We aim for our students to learn to enjoy the fundamental skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening through engaging cross disciplinary activities. Students read, discuss and examine themes, events, locations and historical contexts in the ‘My Australian Story’ series. They reflect on how the events of the past have shaped the Australia of today. Through examining where the events in texts took place, their understanding of our Geography and History is enhanced.

We aim for students to be confident with numbers, shapes and basic equations through activities and games that require an increasing knowledge of numeracy. Students read, write and order large whole numbers and numbers including fractions. They model these numbers using materials and diagrams, locate these on number lines and continue patterns by adding and subtracting. Students identify shape properties, extending their geometric vocabulary and developing an understanding of angle as an amount of turn. They measure and construct different angles.

Year 5 students are immersed in a maker-centred approach with a constructivist mindset. ‘Designing the Future’ involves students in learning about technologies through hands on activity based investigation and project work. Using the continuous process ‘Design, Evaluate, Refine’, they are immersed in a range of experiences in making, coding, robotics, electronics and craft. Having developed skills and understanding in these areas, students apply these in a range of projects, which may target predetermined goals or be entirely student-directed. Students reflect on and document their learning using a design journal and a blog.

Students are challenged to begin to learn and understand spoken and written language. The foreign language teaching methodology known as Accelerative Integrated Method (AIM) uses gestures, music, dance, and theatre to help students learn language. The basic idea of AIM is that students learn and remember better when they do something that goes along with the words they are saying. The program uses gestures to help students remember and access words, phrases and structures. AIM also uses storytelling to help students remember and use the language. The three skills of Reading, Listening and Speaking are developed as the students move through the program.

Singing, percussion, movement and improvisation are all explored through creative and fun activities in music. Year 5 students all learn an orchestral instrument and perform in an ensemble. Students consolidate and extend their knowledge of rhythmic motifs, note values and time signatures. Students perform as a member of a rhythm ensemble and compose and notate a 2-bar melody on the music staff. The Allegro program provides students with the opportunity to develop or further develop skills on an orchestral instrument. On their instrument beginner students learn how to produce a sound, play a range of notes and perform short pieces as part of an ensemble.

Drama benefits all students as it builds self esteem and confidence. It develops a wide range of talents as it involves many personal and interpersonal skills. This course aims to foster creativity and cooperative endeavour and develop expressive speaking and performance skills. The students develop their performance skills by presenting to their peers and rehearsing works that are performed in front of their audience. Their use of expressive skills, character work, teamwork and audience engagement are developed during this experience. Basic stagecraft and dramatic terminology are also explored.

Creativity is expressed across a variety of techniques, materials and mediums in Visual Art. Students use starting points such as careful observation, experience and imagination to express individual ideas and feelings through Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Collage, Textiles and Ceramics.

Physical and Health Education is seen as an integral part of the student’s education. The program is designed to offer all students the opportunity to experience a variety of physical pursuits and is concerned with the total well-being of individuals and their ability to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. The College has excellent facilities: football and cricket ovals, soccer and hockey pitches, tennis, basketball and netball courts, a swimming pool and double gymnasium. Each student participates in four one-hour lessons during the school’s two-week cycle. Key focusses in Year 5 are becoming a team player and bouncing skills.

Religious and Values Education lessons allow opportunities for students to develop their personal thinking and give them freedom to question. They are encouraged to discover ideas themselves and to be confident that inquiry is acceptable. They examine human issues and significant life questions. The presentation of Christian stories, beliefs and teachings related to these experiences are used to assist students to reflect and make connections with their own experiences. Students are given the opportunity to participate in a variety of ways to express ideas and concepts during Worship segments of the Primary Assembly and Chapel.