Dear Families,

This is what is happening in the 5/6 space lately!

In the morning before Maths we usually do Times Tables Rock Stars. This is a new program we have been doing where you can compete against your classmates and also compete against yourself in times tables games. There are different features that help you practice your times tables and entertain you at the same time.

Talking about Maths, we have also been learning about Fractions. We split of into three groups and each group works on different fractions concepts. Some Fractions concepts we have been working on are equivalent fractions, simplifying fractions and adding, multiplying, subtracting and dividing fractions. Next week we are starting Decimals and Percentages.

During Literacy we have been reading Rivet Boy by Barbara Henderson. We have explored the old times when there was once a bread winner for the family and this 12 year old boy was his family's money marker. He had to help build the Forth Bridge in Scotland.

In Literacy we have also been exploring the process it takes to make a story by using a Writers Notebook. We all had to pick a seed and practice writing and brainstorming for our seed multiple times over and over again until we nailed it. Then came this next step, the three levels of thinking. We had to do surface thinking (what can you see), then below the surface thinking (what questions do you have) and then last was core thinking (what connections can you make). Next we think about the T.A.P which is T-text types A-audience P-purpose. Then we start planning our writing - What characters? Feelings? The problem? and the solution. The second last stage is drafting and last but not least publishing. The grade 5/6's are coming up with some fantastic writing ideas including creating documentaries, poems, writing letters to Parliament and much more!

Here are some examples of our Writer's Notebook work.

In Inquiry we have learnt about democracy and The Stages of making a Law. We had a special visitor Emma Kealy, she come to our school to share her knowledge. She helped explain the process of making a Law and we had a mini election. Lincoln won our election with the Law that students could decide what learning they could do.

This week, Mr Cross's class went on an adventure to the portables and has moved there while the builders continue to tear apart our old classroom to expand the school. There have been lots of changes to our old space, and we are excited to continue watching it transform.

Thanks for reading.

By The Executive Leadership Team

April, Samuel, Eden and Ned

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