Year 5

                   Welcome to Year 5, 2025!

A very warm welcome back to our 2025 Year 5 students and families. The move to the Senior School has certainly been an exciting one for many of our learners, who have settled in beautifully to the new year. 

Inquiry

In term 1, our Geography Inquiry unit, 'A Diverse and Connected World', will underpin our learning across all other areas. Students will begin by learning about Australia's population, environmental diversity, demographic, culture, and broader geographical data, before expanding this knowledge and these skills to learn about places on a global scale - namely: Europe, North America, and Asia. 

Numeracy

Our Term 1 topics include: place value, data,and angles. Connections between and across these units will provide students with opportunities to revisit topics on an ongoing basis, and authentically apply their knowledge and skills in meaningful ways. 

Problem solving, collaboration, and hands-on learning experiences will be prioritised to support risk-taking, growth mindsets, and thinking strategies. Inquiry and problem-based learning will support students in drawing connections between topics.

Literacy

Our year begins with a focus on establishing Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop processes, structures, and protocols in our classrooms. Students will revisit the use of Reader’s Notebooks to track thinking while actively reading, and the daily use of a Writer’s Notebooks to ignite creativity, individuality, and voice and choice in writing. 

Our first mentor text of the term, 'Suri's Wall' by Lucy Estela, explores themes of individual differences, loneliness, friendship, and compassion; as well as broader themes such as displaced, and the power of the human spirit. Our study of Suri will draw connections with geographical concepts of place and migration.

NAPLAN

In 2025, NAPLAN will take place between the 12-24th March. In the lead up to NAPLAN, we aim to best prepare our Year 5 students to approach the series of assessments without fear or worry. While students cannot 'study' for the test (as content changes from year to year), they can prepare by continuing to use and strengthen their personal reading, writing, language, and number skills.

Strategically, students will engage in weekly lessons across literacy and numeracy; they will have frequent exposures, and ongoing opportunities, to read, comprehend and interpret practice questions and materials with guidance from their teachers and peers. In doing so, we hope to reduce any feelings of anxiety and increase feelings of confidence ahead of their testing. 

Important Dates

Tuesday 25th March – School Photo Day

Friday 4th April - End of Term 1

Term 2 Week 1 (Tuesday 22nd - Thursday 24th April) - Year 5 and 6 School Camp 

(keep an eye out for more information on camp shortly!)

Don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher for any questions or concerns.

The Year 5 Team