for us. We learnt that aerobic exercise is good as it helps to make our heart stronger, which makes pumping blood around the body easier. Strengthening exercises are also important as they help to build our muscles, which help us lift heavy things. We then investigated which exercises were best for raising our heart rate. We did stations of exercises which included skipping, running, sit ups, push ups and burpees. It was pretty fun, but we were very tired afterwards.

Here are some pictures of us exercising and checking our heart rate.

Constable Care comes to Wattle Grove

On Monday, 9th June,  Room 11 went to see a performance by Constable Care. We went with all the Year 2 and 3 classes. It was held in the Undercover Area at school. The show was a puppet show about cultural diversity. It was called Celebrations.

 Before we went to the show we looked at where the people in our class were born or where their families come from. Did you know that in Room 11, 9 people were born in a different country? Also that 13 students have parents who were born in a different country. Cool hey!

In the show the puppets had to research how to have a class party that would include everyone. They went to their class mates and found out what games they liked to play, what music they liked to listen to and what food they liked to eat. We learnt about a lot of different foods, music types and games from all over the world.

At the end Verity, the lady who was in charge, asked us questions about the play. Ariel and Elham each won a prize for getting questions correct.

We thought the play was funny, especially when the puppets tried to dance and to play 'Monkey Run to the Pole.' We couldn't stop laughing. It was interesting to listen to how different cultures celebrate. We think we might like to have a class party to celebrate the diversity in our class!  

Welcome to WA Week!

On Monday we had a public holiday to celebrate WA Day. All week long Wattle Grove classes have been looking at towns in Western Australia and learning about them. Room 11 have been learning about Rottnest Island.

Miss Ruddick showed us a PowerPoint about the history of Rottnest Island and some photos of the beautiful beaches and fun activities you can do over there. We made posters to encourage people to visit Rottnest.

We also wrote a persuasive text to try and convince people to choose Rottnest as a holiday destination. We also researched Rottnest Island on the internet and found facts about it. We typed these up and then displayed them from a giant net in our room.

We were also lucky enough to email the class that lives on Rottnest. We asked them some questions and they responded to us. We learnt that there are only 9 kids in their class, 8 girls and 1 boy, and they range from Kindy to Year 5. How strange!

We also created some Quokkas, the small marsupial that live at Rottnest and hid these around the room. Only two people correctly counted the Quokkas, they were Tyler and Cooper.

On Friday afternoon we got to visit the other classes and find out about what they had learnt this week. Room 10 researched Harvey, this is the home of the big orange. Room 9 learnt about Busselton, did you know that the Busselton jetty is 1.8km long! Room 8 learnt about Kalannie, this is where Mrs Beste grew up. Room 20 focused on Shark Bay, here there is a big area of stramatilites, which are very old fossils. Lastly Room 23 learnt about Halls Creek, this is mostly an Aboriginal township and they did some dot paintings.

We really enjoyed our afternoon of finding out about different towns in WA. It was interesting and educational.

Term 2 Update for Parents

Well this term has certainly started fast! We are already half way through Week 3 and 3/4 of the way through our NAPLAN testing. Thanks very much to parents who has made sure their child is having a good nights sleep, a nutritious breakfast and have spoken to their child about trying their best. The students have worked well during the test and I am confident they have tried their hardest.

During Term 2 we have started to look at history. We started with a broad look at Australian colonisation, then Western Australian colonisation. We will be moving into more local history. If you have any Wattle Grove historical objects, artefacts or pictures please send them in with your child to share.

Our Science topic this term is 'Heating Up' and we are looking at different heat sources. The students were given a small home project, to find a heat source, describe the amount of heat it produces and whether it produces it own heat. This project is due back to school tomorrow, Thursday 15th May. I can't wait to see what the students have investigated.

Please remember to make sure your child is completing their spelling homework every night, their maths homework to be marked on a Friday and that they read every single night. A variety of reading (silent, to a sibling, to a parent, choral reading with a partner, etc) and asking questions of their comprehension will help to improve their reading skill.

Miss Ruddick

ANZAC Day Letters

At the end of Term 1 we learnt about ANZAC Day. We looked at the conditions that the soldiers had to live under and the feelings they would have had. We then wrote our own letters, as if we were soldiers taking part in the Gallipoli landing. Here is a selection of them.


14th May 1915
Dear Mum, Dad and Hailey,
I'm in Gallipoli. It's truly horrifying in these smelly, uncomfortable, humid trenches. I lost my food in the attack a few weeks ago and now I am sharing with Ryan.
I'm first in command and Ryan's second. We're shooting at the Turks and they're shooting at us. Some of my closest friends have sacrificed themselves or got injured. 
All of us are scared but still show courage. We are still happy that we're serving our country at war.
I wish the tanks, bombers, warships and airforce were here to help though. I can't believe what is happening around here.
Please write back. Miss you a lot.
Love from Boston

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12th May 1915
Dear Mummy and Daddy,
I'm in the trenches, hungry and sad that some of my best friends have been shot. 
This is how it started, when we were almost to shore, the Turkish army started shooting at us because they could see us in the boats. I told the other people in my boat to get in the deep, cold and dangerous water. They agreed and jumped out of the boat and swam to shore.
We climbed up the steep, slippery hill. I saw someone die, I quickly got their dog tags and put it in my backpack. I followed the leader to a spot where they were going to build a trench. Here I am, in the trench now, thinking of you.
I hope I can see you again soon.
From Jacinta

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29th May 1915
To my whole family,
I really miss you. I am in Turkey. We landed in the wrong spot and everyone is shooting at us. We are not happy, we are horrified. It took us 2 hours to climb the soaring hill and it was so slippery my friend, Sargent Ruddick, got shot. I am so sad, luckily I have her dog tags.
I am so hot and the flies will not leave me alone. In my trench there are also heaps of bugs. The trenches are only 2 metres wide and 16 metres ahead. I lost my leg but Simpson helped me, then he got shot. I was the last person to see him. He was inspirational, bold and fascinating. I would love to come home and make people stop fighting because now I know how it feels.
Yours sincerely Ariel.
P.S. I love you with all my heart.

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May 8, 1915
To my lovely Mother,
The morning we arrived in Gallipoli it was very dark. Once we got to shore we figured out we were in the wrong place so we had to get up shore. It looked fine but the beach was cohered in rocks and we heard a loud bang. The Turkish started shooting at us.
Most of us survived but it was horrible. My friend Riley went with my battalion and he nearly lost his life but I sacrificed my arm for him. It was shot, I had to have it amputated.
It's so hot and there's flies everywhere in our trench. You have to risk your life just to refill your water bottle and now we're digging a new trench, I don't know if I will survive.
I really miss you and I hope to see you soon.
Love from Angus.

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13 May 1915
Dear Mum and Dad,
We've landed in Gallipoli and some people have dies already. I can hear gun shots from the Turkish soldiers up in the hills. I am starting to climb the steep and rocky hills. My commander told me to drop my food and start climbing.
We have almost reached the Turkish trenches. I have lost my best friend, Zac, but I found a guy called Riley. We are starting to attack the Turkish trenches. Riley sacrificed his life for me. I am so sad.
I am in Lone Pine and I have lost my arm. Even without my arm I helped injured people and put them on my back. I carried them to our trenches for safety. We are still shooting at the Turkish soldiers with our rifles and machine guns.
I would love to come back home and see you. 
I love you very much.
Love from Admiral Jake Barnes.

Aren't we amazing writers in Room 11!

NAPLAN Testing Week

Hi Parents,
Just a friendly reminder that this week we have our NAPLAN tests. Students will sit the Language Conventions and Writing test on Tuesday, Reading test on Wednesday and Numeracy test on Friday.
Please ensure that your child has:
- a good nights sleep the night before
- a nutritious breakfast in the morning
- lots of encouragement
- reminders that we are asking all children to just try their best

I hope you have a great week!