Hello from 5/6J  

Literacy – Poetic Devices and Forms

This term so far in Literacy, students have been diving into the wonderful world of poetry! We have been analysing how authors use figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification, and hyperbole) to make their writing more expressive and meaningful. Students have investigated these devices in the context of poetry and have come to find how author's use them to make poetry more engaging and emotional. 

Students became poets themselves, experimenting with a variety of poetic forms such as AABB stanza poems, ABAB alternating rhyme schemes, limericks, haikus, diamantes, and colour poems. 5/6J have done well to learn and improve on the form of their poetry while also filling them with colourful and engaging figurative language. 

Mathematics – Negative Numbers, Rounding, and Real-World Budgets

In Mathematics so far this term, 5/6J have been developing their number fluency and real-world problem-solving skills. We began by exploring negative numbers, learning how to add and subtract them through number lines, games, and real-life contexts such as changes in temperature or financial gain and loss.

Students have also practised rounding numbers to different place values, improving their ability to estimate and check the reasonableness of their answers particularly in the context of money and budgeting, where students planned events with a set budget, calculated costs, and made decisions about spending and saving:

SWPBS and Wellbeing – Respect, Responsibility, and Positive Self-Talk

Our SWPBS and Wellbeing focus this term so far has been on Respect - Inclusion, and Positive Self-Talk. Students have also revisited classroom routines such as packing up efficiently and beginning tasks promptly, recognising how these habits support both learning and respect for others.

In Wellbeing, we explored the power of self-talk by acting out short scenarios where “positive” and “negative” voices were personified. Through discussion and reflection, students learnt strategies to reframe negative thoughts and practise encouragement and persistence, even when challenges arise.

Inquiry – The Human Body Systems

In Inquiry, our budding scientists have been exploring the systems of the human body and how they work together to keep us alive and healthy. Each student is part of a research group focusing on one of the six key body systems, creating informative and eye-catching posters to teach others about their system’s organs and functions.

A highlight of the week was our interactive Minecraft lesson on the circulatory system, where students simulated the movement of blood through the heart, lungs, and body.