Classroom News - Year 5

Term 4

It is hard to believe that Term 4 has arrived already. Year 5 have been advised that this is their 'time to shine' as they not only demonstrate to us their acquired academic skills and knowledge prior to reporting but also their leadership qualities.  We are seeing so many of them step-up already as they take increased responsibility for their learning and work hard to have positive interactions with others.

English - We have started looking at the visual text Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan. 

The students will continue to participate in Big Write sessions this term so please keep an eye out for their Talk Homework.

Mathematics - Over the next 2 weeks we will be calculating the area of surfaces and talking about where in everyday life we may need to find area. 

Geography- Factors that shape the human and environmental characteristics of places.

Religion - We have started our unit which will look closely at the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Orders. At the moment we are discussing the signs, symbols, and rituals of the Sacraments.

Health - for a couple more weeks we will continue our unit on the changes to be expected during puberty. Mostly the students have embraced this unit in a mature fashion and we have been able to discuss these changes appropriately, within the context of Catholic Principles and Values, and answer most of their questions (of which there are many). We would ask you to take this opportunity to talk to the students about what they have learned and to take the discussion further if needed.

Religion Assignment

At the end of Term 3, Year 5 researched the parts of God's Creation that have been impacted by human contact. The students were very engaged in this project and fantastic discussion about many of their concerns regarding pollution, climate change, drought, endangered animals etc , occurred.

The students created slide shows, posters or documents outlining the issues, their concerns and possible solutions. One student composed a narrative to show her learning and understanding. Here is some of her story:

 A Green Earth by Madeleine Cowley

The Earth used to be a beautiful place. It was filled with every flower, animal, and piece of creation that God had ever created. But now, all that was left were the selfish, selfish humans. They lived on mountains that had not been entirely covered by the rising sea, eating scraps off the small amount of plants and animals that they had left. They lived in depressed homes and lead depressed lives. No one cared about anything except for surviving. Their lives were polluted and surrounded by grey air and many, many tall buildings.

But there was one smart man -who went by the name of Ernest- who was a scientist. He lived alone in a tall dirty apartment building, however, unlike the others, he was not afraid of the world. He had been working on a new invention of his, a time machine. When the machine was finally ready, Ernest hid it. Then he went off to pack his things.

While he was gone, a small girl was looking for a good hiding place in the game of hide and seek that she was playing. While she was searching, she found a small trap door in the side of a tall building (although, most of the buildings in the city were tall). In she crawled, but what she found there was a most magnificent sight. A big, metal box! What a great hiding place! She opened the door and stepped inside…

 ... After a while, everything went dark and the journey back in time to when there was barely any pollution, began. The metal box seemed to spin round and round, but no one could be sure. Emily felt sick, but she made sure to hold on tight. Eventually, the time machine came to a halt, the lights flickering back on. Ernest quickly exited his seat and twisted a few dials and checked the outside temperature. Then he flicked a switch to the off mode. Pressing a small button, the doors slowly opened and they both saw a very beautiful world. Yes, it did have tall buildings and greying air, but neither Emily nor Ernest had seen any air or city this clean before in their whole life. They stepped out and onto the street, but were immediately confronted by a raging group of protesters. They were all stamping along, shouting and holding climate strike signs.

“What are they doing?” asked Emily. 

“Protesting,” Ernest replied.

“What for? What is this climate thing that they are talking about on their signs?”

Ernest thought about what their future had become. No one must have listened to these people, Ernest thought. What a ruined world it has become. This girl is innocent. We need to change this for the better.  

“Should we join in?” asked Emily, looking hopeful. “ If it’s for a good cause.”

“Yes, yes we should,” he said, dumping his bags. “ Let’s make a difference.”

20 years later, Ernie and Emily were still living in the past, but a different one. Time had moved on, but with them. Ernest was now retired, a foster father for Emily (who had turned out to have been an orphan) and now that Emily had grown up, she was a climate change activist and was becoming a politician. The world was also a better, cleaner, less- polluted place because of a speech that Emily had made when she was twenty one about the polluted, dull future that they had in store for them. People had listened. People had made little changes. They had not used a car when not necessary, they had stopped using plastic, they had planted trees and recycled, put solar panels on their houses, turned off their light bulbs when they were not needed. The world was no longer a grotty place to live.

Orienteering

Students must return their permission notes ASAP.

Excursion to Coffs Harbour

We are starting to get a tad excited about our time away so parents & carers, please remember to return all notes and update any outstanding payments.

If you have any concerns regarding your child and this time away from home, please contact the Year 5 teachers so that we can put any required measures in place to ensure that your child has a wonderful time.

Student Supplies

Many students are using pen for most of their work but still need lead pencils. Could you please make sure your child has these as our supplies have run out.