Year 5/6 News

Putting Maths into Action

Our Year 5/6 students have continued building their understanding of fractions, decimals, and percentages, making important connections between these closely related concepts. Through a variety of hands-on activities and real-world problems, students have strengthened their ability to move flexibly between fractions, decimals, and percentages while explaining their mathematical thinking. Teachers have noted that students can now solve unfamiliar percentages based on their understanding of common percentages like 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. During Friday Math Game Day, they faced a challenge involving percentages such as 5%, 20%, 30%, 105%, and 150%. They performed exceptionally well and were able to consolidate their learning.

Students applied their learning to discounts and sales, exploring how percentages are used in everyday situations. They worked out discounted prices, compared savings, and investigated how retailers use percentages to advertise sales. It was wonderful to see students confidently using their mathematical knowledge to solve practical problems and recognise how Maths is used beyond the classroom. They observed these percentages while shopping at grocery stores and shopping centers, and they realised they could assist their parents in calculating sale prices.

A Memorable Reading Journey

This term, students completed their class novel study of Skellig. Throughout the unit, they explored characters, themes, symbolism, and important messages within the text while developing their comprehension and analytical thinking skills.

To conclude the unit, students created thoughtful book reviews where they shared their opinions and recommendations about the novel. These reviews demonstrate their ability to justify their thinking using evidence from the text and will be published and shared during our upcoming Go Public event. We are incredibly proud of the insight and reflection students have shown throughout this text study.

Crafting Stronger Writers

Students have recently completed their narrative writing pieces after engaging in a thorough editing process. They participated in self-checking, peer conferencing, and teacher feedback sessions to identify areas for improvement and ensure their writing was clear, cohesive, and free from common errors such as run-on sentences.

Alongside their narrative writing, students have been strengthening their grammar and punctuation knowledge. They have been learning about run-on sentences, coordinating and subordinating conjunctions, independent and dependent clauses, proper capitalisation, comma splices, and the differences between direct and indirect speech. It has been fantastic to see students applying these skills to create realistic dialogue and more sophisticated sentence structures within their narratives.

Climate Zone Experts Ready for Go Public

In Inquiry, students have been finalising their Go Public presentations, showcasing everything they have learned about climate zones, habitats, and animal adaptations. Through their research, students have explored how different animals survive in specific environments and examined the physical and behavioural adaptations that help them thrive, including in extreme temperatures.

As they prepare to present their learning, students are also developing valuable speaking and presentation skills. They have been practising how to communicate clearly, engage an audience, and respond confidently to questions. Most importantly, students are demonstrating resilience as they work through nerves and challenge themselves to speak in front of others. We look forward to seeing them proudly share their expertise and celebrate their learning at Go Public.

Upcoming Events: Celebrating Learning and Discovery

We are excited for two upcoming events that will provide wonderful opportunities for students to showcase their learning and broaden their experiences.

As mentioned, on Monday 22nd of June, our Year 5/6 students will participate in Go Public, where they will proudly share their learning with families, staff, and fellow students. Students have been preparing presentations and displays that highlight their achievements and growth throughout the term. Parents are invited to join us from 2:30PM to 3:15PM.

On Wednesday 24 June, our Year 5 students will visit South Oakleigh Secondary College for a Science Day. This event will allow students to get a good glimpse of how high school life is like, as well as engage with scientific concepts related to what they have been learning in Inquiry through interactive activities, investigations, and collaborative learning experiences.

Building Respect, Resilience, and Positive Relationships

As part of our Wellbeing program, Year 5/6 students, along with all other year levels in the school, recently participated in an engaging incursion presented by Brainstorm Productions. Through a series of relatable and entertaining role-plays, two talented actors explored important topics surrounding bullying, friendships, self-respect, and making positive choices. The performance allowed students to see realistic scenarios that they may encounter and provided practical strategies for responding to challenging situations.

Students learned a range of age-appropriate techniques to help them manage their emotions and interactions with others. These included simple breathing exercises to use when feeling upset or frustrated, strategies for shifting perspective when someone is being unkind, and identifying trusted adults they can speak to when they need support. The session also highlighted the importance of being assertive, standing up for personal values, and confidently saying “no” to situations that feel uncomfortable or disrespectful.

A key message throughout the incursion was the importance of self-respect, positive self-talk, and empathy. Students reflected on how their words and actions can affect others, even when those feelings are not openly expressed. By developing a greater understanding of their own emotions and the emotions of others, students are continuing to build the skills needed to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive school community.