YEAR 5 LEARNING UPDATE

Religion (Conceptual Inquiry)
How do different types of texts influence your understanding? As part of our Conceptual Inquiry, Year 5 have been introduced to how visual, written and spoken texts influence our understanding. This term we are looking at Mary as a case study and inquiring into her life through a variety of texts. We have been appreciating and interpreting song lyrics, contemporary painting and drawings and making connections to the Gospels. The students are demonstrating deep thinking and reasoning as they connect to different elements of Mary’s life.  

English
In English this term, we have been focussing on ‘Writing to Inform’. Using the Seven Steps to Writing Success program. Students have been exposed to writing interesting information reports and have investigated a topic of choice, including animals, places, crystals and early years inventions. Following on from this, we began investigations into newspapers and writing reports as a journalist. We were very fortunate to be given a historic newspaper ‘The Shoalhaven and Nowra News’ from 1967. Using this, we browsed articles, compared advertisements and looked at the different vocabulary of reports in the 60’s. The students were amused by the items for sale like the 1960’s hair dryer system and the price of lollies. We then compared and contrasted this old newspaper with a current newspaper. These lessons were highly engaging and much was learnt about newspapers and reporting in the early years. 

Maths
The children in Year 5 and Year 6 are enjoying piloting a new program called Maths Pathways. This is a tailored maths program that meets each student at their point of need based on collected and analysed data. The program consists of a combination of energersiers (getting our maths brains switched on), mini lessons with our teachers and the students working on their individualised learning modules. The children are all very engaged and enthusiastically participating in their online activities at home with their families. This program will continue at St Mary’s in 2022 for the Stage 3 learners.

Science
During this terms' chemical science unit ‘Facts of the Matter,’ Year 5 have been busy exploring solids, liquids and gases. The students are learning that the three states of matter have different observable properties, and behave in different ways.

During this activity, Year 5 are measuring the viscosity of various liquids, by timing how long it takes for each liquid to run down an incline.

YEAR 6 LEARNING UPDATE

English
Year 6 have completed their unit on Poetry. The students loved to write rhyming poems and tried to incorporate some of the strategies they learnt to make a good poem.

YEAR 6 POEMS

War

I hear the gunshots clear and loud, 

Time to make my country proud.

Nothing stopping me from shooting this gun.

But this isn’t my idea of fun.

I take a deep breath, put my thoughts away,

Please let this be over soon, I pray.

I ready my gun, and carefully take aim,

Then I feel excruciating pain.

I fall to the ground not knowing what to do

Seems my worst nightmare is true.

Everything fades, I’m about to die,

Thinking about life, I start to cry.

Goodbye harsh world, I’ve come to an end.

I pray for my family, I pray for my friend.

I wait on the ground thinking my last thought.

I reflect on the memories that life has brought.

At least where I’m heading there will be no war,

Fighting and violence will be no more.

I close my eyes, my last breath I release.

At least where I’m going, there will be peace.  Sahara

We have had lots of fun in the sun.

We ran and ran, but the games were banned.

It’s been a rough year but we got through it,

Let’s cheer!

We’ve had lots of fun, but that’s not all we’ve done.

We ‘ve learnt a lot and to leave it really hurts.  Roary

Year 6 has been the best for me

A happily ever after!

Happy and cool all through the day.

With lots of fun and laughter.

Mrs Afflick and Mr Prow,

You’ve helped me all the way.

I finished Year 6 with your help.

I just don’t know what to say.  Millie-Rose

Diamante Poem
Yr 6

Action-packed, Unusual

quickly, annoying, enjoyable

Home, school,  swim, sport

Loudly, passing, silently

Disappointment, elation

End.  Michaela

Who likes home learning?

But I’m so glad that we are returning.

Year six has been fun,

But Mr Harpley wants to shoot us with a gun.

Can’t wait for graduation,

This will be a celebration.

Bianca is tall,

Gig’s is small.

Primary school has been fun,

But High School here we come!  Vivian

Science
In Science we have been looking at chemical changes. Last week we demonstrated the effect that yeast has when making bread. Students made predictions about what would happen when you made the bread with and without yeast.  

Religion (Conceptual Inquiry)
We have been looking at the life of Mary through a variety of texts and art. Year 6 is gaining an understanding and appreciation of her life by interpreting the lyrics of songs and comparing them to the Gospel versions by Matthew and Luke. They are then asked to make connections to their own lives. (Photos in file)