Welcome to Year 5

This year marks the progression from the lower to the upper stages of the KS2 curriculum. As we now begin the final phases of the primary curriculum, we encourage an increased level of independence and responsibility from our pupils whilst maintaining a nurturing and supportive environment.

Meet the team…

Miss Knott Y5K (Class Teacher Y5K and Director of History)

Miss Fairclough (Class Teacher Y5F)

Miss Dean (Year 5 Teaching Assistant)

The Curriculum

Autumn Term

Our topic in autumn term was 'Off with her Head!' and was focused on the Tudor period of history. Throughout this project, we have studied a timeline of events, Tudor London, the Tudor monarchs and crime and punishment. During transition week, we also looked at Tudor portraits with a particular focus on the artist Hans Holbein. 

In English, our first book was 'Cirque Du Freak' by Darren Shan. This novel centres on Darren who at the start of the book is just like any other teenager. This is until he visits the Cirque Du Freak... until he meets Madam Octa...until he comes face to face with a creature of the night. Soon Darren and his friend, Steve Leopard, are caught in a deadly trap. Darren must make a bargain with the one person who can save his friend. That person, however, is NOT human and the only thing he deals in is....blood! 

Our first writing project was called 'Night Encounter'. Throughout this unit, we exploered the different techniques used for writing the opening of a mystery story. We did this by investigating the techniques authors have used in a range of different extracts from texts (The Woman in White, Coraline, The Graveyard Book amongst others). Once we built a 'picture' of how a mystery opening is written and explored, compared and digested the techniques used; the children used the knowledge gained to create thier own. 

Our second writing project was called 'A Ghastly Waxwork' and was centred on how an author builds a sense of horror around a character. During this unit, we looked at a range of different characters including The Grand High Witch, Heathcliffe and Miss Havisham. We then used our knowledge to develop our own character. 

In maths, we started the year by looking at place value before moving onto addition and subtraction, line graphs, timetables, multiplication and finshed the term by studying division.  

Spring Term

Our topic in spring term will be 'Groundbreaking Greeks' which will be focused on ancient Greece. During this topic, we will look at a timeline of events, the role of men and women in society and significant Greeks such as Plato, Aristotle and Alexander the Great. We will also be looking ancient Greek belief by learning about all of the different Greek Gods and their impact on Greek society.  

In English, we will start by reading an abridged version of Shakespeare's Macbeth in the first half term. We will start by examining the different characters and discuss how the events in the story unfolded. We will also link this back to our previous work on the Tudors and medieval beliefs around witchcraft. In the second half term, we will read a different Greek myth each week starting with Icarus and ending with Pan. 

Our first writing project in Spring term will be called 'Winter'. During this project, we will be creating poetry which depicts either a positive or negative image of winter. After this we will be moving onto a project called 'The Face and Hands of a Vampire.' During this unit we will examine extracts from Dracula, Frankenstein, His Dark Materials and Oliver Twist. We will then be using this knowledge to create a subtly evil character.

In maths, we will start the term by looking at area and perimeter before moving onto to angles, fractions and percentages and transformations. 

Home Learning

In Year 5, we encourage an increased degree of independence and children will be responsible for ensuring they return reading diaries and spelling logs back to school daily. We will be placing an increased importance on reading diaries this year and the children will be responsible for recording key dates such as when homework is due, performances, school trips etc in them. 

Maths homework will be issued each Friday by your child's class teacher and will be based on the learning completed in class. Your child will then need to return thier homework the following Thursday in order for the class teacher to provide feedback.Your child also has access to 'Timestables Rockstars' so that they can continue to practice their timestables. The childrens' usernames and passwords have been given to them already but if they are struggling to access the site please send an email to our year group address.

We will be continuing with the 'Read, Write Inc' spelling scheme in school and will be looking at a new rule each week. Your child has been issued with a 'spelling log' where they can record the spellings they are finding challenging in class so that they can take them home to practice. This ensures that the spellings they will be practicing at home are personal to them.

Our topic homelearning this term will be a booklet on the Ancient Greeks. It is the expectation that your child completes at least 3 projects from the booklet and then returns them back to school by Monday 24th March (the final week before Easter break). A hard copy of the completed booklet can returned into school or alternatively can be completed in a digital format (i.e. PowerPoint) nd emailed to our class email address. Please note, there is a copy available (along with other resources) to download from our website in case your child loses their sheet. 

Your child will have an Online Safety lesson in school 2 to 3 times per half term through the ‘village’ section of Gooseberry Planet. At the end of each lesson, there are activities/ games for your child to complete at home. The child with the most points tops the leader board! Your child’s username and password have been given to them. If you need another copy please send an email to the Y5 address and a new username/password can be issued.

Further learning activities can be found online at the Oak National Academy. This is not a homework site but is a useful place to look for any revision/practice if needed.

Swimming lessons

Swimming lessons have finished for this academic year.

PE

PE will take place on Wednesday mornings this year. Please ensure that your child brings their PE kit on Mondays and takes their kit home on Fridays in line with the rest of the school. It may be an idea to provide your child with warmer clothing such as jogging bottoms and jackets throughout the autumn/winter seasons. 

Trips

We are currently waiting to confirm our trips for this year and more information will be released to parents via letter/email from the school office in due course. 

Contacting Class Teachers

If you would like to contact class teachers please do so via the year 5 email.  

Please note, we will regularly update the website with information, pictures and videos of all the things we do this year so please keep checking our page for updates!