Level Six

Canberra Camp

Our Grade 6 students had an amazing time on their Canberra camp, full of learning, fun, and new experiences. Students especially enjoyed visiting Parliament House, where they learned how Australia’s government works. At the Royal Australian Mint, they created their own coin and saw how money is made. They also explored Geoscience Australia and discovered how scientists study the Earth, and had lots of fun at Questacon with its hands-on science exhibits. In the evenings, students enjoyed relaxing and bonding through activities like iPlay and a peaceful night walk. It was a fantastic trip filled with learning, friendship, and memorable experiences.

Students from Doncaster Primary have recently undertaken an education tour of the national capital. Students were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage, and democracy.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government has contributed funding to our school in the amount of $45 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion

Mathematics

In Mathematics, students have been exploring the properties of 3D shapes, with a particular focus on identifying and understanding cross-sections. They enjoyed investigating how different slices of 3D objects create a variety of 2D shapes and applying this knowledge through hands-on activities. More recently, students have begun learning about fractions, developing their understanding of equivalent fractions, comparing fractions and applying fraction knowledge to problem-solving tasks.

Writing

In Writing, students have been exploring narrative texts, with a strong focus on developing meaningful and believable characters. They have been examining character traits and learning how authors reveal personality through actions, dialogue and thoughts. Students have also been exploring perspective, considering how stories can be told from different points of view to influence the reader’s understanding of events and characters. It has been wonderful to see these skills applied creatively in their own narratives, particularly when writing about a memorable moment from camp.

The engine roared, I got held back against my chair. The plane ascended slowly. The ground once close to me was now many feet below. I looked out of the window, a nauseous feeling filled my body. I felt dizzy but also fascinated. The ground below looked like little miniature houses and the trees began to look like grass. The air smelt as if the plane was new. The feeling of relaxation washed over me. The view from outside went from gorgeous toa  foggy white mist, then it disappeared, gone with a blink. Everything was blocked by clouds. The sky was beautiful, it was clear and pristine. The dizzy nauseous feeling vanished, all that was left was awe and calmness. 

- Jazmin 6W

Questacon was huge, but the best thing of all was the free fall. Adrenaline coursed through me as I put on the suit and walked up the tower to slide down. As I stood in the room waiting for my turn, my heart was doing backflips in my ribcage. And then it was my turn. I sat down and hung onto a bar. The instructor pulled my top from behind my back and I dropped. It felt like falling from a building. 

- Anastasia 6W

Everyone was eagerly chatting to their friends. The lights dimmed and others flashed. The smell of salty, buttery popcorn filled the room. Background chatter grew louder. Students were laughing and smiling as they held their popcorn box and lemonade. The ice shook and bubbled as students walked happily into the theatre. Loud music and advertisements were playing on the massive screen. Students whispered excitedly while sitting in their large, comfy seats, ready to enjoy the movie. Before we knew it, the movie began. I could hear popcorn crunching and students giggling. Ice clinked together, straws slurped. Everyone was having a great time.

- Anna 6K

20 seconds of silence - lights out. Not a sound to be heard. All asleep, dreaming of our home, soft music playing in our heads. In the morning, not a sound in our room. We are all dreaming we are at home like it’s just a normal morning. Fast asleep. Knock Knock. The door creaks as it opens. Thinking it’s mum. “Girls, are you all awake?” We all sit up thinking what are we doing here. We see that we all slept in and woke up late.

- Mietta 6K

 

We looked up at the elegant night sky, stars shining above. The moon was stunning tonight, standing out against cold, dead night. Stars were scattered all over the sky, looking insignificant compared to the slowing moon light. We all in sync took a step closer towards this cluster of stars. As we edged around the corner one of my classmates identified it as the famous southern cross!

- Kirsten 6H

 

My heart was pounding. We climbed the steps and buttoned up our suits. Our bright orange suits made us look like prisoners. One by one, kids went down. Then suddenly, it was my turn. My legs and arms felt like jelly and my stomach was churning. I sat at the top of the drop, my arms reaching up to the bar. I heard the crowd cheer my name. I closed my eyes. Deep breath. I opened my hands and let go of the bar.

- Maya 6H

Reading

In Reading, students have been participating in a novel study of the book 'Skellig'. Through class discussions and comprehension activities, students have explored themes, character development and the author’s use of language throughout the novel. They have also continued developing important reading skills such as predicting, questioning and making connections within the text. Students have particularly enjoyed analysing different perspectives and discussing the deeper meanings and messages presented in the story.