Year 5 News

Term 2 Begins! 

Welcome back to Term 2! It’s been a busy, exciting and productive few weeks in Grade 5 and we’re already well into some big learning and meaningful discoveries. Here's a look at what we've been diving into across the curriculum—and a few things to look forward to! 

Literacy 

Crafting Sentences and Stepping into History 

We’ve kicked off the term by zooming in on sentence fluency—a key writing skill that helps our students become more expressive, confident and thoughtful communicators. Through a mixture of simple, compound and complex sentence structures, students have been writing rich and immersive journal entries that imagine a “day in the life” of someone from Australia’s colonial past. 

Whether it’s a weary convict arriving in chains, a hopeful free settler carving out a new life, or a Chinese gold digger braving the unknown, the students have really tapped into their imaginations while building important grammar skills. You’d be surprised at how a well-placed conjunction can bring a piece of history to life! 

Numeracy 

Real-World Maths with a Twist 

Maths this term has taken on a practical, real-world flavour. We’ve been rounding numbers in a financial context—helping students understand the importance of precision and approximation when dealing with money. It’s amazing how much conversation a simple rounding question can spark when it’s got a dollar sign in front of it! 

We’ve also tackled 12- and 24-hour time, used timelines to plot events (both historical and personal), explored algebraic thinking by solving missing number equations, and revisited perimeter and area to reinforce our measurement skills. This wide-ranging approach means that every learner finds something to latch onto—and challenges to grow from. 

Inquiry 

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going

We’ve just wrapped up our powerful inquiry into Where We Are in Place and Time, where we took a deep dive into migration during Australian Colonial times. Students explored the many layers of the European Settlement of Australia, the impact this had on First Nations people, and the role of Asian migrants in shaping early Australian life. 

The learning wasn’t just about collecting facts, it was about weaving them together into meaningful insights. Students created information reports that reflected not only their research but also their ability to synthesise knowledge and explain big ideas in their own voice. These will form a key part of each student’s digital portfolio, which will be sent home at the end of the year. We can’t wait for you to see the depth of understanding your child has built. 

Inquiry – What’s Next? (It’s a Bit of a Secret!) As we move into our brand-new transdisciplinary theme, How the World Works, excitement is already building—even if we’re keeping the details under wraps for now! This unit is filled with hands-on learning; curious questions and a major culminating showcase that students will lead themselves. It’s safe to say it’s one of the most memorable learning experiences of the year—and something you won’t want to miss later down the track. 

On the Horizon 

IMAX Excursion Next week we’re heading off on our first major excursion of the term—to IMAX! While we’re keeping the exact subject of the film a surprise (shh…), it ties beautifully into our new Inquiry topic and is sure to leave the students buzzing with ideas and wonder. Please keep an eye out for permission slips and further details. 

As always, thank you for your continued support. Term 2 is shaping up to be an energetic, thoughtful and challenging one—and we’re proud of the way our Grade 5s are rising to meet every moment. We look forward to seeing you at upcoming events and sharing more of the magic happening inside (and outside) our classroom walls.