Teaching and Learning in 5/6GN

5/6GN students have begun the year with curiosity, creativity and a strong focus on building a positive classroom community. One of our first shared experiences was reading Ishi: Simple Tips From a Solid Friend, a gentle and uplifting book that reminded us that humans experience a wide range of emotions - and that we have the power to shift our feelings when we’re feeling low. Inspired by Ishi’s message of resilience and happiness, students created their own “solid friends.” Each rock was given a name, decorated with care and painted with a smile to serve as a reminder that, just like our rocks, each of us is unique and capable of finding joy.

Clara: My Ishi's name is Leo the Lion. My solid friend. He will help when I'm sad, lonely or upset, even angry. He reminds me to be calm, happy and to be myself. I grab Leo to go back into my calm mode/green mode so I can have a happy time at school. On the back of Leo there is a beach because that's my happy place so is home. Now I will be like Ishi and be kind, calm and happy. Thanks Ishi.

Dion: My Ishi's name is Dion 2.0. I painted it blue because blue makes me calm.       

Chloe: My Ishi's name is Chloe and she has dots all over with a smile just as happy and calm as me. I hold her when I need her or just to fiddle with.

Lina: My solid friend's name is Chip, her name is inspired by her chipped spot, also representing potato chips. Thìs rock makes me back in the green zone because it’s nice and cold.

Gerard: Mark is a shy lil guy and I made custom colour because I'm creative. He has his home- it is the tub. He likes playing Rocket League and likes buckets!  

Imogen: My Ishi's name is Rockathy. I chose this name because I really like the name Bethany and she is a rock so I thought it was a fitting name for my rock.

Camila: My rock's name is Sunny, I named her this because it reminds me to be positive and happy most of the time. On one side I painted a wolf (because it's my favourite animal) and on the other I painted a sunset (like Sunny) with palm trees’ shadow. 

Alex: My Ishi's name is Olaf-007-Alex 2.0 and I painted him because he looks cool and is our class mascot and helps keep the spirit up. 

Alongside this wellbeing focus, the class has been diving into hands on learning through the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. Students worked collaboratively to prepare a shared recipe, practising teamwork, communication and responsibility as they cooked for the whole class. The sense of pride and accomplishment was unmistakable and the food was delicious!

Jasper: My personal favourite food we made this term in Kitchen Garden was the zucchini fritters and the nectarine muffins. They were so good and delicious. It was a great time.

Catelyn: I loved the teamwork and the food and especially the nectarine muffins, It was also one of my first times grating things so that was an experience.

Jayden: At  Kitchen Garden we used teamwork and my favourite was Nectarine Muffins. They were amazing. It was so fun and exciting. We also made Corn and Zucchini Fritters, Yoghurt Sauce, Salsa . I had an amazing time.

Theodore: Today was fantastic, all the food was great, everyone was working together and it was so much fun. My favourite part about it was the eating time. I personally loved the zucchini fritters and yoghurt dip. The fruit muffins were great after the fritters.    

Matthew: l loved the food. It tasted so good. We all put our different parts in to make the 

perfect dish. My favourite part was eating all the good food and making it.

Simonetta: Kitchen garden was the best. I love doing it and also making new food. The food tasted so good. My favourite was the muffins with the fruit. It was really, really good. My group did the yoghurt dip and my team did so well. I loved it .

In literacy, we have begun reading The Grandest Bookshop in the World by Amelia Mellor. This magical novel has opened the door to rich discussions about the features of Magical Realism, blending the ordinary with the extraordinary. Students are exploring how authors use imagination, symbolism and wonder to bring stories to life and they are already making thoughtful connections to their own reading and writing.

Abby: I like how the book blends things from the history of Melbourne in 1998 and also includes things like magic to keep us entertained. It is a very thrilling book where the characters overcome problem after problem doing incredible things like mostly solving riddles with treacherous challenges. 

Henry:  Did you know this was a real place? 299 Bourke Street, Melbourne! I like The Grandest Bookshop in the World because of the magical things that happen. I like Chapter 7 because the man gives him a sweet mint and it sounds really cool. Also, I liked it when they tried and set up the games to see who can win the bookshop. 

Ella: What I like about The Grandest Bookshop in the World is all the magic. I like how they always are on an adventure and the bookshop sounds like an amazing place.

Rachel: The Grandest Bookshop in the World is a captivating story that shows how family is the most important thing. When their Pa lands into the evil hands of the Obsurcosmith, both Vally and Pearl are determined to save their Pa and the extravagant Book Arcade by challenging the Obsurcosmith to a game. I like how the story is so interesting with every twist and turn and look forward to the next chapter.

It’s been a wonderful start to the year, filled with creativity, teamwork and a growing sense of belonging. We’re excited for all the learning and adventures still to come.