Curriculum Overview

Term 1 2016                                                          Year 6

Dear Parents and Carers,

This overview outlines the content that will be covered during this term with your child. It is a great reference to keep somewhere prominent so that you can refer back to it with your child and discuss specifics of their learning. Please contact us if you have any queries or concerns about your child.

Religious Education

The following units of work are studied in Religious Education this term:

·       Scripture study – The Good Samaritan

·       A Time for Reconciliation: in this unit there is an in­depth analysis of the parable of the Prodigal Son in the context of a study of Lent as a season whose liturgy challenges and invites us to conversion and reconciliation with God and others.

·       Crossroads: is our unit for Holy Week and the Easter Triduum, reflecting on times of decision making, relating them to Jesus’ own experiences in Holy Week

·       The Road Ahead:  this unit following Holy Week allows students to examine the various responses of Jesus’ followers to the good news of his resurrection.  We will also explore the nature of trust in relationships and of faith and belief in their relationship with God.

English

Students will engage in a range of reading, viewing, writing, speaking and listening experiences related to topics across the curriculum. Students will recognise, discuss and respond to the different kinds and purposes of various written, visual and digital texts. They will continue to explore informative writing techniques used by writers and compose a range of informative texts including explanations. Students will continue to explore creative writing techniques used by writers and compose a range of creative texts including short stories. They will continue to develop skills and strategies for reading and interacting with texts. These skills and strategies are taught through modelled, shared, guided and independent experiences.

Library

Year 6 will return and borrow books on Wednesdays. We also encourage all our students to participate in this year’s Premier’s Reading Challenge.

Mathematics

Each Mathematics lesson includes a warm-up activity, then exploration and reflection on concepts through working on rich, open-ended tasks.  This allows students to develop Mathematical ideas at their point of need.  The content areas that will be addressed this term include:

·       Whole numbers – applying an understanding of place value, reading and writing numbers of any size

·       Addition and subtraction - solving word problems involving whole numbers of any size including problems requiring more than one operation

·       Multiplication and division – using efficient mental and written strategies to multiply whole numbers of up to four digits by one- and two-digit numbers

·       Patterns and Algebra – continue and create sequences involving whole numbers, fractions and decimals

·       Three-dimensional space – constructing three-dimensional models of prisms and pyramids and sketch the front, side and top views

A number of these areas, especially the number concepts, will be revisited during the course of the year.

Human Society & Its Environment and Science & Technology

Australia’s Connection to the World is an integrated unit for history, geography and science.  Students will explore countries of the Asia region and the connections Australia has with other countries across the world. Students will examine the diversity of the world’s people, including the indigenous peoples of other countries. Students will explore and reflect upon similarities, differences and the importance of intercultural understanding.

Personal Development, Health & Physical Education

This term students will participate in a Peer Support program called 'Better Buddies'. Year Six will lead the groups that will meet regularly throughout the term in K-6 groups.  The program focuses on the strand of Interpersonal Relationships and links to our whole school social skills program. The focus of Better Buddies is to create friendly and caring schools, fostering an environment where all students feel safe and happy. Younger students are supported by older students and learn about respect, responsibility, valuing difference, including others, care for others, friendship, negotiation and managing positive relationships with peers.

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Mrs Keith is teaching Physical Education on Friday; the students need to wear sport uniform on this day. The focus for PE this term is on athletics skill development, sprints, discus, long jump and shot put.  Students will participate in sports combining strategy, teamwork, movement skill and fair play.

Creative Arts

Visual Art

Students will be studying artists and their work. Artworks will be discussed in terms of the artists’ intention and audience interpretation.

Music

Mr Thanh Nguyen will teach music on Friday as well each week.  In our music program this term, students are learning beat and rhythm through Beat Boxing.  As a part of our study, we will be learning different beat box techniques and using those skills to read different rhythmic patterns and eventually compose their own beat box rhythm.  Students will all have an opportunity to be creative and compose their own rhythm as well as learning the theory and musicology of beat boxing.

Our Catholic feeder high schools will commence their enrolment period later this term.  It is important for you to start thinking about what school you would like your child to attend next year.  Take advantage of open days to find out about each school and if it will meet your child’s needs.  You will need to go to the high schools to collect and return enrolment forms, as St Anthony’s does not handle these.

Please remember that we always want to work in partnership with you and your child to help them reach their full potential with their learning.

Ross Howse, Kate Robertson and Michelle Bragg

Year 6 Team