YEAR 5 NEWS
Posted in CGGS Newsletter 24 - 22 August 2008
A BUSY WEEK FOR 5R
It has been a very busy and exciting week in the 5R classroom! The students have continued to work on Olympic based activities in both English and Mathematics, enjoyed a variety of special activities to celebrate Book Week, as well as participating in the making of our class movie. Everyone has enjoyed the Cotton Ball Shot Put, the Paper Plate Discus Throw and the Straw Javelin measuring activities. In smaller team groups we have also explored the Olympic Games to investigate such issues as the importance of team spirit in achievement as well as the need for discipline to ensure success. Special visits by author Christine Booth and former Olympic Basketball Boomer Mel Dalgleish have capped an exciting week of events…all hopefully captured on film. Stronger, faster, higher…..Class 5R surges on through another exciting term!
Janet Robertson
Year 5 teacher
Pictured below: Mel Dalgleish, Australian Olympian Basketball (1980 and 1984) with wife Marny and daughter Alana.
Please click here to return to CGGS Newsletter 24 - 22 August 2008
Posted CGGS Newsletter No 20 - 25 July 2008
After a well-earned break, Year 5 has settled readily into the new term. This term we will be working on a unit of inquiry on Making Australia Home. We will be looking at such questions as:
- How does our background reflect upon our identity?
- How does the geography of Australia impact on our identity?
- What key icons/events/people reflect the Australian identity?
Each student will be conducting enquiries into the origins of her own family’s arrival in Australia and preparing a presentation for the end of term. She may present her information in one of a number of ways after consultation with her teacher but she must incorporate information on each of the following categories: personal profile, including reasons for coming; expectations of Australians and Australia; realities upon arrival and settling in; as well as any personal stories of experiences.
If the family has been here for several generations and the details are unavailable she may choose a family friend on whom to base her presentation.
You should have already received a permission note regarding a visit to the museum next Tuesday, and we will be visiting the National Archives later in the term as part of our unit.
Sandy McGregor
Year 5 teacher
Click here to return to CGGS Newsletter No 20 - 25 July 2008
Posted CGGS Newsletter No. 18 - 20 June 2008
TIGER THE MOUSE VISITS CLASS 5R
On a cold, cloudy morning on the eighth of the month, Amy brought in her pet mouse, Tiger, to visit our class. Tiger is cute and cuddly and liked to move around a lot.
Tiger is named after her appearance. She is brown with black stripes and only about the size of a ten year old girl’s palm. Tiger is very adventurous, so she would climb all over you and discover how bushy your hair was, if you let her! Tiger was fun to play with, but we had to remember to wash our hands carefully with soap after her visit.
Mice are interesting creatures. They are mammals; so are warm-blooded, give birth to live babies and drink milk. They live for approximately two to three years. The average litter for mice is between six to eight babies. All baby mice are blind when they are first born and they can see properly when they are four weeks old.
Mice make me feel energetic, because they move so fast and that makes me want to exercise too. They make me feel happy because they are so cute and cuddly. They also make me excited because they are so adventurous and sneaky and you have to hunt for them in their box, beneath the tissues and straw.
Until Amy brought her pet into the classroom I never imagined that mice could be so nice.
Georgie Sanderson
Class 5R
Please click here to return to CGGS Newsletter No. 18 - 20 June 2008
Posted CGGS Newsletter No. 17 - 13 June 2008
CAMP BIRRIGAI
Last week Year 5 went to Birrigai to experience ‘Life on the Diggings’. This was a fantastic way to put what we had learnt in class into action. We couldn’t believe the number of emus and kangaroos around the camp grounds. After we were shown around the grounds we had our first meal - a sausage sizzle. After lunch we were quickly divided into three activity groups. This allowed us to make new friends because Mr Kemp, Ms Robertson and Mrs McGregor mixed the Year 5 classes together.
Our first activity was the ‘goldfield investigation’. We organised ourselves into small groups and searched tents to find information about the person that lived there. We had to read their diaries and find other information to help us with this. Then we got dressed up as the resident of the tent and took photos. We then performed a play and presented a slideshow with the photos we had taken. It was great!
Our second activity included getting wood, damper mixture, a damper stick and some Golden Syrup. First we had to collect lots of little sticks to make a fire for each group. Next we were given a handful of damper dough and wound it onto a stick. We cooked the dough on the coals from the fire until it was golden brown. The damper was delicious with the Golden Syrup.
Our third activity was a role-play based on the life of a school student in the 1860’s. The teacher was extremely strict and some students were told that ‘only the devil’s children wrote with their left hand’. The teacher favoured the boys more than girls which really annoyed us. We went outside and the teacher showed us games to play at recess including quoits, boot throwing and marbles. We had to learn and recite a verse of a poem from memory and we were then given a nib, ink and a copy book. We copied the alphabet in our handwriting books. It was lots of fun, but difficult to avoid smudges.
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Our last day involved a simulation. We walked down to a grassy area near a dried out creek. We were put into families (groups of 7 or 8) and we started to fossick for gold (spray painted rocks). We exchanged the gold for money which we used to buy gold licences, pans, shovels, etc. We put up tents and panned for gold. Mrs Robinson was Chief Trooper and Mr Kemp was the Commissioner on the diggings. Some of the miners were naughty and did not buy licences, so they were arrested and thrown in gaol. The best bit was when Mrs McGregor dressed up as an old man and stole billies, claims and other assorted personal effects. The old man was put on trial and received five lashings. We heard “Ow! Ow! Ow!” from outside when the lashings were given. Some of the miners put their heads out the window so they could see the lashings but the troopers did not let them. It was the best day of camp I have ever had.
The Year 5 Camp at Birragai was a fun event for everyone. The evening activities were really fun and Mr Kemp had created a big trivia competition. It was a simply superb camp. We can’t wait until Year 6 Camp now.
Written by the students of 5K
Please click here to return to CGGS Newsletter No. 17 - 13 June 2008
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Posted CGGS Newsletter No. 14 - 23 May 2008
Last Friday a class of very excited students (5M) walked to the ELC to visit our 3 year old buddies for the very first time. When we arrived we saw lots of VERY cute faces. We were each wondering which face was our buddy. Unfortunately, several children were away so some of us had to share our friend’s buddies for the visit. We read them some books and then explored the classroom with them. We also sang finger-play songs with them. I, personally, can’t wait to see them again. We are all looking forward to when they come to visit us.
By Georgia Connery
In the past few weeks Year 5 have been learning about gold. To learn about this we have been doing activities that we prepare for every Monday. Four activities are compulsory but we can choose any of the others that we want to do. We also have to do three thinkers keys by Week 8 .We earn a certain amount of gold money for these activities depending if they are good or not. They need to be presentable, have lots of information and be legible. These activities are really fun. We are learning much about the effect of the people and the gold fields on Australia’s identity.
By Charlotte Strong
Please click here to return to CGGS Newsletter No. 14 - 23 May 2008
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Posted CGGS Newsletter No. 13 - 16 May 2008
YEARS 5/6 MATHS CHALLENGE
This term, students in Mrs McGregor’s and Mrs Hetherington’s Maths groups are participating in the Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians, a problem-solving activity organised by the Australian Mathematics Trust. Over the next three weeks, the students will work in small groups to find solutions to four questions requiring higher-order problem-solving skills and team work. Much discussion is taking place, possible strategies are being tested and the students are discovering more of the enjoyment and reward resulting from persevering to solve problems in Mathematics.
Robyn Hetherington
Stage 3 Coordinator
Please click here to return to CGGS Newsletter No. 13 - 16 May 2008
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Posted CGGS Newsletter No. 12 - 9 May 2008
Excursion to Bywong Gold Mining Town
On Tuesday 6 May all the students in Year 5, their teachers and some parent helpers went on an excursion to Bywong Town in order to experience what life was like in a gold mining town. This trip was part of our Term 2 Unit of Inquiry, which is to investigate how the gold rush in Australia changed our lives forever.
Bywong Town was an actual town that existed between 1895 and 1906. The village has been recreated in an authentic way, with tents, humpies and ironbark huts dotted around the bush. We were also able to visit the actual site of the reef mines that were worked at the time. Lots of old machinery remains in working order so we could understand how the blacksmith used his large bellows to keep his fire very hot in order to bend the metal into various shapes and groups of six students were able to pretend that they were the horse in the WHIM (Working Horse in Machine) and able to pull up the bucket of quartz from the nearby mine. The realistic setting helped us understand more about life in these times.
Most excitingly we were able to ‘pan’ for gold. Using some rocky dirt from around the mines we used a ‘dolly pot’ and iron bar to crush the rocks. Next, we placed the dirt in a pan and swirled it five or six times with water until all the lighter minerals were washed away. We then scooped up the remaining dirt into a clear plastic tube and checked it for specks of gold. Whilst most of our tubes glittered brightly, we were sad to hear that this was most probably pyrite or fool’s gold. Real gold is usually a dull yellow colour and does not usually glint when it is in the ground. At Bywong we really learned the meaning of the saying, ‘All that glitters is not gold’.
The excursion to Bywong was such an interesting one. Life during the gold rush would have been very tough but also very exciting. It was fun to be part of it, even if it was just for one day.
Class 5R
Please click here to return to CGGS Newsletter No. 12 -9 May 2008
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Posted CGGS Newsletter No 10 - 11 April 2008
Are you caring, a thinker, balanced or even a risk-taker? Because if you are (and you are still in school) then you are part of the PYP student profile. In Year 5 we have been learning how to be all of the above. To be a thinker you will need the six De Bono thinking hats. They are: yellow hat for benefits, red for feelings, green for creative ideas, black for judgment, white for facts and the blue hat for thinking about thinking. To be caring you need to think how your actions will affect others, before you do them. Being balanced means being healthy. You need to have a balanced life including eating healthily, getting exercise and having time for rest and play. Being a risk-taker pretty much means to try new things even if you’re not sure if you’ll be good at it.
Zoe Hanson (Year 5)
When 5M performed in the assembly last week we were working on thinking so we did a play on de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats. I thought this play made it more fun to learn about thinking. I was the green hat and had to talk about new ideas.
Sophie Harris (Year 5)
This term something different was introduced to 5M – public speaking. This was introduced on the first day of term as homework. We had to find and write the definition for “limelight”. Following this we started a topic called “In the Limelight”.
Every fortnight we would write and present a speech that is about 2-3 minutes long. Afterwards the class would give the student speaking some constructive criticism. The criticism included comment such as ‘speaking too quickly’, ‘too quiet’, ‘not enough practice’ or ‘not enough eye contact’. Each time we were allowed to choose a topic from a list that included a movie review, a book review, poetry review, recipes (where people would often bring in a sample for us all), personal passions, the ever popular advertisements and lots more. I have enjoyed preparing and listening to the speeches.
Anika Piiera (Year 5)
In the past weeks we have been doing English rotations in our classes to build our knowledge on the subject. We have come up with some funky names for our groups. They are Reading Rabbits, Book Brainiacs, Reading Rockstars, Remarkable Readers and Literacy Lovers. We have been rotating around five activities. Reading Circle is used to discuss our books and our responses to them; work in our English text book on grammar, spelling, text types and comprehension; silent reading, spelling activities and handwriting practice. Mrs McGregor has also managed to get us to become best friends with our dictionaries. We have had great fun and, not only that, we have learnt a great deal of English.
Rebeccah Richards (Year 5)
Please click here to return to CGGS Newsletter No. 10 - 11 April 2008
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Posted: CGGS Newsletter No. 8 - 28 Mar 2008
Cross Campus Capers in Year 5
On Monday 17 March, a bright and sunny St Patrick’s Day to be sure, the Year 5 students waited with great anticipation for the start of Cross Campus Capers, a day of co-operative group activities with the Year 5 students from Canberra Grammar School. Synonymous with fun as well as learning, this day had been starred in our calendar for quite a while, and we were not to be disappointed. In rotating, mixed groups, over 165 students participated with vigour in an outside Thinking Challenge, Theatre Sports, a Trivia Quiz as well as Group Games. As some friendships were renewed and others forged, the day was all too short. Year 5 iscertainly looking forward to the next Cross Campus Capers to be hosted at Canberra Grammar School next semester.
Janet Robertson
Year 5 teacher
Please click here to return to CGGS Newsletter No. 8 - 28 Mar 2008
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Posted: CGGS Newsletter No. 6 - 17 Mar 2008
Why is it important for us to be balanced?
Written by the students of 5K
It is important to be balanced in many ways such as eating healthily, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep. The Year 5 students researched how balanced we are by tracking our diet and all of our activities for 7 days. After the week, we analysed our charts to see if we thought we had balanced lives. We considered how much food we had eaten, if we had enough sleep and if we were participating in a variety of activities. Then we discussed how we could become more balanced.
We discussed the reasons we need to eat more healthy food and cut down the amount of sugar we have in our diet. We also decided that it is very important to get enough sleep so that we have enough energy to tackle any challenges we face. If you don’t get enough sleep, you will be moody and won’t be able to do anything. It is best that you exercise to maintain a healthy body for life. This can even be a 30 minute walk every day.
We think that tracking our activities and diet was a great way to see if we are balanced and some of us have some work to do.
David Kemp
Year 5 teacher
Please click here to return to CGGS Newsletter No. 6 - 14 Mar 2008
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Posted: CGGS Newsletter No. 4 - 29 Feb 2008
The Year 5 students have become engrossed in Science. We have learned that micro-organisms are miniscule living creatures that can only be seen using a microscope. We did an experiment this week to find out what happens to yeast when sugar and water are added. Seeing the results of our experiments with inflated balloons on the bottles with yeast and water in them lead us to believe that a gas had been formed. We think this might have something to do with bread rising because hi-top loaves of bread have yeast in them. We are looking forward to our next experiment to see if we are right.
For our Library lessons we are learning about biographies. We read about Anton Van Leeuwenhoek and his improving of the microscope and finding micro-organisms. We are researching Howard Florey and are writing a biography of him in groups.
In Mathematics we started our first groupings for the year.
In sport we are preparing for the Athletics carnival.
Rita Firth and Arabella Schiwy 5M
Click here to return to CGGS Newsletter No. 4 - 29 Feb 2008
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CGGS Newsletter No. 02 - 15 Feb 2008
A Super Start to Year 5 2008
All students in Year 5 have experienced an enjoyable and productive start to the 2008 school year. With a variety of activities designed to help students discuss and plan their vision of a quality classroom, 5K, 5M and 5R has each structured an “Essential Agreement” to make sure this vision becomes a reality for each class. With the values of caring, respect, co-operation and friendship underpinning these agreements, everyone in Year 5 is looking forward to a successful year.
Janet Robertson
Year 5 Class teacher
Click here to return to CGGS Newsletter No. 2 - 15 Feb 2008
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