Year 5 Update

Weeks 6 & 7

Madagascar Production – A Roaring Success!

What a spectacular evening we had at the Madagascar school production! After six months of rehearsals, our Year 5 students took to the stage with confidence, creativity, and joy. For many, this was a leap outside their comfort zone—but they showed incredible resilience and gave it their all. The excitement before stepping on stage and the elation afterwards were unforgettable! A huge thank you to all families who came along to support our performers—it meant the world to them.

Book Week – Celebrating Literature

We celebrated Book week with costumes, storytelling, and creative literacy activities. It was wonderful to see students dressed as their favourite book characters and sharing their love of reading. Activities included partner narrative writing, scavenger hunts, author fact files, and book cover redesigns. This was a joyful reminder of how stories can spark imagination and connection.

English – Narrative Writing & Historical Fiction

In English, students continued exploring narrative writing through the lens of historical fiction. Using the gold rush era as inspiration, they wrote realistic letters from the perspective of characters like Henry or imagined themselves living in the 1850s. Students practised using formal language, descriptive vocabulary, and emotional voice to bring their writing to life. Differentiated templates supported all learners, and extension students reflected on how gold discoveries might change their futures.

Mathematics – Diving into Division

Our division unit is well underway! Students have been learning to divide using strategies like halving, short division, and the reverse area model. They’ve explored the inverse relationship between multiplication and division, used estimation strategies, and applied their knowledge to real-world contexts. From cookie arrays to lunchbox challenges, students are developing confidence in solving division problems with and without remainders.

Humanities – Life on the Goldfields

In Humanities, students examined the environmental, economic, and population impacts of the gold rush. Using visual mind maps and cause-effect charts, they explored how gold discoveries led to deforestation, new towns, and rapid immigration. Students also learned about the experiences of Chinese miners, discussing discrimination, contributions, and cultural perspectives. Empathy writing tasks helped students understand life on the goldfields from multiple viewpoints.

Looking Ahead

We have some exciting things coming up, including:

• 2026 Leadership Applications – Students will begin preparing to apply for Year 6 leadership roles.
• Year 6 Top Designs – A chance to showcase creativity and innovation.
• Father’s Day & Special Others Breakfast – A lovely opportunity to celebrate the important people in our students’ lives.

Thank you for your continued support. We’re so proud of the growth and enthusiasm our Year 5 students are showing across all areas of learning!

Warm regards,

The Year 5 Team