Year 5
Welcome to Year 5!
This page will be updated with information throughout the year. Keep popping in to find out what is going on in Year 5.
Summer Term
Meet the teachers:
Mr McGowan (5M)
Mrs Piper (5P)
Mrs Sherwood (5S)
Support Staff
Miss Jones
Mrs Hunter
Mrs Seymour
This term, pupils will continue to develop their understanding of decimals, including converting and ordering them. They will explore the properties of 2D and 3D shapes, strengthening their reasoning skills, including work on regular and irregular polygons. Pupils will use protractors to measure angles within shapes and around a point. They will also learn to draw and identify parallel and perpendicular lines before moving on to reflecting and translating shapes using coordinates. In addition, they will convert between imperial and metric units of measurement. Fluency will be developed through daily practice sessions, regular use of TT Rock Stars and NCETM multiplication resources, and weekly arithmetic tests. Pupils will also continue to develop their understanding of telling the time and calculating time durations. Reasoning skills will be embedded throughout all maths lessons.
The units of writing this term will include narrative, persuasive brochure writing, and formal letter writing for a specific purpose. In the narrative unit, pupils will focus on creating tension through setting and character description. During the formal letter of complaint unit, they will learn how to adapt their writing for a specific audience, using appropriate features such as formal language, first person, and correct layout. In the persuasive writing unit, pupils will explore a range of techniques used to engage and influence the reader. Across all units, there will be a focus on key sentence types and language features, including figurative language, parenthesis, short sentences for tension, and direct speech, alongside a range of Alan Peat sentence structures. Reading will be promoted through daily guided reading sessions and story time, as well as weekly comprehension lessons, with a focus on inference and the use of evidence to justify responses.
The Rainforest!
Through this topic, we will link our learning in History, Geography, Art, and Design & Technology to the study of rainforests. This topic focuses on developing pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the world’s rainforests, including their locations, the animals that inhabit them, and the indigenous tribes who live there. We will also explore current environmental issues such as deforestation, endangered species, and the impact of palm oil production. We are excited to welcome back our annual visitor, ‘Rainforest Dave’, who will bring artefacts, photographs, and even some of his own rainforest animals for the children to see and handle. In addition, we will be hosting a rainforest-themed workshop for parents and carers, which will include an Art and Design & Technology activity. Throughout the term, we will promote key soft skills such as communication, leadership, teamwork, and creativity. Our ‘bucket list’ experiences this term include Rainforest Dave’s Roadshow and a Maths challenge workshop for parents and carers. We will also be holding a sports morning in the woods (weather permitting). In Design & Technology, pupils will focus on developing practical life skills, including health and safety awareness, basic DIY skills, and project work. These, alongside our core soft skills, will be developed across all areas of the curriculum.
This term, pupils will study the Ancient Maya civilisation. They will develop their understanding of who the Maya were, where they lived, and what daily life was like. Pupils will explore the culture, rituals, and beliefs of this early civilisation through research and discussion. They will also consider possible reasons for the decline of the Maya civilisation, including deforestation, war, and drought, forming their own opinions and conclusions based on the evidence. Throughout the topic, pupils will examine how different indigenous tribes have survived over time and the challenges they have faced. This will include exploring the impact of recent global events, such as the pandemic, on indigenous and un-contacted tribes
Through the study of rainforests, pupils will explore the human impact on these areas, including deforestation and the use of palm oil. They will consider the importance of the Amazon’s indigenous tribes, wildlife, and commercial activity. Pupils will further develop their skills in using longitude and latitude to locate places around the world, consolidating their understanding of key geographical vocabulary. Their locational knowledge will focus on North and South America, with particular emphasis on the Amazon rainforest and its key physical features. They will also develop an understanding of the structure of the rainforest, examining its different layers. In addition, pupils will explore the lives, cultures, and lifestyles of the indigenous tribes.
Pupils will use the gridding method to create detailed observational drawings. They will begin by working collaboratively as a class to produce a large-scale drawing before progressing to individual pieces. Within this unit, they will explore negative and positive space and develop their skills using a range of different media. Finally, pupils will create a final piece incorporating a variety of textures, applying the techniques they have developed throughout the unit.
This term, pupils will work scientifically by carrying out investigations to answer questions and develop their understanding of how materials change. They will explore both reversible and irreversible changes, learning that some processes—such as rusting or mixing vinegar with bicarbonate of soda - result in the formation of new materials and cannot be reversed. Pupils will also study the life cycles of a range of organisms, focusing on stages of development, reproduction, and the overall cycle of life. They will compare similarities and differences between the life cycles of plants, animals, and humans.
Pupils will have the opportunity to play cricket, developing skills in batting, fielding, and tactical awareness. They will learn the rules of the game and develop their ability to communicate and work cooperatively in teams. In the second half-term, pupils will move on to athletics. They will develop their sprinting technique and combine running with hurdles over distances of up to 60m. When throwing, they will analyse their technique and body position to improve performance, and in jumping activities they will focus on control during take-off and landing. Pupils will be encouraged to compete with others while also tracking their personal bests and setting targets for improvement.
PE lessons take place on:
5M - Thursdays
5P - Fridays
5S - Fridays
Homework
For Maths homework, we will be encouraging children to use Times Table Rockstars in weekly class battles. We also ask that reading is done regularly at home and recorded in their reading diaries at least 2-3 times a week, these will be checked by class teacher. The children will also have weekly spellings which should be practised at home.
The children's login details have been given out for the children to stick on to the front/ or back of their reading records for safe keeping.
Spellings
Your child will be tested on their spellings every Friday morning.
At the start of every half-term, a spelling list will be sent home with your child. Please ensure that your child learns their spellings and are tested on them at home where possible. The spellings can also be accessed on Spelling Frame, where the children can practise their weekly spellings through a range of engaging games, as well as being able to participate in mock/practice tests. Please note that the meaning and understanding of the spellings are important to the spelling test too. The children will be given the spelling in a context. Even though the children will learn and practice spellings from a set rule, the maximum spellings on a test will be 14.
Please can you encourage and remind children to wear black school shoes to school and not trainers. Our children look so smart when they are in full school uniform and we would like the same standards for everyone.
Also, a gentle reminder that mobile phones are not permitted to be brought into school. If there is a particular reason why your child needs to bring a phone into school, please speak to the office staff as there are certain conditions that are outlined in a letter and a form needs to be signed.
For the latest up-to-date snews and events please link the school calendar to your personal calendar.
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Spelling frame spelling games
The spelling frame website allows children to play games related to their spellings that they will be tested on.
Parent Guide to the National Curriculum
Bah Humbug Costume List
Bah Humbug Script 2022
Bah Humbug Backing Track
A Toast Backing Track
Dead and Gone Backing Track
Christmas Eve Backing Track
He Was Jacob Marley Backing Track
Glad to be a Chimney Sweet Backing Track
Sleep Tiny Tim Backing Track
Greetings of the Season Backing Track
Fezziwig's Shindig Backing Track