Year 5 News 

Reading

This fortnight in Reading, our Year 5 students have been continuing with our unit on inferring. We have been building on our skills by learning how to infer the setting and mood of a text through using the clues in the text dialogue. One of our highlights was learning using mock receipts, where we had to use the items on the receipts as clues to figure out who might be buying the certain items and why. This was a creative and engaging way to apply our inferencing skills to real-world scenarios!

The following week, we moved onto exploring authors’ purposes, learning to identify whether a text is written to persuade, inform, or entertain, and using evidence from the text to support our thinking.

Writing

In Writing, we have begun our new topic on persuasion and debates. Students in Year 5 have been

“I have enjoyed inferring as I have got to share my ideas about what I think will happen.” - Luciana 5D

“I have enjoyed predicting what is going to happen.” - Aaron 5D exploring the purpose and structure of persuasive writing, then looked closely at persuasive devices such as rhetorical questions, repetition, alliteration, and emotive language. We even created our own persuasive devices booklet and practised writing persuasive paragraphs on why our favourite foods are the best! 

One of the most exciting parts of our new topic on persuasion and debates is our upcoming debating project. We will be working in groups to focus either the affirmative or opposition side and conducting research on a chosen topic. We can’t wait to work collaboratively to plan strong arguments and present our case in a class debate. 

“Dream of opening the wrapper to the world of Dubai chocolate…” - Holly 5C

“The crispiness dancing on top of your tongue can make you want more and more.” - Aishani 5C

“As soon as you take that gooey bite off that warm, homemade cookie..” - Paige 5C

Maths 

Over the past two weeks in Maths, we have started our new topic on fractions. We have explored how fractions represent parts of a whole, revising familiar terms like halves, quarters, thirds, fifths and tenths. Year 5 students have created their own colourful fraction walls, visualised and represented fractions in different ways using number lines, shapes, sets, and real life examples. 

We have developed a deeper understanding of fractions and built confidence in recognising and representing them in multiple ways!

“I loved making the pizza and cutting it into thirds.” - Aaron 5D

“I had fun with MR Fern with his new games and songs.” - Jethro 5D 

Inquiry

In Inquiry, we have launched into learning all about our solar system! Year 5 students have begun by sharing our prior knowledge and talking about what we’re curious to learn. We have watched engaging videos and discussed the scale and structure of the solar system. Year 5 students have taken part in a fun scavenger hunt activity, where we worked in teams to match questions with fact cards. 

We have also worked collaboratively with a partner to investigate each planet and create a PowerPoint presentation to share to our class. Along the way, we explored the differences between gas giants and terrestrial planets, and learned fascinating facts about each planet’s size, appearance, orbit, and more. Over the past two weeks, we have built on our teamwork skills, deepened our knowledge on space and presented our findings!

“Uranus spins on its side and the opposite way too!” - Ronan 5C

“Eris is the farthest known dwarf planet away from the sun.” - Hussain 5C

Social and Emotional Learning

This fortnight in SEL, we have continued our topic on Character Strengths. Year 5 students have reflected on their own strengths and shared examples of how they have used them throughout the week. It was great to hear about all of the strengths being displayed by our students! One of our highlights was creating advertisements to promote the benefits of different strengths, thinking creatively about how it could contribute to someone’s life. 

‘I have enjoyed finding out about other people's strengths.” - Holly 5D

AUSLAN: At CPS, we have recently started learning Auslan and discovered what it is and why it’s important. So far, Year 5 students have learnt how to sign greetings like ‘hello’ and ‘good’, fingerspell our names using the alphabet, and sign a range of colours. It’s been a fun and exciting way to learn how to communicate and include others.

“I can use Auslan to talk to others if we are not allowed to speak.” - Jhavier 5D

Sorry Day: Year 5 students have spent time learning about the Stolen Generations and the importance of recognising this part of Australia’s history. We listened to the powerful song Took the Children Away by Archie Roach and used our inference skills to understand the deeper meaning behind the lyrics. It was an important lesson that helped us think about the impact of the past and how we can show respect today. 

“I learnt that Sorry Day is a day when we acknowledge and say sorry for all the children who were a part of the stolen generation.” - Artaaz 5C

District Cross Country: Last Friday, some of our Year 5 students represented CPS at the District Cross Country event. Everyone gave their best effort, showed great sportsmanship, and cheered each other on. We are so proud of their determination and the way they represented our school!