5/6 CLASSROOM
The past fortnight has been busy in the Grade 5/6 classroom, with lots of great learning opportunities and experiences. Students have been very flexible and have adapted well to our new timetable changes. I’m very proud of the positive way they have approached the changes while continuing to work hard and support one another.
Our students also represented St Mary’s wonderfully at the Interschool Cross Country on Wednesday. It was fantastic to see everyone giving their best, showing great participation and cheering on their peers throughout the day.
English
In English, students have enjoyed beginning our new class text, Us Mob Walawurru. We have started discussing the themes, characters and important messages presented throughout the story, with students already making thoughtful connections and predictions as we read together.
In Writing, students have been learning about the structure and language features required to write a factual recount. We have been exploring how factual recounts are organised and the importance of using clear, sequenced information to retell events.
SpellEx continues to run very well in the Grade 5/6 classroom. Students are responding positively to the explicit teaching of spelling strategies and are becoming more confident when identifying and remembering graphemes used to represent a range of tricky sounds.
Maths
In Maths, students have continued their learning around perimeter and area, using formulas to calculate the perimeter and area of a range of different shapes. Students have been building their understanding of when to apply each formula and how to accurately record their working out and measurements. It has been great to see students becoming more confident when solving problems and explaining their mathematical thinking.
Our Daily Review and fluency sessions continue to play an important role in our Maths learning each day. These sessions provide students with regular opportunities to revisit previous concepts, strengthen their understanding, and build confidence with key maths facts and strategies. The consistent practice is helping students improve their fluency and recall, while also allowing important skills and concepts to remain fresh and active within the classroom.
Art
In Art, students have been learning about Indigenous artist Albert Namatjira and looking closely at his painting Looking West, Spring Gap (1940). We discussed how his artwork is different to what many people might picture when they think of Indigenous art, and talked about how artists can express culture and identity in many different ways. Students also explored the colours and landscapes used throughout the painting and made connections to Australian landscapes they are familiar with.
Students then began creating a large collaborative artwork inspired by Looking West, Spring Gap. As part of the activity, students explored scale and proportion while carefully sketching their section of the artwork. It has been great to see the care, teamwork and attention to detail students have shown throughout the process.
Reminders
Student SRC: Friday - Odd Weeks
Assembly: Friday - Even Weeks
Sport: Friday – Even Weeks
Lunch Orders: Monday
Diaries: bring to school each day