Reading:
Wonder Text Response
- Understanding the TEEL paragraph structure (topic sentence, evidence, explanations and linking sentences)
- Connective words to make complex sentences
- Formal sentence starters for persuasive text responses
- Considering common themes within a book
- Discussing character traits
- Understanding a variety of techniques an author uses to influence a reader
Compare and Contrast Author’s Techniques
During this unit of work, students will study a variety of picture books sharing the common theme of ‘War’. They will consider how different authors tackle this subject and the techniques they use to influence their reader. This will involve:
- Connecting to the text
- Creating a visual image
- Inferring meaning from a text
- Summarising the main points in a text
- Using evidence to support a viewpoint
- Using prior knowledge
- Techniques authors use to influence a reader
- Comparing and contrasting texts
By the end of the unit, students will be required to compare and contrast the techniques different authors use to influence their reader, using evidence from their chosen books. They will be assessed via the attached rubric.
Writing:
Descriptive and Emotive Writing
During this unit, students will be working on developing their skills to create visual images and emotion in their writing. This will involve:
- Finding ideas to write about
- Descriptive language to create visual images
- Emotive language to influence the emotions of the reader
- Expanding vocabulary through the use of dictionaries, thesauruses, and other authors
- The importance of each stage of the writing process
- Analysing writing samples to identify writing techniques
- Revising for meaning, word choice, organisation and sentence fluency
- Editing for punctuation and spelling
By the end of the unit students will write an extract showcasing their ability to create a visual image and evoke emotion within their reader.
Poetry
During this unit of work students will be exposed to a variety of poetic devices and they will be given the opportunity to experiment with each device. They will be required to use rhythm, rhyme, onomatopoeia, personification, description, similes, metaphors, alliteration and hyperboles. Students will identify the characteristics of poetry and analyse a variety of poems against a rubric, identifying the elements of a successful poem. Students will then have the opportunity to choose a topic of their choice and express their feelings and opinions on the topic through free verse poetry.
Maths:
Multiplication and Division
During this unit, students will develop their understanding of multiplication, division and the link between these 2 processes. They will develop both mental and written strategies to assist with solving equations for both processes. The skills involved include:
- Estimating problems to check the reasonableness of their answer
- Practicing their times tables
- Partitioning multiplication sums (21×6=20×6 + 1×6)
- Solving multiplication equations with vertical multiplication
- Using fact families and known times tables skills to solve division problems
- Solving division equations with short division
- Breaking down worded problems to know what process to use and how to solve that problem
- Extension students had the opportunity to: Knowing factors, multiples, prime numbers and composite numbers
- Exploring different multiplication methods (eg. Russian, Lattice etc)
By the end of the unit, students will solve a range of numerical, worded and real world problems using a variety of the strategies listed above. They will also be able to analyse errors in problems to show their deep understanding.
Fractions and Decimals
During the Fractions and Decimals unit of work students will be taught a variety of skills focussing on fluency, understanding, problem solving and reasoning. Each student was taught to their current level of understanding and attended a group that was designed to extend them according to that level.
By the end of the unit all students were expected to be able to:
- Compare fractions and decimals
- Order fractions and decimals
- Locate fractions and decimals on a number line
- Find equivalent fractions
- Make connections between fractions, decimals and percentages
- Estimation and rounding of fractions and decimals
- Set out problems in a systematic way that shows all working out
- Apply knowledge to solve real world worded problems
Students also had the opportunity to be challenged with extension learning in the following areas, according to their individual ability levels:
- Multiply and divide fractions and decimals
- Conversion of fractions, decimals and percentages
- Solve problems involving ratios
- Converting mixed fractions and improper fractions
Students will be assessed on their knowledge by completing a test on the above skills and understandings.
Perimeter and Area
In this unit, students will be working towards being able to accurately calculate, convert and use the correct, specific units of measurements for the specific area of focus.
Focus – perimeter, where students are required to:
- make the connection between perimeter and length
- estimate the perimeter of objects
- accurately measure and calculate the perimeter of an object
- calculate the perimeter of regular shapes using a formula
Focus – area, where students are required to:
- understand area involves two dimensions, length and width, therefore representing area as units squared
- estimate and calculate the area of regular shapes
- calculate area of composite shapes use a given perimeter to create a variety of areas
Throughout the unit, students will demonstrate their knowledge through regular classwork, short assessment tasks and conferences.
Inquiry
Production
During production, students will be taught a variety of skills in music, dance, speaking, acting and teamwork.
By the end of the unit, students will be expected to be able to:
- Project their voice
- Speak with expression and characterisation
- Improvise when required
- Remain in character, even when in the background
- Understand the character traits of their character and how to express that through voice and movement
- Follow choreographed dance steps in time with the music
- Learn the lyrics and tune to a number of songs
- Participate respectfully as part of a team
- Remain respectful both on and off stage
- Listen to direction and apply feedback to their characterisation
- Work independently when not on stage
- Know when their cue is and be ready and silently waiting in the wings when required