Curriculum

 

                                         Parent Information Year 5 2012

5M Miss Amy Mead

5W Mr Philip Burgess

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Greetings to all and we trust had an enjoyable Christmas and are looking forward to all that 2012 will bring. We are going to have a busy and rewarding year.

The following information is simply a guide as to the learning that will occur over the coarse of 2012.

Curriculum

Religious Education

We teach from the Diocesan Curriculum which, at St Paul’s, is based on a two year cycle. The following units will be studied this year:

· The Life And Times Of Jesus

· An Invitation To Believe

· The Way Of The Cross

· Easter: The Call To Follow

· The Early Church

· The Story Of The Local Church

· Gifts and Fruits Of The Spirit

· Mary: Mother Of The Church

· Jesus Emmanuel

· The Season Of Christmas

Prayer is incorporated into our daily routine. Participation in liturgies and masses will occur at various times throughout the school year.

English 

Ants in the Apple Spelling Program is used at St Paul’s. It treats Grammar, Morphology – base words, affixes, meanings, Etymology – word origins, Dictionary usage, Sayings and Expressions, Phrases, Clauses, Sentences. In addition to this, three English strands are also covered using the following strategies:

Talking and Listening – Whole class discussion, group work, oral presentations and drama groups (Reader’s Theatre).

Reading – To develop a love of reading in students is one of our aims. As well as formal reading activities, we read to the children regularly as a form of Modelled Reading. Reading assessments will be continual throughout the school year. Children are encouraged to read at every opportunity throughout the day, and reading is not restricted to English lessons only. The children utilise their reading skills across all Key Learning Areas.

Writing – Children are engaged in daily writing activities across several KLAs. Text Types are taught through both reading and writing activities. Each term a variety of text types are taught with the children reading and then drafting, editing and publishing their own texts using a particular model. Similarly, grammar is taught through the reading and writing connection. Spelling and handwriting are also a part of the writing strand. Handwriting includes using a Targeting Handwriting text book to practice specific letter formations. As well, all children are encouraged to use each opportunity when writing to practise and improved their skills.

Mathematics

We are using the program Go Maths in class as well as the Go Maths Computation for homework. In the classroom, the children have the opportunity to work with concrete materials, while problem solving, both oral and written, is part of each lesson. The Mathematics K-6 syllabus stipulates the following stands and substrands to be covered:

· Working Mathematically – questioning, reasoning, applying strategies, communicating, reflecting.

· Number – whole numbers, addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions and decimals, chance.

· Space and Geometry – 3D space, 2D space, position.

· Patterns and Algebra.

· Measurement – length, area, volume and capacity, mass, time.

· Data.

Human Society and Its Environment

Term 1: Study of a Cultural Group: Bali

Term 2: Gold

Term 3: Antarctica

Term 4: Global Connections

Science and Technology

Term 1: Earth’s Place in Space

Term 2: Light Fantastic

Term 3: Biological Sciences: Desert Survivors

Term 4: Chemical Sciences: Solid, Liquid or Gases

Computer Technology – is incorporated across the KLAs. Activities which allow the children to experience and explore computer technology are planned throughout the year and specific programs are taught during Library times.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education

The strands covered in 2012 will include Interpersonal Relationships, Safe Living, Games and Sport.

Fitness activities will take place every day and your child will be involved in a variety of activities throughout the year.

Creative Arts

Creative Arts includes Visual Art, Craft, Music, Drama and Dance. Specific topics will include:

Term 1: Drama: Rupunzel

Term 2: Visual Arts: Shovels, Picks and Pans

Term 3: Music: Absolutely Everybody

Term 4: Dance: The Living Landscape

Learning Support at St Paul’s Primary

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s learning or well-being during the year please ask your class teacher to invite the Learning Support Teacher along to your meeting. Mr Bradley Sabotic is here five days a week to support teachers and students with the teaching and learning process. He is always happy to help! 

Sister Anita is another one of our special helpers here at school. She is the Pastoral Care Worker and is here at St Paul’s Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Sister Anita works with individual children as well as small groups of children to support them through any concerns they are having in their lives. Sister Anita plays lots of fun games with the children and they like this very much.

Homework

English Homework:

· Spelling words to be written out each night

· Reading aloud to an adult for at least 10 minutes, twice each week.

Maths Homework:

· Maths activity pages to be completed (usually Go Maths).

· Saying tables aloud to an adult each night (parent to sign).

Other KLA

Often there will topic research or matrix based tasks from other KLA’s

Homework books must be returned on Friday morning or homework is considered not to be complete.  If all work is not possible to be completed please provide a note.

Failure to hand in homework three times over a term will result in a note home to parents.

Requirements

These following items are required every day!

· Scissors

· Wind-up crayons or coloured pencils

· Wind-up glue stick

· Ruler (no metal rulers)

· Sharpener

· Rubber

· Lead pencils (2 or 3)

· Blue and red pens (please no felt tips or gel pens)

· Textas (optional – only used occasionally to outline)

· Reading book

Library Borrowing

This will take place each week and a Library Bag is compulsory. It is expected that all students will borrow books. All books need to be returned prior to further borrowing.

Communication

We look forward to establishing a positive collaborative relationship, whereby together we can work towards achieving the full potential of your child. We anticipate a wonderful ahead and look forward to meeting you over the next couple of weeks. As always we are readily available to talk, so don’t hesitate in contacting either of the Year 5 teachers if you wish to talk about your child.

Kind Regards,

        Miss Amy Mead                                                         Mr Philip Burgess