Sudent focus for Stage 3 - Years 5 and 6.
Stage 3 Staff
- 5/6A – Ms Elizabeta Angelkovic
- 5/6L – Mrs Alana Lanzafame
- 5/6N – Ms Melinda Nancarrow
- 5/6R – Mrs Cheryl Rose (Monday-Thursday) and TBA (Friday)
Ms Elizabeta Angelkovic – Relieving Assistant Principal & Stage Supervisor
Stage 3 learning
English
We will work continuously throughout the year honing our imaginative, informative and persuasive writing skills. For much of the time, this writing will be linked closely to History, Geography and Science topics. In term 1, in preparation for the Year 5 NAPLAN assessments, we will be focusing on imaginative and persuasive texts.
There will also be weekly lessons specifically dedicated to the explicit teaching of spelling, grammar, comprehension and handwriting. Year 5, if they haven’t already, will be heading towards earning their pen licence once they are consistently using cursive writing. Year 6 will be expected to use pen and cursive script in all their bookwork.
This year, stage 3 will be implementing a spelling program called ‘Exploring Words’. During weekly Exploring Words lessons, students will be exposed to a core list that follows a specific spelling rule. The emphasis of the program is on the mechanics, the history and the meaning behind the written English language. Students will be completing meaningful tasks, both at school and at home, that allow them to show a working understanding of the rules.
Mathematics
Teaching and learning experiences in Mathematics will be differentiated according to each child’s knowledge of a given strand of work. This ensures that each individual student is exposed to work at their own level of need. Each strand of Mathematics, other than number, will be taught over a two- to three-week period. Number will be continuously taught every week.
History
The Stage 3 History unit for this year, taught throughout Terms 2 and Term 3 is ‘Australia as a Nation’.
Students will learn about key figures and events that led to Australia’s Federation, including British and American influences on Australia’s system of law and government. They will also investigate experiences of Australian democracy and citizenship, including the status and rights of Aboriginal people and/or Torres Strait Islanders, migrants, women and children. In Term 3, students will research stories of groups of people who migrated to Australia (including from ONE Asian country) and the reasons they migrated, such as World War II and Australian migration programs since the war. They will learn about contribution of individuals and groups, including Aboriginal people and/or Torres Strait Islanders and migrants, to the development of Australian society, for example in areas such as the economy, education, sciences, the arts, sport.
Geography
The Stage 3 Geography unit for this year, taught throughout Terms 1 and 4, is ‘A Diverse and Connected World’.
In this unit, students will investigate the diversity and geographical characteristics of countries in the Asia region as well as with other countries across the world. Students will learn about the diversity of the world’s people, including the indigenous peoples of other countries. In the second part of the unit, students will investigate connections between Australia and other countries of the world and explore and reflect upon similarities, differences and the importance of intercultural understanding.
Science and technology
Learning in Science and Technology develops students’ curiosity about natural phenomena and the built environment. It provides students with the opportunity to develop a sense of achievement by using the practical application of knowledge in the development of solutions.
- Term 1 - States of Matter - Material World
- Term 2 - Changes to the Earth’s Surface - Earth and Space
- Term 3 - Sustainably managing environments to source food and fibre - Living World
- Term 4 - Describing and exploring specific forces - Physical World
The children will also be taking part in a problem-solving based coding and robotics program utilising Lego EV3 robots run by Robokids. This program will be aimed complementing learning in the Digital Technologies strand and teaching coding and computational thinking as well as developing collaborative problem-solving skills.
Creative arts
As well as in-class art, craft, music and drama activities, the Creative Arts curriculum will be complemented through weekly music lessons with Ms Gibson, whole-school assembly performances, community nights, history and geography-related art, visiting incursions, etc. Year 6 will also be involved in an end-of year performance as a culmination of their time at DHPS.
Personal development, health and physical education
In terms 1 and 4, teachers will be running a games and sports program based around cricket and netball. Winter sports, in term 2 & 3, will be football and softball. The children will also be taking part in outsourced tennis and gymnastics programs in term 1 and 3 respectively and a dance program in term 4.
Units on Child Protection and Drug Education will be undertaken throughout the year.
In semester 2, Stage 3 students will be taking part in sexuality and relationships education program run by ‘Interrelate’. Year 5 and Year 6 students will take part in separate programs, both of which address outcomes in the PDHPE syllabus. The sessions will be run by highly-skilled and experienced educators in collaboration with classroom teachers.