Curriculum News

English

Reading and Viewing

This term we will be supporting students to develop skills in decoding, fluency, and vocabulary for both fiction and non fiction texts. Students will be exploring and building connections between texts that centred around the environment, enhancing students' learning in our Science Inquiry Unit. Reading methods such as Closed Reading, Literature Circles, Guided Reading and Reading Journals will be used to provide variety in their reading journey. 

Students will be encouraged and supported to borrow books from the St Brigids Library to enable them to continue their learning at home. Students will continue to participate with reading  as part of their homework, where parents will be able to participate in students' learning and understanding of texts. 

Writing

The focal point of writing this term  will be supporting students with Persuasive and Informative texts. These writing genres will link directly to our Science Inquiry unit on environment, adaptability and sustainability on a global perspective. Students will develop their understanding of skills related to structural and language features as well as the purpose for writing such texts. 

The persuasive text produced will be a written piece taking a stance on an environment related topic, providing arguments and supporting evidence. The Informative text will be related to an endangered species telling significant aspects about that animal including features, location, adaptations and environmental changes leading to extinction.

Students will be continuing on with their learning of spelling patterns through the SMART Spelling program. This will be supported through the completion of weekly homework activities that will include the practise of writing their spelling words. Students will be learning grammar conventions that will assist in their writing, such as exaggeration, rhetorical questions and the use of verbs to persuade an audience.

Speaking and Listening

To support students in developing their capacity to speak confidently and with expression through the presentation of an information text accompanied by a model of an extinct animal, its environment and possible adaptations for survival that may have prevented this outcome.  The Presentation of an Inquiry based Genius Hour will also be an element of Speaking & Listening to an audience.

Maths

Number and Algebra

This term students will undertake a unit on multiplication and division. Students will  be working with whole numbers to build fluency and recognition across a range of different contexts.  Students will then explore, extend and practice applying various strategies to addition, subtraction, multiplication and division equations with and without technology. Students will  compare, order and represent decimals. They will investigate strategies to solve problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions with the same denominator. 

Measurement and Geometry

The students will construct simple prisms and pyramids and connect three-dimensional objects with their nets and other two-dimensional representations. We will focus on extending their understanding of quadrilaterals and triangles. The students will choose appropriate units of measurement for volume, capacity and mass.

Statistics and Probability

In learning about Statistics and Probability, students will focus on chance by learning about probability and chance outcomes. We will use tallies to record and collect data and learn how to use this data to create graphs. They will interpret a range of data displays, including a variety of variables.

Inquiry and Religion

Religion

During the term, students will focus on ‘God, Religion and Life’ through an integration of our Inquiry topic on environment, adaptation and our responsibility to sustain and nurture. The students will focus on the ‘Story of Creation’ in Genesis and learn about our church's response in the encyclical ‘Laudato Si ‘ to our responsibility and care of the Earth's environment.  The Holy Spirit through the Gifts and the Fruits will continue to be a source that encourages and nurtures our environmental care. It will also serve as part of the faith formation for Confirmation.

Inquiry 

This term students will investigate and further their understanding of Environment and Sustainability. Year 5 and 6’s will have a focus on Ecosystems. Students will analyse eco systems and how plant and animal species have adapted to their environments to survive. Students will participate in a hands-on group project to develop adaptations that an endangered or extinct animal would need in order to survive today's climate.

Social & Emotional Wellbeing

Students will be focussing on personal strength this term. They aim to build an awareness, understand and evaluate their own personal strength and demonstrate how these contribute to their social, emotional wellbeing. Opportunities will be given to develop and build upon new strengths and understand how these impact others and foster  respectful relationships. Time will be given to work effectively in teams and develop strategies to manage challenging situations constructively using these strengths.

Homework

Homework will begin Week 2 (Monday 2nd May). Tasks can be submitted electronically or in a designated homework book. Tasks will be discussed in class on a Monday and this will be documented in their diary.

If for some reason all tasks have not been completed we request that parents/carers put a note in their child’s diary or send an email to their child’s teacher/s.