Level 5
Level 5 students are truly demonstrating dedication and perseverance in their learning journey. Seeing how they continue to tackle challenges with enthusiasm and commitment is inspiring.
Reading
Level 5 students are currently focusing on forming well-supported opinions and conducting research to support their claims, specifically about "The One and Only Ivan". The learning intention is for students to develop the ability to form an opinion and gather evidence to support it. As part of this process, they will choose a claim from the attached document and work in pairs to create a presentation communicating their findings. Students can get creative with their presentations using models, posters, videos, or letters and will present their work to the class at the end of the week. This open-ended sequence gives students voice and agency over their learning while developing critical thinking and research skills. They will be required to conduct their research, gather evidence to support their claims and co-construct a rubric for assessing their presentations. Self-assessment and peer discussion will be key components of this process as students reflect on their work and consider the feedback from others.
Writing
Level 5 students have captured beautifully their unforgettable camp experiences through a reflection journal, documenting their adventure highlights, memorable experiences, and emotions. The journal showcases camp's fun and excitement and highlights how students stepped out of their comfort zones, developed new skills, and strengthened friendships. This reflective process allowed students to reflect on their time at camp with a sense of pride and accomplishment while also helping them recognise the valuable lessons they gained from the experience.
We are continuing our writing journey by exploring the art of letter writing! Level 5 students are diving into different types of letters, including formal, informal, and business letters. Through this unit, they are learning the distinct formats, tones, and purposes for each type of letter.
Maths
In Maths, Level 5 students are diving into the world of money, budgeting, and financial planning. They've been learning how to manage money effectively by creating budgets and understanding how to make informed financial decisions. A highlight of their learning has been using the Kmart catalogue to simulate shopping experiences, connecting classroom lessons to real-life situations. Students enjoyed the hands-on activity of choosing items, calculating costs, and sticking to a budget, which helped them grasp key financial concepts in a fun and practical way. This approach makes maths engaging and provides students with valuable skills they can use in everyday life!
Ferngully Lodge Camp
The Ferngully Lodge Camp was undoubtedly the year's highlight for Level 5 students! Both students and teachers had an incredible time, learning new skills and building lasting memories. Throughout the camp, students demonstrated the school's values, respecting one another, working collaboratively as a team, and displaying resilience and growth in every activity. The camp offered a variety of exciting challenges, including the giant swing, zip line, initiative course, archery, Gaga Pit, commando course, and high and low ropes courses. Each activity provided a unique opportunity for students to step out of their comfort zones and push themselves further. The teachers couldn't be prouder of how Level 5 students represented HEPS, showcasing their best qualities and embodying the spirit of teamwork, perseverance, and fun. It was an unforgettable experience that highlighted the strength and character of the entire cohort!
Inquiry
To celebrate our Discovery Unit, Level 5 students plan to create dioramas demonstrating their understanding of different environments. In this project, students will design a habitat, choose appropriate vegetation, and select or design an animal that can thrive in that particular environment. This hands-on activity encourages creativity while also deepening their knowledge of ecosystems. At the end of the unit, we will host an expo to proudly showcase the students' achievements and the fantastic dioramas they have created. We aim to begin the project next week, and we would greatly appreciate it if you could send in a shoebox (preferably not a children's size) from home to help with the construction. Additionally, we welcome any shoebox donations. Thank you for being so supportive and helping make this project a success!