Term 2

Reading

This term, Year 5/6 students are focusing on reading a range of different text types including narrative, persuasive and information texts. We will learning about the structure of these texts, language devices that enhance these genres, and how we use them in context.

Students are also strengthening their reading strategies by summarising what they read, questioning a text, and adjusting fluency when reading aloud. They are encouraged to apply critical thinking to understand different viewpoints and how arguments are supported. This promotes the development of their higher order thinking skills, an essential skill for Years 5/6 and beyond.

These skills help students become more thoughtful readers who can engage with a variety of texts confidently and effectively.

Writing

In Term 2, Year 5/6 students are focusing on writing informative and persuasive texts.

For informative writing, students are learning how these texts are organised using subheadings and structured paragraphs to present clear and factual information. Key writing skills include summarising main ideas and searching for and using information from texts.

For persuasive writing, students are identifying how authors present opinions and arguments. They are exploring how to order their strongest ideas within their paragraphs, the powerful use of statistics, as well as persuasive devices such as figurative language and high modal words to influence readers.

Students will create seeds in their Writer's Notebook to generate ideas and brainstorms of different text types and ideas which students can use to create their own texts. Through Free Choice Writing, they will continue developing as young authors, exploring their creativity and individual voice. We look forward to seeing all of the work they publish this term!

Word Work

In Year 5/6 Word Work, students are building stronger spelling, vocabulary, and language skills through a mix of SpellEx and Word Study lessons. In SpellEx, we are practising regular and irregular spelling patterns, learning not just how to spell words correctly but also how to use them in different contexts. Students are exploring the meanings of words, using them in sentences, playing games, and setting personal spelling goals, helping them to build a rich and usable vocabulary.

In Word Study lessons, students are investigating etymology (the history and origin of words) and morphology (how words are built). They are learning how prefixes, suffixes, and root words form word families and are discovering patterns that make complex words easier to understand and spell. Students will learn a variety of integrated literacy concepts such as apostrophes with common and iregular nouns and use phonological, vocabulary knowledge to spell words that share common letters but have different pronunciations. Activities like word family trees, collaborative investigations, and discussions help students develop strategies to decode unfamiliar words and deepen their understanding of language.

Our Word Work program supports all learners by providing multiple entry points and challenges, with extra scaffolding for those who need it and extension opportunities for those ready to analyse word origins and structures.

Numeracy

In Term 2, a major focus for the term will be fractions and decimals. Students will begin by reflecting on their current understanding using a fraction rubric and pre-assessment, then build their knowledge of equivalent fractions, benchmarking, and making connections between fractions and decimals. Daily practice will support fluency in multiplication and division, which is essential for success in these areas. Students will also engage in ongoing assessment tasks to monitor their progress and inform next steps.

Throughout the term, students will also explore 3D objects, probability, and chance, developing their understanding of geometric properties and the likelihood of events. The unit will conclude with a continued focus on decimals, allowing students to deepen their knowledge and apply it across a range of contexts. All learning will be supported by explicit teaching, and balancing problem-solving and engaging activities designed to build confidence and extend all learners.

Health & Wellbeing

In Term 2, Year 5/6 students will also begin to explore the physical, social and emotional changes related to puberty. This includes the different timings and experiences of puberty, anatomy, menstruation and hygiene.

In the second half of the term, students will learn about emotional literacy, including why they feel comfortable and uncomfortable emotions, how to recognise these emotions in others and positive coping strategies that can support them throughout various stages and struggles in their life. Students will also celebrate their personal and cultural strengths, and how we can use these to support others and importantly, ourselves. Students will also learn about Positive Coping Strategies, including positive self-talk.

Later in the term, students will learn about being Cyber Safe.

Our Year 6 students are also trained Peer Mediators, who help all students in the school yard who are experiencing 'friendship fires', communication troubles or struggling to engage in play. We really value their leadership and expertise in this area.

Inquiry

In our current Inquiry unit, students are developing an understanding of Australia’s history by exploring the perspectives and experiences of First Nations Peoples and examining the nation’s journey towards Federation. Students will investigate key events and ideas that shaped the formation of Australia, including the role of the Founding Fathers and the social and political climate of the time.

Throughout the unit, there is a strong focus on how rights and freedoms have changed over time. Students will explore the limitations placed on different groups, including women and First Nations Peoples, and examine the gradual progress towards equality following Federation.

As the term progresses, students will extend their learning to consider the rights of migrants and children, and how Australia has evolved into a more inclusive society. Through this, students will develop an appreciation of how past events and decisions have shaped modern Australia, while building their ability to reflect on fairness, justice and active citizenship.

** Differentiated learning will be present in each class to cater for all students individual learning requirements **

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