It is hard to believe we are at the end of another wonderful term. It certainly has been jam packed with lots of learning taking place and a little bit of fun thrown in too.

English
Over the course of the term, Year 5 has been incredibly busy writing information texts and refining our skills in researching and refining facts, necessary for developing an interesting and engaging text. The students have started off by looking at the features of different informative texts, then choosing their theme or topic. We are looking forward to seeing their final products at the end of the week. Here are a few works in progress….

This term, Year 5 has been reading the novel Tom Appleby: Convict Boy, by Jackie French. The story is set in England in the late 1700’s and is about a boy named Tom, who was orphaned and sent to be a chimney sweep at the young age of 8. During his time as a sweep, he was caught stealing and was sentenced to leave England, deported to Botany Bay and convict life. The story then outlines the challenges faced by Tom and the other convicts on their journey to Australia and the meeting of the Aboriginal people.The students have very much enjoyed the story so far and making connections between Tom’s life and their own and how much more freedom and luxury we have nowadays. During our shared reading, the year 5 students enjoy sketching some of the images they can picture and jotting down key words and vocabulary from the text.

Predictions: What do I think will happen in the rest of the story…

Sophie V: ‘I think that Tom and Rob will become great hunters because the indigenous lady taught them hunting skills. They won’t starve like some of the other convicts. They’ll be healthy and have lots of food and will barter veggies and meat they catch so they can become wealthy.’

Levi D: ‘I predict that Tom will leave to go to a better area in Australia with Sergeant Stanley and his son, Rob. I think he will find his own land at Murraroo and have a family and be happy, which is good because his life as a young boy was very sad.’

Felicity P: ‘I think that all of the convicts who didn’t want to eat the fruit and vegetables from their stores will possibly starve. Tom and Rob will survive because they have been taught to grow their own food and hunt, from Sergeant Stanley and the Aboriginal lady. I think the Aboriginal people will teach the boys more skills about how to survive in Australia by living from the land, without having to buy food and water. I think that Tom and Rob will learn to build things and be able to sell their hunted foods so that they can buy land.’

Leo and Elka: ‘We think that Tom and Rob will learn lots of new things from the Indigenous woman, like heaps of survival skills and how to find food. We think that Tom will work hard and Sergeant Stanley will reward him with a fair share of land, to build a house and have a family.’

Poppi E: ‘I think that Tom and Rob will learn a lot from the Aboriginals and use the skills to defend themselves from anyone who tries to hurt them. I think a disease might spread throughout the convict camp and wipe lots of people out. I wonder how Tom ends up living in a big house on lots of land as an old man.’

Mitchell and Nathan W: ‘We predict that they might run out of gunpowder and many resources. I don’t think they will starve because Tom knows what starving is like from when he lived with Master Jack and when he was on the convict ship, The Scarborough. They will find a property at Murraroo and become very wealthy.’

What I have liked about the story….

Melody T: ‘I like that Tom has been taken in by Sergeant Stanley and he is giving him shelter and teaching him things. He gives him christmas presents and food and looks after him.’

Jimmy H: ‘I like that Sergeant Stanley looks after Tom, he took him in to be a friend to his son Rob. I like how the Aboriginal woman taught them how to live off the land and taught them how to hunt and lots of tricks.’

Blake R and Benji P: ‘I liked when a maid felt sorry for Tom and gave him some food when he was cleaning the chimney because he was starving. It is good that Tom lives with the sergeant and Rob, since he was let off the convict ship.’

Callum T and Liam F: ‘I liked that Tom was given a home with Rob and his Dad, Sergeant Stanley. They all look after each other in a new land.’

Aria S: ‘I liked that Sergeant Stanley looks after him now - even though he’s higher up than him. Sergeant Stanley and Rob look after him and love him now that he has made it to Australia. He's now growing up on a farm at Botany Bay.’

What I haven’t liked so much about the story….

Madi C and Makaya T: ‘We didn’t like that Tom had to be a chimney sweep at 8 years old and that he was sent to Australia on a convict ship. We are sad they are running out of food supplies and rations and they don;t know when the next ship will arrive with supplies. It was very sad when Tom’s friends Jem and Sailor Sam died.’

Xavier L: ‘I didn’t like how so many people close to Tom have died, like his Dad, Jem and Sailor Sam. It would have been very emotional and he had no one else to turn to to look after him.’

Cooper C and Roarke C: ‘We don’t like that Tom had to be a chimney sweep at age 8 because his Dad died in the stocks. Master Jack didn’t treat him very well and didn’t give him much food or warmth.. He stole money and then became a convict and now they are running out of supplies at Botany Bay.’

We are looking forward to reading the end of the novel to see how Tom ends up as an old man at Murraroo Station.

Cyber Safety with Donna Clarke: Youth Engagement Officer
On Friday, Police Youth Engagement Officer Donna Clark spoke to Stage 3 about the use of social media and the internet. It was a very informative talk and the students should now have a much clearer understanding of some things to consider when using social media and the internet to ensure they are being safe and responsible.

Footy Colours Day
On Wednesday, we dressed in our favourite footy colours to celebrate the end of term and help raise money for the Year 6 end of year gift to the school. It was a great way to end our busy term and enjoy cupcakes which were on sale too. Thank you to the Year 6 bakers for organising such a fun day.

Geography
In Geography this term, we have been learning about Asia, through our unit titled A Diverse and Connected World. Recently, we have been investigating the vast differences of jobs and rural lifestyles of people across Asia, which include being a rice farmer, sherpa in the Himalayas, a sulphur miner and a market stall holder in Thailand. It has definitely opened our eyes to the very different lifestyles of people across the world.

Science
This term in Science, the students have been learning about Earth and Space. More recently, the students have been designing and creating a spacecraft to showcase their learning, using materials like cardboard, plastic cups/containers, paddle pop sticks, foil and straws. There has been lots of creativity and some plan alterations in aim to create their designs.

Dance
This term, the students have loved investigating the elements of dance and creating a dance routine based on a particular dance type. This week, the students are busily rehearsing their dance steps with Ms Teggart in preparation for their in class performances. 

Mrs Megan Grant
Year 5 Teacher