Focus on Learning

The students of 5/6 have been involved in some great, practical learning activities this term.  Our focus has been on interactive, hands-on experiences to allow all students to access the learning at their level to allow for growth in every student.  

Mathematics 

Last week some helpful 5/6 students put their Mathematical thinking to good use!  We measured our Staff Room and Staff Hub, calculated the total area and were able to evaluate how many people we could have in each room under the COVID-19 social distancing regulations.  The students worked out how many people in total, as well as how to arrange our furniture in a safe, yet practical way.  Measurement, area, multiplication and division all in one task! Thanks to the four students who helped out with this activity. 

The past few weeks Stage 3 students have been learning about multiplication and division.  We have been learning a variety of strategies so that students can be exposed, and then choose their most efficient and effective strategy.  

Be sure to practise multiplication tables with your children regularly, and ask them to explain the Area Model, Split and Algorithm methods to you!  See below for a quick pictorial explanation of each method.

Science 

In our Science unit this term, students have been learning about 'Changes to the Earth's Surface - Natural Disasters'.  After studying earthquakes and their causes, students became architects and engineers-in-training.  The children's task was to design a structure that could best withstand the force of an earthquake.  The fun part of this task; the students were able to stimulate an earthquake using jelly to test their structures!  Have a look at the photos below and guess which structure was the strongest!  

English

Big Writes continue to take place fortnightly in Stage 3.  Last week our focus was poetry. The standard was exceptional, particularly given that we hadn't studied poetry since Term 1 during COVID online learning!!  Students were able to incorporate many poetic devices into their writing about the city or the outback.  Remember to check in on our Stage 3 Compass page for updates about Big Write topics each fortnight - our next Big Write will take place in Week 7.   See below for some examples of our poems: