Grade 5 Community News
Hello Grade 5 families!
Term 3 has settled into a steady rhythm during Weeks 3 and 4, but there has still been plenty happening in Grade 5! We loved seeing everyone's creativity on our Fun Friday in Week 3, with students proudly showing off their awesome hairstyles, colourful crazy socks and wild hats. It was wonderful to see so much enthusiasm and school spirit throughout the day.
In Week 4, our Grade 5 students welcomed visitors from The Grange P–12 College, who spoke with them about some of the exciting programs and opportunities available at The Grange and were encouraged to take the information home to discuss with their families. These conversations are a valuable first step in preparing for the transition to high school, which will begin in earnest next year.
English
In English, we have now completed our first-class novel, The Black Cockatoo, and have begun reading the second part of the story, Dirrarn. Students have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the themes, characters, and important messages throughout the novel, and are excited to continue discovering what happens next.
Our writing focus continues to be character analysis, which has proven to be an engaging and rewarding genre. Students are thinking more deeply about the characters by analysing their behaviours, actions, and motivations, using evidence from the text to build strong and thoughtful responses. It has been wonderful to see the confidence students are developing in expressing and justifying their ideas.
We have also been strengthening our sentence construction by creating more engaging topics and concluding sentences. Students have been experimenting with a range of techniques, including varying sentence types, adding appositives, and using subordinating conjunctions to make their writing more sophisticated and interesting.
We hope you have had the opportunity to enjoy some of the Home Connect activities together.
Mathematics
In Mathematics, students have been developing their understanding of angles by learning how to estimate, measure and construct angles using a protractor. They have explored the different types of angles, including acute, right, obtuse, straight, reflex, and revolution angles, and have practiced measuring the interior angles of polygons. Students have also investigated regular and irregular polygons, constructed shapes using given measurements, and created tessellations while applying their knowledge of angles and shape properties. Throughout the unit, students have been encouraged to explain their mathematical reasoning and apply their learning through rich problem-solving tasks.
To support your child's learning at home, please encourage them to regularly practice their times tables using Times Tables Rock Stars and NumBots. Building strong multiplication fact fluency will continue to support students across all areas of Mathematics, including geometry, measurement and problem-solving.
Humanities
In Humanities, students have been investigating the development of the Silk Road and its significance throughout history. They have explored how the Silk Road evolved over time, learning about key events, important dynasties and influential historical figures that contributed to the growth of trade between the East and West. Students have developed their understanding of historical timelines by comparing BCE and CE dates, sequencing significant events and recognising that historical change occurs gradually over time. They have also examined how the exchange of goods, ideas and technologies along the Silk Road shaped civilisations and connected people across continents, while strengthening their historical inquiry skills through analysing sources, interpreting timelines and discussing the impact of trade on societies.
Reminders
- iPads are charged for school everyday
- Please purchase the Term 3 text Dirrarn by Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler and bring it to school.
- As we continue through winter, please send students prepared with appropriate jumpers, cardigans and coats.
We look forward to another fabulous term of learning and growing.