Year 5/6
Level Newsletter
Teacher Email Address Contacts
Upcoming Important Dates
From The Team
Welcome back to Term 3! It's hard to believe we're already two weeks in. The 5/6 Team hopes all our students and their families had a fantastic break.
This term has started off very busy. On the first day back, all 5/6 students took part in a science incursion with ThermoFisher Scientific, where they learnt how to extract DNA from a strawberry using a variety of scientific equipment. Our camp preparations are also well underway, and we appreciate the families who returned their forms at the end of last term. We're now in the final stages of organising, and are excited about heading to Sovereign Hill on Monday 5th August.
Year 6/7 Transition: Thank you to all our Year 6 families who have already returned their Year 7 Acceptance Slip to Jordyn. These forms need to be submitted by Wednesday, 7th August, 2024. If you need a hard copy, please ask your child to see Miss Whittington, and she will send one home.
We hope you all have a wonderful weekend and look forward to seeing you on Monday!
- Jordyn, Sarah and Tracy
What We Are Learning
Reminders
Homework
As Term 3 has begun, fortnightly homework continues! Students are expected to complete the allocated maths grid and writing task, along with their 20 minutes of nightly reading.
Year 5/6 Camp
With camp being just around the corner, we advise that families start looking at the packing checklist that was sent home last term to check that they have everything needed. If there are any questions, please contact us for support.
Try This...
What We Are Learning In Specialist Classes In Term 3
Visual Arts
This term, Visual Arts will be taught by Mr Lachlan Byass, as Karen Coster will be on Long Service Leave for most of the term. Students will start the term exploring drawing, using close observations. They will create value scales by applying different pressures when using a HB or 2B greylead. Later in the term, students will create an infinity collage and explore Tim Burton’s character drawings.
Mandarin
To be advised when Ms Hou returns from Long Service Leave.
Science
During Term 3, students in Year 5/6 will be learning about the states of matter. They will be investigating the properties that help to classify substances as solids, liquids and gases. Students will also be exploring the way solids, liquids and gases change under different situations, such as heating or combining substances.
Performing Arts
In Performing Arts this term, students will rehearse with classroom instruments in an ensemble setting. They will have some autonomy over the parts they focus on and their instrumental positions. Students will be encouraged to learn multiple parts and attempt multiple instruments for each piece of ensemble repertoire. They will also be learning/refreshing the following chord shapes on the ukulele: C, F, A minor G, E minor, D7, and will work towards changing between chords with fluency to perform songs.
Physical Education
This term, Physical Education will be taught by Mr Lachlan Byass, as Karen Coster will be on Long Service Leave for most of the term. Students will learn the sports of AFL football and soccer. In Week 3 students have the opportunity to participate in Hoop Time at the State Basketball Centre. Summer Sport (cricket, hot shot tennis, volleyball and softball) will be in Weeks 8 and 9, and some students will attend Division Athletics in Week 10.
ThermoFisher Scientific Incursion
On Monday 15th July, all of the 5/6 students came back to school for a shock. The ThermoFisher staff surprised us with a science incursion on the first day back. We were faced with the challenge of extracting strawberry DNA. We used a special mixture called lysis buffer. The lysis buffer contained salt, water and dish soap. We put the water into test tubes, sprinkled salt, and used a mixing technique called inverting. Then we put a strawberry into a ziplock bag and crushed it with our hands. We poured the lysis buffer into the bag with the strawberry. Once it was mixed thoroughly, we poured the liquid into a cup with a coffee filter. This separated the liquid from the solid pieces of strawberry. The liquid was mixed with isopropyl alcohol in a test tube. The DNA started to separate and float to the top. It looked like a small, white, fluffy ball. After we extracted the strawberry DNA, we gave it back to the helpful scientists and they disposed of it. This activity was really fun for us and a good learning experience. We hope the other 5/6 students enjoyed it as much as we did. Thank you ThermoFisher for helping us with this activity.
By Tyler, Mason, Jaxx, Tommy, Annie, Bella L
