Year Five/Six News 

Reading

In Reading this term, students have been developing their ability to write structured reading responses, with a strong focus on making meaningful connections and drawing thoughtful inferences. They are learning to support their ideas with clear evidence from the text and explain their thinking in detail. We have also begun guided reading groups to provide targeted support and extension opportunities. Some students are participating in novel studies, including War Horse, where they are exploring character development and themes in greater depth. As a whole class, we are reading Blueback by Tim Winton, using the novel to explore themes of sustainability and the importance of caring for our waterways and environment.

Writing 

Students have begun drafting and publishing their narrative writing pieces. They have worked hard on carefully planning their stories using a clear structure, including engaging openings, rising action, climaxes, resolutions and satisfying endings. A strong focus has been placed on using the five senses to create vivid descriptions and applying the “show, don’t tell” strategy to make writing more engaging and detailed. It has been wonderful to see students take creative risks and refine their ideas through the drafting and editing process.

Maths

Students recently completed a unit on time, where they developed their understanding of 24-hour time, calculated elapsed time and explored time zones. We have now commenced our Fractions unit. Students will learn to identify the parts of a fraction, recognise different types of fractions, represent fractions in multiple ways, place and order fractions on a number line, and find equivalent fractions.

Humanities

Students have been exploring the custodial responsibility of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to Country and how this deep connection shapes sustainable practices. They have examined traditional fire-stick burning, seasonal knowledge systems, caring for waterways, bush foods, caring for animals and cultural stories connected to land. Students have also been learning about bushfires and the four key stages of emergency management: prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.