Year 5
The English curriculum is built around the three interrelated strands of language, literature and literacy. Teaching and learning programs should balance and integrate all three strands. Together, the strands focus on developing students' knowledge, understanding and skills in listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and creating. Learning in English builds on concepts, skills and processes developed in earlier years, and teachers will revisit and strengthen these as needed.
In Years 5 and 6, students communicate with peers and teachers from other classes and schools, community members, and individuals and groups, in a range of face-to-face and online/virtual environments.
Students engage with a variety of texts for enjoyment. They listen to, read, view, interpret and evaluate spoken, written and multimodal texts in which the primary purpose is aesthetic, as well as texts designed to inform and persuade. These include various types of media texts including newspapers, film and digital texts, junior and early adolescent novels, poetry, non-fiction and dramatic performances.
The range of literary texts for Foundation to Year 10 comprises Australian literature, including the oral narrative traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, as well as the contemporary literature of these two cultural groups, and classic and contemporary world literature, including texts from and about Asia.
Literary texts that support and extend students in Years 5 and 6 as independent readers describe complex sequences, a range of non-stereotypical characters and elaborated events including flashbacks and shifts in time. These texts explore themes of interpersonal relationships and ethical dilemmas within real-world and fantasy settings. Informative texts supply technical and content information about a wide range of topics of interest as well as topics being studied in other areas of the curriculum. Text structures include chapters, headings and subheadings, tables of contents, indexes and glossaries. Language features include complex sentences, unfamiliar technical vocabulary, figurative language, and information presented in various types of graphics.
Students create a range of imaginative, informative and persuasive types of texts including narratives, procedures, performances, reports, reviews, explanations and discussions.
(source: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au)
Achievement Standard
Receptive modes (listening, reading and viewing)
By the end of Year 5, students explain how text structures assist in understanding the text. They understand how language features, images and vocabulary influence interpretations of characters, settings and events.
When reading, they encounter and decode unfamiliar words using phonic, grammatical, semantic and contextual knowledge. They analyse and explain literal and implied information from a variety of texts. They describe how events, characters and settings in texts are depicted and explain their own responses to them. They listen and ask questions to clarify content.
Productive modes (speaking, writing and creating)
Students use language features to show how ideas can be extended. They develop and explain a point of view about a text, selecting information, ideas and images from a range of resources.
Students create imaginative, informative and persuasive texts for different purposes and audiences. They make presentations which include multimodal elements for defined purposes. They contribute actively to class and group discussions, taking into account other perspectives. When writing, they demonstrate understanding of grammar using a variety of sentence types. They select specific vocabulary and use accurate spelling and punctuation. They edit their work for cohesive structure and meaning.
(source: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au)
- Free Plan
Letter to the Editor (Sugary Snacks Ban) – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a letter to the editor from the Year 5 magazine (Issue 3).
- Plus Plan
The Aether – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a narrative from the Year 5 magazine (Issue 3).
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Making Connections Grid
A worksheet for students to practise making connections with a piece of text.
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BUMP! Irregular Plural Nouns – Board Game
A board game to practise forming irregular plural nouns.
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Blast Off with Space Rex 2000 – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a fake advertisement from the Year 5 magazine (Issue 2).
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Recommended Books: Upper Years
A list of recommended books for upper years created in collaboration with award-winning teacher librarian Megan Daley.
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NAPLAN-Style Assessment Rubric – Biographical Texts
Use this NAPLAN-style rubric to assess students’ biography writing as you prepare students for Year 5 tests.
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Human Histories: Amazing Achievements - Read and Respond Worksheet
A comprehension activity related to a biographical text.
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Invitation Text Type Poster With Annotations
A poster about invitations, including an annotated example.
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-Ty and -Ity Suffixes Worksheet
Practise using the suffixes -ty and -ity with a printable suffix worksheet.
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Fairy Tales Text Type Poster With Annotations
A poster about fairy tales, including an annotated example.
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Interview Text Type Poster With Annotations
A poster about interviews, including an annotated example.
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Out of the Book - Comprehension Board Game
A fun comprehension strategy board game for students to play during literacy rotations.
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Finding Word Meaning In Context - Word Detective Worksheet
A teaching resource to help teach your students how to find word meaning in context.
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Comprehension - The Humble Hamburger
A comprehension activity about the humble hamburger.
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Editing and Revising Anchor Chart
Use this editing and revising anchor chart to remind your students of the steps involved in revising and editing their writing.
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Comprehension Chatterbox
A fun reading comprehension strategy activity for students to use after reading a text.
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Procedural Recount Text Type Poster With Annotations
A poster about the procedural recount text type, including an annotated example.
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What are Bushfires? Cloze Worksheet
A cloze worksheet about bushfires.
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Reading Detectives Worksheets
8 reading detective worksheets to use during guided reading sessions in the classroom.
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Narrator and Point of View Digital Quiz
Discover how narrator and point of view can be taught in a fun and engaging way with this interactive quiz designed to help primary students become confident readers and critical thinkers.
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Comparing Narrative Voice Worksheets
Teach how narrative voice shapes the reader's experience of texts with this set of worksheets where students compare passages written from different points of view.
- Free Plan
Paralympic Sports – Inquiry-Based Project
Have your students investigate the different types of Paralympic sports with this inquiry-based learning project.
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Voice in Narrative Writing Prompts
Explore voice in narrative with this set of engaging worksheets that require students to write literary passages in different points of view.
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Literary Context Task Cards
Explore literary context using this set of 36 engaging task cards designed to help students analyse the historical, social and cultural influences behind the texts they read.
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Visual Narrative Worksheets
Download these visual narrative worksheets that help students create and analyse their own stories using sets of images.
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Cultural Context in Literature Graphic Organiser
Explore cultural context in literature with this two-page graphic organiser that helps students examine how cultural traditions, values and norms influence texts.
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Social Context in Literature Graphic Organiser
Support students to explore social context in literature with this two-page graphic organiser that helps them explore societal norms in a piece of literature.
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Bare Assertions Worksheet Pack
Strengthen student writing by helping them turn bare assertions into well-supported opinions using these engaging and practical worksheets.
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Opinion Writing Worksheets — 'Life on the Road'
Contemplate life on the open road with these opinion writing worksheets that help students construct a piece of writing backed by their personal reasons and opinions.
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Debate Team Roles Checklists
Support students to understand debate team roles with this clear speech-writing checklist designed to guide each speaker through their responsibilities.
- Plus Plan
Migrant Life Writing Prompts
Spark thoughtful classroom discussions and meaningful writing about migrant life with these engaging writing prompts for upper primary students.