Year 5 Spotlight

In Literacy, our Year 5 students have begun reading Holes by Louis Sachar this term with great enthusiasm. Before starting the novel, we focused on building their background knowledge by exploring the difference between rules and crimes. Students engaged in thoughtful discussions and debates about whether different scenarios were fair or unfair, helping them develop an early understanding of justice and consequences - key themes that arise throughout the story.

To make connections to the setting, we compared our own camp experiences to Camp Green Lake, sparking lots of curiosity and discussion. Students were especially surprised to discover that there is, in fact, no lake at all. As we read, we are taking a whole-class approach, with students reading aloud to help build confidence in their public speaking. We regularly pause to unpack new and unfamiliar vocabulary, ensuring all students can access and understand the text.

Although we are only a few chapters in, students are already highly engaged. As the term progresses, we will be exploring fossils to connect with elements of the story, and diving deeper into character development and themes. This will support students in making meaningful connections and developing a richer understanding of the novel.

As a creative response, students have drawn their own interpretations of the yellow-spotted lizard from the story. Using descriptive language from the text, they visualised and illustrated what they think this dangerous creature looks like, helping them to engage more deeply with imagery and build their comprehension through art.