Year Five/ Six

Communicating with the Year Five/Six Team

We look forward to partnering with you in 2020, and welcome your input:

Llewela Humphries (Class 56A) humphries.llewela.j@edumail.vic.gov.au

Gary Monopoli (Class 56B) monopoli.gary.p@edumail.vic.gov.au

Hayley Oliver (Class 56C) oliver.hayley.h@edumail.vic.gov.au

Jessica Cameron (Class 56C) Cameron.Jessica.C@edumail.vic.gov.au

John Monash Science School- Partnership

In 2020, we are excited to announce that our school has been selected to take part in the John Monash Science School Program. This is great for our students, as we are the only school in the Dandenong Ranges area which has been invited to take part.

Our Year Six students recently had the opportunity to nominate for a position in the program, and we would like to acknowledge the following students who have been successful with their application for the program.

Mini Mathematicians	Big Science, Little Scientists	RoboGals (Robotics and Coding)
Brendan P	Rachel A	Abi P
Blake K	Alina G	Holly B
Tyler M	Maya B	Bonnie F
Marcus O	Eli S	Teagen W

Please see below, which is an extract of information about the program.

As a school we are focused upon providing our students with opportunities to engage with their

learning beyond the classroom. Therefore, we are extremely excited to have been invited to

participate in the “JMSS Mini Mathematicians Program”, the “JMSS Little Scientists Big Science

Program” and the “JMSS RoboGals Program” in Term One, 2020. Please note that RoboGals is only

available to female students.

John Monash Science School (http://www.jmss.vic.edu.au/) is a select entry government secondary

school, which offers specialised education for students in their senior years of schooling. Each year,

JMSS offers immersion programs for senior primary students (Mini Mathematicians, Little Scientists

Big Science, and RoboGals) to enrich their learning. These programs are highly sought after, and are

only offered to a few select schools each year.

The programs provide valuable learning opportunities and enrichment for students who have an

interest in expanding their knowledge in the area of Science, Mathematics, and Robotics.

Due to the high-demand for the immersion programs, each selected school may send up to four

senior students to participate in each of the programs.

Inquiry Focus- Term One 2020

Please see below for information regarding the focus of our Inquiry Unit this term.

Unit One Title: Social Justice- Rights and Responsibilities

Through Line: Community

Learning Area/s: History/Civics & Citizenship

Capability: Intercultural Capability

Content:

History Content Descriptors – Historical Knowledge

Australia as a nation

The significance of key figures and events that led to Australia’s Federation, including British and American influences on Australia’s system of law and government
The different experiences and perspectives of Australian democracy and citizenship, including the status and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, migrants, women, and children
The stories and perspectives of people who migrated to Australia, including from one Asian country, and the reasons they migrated
Significant contributions of individuals and groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and migrants, to changing Australian society

Civics & Citizenship Content Descriptors

Government and democracy

Discuss the values, principles and institutions that underpin Australia’s democratic forms of government and explain how this system is influenced by the Westminster system
Describe the roles and responsibilities of the three levels of government, including shared roles and responsibilities within Australia’s federal system
Identify and discuss the key features of the Australian electoral process
Identify the roles and responsibilities of electors and representatives in Australia’s democracy
Identify, compare and contrast government structures on a global scale

Citizenship, diversity and identity

Identify who can be an Australian citizen and describe the rights, responsibilities and shared values of Australian citizenship and explore ways citizens can participate in society
Identify different points of view on a contemporary issue relating to democracy and citizenship
Investigate how people with shared beliefs and values work together to achieve their goals and plan for action
Examine the concept of global citizenship

Laws and citizens

Explain how state/territory and federal laws are initiated and passed through parliament
Explain how and why laws are enforced and describe the roles and responsibilities of key personnel in law enforcement, and in the legal system
Examine the role of the United Nations in global laws and systems

Intercultural Capability Content Descriptors

Identify barriers to and means of reaching understandings within and between culturally diverse groups
Examine and discuss the variety of ways in which people understand and appreciate differing cultural values and perspectives, and the things which promote or inhibit effective engagement with diverse cultural groups

Achievement Standards:

By the end of Level 6:

History – Historical Knowledge

Identifies and describes change and continuity and explains the causes and effects of change on society.
Compares the different experiences and perspectives of people in the past.
Explains the significance of an individual and group.
Identifies and describes change and continuity and explains the causes and effects of change on society.

Civics and Citizenship

Identifies the values that underpin Australia’s democracy and explains the importance of the electoral process.
Describes the purpose of key institutions and levels of government in Australia’s democracy.
Identifies various ways people can participate effectively in groups to achieve shared goals.
Explains what it means to be an Australian citizen and how people can participate as global citizens.
Analyses contemporary issues and uses evidence to support a point of view about civics and citizenship issues.
Identifies possible solutions to an issue as part of a plan for action.
Explains the role of different people in Australia’s legal system and the role of parliaments in creating law.

Intercultural Capability

Identifies the barriers to and means of reaching understandings within and between culturally diverse groups.
Identifies the ways in which effective engagement with those groups is promoted or inhibited.

Unit One Title: Social Justice- Rights and Responsibilities

Through Line: Community

Themes: Students investigate Australian history in relation to the development of Australia as a nation. They explore the factors that led to Federation and the development of democracy and citizenship over time. Students discuss the values, principles and institutions that underpin Australia’s democratic forms of government. They describe the roles and responsibilities of the three levels of government and discuss the key features of the Australian electoral process. Students also spend an extensive time looking at the role of global justice, the United Nations and global cultural impacts.

Questions:

Why and how did Australia become a nation?

What contribution have significant individuals and groups made to the development of Australian society?

What is democracy?

What is the purpose of government?