Year 5/6 News
ENGLISH
Reading:
In Term 1, our Grade 5/6 students will begin the year by establishing shared expectations for reading. They will learn how to use their reading journals effectively, select “just-right” books, and take organised notes to capture key ideas during reading lessons. The students will also set up and maintain a tidy classroom library and follow a clear book borrowing system. Following the ‘First 20 Days of Reading’, students will focus on developing a range of comprehension strategies to strengthen their understanding. At this level, there is an emphasis on deepening their knowledge of key comprehension skills and building understanding of Tier 2 vocabulary to support meaning-making in more complex novels. The students will work on activating background knowledge and making meaningful connections to the texts they read. They will also practise strategies to help them interpret and respond to a variety of texts, including skimming and scanning to efficiently locate important information. The students will build their understanding of different question types and learn how to approach each thoughtfully. In addition, they will develop their ability to summarise key ideas across a range of texts.
Writing:
In Writing this term, the grade 5/6 students will be working on establishing their Writer’s Notebook and exploring the writer’s process. The students will be exploring the process of generating ideas, planning, drafting, revising, editing and publishing. They will be working through a variety of tasks that will foster personal choice writing, prompt writing and writing stamina. The major text type focus for term 1 will be persuasive advertisements, where students will learn about persuasive techniques, slogans, target audiences and how arguments are designed. The students will utilise language features such as rhetorical questions and emotive language as they plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish their own persuasive advertisements.
MATHEMATICS
This term, the grade 5/6 students will start the year by exploring the essential skills and expectations of being successful mathematicians. They will engage in activities designed to develop their problem-solving strategies and foster a collaborative learning environment. Next, students will begin their first topic in maths which is Place Value. They will deepen their understanding of numbers, including working on interpreting, comparing and ordering decimals. Students will also use number lines to locate and write a variety of numbers. Alongside Place Value, students will learn about Length and Data. In Length, they will have opportunities to convert units such as millimetres to centimetres and apply their knowledge to real-world measurement scenarios. In Data, the students will collect and interpret data based on a question of interest. They will discuss and report on different types of graphs and data representations.
INQUIRY
This term, our Grade 5/6 students will commence the year through the Learning to Learn program, concentrating on establishing shared expectations and consistent classroom routines. The students will work with their teachers to support the development of the routines and expectations that guide learning both inside and outside the classroom. They will reflect on regulation strategies and explore the tools, spaces, and supports available to help them manage their emotions and learning effectively. As the term progresses, the focus will expand to strengthening students’ emotional literacy, developing positive coping strategies, deepening their understanding of empathy and kindness, and encouraging the practice of gratitude. Once classroom routines and procedures are in place, the students will move into our Health unit, ‘Fuel Up and Feel Good.’
In this unit, they will investigate how balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, and positive social connections contribute to growth, strength, and overall wellbeing. The students will explore how different foods nourish the body, examine school and community practices that promote health, and consider how building strong connections with others supports their social and emotional wellbeing.
SCIENCE
Welcome back to Science for Term 1. In Science this term, students will be focusing on Biological Science. The topic we will be covering is called ‘Australian Animal Adaptations’. Students will be learning that organisms have evolved over time, as seen in fossils and scientific records; the structural features and behaviours of living organisms enable them to thrive in their environments.
Throughout this term, students will:
learn that living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment
list multiple adaptations that assist an animal or plant to survive its environment
identify the environment, structure and function of animal adaptations
conducting experiments which explore the links between adaptations and certain environments
explore multiple adaptations that Australian animals possess that help it survive in its environment
research an Australian animal or plant and the adaptations it possesses.
LOTE - AUSLAN
Welcome to Grade 5/6 Auslan 2026! During Term 1 we will learn about: On My Holidays, Countries, HOLM NMF – Location, Morning Routine, Lost in the City, A Trip to the Museum, Water – Bodies of Water, A Visit from Grandpa, Numbers #3, Revision (Spinning Wheel).
We will learn new signs that can combine with previously taught signs to extend our Auslan communication, from individual signs to phrases. Videos including fun excursions and games, with lesson activities for practice, will continue to be our focus this term.
As the lessons progress, the students will be developing skills in both signing (Expressive) and understanding others’ signs (Receptive).
The students will participate in challenging activities creating their own stories using Auslan, both in small groups and with the whole class.
ART
Welcome to Grade 5/6 Art! This term, students will be settling into the art room and reinforcing routines and expectations, including taking care of materials, using tools safely and demonstrating positive learning behaviours.
We will commence the term with students learning to plan and use pattern, shape and colour to create an artwork that communicates aspects of their identity, encouraging thoughtful decision-making and personal expression.
The main focus for Term 1 is Colour Theory. Students will revise their understanding of primary and secondary colours and build on this knowledge by exploring warm and cool colours and how to differentiate between them. Throughout the term, students will view artworks by different artists who use warm and cool colours in varied ways and use these artworks as inspiration for their own creative pieces.
We are looking forward to seeing the creativity and wonderful artworks created by our Grade 5/6 students this term!
P.E.
Welcome back to Physical Education for Term 1! This term in Physical Education, our Grade 5/6 students are focusing on striking sports through a range of game-based learning experiences. Students will participate in modified and full games that allow them to apply their skills, make decisions and work strategically with their teammates. Throughout the term, some students will have the opportunity to represent the school in our Summer Lightning Premiership where they will compete against other schools in volleyball and tennis.
Alongside this, students will continue to develop teamwork, sportsmanship and fair play while building confidence in competitive and cooperative sporting environments. We are looking forward to an exciting and active term ahead for our Grade 5/6 students!