Year 4/5 

History

We have continued our adventure back in time through Australia's history. We have been exploring how Australian colonies developed over time and the reasons behind their expansion. We have examined the growth of British settlements in the 1800s, using chronological sequencing and historical terms to understand key events and their causes and effects.

We have investigated what life was like for different groups in the Australian colonies, including early settlers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. We have analysed settlement patterns, the environmental impact of colonisation, and the daily challenges faced by various communities. A key focus has been the interactions between Indigenous Australians and early traders, explorers, and settlers, helping all of us to develop a deeper understanding of historical perspectives.

Through studying primary and secondary sources, we have gained insight into the impact of British colonisation on the Eora people and the complex relationships between Indigenous groups and the colonists. This learning has encouraged empathy, critical thinking, and a greater appreciation of Australia's diverse history.

Maths

We are working on building our strong foundations in Mathematics. We have been developing our skills in addition and subtraction by exploring multiple strategies to solve problems efficiently. We have been using vertical algorithms to structure our calculations, while also applying our understanding of place value to unitise numbers and make mental math strategies more effective. Alongside these number concepts, we have been learning about rotational symmetry, identifying and creating patterns that remain unchanged when rotated. Through hands-on activities and problem-solving tasks, we are building confidence in mathematical thinking and applying our skills in real-world contexts.

Literacy

Our literacy sessions have been jam packed with historical information and we have been reading about first contact, why the colonies were founded and what life and the land looked like in the early days of the Australian Colonies. Through our reading we have been introduced to new vocabulary including conflict, gold era, impact, interaction, migration, significance, sustainability and tradition. We haven't stopped there with learning new words. We have also been focusing on mastering the suffix 'tion', 'sion' and 'cian' spelling patterns. We have practised using quotation marks to show dialogue between characters, direct speech and titles in our writing. We are building our knowledge of homophones and understand a word can be pronounced the same way but have different spelling including words like meet/meat, peace/piece or too/two/to.

NAPLAN

We are so proud of our Year 5 students for completing their NAPLAN assessments! They showed great determination, focus, and resilience throughout the process. These assessments are just one part of their learning journey, and we commend them for their effort and positive attitude. Now that NAPLAN is behind us, we look forward to continuing our learning with exciting new topics and hands-on activities. Well done, Year 5 – you should all be very proud of yourselves!

Reminders