Class 5 Steiner
Celebrating Learning
Kii 5S families,
Main Lesson
This last fortnight, 5S have been diving into the fascinating world of Ancient Egypt! We've been learning about the powerful myths of Osiris and Isis, discovering the wisdom of the god Thoth, and exploring the dramatic tales of Horus and Set. One of the highlights has been learning about the “Weighing of the Souls” ceremony, which captivated everyone’s imagination.
In Literacy, the focus has been on mastering complex sentences, making strong connections to texts, summarising stories, and expanding vocabulary — all skills that are helping students better understand and tell these ancient stories.
To extend their learning, students have been working on an Ancient Egypt project at home. It’s been exciting to hear about their chosen topics and how they are progressing. Many have been keen to share some of what they’ve discovered in their research so far.
We look forward to seeing their projects come to life and celebrating their curiosity about this incredible civilization!
Maths
With two shortened weeks recently and a busy assessment period, our regular maths program has been slightly disrupted over the past fortnight. Despite this, we have moved on from studying factors to exploring the opposite concept: multiples, including the idea of Lowest Common Multiples (LCM).
We began by learning how to list the multiples of numbers and how our knowledge of times tables helps in this process. Next, we compared the multiple lists of different numbers to find the common multiples. Through this activity, we discovered interesting connections—for example, that every multiple of 6 is also a multiple of 3, and every multiple of 12 is a multiple of both 3 and 6. These discoveries led to thoughtful discussions about why these patterns occur.
We then focused on identifying the lowest of the common multiples shared by two numbers. Developing a strong foundational understanding of Lowest Common Multiples and Highest Common Factors is important as students prepare to study fractions next semester.
Literacy
In Reading, the class has been continuing their study of the novel Us Mob Walawurru, while also continuing to develop their Literacy Circle role skills. Recently, students have been focusing on the role of the Summariser, practising how to identify and write the main points of each section of the story. We’ve also had some wonderful class discussions as students think deeply about the experiences of the main characters. They’ve been making meaningful connections—between the text and their own lives, other texts, and the wider world. A big focus has been on "thick questions"—questions that go beyond simple answers and help promote deeper thinking and conversation.
In Spelling, students have been reviewing the 1:1:1 rule. This rule helps them understand when to double the final consonant of a word before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel (like -ed or -ing). The rule applies when a word has: 1 syllable, 1 short vowel and 1 consonant at the end.
Excursion
Last week, we were lucky enough to join the Year 5/6 excursion to TarraWarra Art Museum in the beautiful Yarra Valley. A wonderful day of creative and cultural activities had been prepared for us, and the students were thoroughly engaged from beginning to end.
One highlight of the day was working with First Nations dancers, who showed students how they collaborate creatively to choreograph dances. In small groups, students worked closely with the dancers to develop their own movements, which they later shared with the whole group. It was inspiring to see how engaged the students were and how imaginative and expressive their choreography became.
Another activity involved closely observing and illustrating Indigenous plants, helping students connect with the natural environment through art.
We also had the opportunity to explore the We Are Eagles exhibition, which features artworks from 23 First Nations artists from across Australia. The exhibition celebrates the strength, pride, and stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, with a strong focus on the themes of Country, culture, resilience, and connection. We were captivated by the powerful visual storytelling and the diversity of artistic styles—from painting and sculpture to digital media.
The students thoroughly enjoyed the day, and we are very grateful to Antoinette for organising such a special experience, and to TarraWarra for welcoming our school so warmly.
Please enjoy the photos from our wonderful day!