Monarch 

Grade 5 Newsletter – July 2026

It has been another busy and productive month in Grade 5, with students continuing to work hard across all learning areas. We are proud of the enthusiasm, resilience and positive attitudes students have shown towards their learning and their contributions to our classroom community. 

There are plenty of exciting events still to come this term. Students are looking forward to the SPLASH Excursion on Wednesday 12th August, where they will enjoy a fun-filled day of water activities. They will also participate in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra – Jams for Schools Workshop on Tuesday 18th August, providing a wonderful opportunity to experience live music and engage in an interactive workshop. During Book Week, students will enjoy a special incursion on 21st August that celebrates reading and the joy of books. Looking ahead to next term, excitement is already building for the Grade 5 & 6 Camp at Campaspe Downs from 21st–23rd October, where students will have opportunities to challenge themselves, develop teamwork skills and create lasting memories.

Reading

In Reading, students developed their comprehension skills by using monitoring and questioning strategies before, during and after reading. They learned to pause, check their understanding, and ask questions to clarify important information.

Students also practised inferring meaning by combining clues from the text with their own prior knowledge. They explored different points of view from which a text can be told, with a focus on identifying and comparing first-person and third-person narration.

During Word Study, students revised the correct use of apostrophes, including singular and plural possessive apostrophes. They also continued watching weekly BTN News episodes and answered comprehension questions that developed their understanding of key ideas, vocabulary and current events.

Writing

In Writing, students planned and created historical recounts. They focused on organising significant events in chronological order and using time connectives to guide the reader through their recounts.

Students also learned to construct complex sentences that provided greater detail about historical events, including their causes and consequences. They drafted, revised, edited and published their completed historical recounts.

Mathematics

In Mathematics, students explored fractions, decimals and percentages, with a focus on understanding the relationships between these different representations.

Students learned to:

• identify equivalent fractions, decimals and percentages
• convert between familiar fractions, decimals and percentages
• compare and order values
• solve problems involving parts of a whole
• explain their mathematical thinking using models and number lines

Inquiry

Our Inquiry focus this term was Civics and Citizenship. Students learned about the separation of powers and the different responsibilities of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.

They also explored how a proposed new law, known as a bill, moved through Parliament before it could become law. Students investigated important human rights, including freedom of belief and religion, and discussed how these rights support fairness, respect and inclusion within a democratic society.

Social and Emotional Learning

In Social and Emotional Learning, students discussed the importance of help-seeking. They identified trusted people and strategies they could use when they experienced a problem or needed support.

Students also explored gratitude and considered how recognising positive experiences, people and opportunities could support wellbeing, build resilience, and strengthen relationships.