Year 6G

Can you believe we are in Fourth Term already? The class finished off the last term with a fantastic excursion to the Leonardo’s Machines Exhibition. This was a means of introducing the children to the focus of Term Four – ‘Simple Machines and How They Make Work Easier’. The unit of work will have a science focus on the basic principles of physics including force, energy, gravity, motion and friction.

The children will be asked to design and construct a contraption that uses at least two simple machines to move an object through a given distance. They will also be preparing a scientific report explaining how their machine works. Some common simple machines we use everyday are wheels, pulleys, ramps, ball bearings, gears and levers.

The standard of homework has not been so consistent in Term Three, particularly the handwriting and overall neatness of the work. Handwriting worksheets will be included as part of the homework from week two. Children not presenting their written homework in a satisfactory manner will be asked to repeat it over the weekend.

This term will see spelling words being tested on a weekly basis once again. This will take place on Friday and involve the list words for the week and various words built from those words.

Mathletics is normally set weekly with up to five specific activities expected to be completed. The tasks relate to current maths being taught or involve revising concepts and skills already covered in class. Some students will be set more challenging tasks that may need occasional support from parents.

Interschool sport starts again in Week One and in most cases will go for six weeks. Children will continue with the same sporting teams that they were members of in Term One. Children not in interschool teams will be involved in a range of activities at school.

The school speaking challenge is taking place in Week Five. The topic for Year 6G will be a persuasive speech to convince potential consumers to buy a contraption you have invented. A humorous approach is always popular and can be applied readily to spruiking the benefits of a ‘can’t do without gadget’.

Please feel free to contact me if you have anything you wish to discuss about your child and our class.

The pictures show students on the excursion contemplating the workings of some of Leonardo Da Vinci’s wonderful machines.

The third term of this year will see our class involved in a unit of work on Refugees. This focus through the Studies of Society and the Environment will provide the children with a deeper understanding of the following:

As part of this unit we will be meeting a Year 8 Migrant and Refugee class of students from Kedron State High School. Novels by Deborah Ellis titled ‘Parvana’ and ‘Parvana’s Journey’ will be shared by the classes to further our understanding of the plight of refugees.

Assessment tasks for this work will include computer created flow charts showing the refugee process from displacement to resettlement. A written report comparing the differences between our life experiences and that of a refugee will also be completed to assess student’s level of understanding.

Our class will be working cooperatively with Ms Green’s Yr 7 and Mr Rigby’s Yr 6/7 in English once again this semester. The three classes combine for four literacy rotations a week where activities are organised at a level suitable to each group. The assistance of the Learning Support Teacher, the Teacher Librarian and a Teacher Aide will allow us to cater for different student needs The tasks will be aimed at improving spelling skills, critical reading comprehension and achieving greater cohesion and structure in the children’s writing.

All the children are excited about the Year 6 camp at Luther Heights, Coolum from the 19th to 21st of August. Staff attending will be Mr Clifton, Mrs Winzar, Mr Grebert and the school chaplain Mrs Hayes.

A majority of the class maintain a great attitude to their homework. Independent reading should be actively encouraged to form part of each child’s daily routine whenever possible. Speaking tasks based on novels children have completed will begin this term. This may help motivate the less keen readers to get involved with some quality literature whilst also allowing all the class to share books they have enjoyed.

Second Term began with a focus on ANZAC Day and its significance as a time to reflect on the deeds of past and present Australian Defence Force members. We were very proud of our talented classmate Shaun Morison who played The Last Post for our whole school ANZAC Day ceremony.

The major topic of our integrated study for this term is on how waterways are affected by human activities. We will be looking at issues of water pollution, conservation and household usage of water, sedimentation of waterways, the impact on ecosystems and the various indicators of the health of a waterway e.g. salinity. The unit of work will also involve an excursion in the second last week of term to Fish Creek to experience some hands on activities in the field.

Homework has been consistently presented at a very good standard by most students so far this year. The usual tasks set involve learning a set of class and topic words. These words are pre-tested on Monday and the children then highlight any words they have misspelt on their spelling list. Special attention should be made to learn these highlighted words each week.

Troy and Declan developing teamwork and problem solving skills.

Literacy rotations worked very well in Term One so 6/7R , 7G and 6G will continue with this through this term. We spend 45 minutes working in ability groups four days a week on a range of reading and writing skills. The writing focus this term will be on persuasive writing and writing scientific reports.

Alexandria, Emily and Antonia using simple line drawing techniques in art.

Students working with the language module of the BRAINTASTIC computer program

All Year six pupils in Queensland will complete a uniform writing task by mid May. This is termed a Queensland Curriculum Assessment Task and will be moderated with other Year Six teachers in our local district. The task involves writing a description and creating a days schedule for a visitor to experience the place described.

Please feel free to contact me if you have anything you wish to discuss about your child and our class.

The photos show students on the Term 2 excursion to Enoggera Creek at The Gap where we undertook several hands on activities to assess the health of this local waterway.

This term our students will be involved in Australian history. They will be learning about the need for various Australian colonies to federate through developing an understanding of the issues surrounding government, transport and distance. These studies will position students to have some understanding of what Australia was like at the turn of the last century leading up to the First World War.

Students will undertake a research project on an Australian soldier who died at Bullecourt in 1917.

Our main focus in English will be the narrative genre. Through focus lessons, practice activities and literacy group activities students will be encouraged to improve their ability to appreciate and create entertaining narratives. Original student stories will then be published. To begin this term our shared text is ‘The Boy Who Lost His Face’ by Louis Sachar.

In Science the focus will be on the structures that enable living things to survive and reproduce.

Essential Learnings in Mathematics will be addressed through a combination of whole class lessons, manipulation of material, group problem solving activities and relevant computer software programs. Throughout the year students will also have the opportunity to participate in two interschool mathematics competitions.

All students will be participating in the swimming program and places will also be available in interschool teams for cricket, softball and touch football.

Many opportunities exist in the upper school for personal development and students will be encouraged to take on active leadership roles in a variety of contexts.

Term 4