Level 6: Connect

Canberra Camp

From exploring the halls of Parliament to enjoying exciting evenings with friends, our Grade 6 students had an unforgettable Canberra adventure filled with learning, laughter, and lifelong memories. The camp provided students with valuable opportunities to learn more about Australia’s history, government, and sporting culture while also developing independence and strengthening friendships.

Throughout the trip, students visited many iconic locations, including Parliament House, Royal Australian Mint, and the Australian Institute of Sport. These experiences brought classroom learning to life and gave students a deeper understanding of how our nation operates and celebrates achievement.

Students also thoroughly enjoyed the social side of the camp. Evening activities at Timezone Canberra and Questaconwere particular highlights, providing plenty of fun and laughter after busy days of exploring. The excellent accommodation ensured everyone was comfortable and well rested throughout the trip.

The bus rides quickly became another highlight, with students enjoying the chance to chat, laugh, and spend quality time with their friends. To top it all off, the plane trip home was an exciting and memorable finish to a fantastic week away.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government contributed funding to our school in the amount of $45 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate was passed on to families to reduce the overall cost of the excursion.

We are extremely proud of the way our students represented the school during the trip. They demonstrated enthusiasm, resilience, and respectful behaviour throughout the experience, making the Canberra camp an outstanding success.

Maths

Our Grade 6 students have been busy applying their mathematical skills over the past few weeks as they explored area and perimeter through a range of hands on activities and problem solving tasks. It has been fantastic to see students showing persistence and confidence as they applied their learning in different ways and worked through more challenging problems.

Some students also had the opportunity to participate in the first APSMO Problem Solving test, where they challenged themselves with a range of complex mathematical thinking tasks. 

We are now moving into our Multiplicative Thinking unit, where students have been exploring concepts such as factors, multiples and square numbers. It has been wonderful to see students using different strategies, making connections between number concepts and building their confidence as they deepen their mathematical understanding.

Literacy

Year 6 students have been busy learning and understanding how stories help us understand experiences very different from our own. Using our mentor text, A Long Walk To Water, they have been exploring perspective and searching for "grit imagery" - specific words and details that show a character's struggle and resilience. Students have been analysing how authors use imagery to make the reader feel the urgency of every step that the characters take. 

Our Canberra camp has provided the perfect inspiration for our writing! Year 6 have been working on writing a recount - mastering the facts, using precise dates, and using proper nouns to add detail to their sentences. Then, they've been shifting from the facts and transition over to the feeling - taking those camp memories and turning them into memoirs, focusing on their personal internal monologue and emotions of the trip. 

Inquiry 

Year 6 students have been busy exploring how geography helps us understand what makes places unique and how culture, identity, and belonging are shaped by the world around us. Through mapping activities, data collection, and investigations into landscapes and weather, students have been developing their geographical inquiry skills and learning how to interpret the world through different perspectives. Students have been comparing different countries such as Ireland and Australia and investigating how the terrain and landscape has influenced the development of sport and culture there. 

Students have also been investigating cultures, beliefs, and practices from around the world while making connections between communities, traditions, and personal identity. As part of our focus on change and sustainability, students have been examining how places evolve over time and how communities respond to environmental and human-made changes. 

Visual Art- please see the 'Specialist Happenings' for some exciting Level 6 art news from Ms Van Etten!

Important Dates