Year 5 News

How Fast is this Term Flying?! 

It’s hard to believe we’re already at Week 6 of Term 2. The past fortnight has been a dynamic mix of assessments, epic natural disasters, and hands-on learning adventures. Read on to see what your young learners have been up to! 

Putting Learning to the Test 

Over the past two weeks, our Year 5 students have been hard at work completing a variety of literacy and numeracy assessments. These help us as teachers figure out the next steps for each learner, making sure every student is challenged and supported in just the right ways. These results will also form an important part of our upcoming parent/teacher interviews, giving us rich insight into each child’s growth and goals. 

Despite the word “assessment” usually sounding a bit dry, the students approached their tasks with genuine focus and determination. We were super impressed by their effort, resilience and positive mindset! 

Inquiry Unit Launch

How the World Works 

We’ve officially launched our latest Unit of Inquiry under the transdisciplinary theme How the World Works. Our Central Idea is: “Changes to the Earth's surface and natural environment can impact communities.” 

To dive into this concept, students were assigned different locations from across the globe, each known for its unique environmental challenges. In small groups, students researched their assigned city or town, exploring areas such as geography, demographics, geographical features, climate, infrastructure, wildlife and conservation. 

They then got creative, constructing detailed models of their towns using a mix of art, design and collaboration. There was some serious innovation happening here! 

The IMAX Experience 

Natural Disasters in Action! 

To bring the learning to life, we ventured into the city for an excursion to IMAX, where we watched a breathtaking documentary all about natural disasters. Seeing forests burn, tornadoes swirl, ice shelves melt and volcanoes erupt on the enormous IMAX screen was an unforgettable experience. 

The kids were absolutely buzzing with excitement afterwards, full of questions, theories and newfound knowledge. 

Destruction Strikes! (On Purpose…) 

But just as they were basking in their success… disaster struck! Back in the classroom, we simulated real-life natural disasters to see how their model towns would hold up under pressure. Think teachers shaking vigorously for earthquakes, leaf blowers for cyclones, lighters for fire, vinegar and bicarb for volcanoes and a cheeky water bottle or two for floods. 

Let’s just say—there were gasps, laughter and a few cries of “Noooooo!” as models were flattened, splashed or swept away. Check out the photos and videos for some priceless reactions! 

This destruction wasn’t just for fun—it was the perfect spark to get students thinking critically about engineering, resilience, adaptation and survival. Over the coming weeks, students will take part in rotations exploring sudden geological changes like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis, as well as extreme weather events like tornadoes, typhoons and cyclones. 

Each rotation will deepen their understanding of the science behind these phenomena and their impact on people and places. 

Looking Ahead 

There’s so much more learning to come, and we’re excited to continue building on the curiosity and creativity sparked by this unit. Keep your eyes peeled for invites to upcoming parent/teacher interviews and any future excursions or learning showcases. 

As always, thank you for your ongoing support at home—your interest and encouragement make a big difference.