What’s happening in Year 6

Mathematics – 06CORE1

This week in Mathematics the students have been focusing on Chance and Probability. The students had to work in pairs to develop a Fair Game and also and Unfair Game. The students identified that a fair game is a game in which there is an equal chance of winning or losing. Therefore we can say that if a game is fair the probability of winning is equal to the probability of losing. Students rotated through the activities and had to play each game and determine if the game was Fair or Unfair.

Marisa Maks & Eamonn Dunphy
Year 6 Teachers

Science – Light Bulb Experiment 6CORE2

We have been experimenting in the Science lab with light bulbs and circuits. First, we figured out what a conductor and an insulator was. We knew that the red and yellow wires were conductors, therefore electricity could pass through. When we plugged the red and yellow wires in the power pack and then connected them to the light bulb it lit up because the power had travelled through the wires and into the light bulb. Then we tested to see if different items eg metal paper clip or a rubber were conductors and could complete a circuit. We did this by connecting crocodile clips onto the red and yellow wires and plugging the wires in the power pack. We really enjoyed participating in this activity because it challenged our thinking and we discovered how electricity could  pass through conductors and why electricity couldn’t pass through insulators.
Emily Ly and Lauren Brown
Year 6

Leonie Trees
Year 6 Teacher

Three-Dimensional Objects – 6CORE3

Earlier this term, the 6 Core 3 class delved into the study of three-dimensional objects, with a particular focus on prisms and pyramids. The students constructed skeletal models using toothpicks and Blu-Tack. After modelling their three-dimensional objects, they explored the properties of these structures, including vertices, edges, apex and faces. This hands-on activity facilitated the identification of these properties: the toothpicks represented the edges, the Blu-Tack joining three toothpicks formed the vertices, the Blu-Tack where all the toothpicks met represented the apex, and the negative spaces framed by the toothpicks constituted the faces. The students found this activity both enjoyable and insightful.

Sian Tierney 
Year 6 Teacher

06CORE4 – Welcoming Term 4

Year 6A is buzzing with learning that is palpable throughout the classrooms. Students are diving headfirst into science lab lessons, where they’re conducting fascinating experiments and discovering the wonders of force and electricity. Wide Reading lessons in the library with Mrs Marchetta are igniting imaginations, with students exploring diverse genres and engaging in thought-provoking discussions about their favourite books. Philosophy group discussions are pushing the boundaries of the girls’ young minds, encouraging critical thinking and debate on life’s big questions. These sessions are fostering a culture of curiosity and open-mindedness, as students learn to respect and consider different viewpoints, while working in their collaborative groups toward a common goal. Additionally, the girls are working with Sr Sheila on a special art project, to culminate their time in Gioia House, and acknowledge the experiences and memories they will take with them into the Senior School and beyond. 

In the midst of all this, there’s a strong sense of community between the girls. Students are collaborating on group tasks, supporting each other’s learning journeys as they revise for assessments, and celebrating their achievements together. Term 4 is proving to be an exciting and enriching time in Year 6, with a unique blend of academic rigour, creative exploration and the strengthening of new friendships!

Tiffany Anderson
Year 6 Teacher