Term 4 Overview

Inquiry Topic: ‘Innovations in Design’

Welcome to Term 4! We hope that you all had a fantastic break and are ready for a wonderful term of learning and achievement. This Term, our Inquiry Learning focus sees the Year 5 and 6 students investigating design, technology and innovations. Our key understandings for this term include:

•   A design process may include planning, trial and error, creating, evaluating, and presenting (it may not be sequential).
• Designers think about their purpose and their audience. There may be limitations and guidelines, specifications, or a design brief.
• People have and will continue to design and innovate because of perceived needs, wants and problems.

Students will be given the opportunity to choose an area of interest and participate in weekly electives which include Masterchef, Design Challenge, Lotions and Potions and Sewing Sensations.    

Literacy                                                                                                                                                              

During Term 4, the Year 5 and 6 students will continue the progression of their Reading through consistent Modelled, Shared, Independent, Reciprocal, and Guided Reading lessons. They will explore an array of literature within Classroom Libraries, whereby students take ownership of how to categorise resources into genres and like groupings, assign roles and responsibilities, and to successfully manage the library within their own classroom environment.  The students will be participating in the Independent Reading hour block on a daily basis, where they will explore literature and reading comprehension strategies in greater detail. In Writing, The Writer’s Notebook will continue to be an important aspect in Term 4, with Procedures/Explanations, Snapshots and Open-minded Portraits being our genre of study. Our Speaking and Listening activities will encourage students to practise skills in presenting to a range of audiences, and to listen and respond thoughtfully to their teachers and peers.

Numeracy

In Term 4, Numeracy lessons will be centred around 4 key topics: ‘Number’, ‘Space’, ‘Measurement, Chance and Data, and ‘Working Mathematically.’ Students will be consolidating their understanding of the Numeracy concepts covered this year and will have the opportunity to apply their mathematical understandings during the Inquiry unit.

Concert 2009 and Year 6 Graduation

The 5/6 theme this year is “Glee”. A glee is actually a short song rather than an emotion, however there will be plenty of the emotional glee in our pieces too. The classes will be following the historic tradition of glee, being a group of women and men singing a short song. There will be dancing and instruments as well. Everyone is gleeful in anticipation, and beginning to plan their acts!  

The 5/6 team are currently finalising plans for the Year 6 Graduation on Wednesday 16^th December. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and farewell our outstanding Year 6 students and wave them on to a successful High School career.  

Homework Expectation

A consistent homework routine reinforces our classroom learning, helps students develop skills in organisation and time management, and establishes habits in concentration, study and self-discipline. In Years 5 and 6, students are expected to complete one hour of homework per week. This is in addition to a minimum of 15 minutes of reading each weeknight. We encourage students to take responsibility of their independent reading routine; therefore, students are most welcome to read a text from home or from the school’s library or classroom library. Students should discuss the book’s suitability first with their teacher and a parent. Weekly spelling lists will continue to be sent home, (usually Mondays) and students will be required to complete a spelling activity from a distributed checklist before Friday. Practice tests with a parent would also greatly assist your child, and a formal spelling test will usually be done on a Friday. A double-sided ‘Maths Mate’ activity sheet should also be completed each week. It is important that students continue to use their diary productively, by recording events and homework expectations.

Contact

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.  Visitors and helpers are always very welcome in Year 5/6!!!

You can contact the Year 5/6 teachers through written notes, via e-mail, or alternatively by phoning the school on 9397 5722. 

Olivia Atanasovska: atanasovska.olivia.o@edumail.vic.gov.au

Kylie Clarke: clarke.kylie.m@edumail.vic.gov.au

Melanie Hinsley: hinsley.melanie.l@edumail.vic.gov.au

Annemarie Honeybone: honeybone.annemarie.a@edumail.vic.gov.au

Stewart King: king.stewart.s@edumail.vic.gov.au

Kimberley Brown: brown.kimberley.j1@edumail.vic.gov.au

Felicity Minton: minton.felicity.a@edumail.vic.gov.au

What's on in Term 4

We are looking forward to a wonderful Term Four!             

Kind regards,

5/6 Team