Year 6 Start of Term 4

Important Dates:

Saturday, 24 October - ArtsFest

Friday, 13 November - Primary Swimming Carnival

Friday, 20 November - TMC whole school Awards & Graduation Evening

Tuesday, 24 November - Year 7 Orientation Day

Wednesday, 25 November - Year 6 Celebration Dinner

Wednesday 2 December - Last Day of Term 4 (for students)

Thursday, 3 December - Student Free Day

Friday, 4 December - Student Free Day

Term 4 Topics:

English: Comparative Novel Study & Writing Assessment

This term, Year 6 students are undertaking a comparative study of two novels: Morris Gleitzman’s Boy Overboard and R.J. Palacio’s Wonder. Students are examining how authors use different perspectives to explore themes of courage, family support and resilience in the face of adversity.

Assessment Task & Pathways

To demonstrate their learning, students will select one of three comparative writing options:

• Option 1 (Narrative): A first-person internal monologue exploring a character's thoughts during a turning point.
• Option 2 (Informative): A 5-paragraph feature article comparing how the characters overcome unfamiliar worlds.
• Option 3 (Persuasive): An argument-driven book review convincing peers why both novels are essential reading.

Key Focus Areas (For Home & Tutor Support)

Students are being assessed on the following skills:

• Text Structure: Multi-paragraph cohesion using clear hooks, TEEL/Quote Sandwich body paragraphs and strong conclusions.
• Language Features: Transition words (similarly, in contrast), high-modality terms, expanded noun groups and precise literary vocabulary (empathy, adversity, resilience).
• Sentence Variety & Editing: Varying simple, compound and complex sentences while editing for accurate punctuation, tense and spelling.

Students will also complete a 60–90 second audio/video reading at home for their Speaking and Listening grade.

Maths:

This term in Mathematics, Year 6 students are developing their problem-solving and reasoning skills across three core units: Algebra and Patterns, Measurement and Space.

1. Algebra & Patterns

Students are applying logical thinking to solve equations and analyse sequences. Key focus areas include:

• Finding unknown values in numerical equations involving combinations of arithmetic operations (e.g. (3 x ?) + 5 = 20).
• Identifying and explaining the rules used to create growing patterns.
• Creating and using simple algorithms to generate sets of numbers based on a specific rule.

2. Measurement

Students are connecting units of measurement and using formulas to solve practical problems. Key focus areas include:

• Converting between common metric units of length, mass and capacity (e.g. metres to kilometres, grams to kilograms).
• Calculating the area of rectangles and compound shapes using standard formulas (A=lw).
• Interpreting and using real-world timetables
• Applying angle properties to solve geometric problems.

3. Space

Students are exploring 3D geometry, transformations and coordinate systems. Key focus areas include:

• Identifying parallel cross-sections of various right prisms.
• Creating tessellating patterns by combining geometric transformations (translations, reflections and rotations).
• Locating and plotting ordered pairs across all 4 quadrants of the Cartesian plane (e.g. (-3,4)).

Home & Tutor Support Tip

Encourage your child to explain their mathematical thinking out loud using precise ACARA terminology (e.g. unknown values, cross-sections, 4-quadrant Cartesian plane, metric conversions) and to show all working when solving multi-step problems.

HASS: In this unit, students explore the factors that influence consumer decisions, including marketing, advertising, personal values, and social and environmental considerations. They investigate strategies for making informed financial and consumer choices, such as budgeting, comparing products and services, and evaluating the reliability of information. Through inquiry, case studies, and practical activities, students develop an understanding of how individuals and communities make decisions about the allocation of resources and the importance of responsible and informed participation in the economy.

Science: In this unit, students examine the various forms of energy and how it can be transferred and transformed, as well as how electricity is generated, transferred and used in everyday life. They develop intercultural understanding by reflecting on the role of electricity in their own lives compared to its role in the lives of people in another country. Personal and social capabilities, as well as ethical understanding, are fostered as students consider how electricity has transformed household life and the importance of using it safely. Through hands-on activities, students investigate electrical circuits and conduct an experiment to test a hypothesis, building their practical science skills. 

Health: In this unit, students will evaluate online and offline health claims to spot marketing red flags, identify reliable Australian health sources, and decode Nutrition Information Panels using per 100g data to see past misleading front-of-pack claims. They will analyze the physical impacts of emerging health risks, such as high-caffeine energy drinks and e-cigarettes, on their bodies while mastering practical refusal strategies to navigate peer pressure. Furthermore, students will audit their personal routines against the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines to evaluate screen time, sleep, and physical activity habits. 

Homework: 

Students will be able to access Mathspace tasks from home, to help consolidate their Mathematical understanding. We will release these tasks each Friday. The students will have 2 periods during class time to work on the tasks, but can then finish them off anytime over the weekend or up until Thursday the following week. 

Wonder Book Study

As you will have read above, this term Year 6 will be exploring Wonder by R.J. Palacio as part of our English book study. We will be reading selected excerpts together in class and discussing the characters, themes and important messages throughout the story. We will not be reading the entire novel as a class.

If your child is interested, we encourage families to read Wonder at home, or encourage your child to read the novel independently. Having a broader understanding of the story will help students make connections and deepen their learning during our class discussions.

This is not a homework task. It is simply an optional suggestion for families who would like to support and extend their child's learning at home.

A Little Bit Late… But Too Good Not to Share!

We are a little late sharing these photos, but we did not want to deprive parents of the joy we had on our last day of Term 3! Our Year 6 students joined their Prep Buddies for a very special gingerbread-making afternoon.

There was plenty of decorating with lots of creativity (and perhaps a little bit of sneaky taste-testing!) along the way. It was such a lovely way to finish the term and spend some special time with our Prep Buddies. We hope you enjoy the photos as much as we enjoyed making the gingerbread men!