Year 5
ENGLISH
In Term 4, in Reading, students have learnt what it means to synthesise. Students have learnt how to synthesise new knowledge with prior knowledge using a range of imaginative and informative text-types. Students have analysed the language and structural features of a famous Australian author, Shaun Tan. Students have interrogated a selection of Shaun Tan's picture story books and inferred the deeper meaning behind the ideas contained within them. Students have investigated the meaning of symbols, motifs and figurative language as part of their author study unit. In Writing, students have composed explanation texts on different phenomena and complex events that have occurred in our world. Students have also engaged in a mini-unit on writing editorials that involve the use of concrete examples and provocative language.
MATHEMATICS
In Term 4, in Mathematics, students have investigated a variety of mathematical topics related to measurement and geometry. Students have learnt about how to identify and create line and rotational symmetries, construct grid maps and use grid references to refer to landmarks and use nets to connect 2D shapes with their 3D representations, e.g. a triangular prism consists of two triangles and three rectangles. Students have also learnt about capacity and mass. Students have explored the use of weights, scales, measuring cups and other formal tools to consolidate their understanding of capacity and mass. They have also learnt how to convert between different measurements using the place value system, e.g. 1 litre = 1000 millilitres.
INQUIRY
In Term 4, in Inquiry, the unit that students investigated was Mother Earth.' The key understanding for this Inquiry topic was: 'A country's climate and landforms influence where and how people live.' Students have learnt about different physical geographies, including tundras, valleys, canyons, fields and mesas. They have learnt about how the inner workings of the Earth shape and influence the terrain and landforms of different countries across the world. For their final project, students compared the topographies of two vastly different countries and sought to explain why specific natural disasters occur in different parts of the Earth. They also spent time learning about how these forces influence where people live.
ART
It was super exciting to be back on site and finally working with the grade 5-6 Students in Art again. The students enjoyed being back at school and we did some fun activities, such as working with ‘Graffiti Art”’ writing styles and techniques, using elements of art, such as lines, colour, shape, shading and pattern. The students then explored the 3D Art element -‘Form,’ and created small ‘Whimsical’ figurines, using air dried clay. The students had to create a character and write a short narrative about its personality traits, special details and features. Currently the students are working with symmetry and pattern and finishing their beautiful Mandalas and making cards to take home for special people in their lives. It was great to see the kids back at school creating and making art after a challenging year for everyone. I wish everyone a fantastic break and well earned rest.
LOTE - CHINESE
Well done everyone for a fantastic term and end to the year! In term 4, students in grade 5 and 6 reviewed and extended on their learning of how to participate in shopping scenarios. This involved reviewing some topics and phrases they have previously learnt such as greetings, numbers and fruits. They also learnt vegetables and common words and phrases that are used in simple transactions at markets. They also learnt about a Chinese holiday called the Mid-Autumn Festival. Have a wonderful holiday!
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
WE MADE IT TO THE END! We started off the term by going over team building activities, because it is important to work together! The Dream work makes the team work! Congratulations to all our different countries for doing well in our 2020 Melton West Olympics! Finally, we ended the year with Bike Ed. Our Grade fours looked at direction and riding on a straight line. Our Grade fives and sixes looked at how to check their bikes before riding and the grade six’s went out for a ride.
Rest up and we will see you next year!
SCIENCE
It was so amazing to welcome all of the students backs to school in Term 4. We have had such a busy term.
This term in Science, the students investigated solids, liquids and gas. This was part of our chemical science unit. The students took part in many different experiments to identify and classify each element. The students experimented and researched changes in matter and saw that it wasn’t always easy to choose on classification! Throughout the term, the students participated in many different experiments and then became critical thinkers when it came to writing our lab reports with the results.
To finish off the term, students investigated light and how light travels through different objects. The students learnt what reflection and refraction looked like. The students used different objects and materials to observe and classify how light travelled through or off each one. It has been a busy year in Science! To those students moving to high school, I wish you all the best! Hope you all have a safe and enjoyable break.
