Year Five
Dear Year Five Families,
What an engaging and productive week it has been in Year Five! Students have shown wonderful creativity, teamwork, and confidence across all learning areas as they wrapped up another week of Term 4. From exploring character voices to preparing persuasive pitches, the classrooms have been full of excitement and innovation.
Reading
This week in Reading, students enjoyed the picture book, ‘Escargot’, using it to explore how authors create character voice and personality. They identified language choices that make characters engaging and expressive, and discussed how Escargot’s dramatic, French-inspired tone adds humour and charm. Students practised writing their own short pieces in the style of Escargot, experimenting with tone and confidence in their own writing. Later in the week, the Year Five’s continued to explore the text, Boy at the Back of the Class. They investigated the characters’ thoughts, feelings, and the deeper social and cultural contexts in literature.
Writing
Our Writing focus continued to link strongly with Inquiry as students worked on their Shark Tank presentations. They refined persuasive pitches for their chosen products, using a mixture of the CATS, PEEL, ESC structure to plan clear, engaging speeches. We explored what makes a strong presentation, from confident body language to clear communication and structure. Students also designed creative billboards to advertise their products, applying persuasive techniques and design principles to catch their audience’s attention. The week concluded with groups finalising and rehearsing their pitches, ready to impress our Shark Tank judging panels!
Maths
In Mathematics, students deepened their understanding of measurement through hands-on exploration of capacity, volume, and mass. They identified when to use each unit of measurement and solved real-life problems involving conversions between litres, millilitres, grams, and kilograms. Later in the week, students revisited area and perimeter, designing garden layouts on grid paper and using their knowledge to calculate fencing, compost needs, and planting arrangements. These activities encouraged reasoning, problem-solving, and connections between mathematics and the real world.
Inquiry
Our Shark Tank unit is in full swing! Students worked collaboratively in small business teams to refine their products, marketing strategies, and ethical considerations. They examined how advertising can influence consumer decisions and discussed the importance of making sustainable, responsible business choices. Each team prepared for their upcoming Shark Tank presentations, where they’ll pitch their ideas to teachers acting as industry experts. It’s been inspiring to see students’ creativity, innovation, and teamwork shine.
Important Reminders
• Upcoming events/payments: Life Ed and Beach Program – permission forms and payments due by 7 November via XUNO.
• No Hat, No Play: All students must wear a bucket hat (not a cap) when outside.
• MacBooks: Bring to school daily, fully charged.
• Mobile Phones: Must be handed to teachers at the start of the day and collected at dismissal.
• Uniform: Full academic uniform each day; PE uniform only on sports days. Long hair tied back.
• Late Arrivals: Students arriving after 8:40 am must sign in at the office.
• Absences: Please log absences on XUNO as early as possible.
• Student-Free Days : Monday 3/11 - Curriculum Day - and Tuesday 4/11 - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
Kind regards,
The Year Five Team