30th January 2012 Dear Parents, We have now commenced our Unit of Inquiry under the transdisciplinary theme:

How the World Works Central idea: Awareness of the changes around us helps us understand our natural world

Lines of inquiry How living things change over time Factors that influence changes in nature

Key Concepts Change: Growth, sequence, cycles Form: Classification, plants and animals Causation: Consequences, pattern

This unit involves the children exploring the natural world around them with a particular focus on life cycles. They will have opportunities to observe and record changes in living things and to also consider what affects their change. The children will share their understandings in a variety of ways, including through the use of flow charts.

Transdisciplinary skills Communication skills: Using language to explain, inquire and compare Research skills: Reading non-fiction texts for information. Observing and collecting data. Recording observations/ information by drawing, using flow charts, keeping a journal or record, and writing reports. Thinking skills: Analysing and synthesising

Mathematical skills (measurement and data handling):

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Applying measurement skills through non-standard units. For example, measuring the growth of plants (height).

Applying data handling skills. For example, creating a table/chart to record growth of a person, animal or plant.

How you can help at home Start with the family - look at photographs to see how family members (especially older ones) have changed over their lifetimes, talk about life cycles that are familiar (people, pets, butterflies)

Discuss observations children have of how changes occur around them

Read and enjoy non-fiction texts about living things

Explain the vocabulary listed below to your child in their mother tongue living, non-living, change, nature, birth, growth, death, male, female, life cycle, plant, animal, seed, seedling, sprout, germinate,

Help your child develop their natural curiosity for living things in his/her environment and discover how they are growing and changing.

If you feel you have a special talent or contribution to make to your son or daughters class concerning this unit of inquiry, please contact the relevant teacher.

Thank you, The Year One Team