This term in Reading, students are delving into a range of creative writing texts, including fairytales and interviews, while exploring literary techniques such as idioms, hyperbole, and imagery. They are also investigating how texts reflect the time period and the social, political, and cultural contexts in which they were written, using research to inform and inspire their own creative ideas. A strong focus this term is on developing reading comprehension skills. Students are learning to identify both the literal meaning of a text and the deeper, inferred ideas that lie beneath the surface. They are also practising how to critique and evaluate what they read, encouraging them to think critically about an author’s message and purpose. These skills not only strengthen their understanding of a wide range of texts but also help them become thoughtful, confident, and independent readers.
This term in Writing, students are developing their skills in speech writing and presentation. They are learning how to craft persuasive and engaging speeches, focusing on using strong language, structure, and expression to communicate their ideas with confidence. As part of this unit, students are exploring famous speeches throughout history, identifying the techniques and qualities that make them so powerful and memorable. Alongside this, students are also enjoying regular free-choice writing sessions, where they can explore a variety of genres such as narratives, poetry, letters, and reports. This balance between structured and creative writing allows students to build both their technical writing skills and their individual voice as authors.
In SpellEx sessions, students will explore spelling combinations for the schwa sound, as well as /ir/ and /or/ sounds. This will lead them into a discovery of morphology and consolidating their understanding of common tricky spelling words.
In Word Study sessions, students will begin by investigating the how word origins, meanings and spelling impact the various homophones we have in the English language. They will then consolidate their understanding of etymology, and how selecting specific words for their writing enhances their abilities as authors. Finally, we will refine our use of less-common plurals and developing different types of paragraphs.
As a cohort, we will look at prefixes of time and position, and apply our Word Work skills from across this year to our writing.
This term in Year 5/6 Maths, we are strengthening our understanding of the four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). Students are refining their fluency, accuracy, and efficiency when solving problems using a range of mental and written strategies.
We are also exploring Patterns and Algebra, where students will apply BODMAS to solve number sentences and use input–output tables to identify and describe relationships between numbers. These investigations help build strong foundations for algebraic thinking and logical reasoning.
In Statistics and Probability, students will conduct data investigations, collecting, representing, and interpreting data in meaningful ways. They will also explore chance events, using language such as certain, likely, and impossible to describe and compare probabilities.
This term in Health & Wellbeing, our learning is underpinned by the school value of 'Kindness'. Students will explore two important Respectful Relationships topics: Gender Norms and Stereotypes and Positive Gender Relations. These areas are crucial in developing emotional intelligence when building positive, respectful relationships with others.
Students will also explore safe and reliable ways to access health information. This includes investigating different sources, quality and types of information through their own research project on an area of health. Finally, they will consider how this impacts societal health choices.
This term, students will continue with the Inquiry focus of Business & Entrepreneurship. Students will take on the exciting challenge of becoming young entrepreneurs as they begin planning for our first ever Market Day at Mitcham Primary School! This hands-on project allows students to work collaboratively in teams to develop and run their own business venture. Each team has designed a stall to either sell a product, offer a service, or create an experience for all Mitcham students to enjoy.
This term, student learning will progress to understanding how different types of jobs contribute to individuals, families, and the wider community. They will also investigate how to manage and keep money safe, through understanding the importance of budgeting, saving, and protecting personal information in the digital world.
This unit is an excellent opportunity to integrate real-world maths, economics, communication, and teamwork skills in a fun and engaging way. Importantly, this will be unpacked in detail through a reflection period after running their market stall.
Market Day: 14th of November
Students can bring no more than $10 (preferably bringing $10 in coins as most stalls will be priced at $1/$2 for an item or experience).
** Differentiated learning will be present in each class to cater for all students individual learning requirements **