Year 5/6
We have had another busy two weeks, planning for our class assembly and working our way through Science, HSIE, Creative Arts, English, Mathematics and Religion. The children are also to be commended for their adaptability with staff changes and the daily interruptions that naturally occur throughout school life.
Thank you to all of our parents who were able to attend our assembly yesterday. It was lovely to see so many of you there.
One of the biggest highlights of the past two weeks was our visit from Mrs Wailes. She popped in to visit us on Wednesday afternoon, and it was wonderful to see her smiling face. Unfortunately, I was so caught up in the moment that I forgot to take a photo!
Science
In Science this term, our topic is Changing Environments and Ecosystems. Students have been investigating food webs, changes to ecosystems and the ways environments change over time. Through exploring food webs, students learnt how energy from the Sun moves through plants and animals within an ecosystem. Using the Great Barrier Reef as an example, they investigated how producers, consumers and decomposers work together to keep ecosystems healthy and balanced.
We also explored how introducing a new species can affect the balance of an ecosystem. Using the critically endangered swift parrot as a case study, students investigated how sugar gliders have impacted the Tasmanian forest ecosystem and created consequence chains to show the flow-on effects on plants and animals.
Students have also investigated how environments can change over millions of years by studying the Warrumbungles in New South Wales. They learnt how wind and water erosion shaped this ancient volcanic landscape over time and identified features such as lava domes and volcanic plugs. They also enjoyed hearing the fun fact that many of my childhood holidays were spent exploring the Warrumbungles!
NSW stage 3 outcomes: ST3-CWT-01, ST3-SCI-01, ST3-DAT-01
HSIE
In History, we are researching the colonies in Australia. Students have been exploring how the British colonies in Australia changed and expanded during the 1800s. They investigated the different experiences of First Nations Peoples and British settlers, examined why the Sydney colony needed to grow, and continued developing their historical writing skills by planning and beginning an informative paragraph about the challenges and changes of early colonial life. This also links closely with our English writing focus on information texts.
We have also been researching the Blue Mountains, investigating why explorers attempted the journey across and the impacts it had on people and the environment. Through interactive activities and source analysis, students considered different perspectives, including those of settlers and Aboriginal Peoples, before beginning a historical report using evidence to explain the significance of this event.
Most recently, students explored how and why British colonies spread across Australia during the 1800s. Using timelines, historical sources and inquiry tasks, they investigated the growth of the colonies and considered the different perspectives and impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Country.
The students continue to enjoy both Science and HSIE, which are delivered through a program called Inquisitive, as these subjects provide a different pace to other learning areas and allow them to further develop their IT skills.
NSW Stage 3 Outcomes: HS3-CWT-01, HS3-HIS-01
