Year 5 News
Reading
This fortnight in Reading, Year 5 students have been learning to describe characters using both physical and personality traits. Physical traits describe what a character looks like, while personality traits describe how a character thinks, feels, or acts. Students have been identifying these traits in texts by looking at the author’s descriptive language and applying this knowledge to their own independent reading.
Year 5 students have explored narrative texts by identifying key features such as orientation, characters, setting, problem, and resolution. They have discussed how authors structure stories and use language to create meaning. Students have looked closely at the main problems characters face and how these drive the plot forward, as well as how stories often conclude with clear resolutions.
“It was fun to learn things about others.” - Ivan 5D
“It was fun and interesting find the character traits.” - Evan 5A
Writing
In Writing, Year 5 students have started using a Writer’s Notebook to capture their ideas, thoughts, and memories. They have learned how to create seed pages, small idea starters like “Things that make me happy”, “Times I felt…”, and “Things I did not do on the holidays” that can grow into stories, poems, or reports. Students are also practicing shaping their ideas by leaving space on their pages to think about how these small ideas might develop into longer pieces of writing.
Year 5 students have also learned about the writing technique “Show, Don’t Tell”, which helps make their stories more interesting by using descriptive details to show feelings and events, rather than just telling the reader.
“I love using my creativity to create seed pages in my Writer’s Notebook.” - Chelsy 5C
“I enjoyed being able to draw and use my imagination.” - Naya 5D
‘I enjoyed being able to draw the most.” - Aaron 5D
“When we want to write a story, we can look at our seed pages and write a story about our ideas.” - Mara 5A
Maths
Over the past two weeks in Maths, Year 5 students have been exploring decimals, focusing on how both represent parts of a whole. They have learned to read, write, order, and compare decimals using place value language, with practical examples like money and running times to support their understanding.
At the same time, students have been making connections between fractions, decimals, and percentages, three different ways to show the same value. For example, they have learned that ½ is the same as 0.5 or 50%. Students have enjoyed participating in engaging activities and discussions on how these concepts link together in everyday life.
“Decimals have been a fun challenge for us to learn about.” - Holly 5C
“I really enjoy decimals as we learnt how to use them with money. It helps us with shopping.” - Ibrahim 5B
“I found it easy.” - Jhavier 5D
“I learnt how to match them together.” - Zein 5A
Inquiry
In Inquiry, Year 5 students have been learning how Earth has changed over time, starting with the supercontinent Pangea. After watching a video and discussing why it broke apart, students wrote creative journal entries imagining themselves as children living on Pangea. Students also explored how humans have changed the environment by analysing photos. They discussed the positive and negative impacts of these changes and reflected on what might happen in the future.
“I like learning about how humans have influenced change in our environment.” - Andre 5B
“I liked seeing how the supercontinent was formed.” - Zach 5D
Auslan
This fortnight in Auslan, Year 5 students revised the key communication signs that they have learned so far, such as farm animals, numbers, greetings, household objects and many more. Students have also learned about Deaf Culture and discovered that certain behaviours, like eye contact, tapping to get attention, and sitting face-to-face, are important cultural norms that support clear communication. They have also reflected on what they learned by writing about two important aspects of Deaf Culture and why they matter.
Social and Emotional Learning
In SEL, Year 5 students have revisited some SWPBS (School Wide Positive Behaviour Support) lessons. They have been focusing on how to be responsible during play and when using technology. In the yard, they explored which areas are out of bounds and which games can be played in each space. Using the school map, students matched play equipment to the correct locations and discussed expectations, such as, only playing football on the oval, staying out of garden beds, and using the right playground for their year level. Students have also revisited how to safely use the iPads and laptops, how to be safe online, and be responsible with school property.
Students also began their new SEL Topic on ‘Positive Coping’. They learned that self-talk is the inner voice in our heads and that it can be positive or negative. They explored how negative self-talk can make us feel worse, while positive self-talk can help us cope with challenges. Through role plays, students practised recognising negative thoughts and responding with encouraging, helpful self-talk, like having a coach in their minds.