Grade 6

Grade 6 @ Mano

Literacy

Students participate in a 2-hour daily Literacy block that develops strong spelling, reading and writing skills. Students participate in levelled Spelling groups, focusing on phonology, morphology and etymology, followed by a 10-minute daily review of vocabulary, grammar and syntax. They build reading fluency through explicit instruction, modelling and repeated reading and practise handwriting and keyboarding. The Literacy block is guided by clear learning intentions and success criteria and includes comprehension, vocabulary and writing, using mentor texts, small group support and explicit teaching of the writing process, grammar and punctuation.    

Each Grade 6 class visits the school library for a 30-minute weekly borrowing session, and students are expected to complete 20 minutes of Home Reading each night from Sunday-Thursday. Our Grade 5 & 6 Hub features an extensive student library, regularly updated based upon student voice.

Mathematics

Students engage in daily Math lessons that begin with a focus on number fluency across addition, subtraction multiplication and division. This consolidates previous learning, whilst core lessons, independent goals and small group sessions address specific learning needs across the 6 core areas of the mathematics curriculum – Number, Algebra, Measurement, Space, Statistics and Probability.

Maths resources in classrooms and the Grade 5 & 6 Hub support hands-on experiences, and real-life problem-solving skills are emphasised in regular ‘Launch, Explore, Summarise’ sessions that involve open-ended problem-solving.

Inquiry

Our Inquiry focus changes termly, revolving around a ‘Big Question.’ Students’ progress through Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluation phases. Units span a two-year cycle covering Democracy, History, Digital Technology, Media Arts, Civics & Citizenship, Economics, and Geography. Students play a role in shaping Inquiry Units, promoting engagement. Teachers guide learning, leading to an ‘Authentic Action’ aligned with students’ passions, allowing creative representation of learning.

Social & Emotional Learning

Student wellbeing is a daily and ongoing priority. Regular dedicated lessons equip students with strategies for healthy behaviours and relationships, aligning with our School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) program and school values of Respect, Responsibility, and Safety.

Buddy Program

The buddy program at Mano starts at the end of Grade 4 and is part of the transition to Grade 5 and 6 for older students. This program means that our future prep students meet their buddy before they start Primary School and have a familiar face around the playground for two years.

Mano High Ability Program

The Mano High Ability Program involves selected students being invited to participate in additional sessions to extend their learning, with a focus on problem solving and collaboration.  

VHAP Extended Learning Course

Each term the Victorian High Ability’s Program (VHAP) offers a number of selected students a place on one of their extended learning courses. There are two courses that students can participate in including a Mathematics and Cryptography course as well as a Creative Writing course. These courses run once a week as a virtual class on Webex, which is run by high school teachers from Melbourne.

Student Leadership

At Manifold Heights Primary School, official positions are designed to give students a voice. Our School Captains and Vice Captains are the faces of the school, leading weekly assemblies and working on term-long improvement projects with the Principal. House Captains represent our four houses, Strachan, Manifold, Purrumbete, and Narmbool to drive school spirit and leading during sporting events. Ensuring every student is heard, Class Ambassadors (Grades 2–6) collaborate on social service fundraisers, while our Wellbeing Ambassadors (Grades 3–6) focus on mental health by organising termly events and sharing positive behaviour focuses (SWPBS) at assemblies.

North Geelong Secondary College Advanced STEM Program

North Geelong Secondary College invites 2-3 students in Grade 5/6 from local schools to collaborate in an Advanced STEM program. Selected students participate in the program for a Semester, being challenged through projects that involve problem solving strategies. Some examples are learning how to use VR technology, coding Spheros and drones, designing/creating buildings and building a bridge to withstand the weight of a Sphero. Students showcase their learning to parents at the end of this program and build positive relationships with students from other schools.

Grade 6 Cave Hill Creek Camp

Every year, Grade 6 students head to Cave Hill Creek Camp near Beaufort for a 3 day / 2-night camp. Students can challenge themselves, build resilience and try new experiences by doing lots of different activities. These include Crate Stack, Bush Cooking, Possum Glider, Giant’s Ladder, Canoeing, Orienteering and Mountain Bike Riding. The fantastic camp is always a highlight of a student’s time at Mano.   

VSSS (Victorian State School Spectacular)

Every year many schools around Victoria, including Mano, participate in the Victorian State Schools Spectacular. Grade 5 and 6 students can audition at the start of the school year.  Rehearsals are held across the year at lunchtime once a week.

Over the course of three days students will perform in two morning shows and two afternoon shows at John Cain Arena where the performances are filmed and in December, they are televised on Channel 7. 

Lightning Premierships & Grade 5/6 Sport

Grade 5 and 6 students participate in both the Summer and Winter Lightning Premiership each year. Students participate in an extra hour of planned physical activity, on top of their weekly PE lesson. ‘Senior Sport’ is often organised by our Student Leaders and involves games, organised competitions and team practise for various sporting events.

Summer sports include Cricket, Teams Tennis, Volleyball & Basketball. Winter sports include Australian Rules Football, Soccer, Netball and Tee Ball. Mano also enters teams into Hockey and Softball competitions through School Sport Victoria. These are fun days that everyone enjoys, with a focus on teamwork, participation and the Mano school values. In recent times Mano has progressed to multiple Divisional, Regional and State Finals across multiple sports, even being crowned State Softball Champions!

Girls AFL Comp

Each year our Grade 5/6 Girls get to try out and participate in a Girls only AFL football competition against other schools across the Geelong region.

Peer Mediators

At Manifold Heights Primary School, our Peer Mediators are student leaders who help make the playground a safe, friendly and inclusive place for everyone. Acting like mini yard-duty teachers, they support younger students during recess and lunch, help solve small disagreements, encourage fair play, and model respectful behaviour. Peer Mediators promote positive friendships, teamwork and problem-solving, helping all students feel supported and confident while enjoying their time in the yard.

Adventure Park

As a final highlight of their journey at Mano, Grade 6 students celebrate the end of the year with an unforgettable trip to Adventure Park for the day. A chance to bond and create lasting memories before they transition to Secondary School.