Curriculum Overview
Grade 5 is a key year where students deepen their understanding across all learning areas while developing the skills needed to think critically, communicate clearly and work independently. The Grade 5 curriculum is aligned to the Australian Curriculum Version 9 in Health and Physical Education, English, Mathematics and Science. Our curriculum supports students to apply their knowledge and skills with increasing confidence, accuracy and purpose.
English and Mathematics (daily learning)
English and Mathematics remain daily priorities in Grade 5, with a strong focus on applying skills across a wide range of texts, tasks and real-world contexts.
English: In Grade 5, English learning focuses on reading, writing, speaking and listening with increasing complexity. Students continue to be supported through structured literacy practices, including LEM Phonics, to consolidate spelling patterns, word knowledge and reading fluency—particularly for multisyllabic and unfamiliar words. Students analyse and respond to a range of literary, persuasive and informative texts, expand academic vocabulary, and create well-structured written and spoken texts for different purposes and audiences.
Mathematics (PR1ME Maths): Mathematics is taught using PR1ME Maths, an evidence-based program aligned to the Australian Curriculum. Students extend their understanding of number and place value, fractions and decimals, and apply efficient strategies for the four operations. They also learn about measurement, geometry, data and probability, using reasoning, multiple representations and problem-solving to explain and justify their thinking.
Learning across all areas
Throughout the year, students also engage in learning across:
Science – investigating physical, chemical, biological and Earth sciences
HASS (Humanities and Social Sciences) – exploring history, geography, civics and citizenship, and economic understanding
Health and Physical Education – developing physical skills, personal health knowledge and respectful relationships
The Arts – creating and responding through visual arts, music, drama and dance
Technologies – designing, producing and evaluating solutions using digital and design processes
Students are increasingly expected to research, question, plan, create and reflect, applying learning skills across subjects.
Wellbeing, independence and learning behaviours
Grade 5 places a strong emphasis on student independence, responsibility and perseverance. Students are supported to manage workloads, collaborate effectively, set goals and reflect on feedback. Teachers provide clear learning intentions, success criteria and explicit instruction to support high expectations and continued growth.
Our approach in Grade 5
Learning in Grade 5 includes:
explicit teaching of literacy and numeracy skills
structured literacy routines and explicit vocabulary instruction
clear learning goals and success criteria
opportunities for collaboration, discussion and problem-solving
increasing student voice, responsibility and self-management
This approach supports students to become thoughtful communicators, confident problem-solvers and engaged learners, well prepared for the transition into the upper years of primary schooling and beyond.
Term Overviews
For more information about Year 5: