Year 5/6 - Senior Unit
It has been another busy and productive few weeks in the Senior Unit, with students continuing to work hard across all areas of their learning.
Our Year 5 students recently completed their NAPLAN assessments and showed excellent focus and determination throughout the testing period. Despite a few technical hiccups along the way, students demonstrated great flexibility and persistence. During this time, our Year 6 students enjoyed some dedicated Year 6 learning time, extending their thinking and working across a range of curriculum areas.
In Reading, we have begun exploring historical fiction texts including our study of Eureka! A Story from the Goldfields. Students have been investigating how authors combine factual historical events with fiction. We have also launched our book clubs, where small groups meet weekly to discuss their shared novel and practice important reading skills such as questioning, predicting and making connections.
In Writing, students have spent time strengthening their planning skills for different types of texts, including persuasive pieces and narratives. We are now beginning to develop our own historical fiction narratives based on the Victorian Gold Rush. In addition to this, students have also been busy writing speeches as part of the Junior School Council election process. We have discussed the qualities and values that make a strong JSC representative, and students are presenting their speeches to their classes this week. Voting will follow, with results announced soon.
In Mathematics, students have been exploring factors, multiples, prime and composite numbers, with our Year 6 students also investigating square and triangular numbers. We have recently moved into multiplying and dividing by powers of 10, and students have been demonstrating strong understanding and confidence in these concepts.
In Inquiry, we have continued building our knowledge of the Victorian Gold Rush and its impact on Australia. This week we have begun our final project, where students will create a “Mystery Box” filled with clues and artefacts that represent a historically accurate Gold Rush character, including their job and lifestyle. Students are very excited to begin designing and creating their boxes.
As part of our Harmony Day celebrations, students participated in a House Mates activity with students from across the school. Our Year 5 and 6 students were paired with a younger buddy from their house group to complete an activity together. The senior students did a fantastic job guiding and supporting the younger students throughout the session.
It has been wonderful to see students embracing their learning, supporting one another and continuing to develop the skills expected of Year 5 and 6 learners.
Year 5/6 Teachers
Lyndsay Adamson (56A), Sharna Ford (56F), Ann Ireland (56I) and
Alison Meggs/Iain Sparrey (56M)