News

The 5/6 classroom headed into the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden on Monday. Despite the chilly conditions, everyone got on with the job at hand. Next week we will be cooking in the kitchen. We have jumped back into Social Enterprise this week, with students considering a cause they would like to support through their enterprise.

Literacy

Students have continued reading their novels this week. Our guided reading focus is on inferencing. Students are practising this comprehension strategy to apply to their independent reading tasks. Please continue to encourage your child to read at home. The best readers often show us great writing. Writing is centred on information writing at the moment. Last week, students attempted to write from the perspective of a rock climber clinging to a rope held by his partner, inspired by the story of the British climbers in Touching the Void. We used our senses to take the reader there. Here are some samples:

My heart drops. The cold, dark snow slowly caked on my numb face, full of tears. Each time he slips, I feel my soul leave my body - Rosie B

I could hear the howling wind, the bitter taste of sweat dripped from my face. I was about to fall to my death. I felt my soft, tear covered cheeks. The loud snap came from the top of the rope. I felt my body drop as I let out a painful scream - Lilyana K

The feeling of a clump of snow shivers on my cold face like slime covering it. I want to wipe my face but I know I will have to let go. Suddenly, my heart drops. Thinking about my family and what I have done, a tear rolls down my eye. - Eddie P

As the harsh wind is blowing in my face, there is a bitter cold throughout my body. Every time I look up the snow falls down. My own life in my friends hands. -Charli E

Maths

We continue to move through our maths units. Students looked at Location and Transformation over the past fortnight and will focus on Fractions over the next fortnight. We have started by looking at the vocabulary of the unit. The following are words we will encounter:

equivalent fraction, half, third, quarter, whole, quantity, decimal, percentage, fraction, improper fraction, proper fraction, denominator and numerator

Inquiry

Our look at social justice continues. There have been some great discussions on empathy and ethical issues. Child labour will present us with an ethical dilemma later this week. Students will consider the following:

Should we buy the shoes the child makes even though he wants to be and should be at school?

Should we buy the shoes the child makes so that he can support his family?

Should we not buy the shoes because the owners of the business are making money from child labour?

Religion

Unfortunately, Sister Rita was unable to join us on Monday so we will reschedule in the coming week. Next week we hope to begin our Life Relationships unit which I know the students are really looking forward to! ;)

DIARY NOTES