5/6 CLASSROOM
English
Persuasive Letters to the Arctic Council
Our students have been working diligently on their persuasive letters to the Arctic Council, advocating for greater action to protect polar bears. They have followed the structure of a formal letter and thoughtfully developed an introduction, three clear supporting paragraphs, and a well-rounded conclusion. Throughout the process, they have drawn on the notes and factual information gathered during our Literature lessons to strengthen their arguments. This task has encouraged them to think critically and write with purpose, and they should be very proud of their efforts. Keep an eye out in the next newsletter, where we will share some of their impressive letters.
Maths
Data Investigation
To finish off our unit on Data Investigation, students designed their own survey question, collected responses, and then used Excel to create a graph that represented their findings. This task gave them a chance to apply their learning in a practical and engaging way, and they enjoyed seeing their data come to life.
Fractions, Decimals and Percentages
In Maths this week, students have just begun exploring Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages, and how to convert between all three. Even in these early lessons, they have shown great initiative and persistence, which has been wonderful to see. We have started learning how to find complementary percentages that make 100%, how to recognise and represent percentages using a hundred grid, and how to convert between tenths, hundredths, and percentages. Students are off to a strong start and are already building confidence in this new topic.
Religious Education
Old Turtle (Creation and Our Responsibility)
This week, students listened to the story Old Turtle and explored its messages about creation, connection, and our responsibility to care for the world. After watching the video and spending time in quiet reflection, students discussed the key ideas that stood out to them, including the importance of respecting all of creation, living in harmony, recognising God in all things, and understanding that we are part of creation—not above it.
Students then recorded their own reflections, identifying the wisdom they heard in the story and how Old Turtle believes the world should be. To deepen their understanding, students created a word-art cloud that represented their knowledge of creation and the messages that resonated most strongly with them. This visual task allowed students to express themes such as peace, unity, care for the environment, and the interconnectedness of all living things.
Through reflection, discussion, and creative expression, students demonstrated a thoughtful understanding of the story’s message. They showed an emerging awareness of their role in caring for the earth and one another, and recognised the sacredness present in all aspects of creation.
We’re incredibly proud of the effort, focus, and positive attitude our 5/6 students have shown over the past few weeks. They continue to grow in confidence and independence, and it’s a joy to see. Between now and the end of the term, we’re excited to see them build on these achievements, take on new challenges, and continue sharing their learning with the school community.
