Year 5/6 News
ENGLISH
Reading:
This term in Reading, Grade 5/6 students delved into the power of texts to teach us about the world, especially through the exciting lenses of sport and animals. They explored how features like headings, diagrams and captions work together to build meaning in informative texts. Our readers became text detectives, uncovering how images and words combine in graphic and procedural texts to enhance understanding. Students also made rich personal connections, linking their reading to their own lives and passions. They sharpened their inference skills, using dialogue, actions and feelings to uncover character traits, emotions and motivations in short stories and real-world examples. Later in the term, they tackled more complex texts, identifying multiple causes behind problems and identifying main ideas in challenging passages. A real highlight was diving into persuasive texts, where students learned to spot emotive language and evaluate evidence. These lessons helped shape thoughtful, articulate readers who can now explain and defend their opinions with growing confidence!
Writing:
This term in Writing, Grade 5/6 students explored the craft of communication through informative texts, grammar deep-dives and creative expression. They learned how to construct clear and engaging information reports, developing strong topic sentences and organising ideas into logical sections. A key focus this term was grammar and sentence construction. Students strengthened their understanding of nouns, verbs and adjectives, and investigated how the same word can take on different roles depending on its context. They explored the differences between regular and irregular verbs, and applied this knowledge when drafting and editing their own work. These grammar foundations helped them become more intentional and effective writers. Students also reflected on the purpose and audience of their writing, choosing powerful verbs and descriptive adjectives to make their information reports more engaging and clear. Well done, Grade 5/6s.
MATHEMATICS
This term, the Grade 5/6 students dived into a range of exciting mathematical concepts that built both their understanding and confidence as problem-solvers. They explored numbers by representing decimal numbers on a number line and worked with fractions—including representing fractions, improper fractions, and their conversion to mixed numbers. In measurement, students used protractors to estimate, construct, and measure angles in degrees, labelled and named angles, and investigated angles within 2D shapes. This knowledge was applied to a range of hands-on design tasks that helped students see the relevance of mathematics in everyday life. They also compared 3D objects to their nets and built them to deepen spatial understanding. In measurement, students converted time between am/pm and 24-hour formats. Throughout the term, they developed and applied mental and written strategies for addition and subtraction, including problems that involved fractions. We were excited to see the students grow in their mathematical thinking and apply their learning in creative and practical ways!
INQUIRY
In Inquiry this term, the Grade 5/6 students have been exploring democracy in Australia through a unit called ‘Decisions, Decisions, Decisions’. They have investigated how democratic governments operate with a particular focus on Australia. Including identifying the values that underpin Australia’s democracy as well as the roles of local, state and federal governments. They have also had the opportunity to discover the rights and responsibilities of an Australian citizen, and the similarities and differences between rules and laws. Ultimately, students have applied their learning by forming a political party that will run for either federal, state, or local government. This has included creating advertising materials and drafting policies and a campaign launch speech.
SCIENCE
In Science this term, 5/6 students have focused on the Chemical Science unit called ‘Changes’. Throughout this unit, students were introduced to a variety of new concepts, including chemical and physical changes, reversible and irreversible changes, homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures, observable signs that a chemical reaction has taken place and the difference between a mixture and a compound. They have also engaged in experiment safety sessions. In completion of this unit, students have demonstrated their understanding by creating a pyramid diorama.
LOTE - AUSLAN
During this term we learnt about: – Food/Lunch, Inside Appliances, Medical #2, Fingerspelling, Camping, Birds, Materials, HOLM + NMF #2, Constructed Action/Role Shift, including revision. Constructed Action/mime was a feature this term, where students were encouraged to use their bodies and facial expression to extend their Auslan communication. This was an important feature of the Auslan Language. Improving this skill enabled Year 5/6 students to become more expressive in Auslan.
The Revision lesson introduced the life stories of some Deaf people and their culture.
The students were provided with an opportunity to learn about Deaf Culture, whilst
developing their receptive skills. The Year 5/6 students were encouraged to create their
own ‘story’ telling about themselves, drawing on their past learning. Fingerspelling activities provided continued practice to encourage students’ ability and confidence.
With HOLM + NMF (the features of Auslan – Handshape, Orientation, Location,
Movement and Non-manual features [facial expression and body language]), the
students learnt about minimal pairs where one feature changes (handshape, whilst the
other features remained the same) and the impact this has on the meaning of a sign.
At this level the students were learning the significance of the features of Auslan.
ART
The Year 5/6s have had an excellent second term of learning in Art, exploring and deepening their technical skills and knowledge of this year’s big idea, ‘My artistic inner world’. We have had in-depth discussions, analysing and comparing artworks, as well as developing our understanding of art as a vehicle for meaningful communication and self-expression. The students began the term by creating an artwork about a place that stands out in their memory. They came up with a range of different places, including scenes in nature, countries, family homes and even imaginary ones.
Following this, the 5/6s researched an artist that interests them and created an ‘appropriated’ (their own) version of one of their artworks. It was great to see the students respond to the expansive mixture of art on the Google Arts and Culture app, selecting something that speaks to them, asking questions and interpreting it from their unique individual perspectives. Together, we studied the rainbow-hued artwork of David McDiarmid, finding inspiration for artworks that incorporated a message that we each hold personally important. Many of the students chose to create artworks featuring rainbow colours to show respect for the LGBTQIA community, with Pride Month falling in June.
As part of Reconciliation Week, we enjoyed looking at the First Peoples Art Trams, an ongoing project featuring the artwork of First Peoples on Melbourne trams. Each student designed their own art tram in response, which we turned into collages - look out for them around the school! We are currently working on a challenging self-portrait project, aspiring to draw realistic graphite portraits, based on black and white photographs that the students have taken of each other. We are excited to share them with you, hopefully early next term. The students’ ongoing enthusiasm, curiosity, focus and resilience has been exceptional this semester, and I look forward to another brilliant semester in the art room!
P.E.
It’s been another busy and exciting term for our Grade 5/6 students, filled with learning, teamwork, and plenty of opportunities to shine! A huge highlight this term was the range of interschool sport events, with students proudly representing our school in cross-country running, netball, tee-ball, and soccer. A special congratulations goes to both our mixed and girls netball teams, who finished as runners-up in their respective competitions — an outstanding achievement! A heartfelt thank you also goes to all the staff who coached teams, attended events, and supported our students throughout these competitions. Our school community should be incredibly proud of how our students represented us with enthusiasm, fairness, and school spirit.
In weekly PE lessons, students focused on soccer and athletics. They built on their soccer skills by practising kicking to pass and score, and then put these into action through small-sided games. Each class held its own mini soccer tournament — a fun and competitive way to build teamwork, follow rules, and take ownership of a structured game. The students embraced the challenge, showing great sportsmanship and leadership.
This term also saw students take part in our Bike Ed program. They learned about riding safely and responsibly, gained confidence on their bikes, and developed a strong understanding of how to share the road and paths respectfully. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to build independence and real-world safety skills.
Well done to all our Grade 5/6 students for your dedication and effort this term. Keep up the amazing work — we’re excited to see what you’ll achieve in the second half of the year!