Hello Parents and Carers of Year 5,

We’ve had an exciting and enriching first term in Year 5!

In Science, we’ve been fortunate to welcome two visiting science teams. One team guided us through extracting DNA from insects to determine whether they are invasive species or native to our area. More recently, the Flying Scientists inspired us to explore the natural environment more deeply, teaching us how to create scientific drawings of plant samples and accurately label their features. In the classroom, we’ve been investigating changes in states of matter, and the students have absolutely loved conducting hands-on experiments. Now, they are taking their learning further by designing their own investigations to explore these changes. Next term, we will turn our focus to Earth’s place in the solar system and its orbit around the Sun.

Our Journey Tales unit has wrapped up with some truly spectacular stories of adventure, bravery, courage, homelessness, fear, kindness, and friendship. Next term, we will dive into informative texts, using our understanding of extreme weather—both real and fictional—to create and present engaging "fake news" articles.

In Math, we’ve navigated a river of new strategies, revisiting prior knowledge to tackle multiplication, division, patterns, algorithms, and equations. Next term, we’ll kick off with time comparisons, solving real-world problems, and interpreting line graphs to analyse data trends.

In HASS, we’ve concluded our inquiry into early colonial Australia, with students stepping into the roles of settlers, First Nations people, and convicts through creative journal entries. Next term, our Geography unit will focus on bushfires and floods, while in Civics, we’ll explore Australia’s legal system.

In Health, we’ve been learning about preventative health and making informed choices to support our well-being. Students created slideshows showcasing ways people can live healthier lives through better decision-making. Next term, we’ll explore diversity and identity.

In Religion, our focus has been on Jesus’ New Law of Love. We’ve deepened our understanding of morality and reflected on ways to live by this principle in our daily lives.

I hope you all enjoy a well-earned break with your family and loved ones. Stay safe, have a wonderful holiday, and we’ll see you in Term 2!

Best regards,
Lyndsey Fielding