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 and Director of History

Miss Russell Y5K Class Teacher and Director of Science

Mrs Kaur (Year 5 Teaching Assistant)

The Curriculum

This term, our topic is 'Off with her Head!' and is focused on the Tudor period of history. Throughout this project, we will look at a timeline of events, Tudor London, music, the Tudor monarchs and crime and punishment. We will also be looking at Tudor portraits with a particular focus on the artist Hans Holbein. 

In English, the first book we will study is '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!

In maths, our first topic is 'place value'. During this topic we will focus on the value of each digit in a 6-digit number, ordering and comparing, rounding and Roman numerals. We will then move onto 'addition and subtraction' which will include using a range of mental and column methods to add and subtract integers. After this, we will complete a unit on line graphs and timetables. Our final two units before Christmas will be multiplication and division and then area and perimeter. 

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 Thursday 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 Monday in order for the class teacher to provide feedback. 

We are beginning a new spelling scheme in school. Your child will be 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.

Topic homework will also be issued shortly and be based upon our 'Off with her Head!' topic. It is the expectation that your child chooses two projects from the list and then returns them back to school by Monday 12th December (the final week before the Christmas break). The homework can be completed on paper and returned into school or can be completed in a digital format (i.e. PowerPoint) and emailed to our class email address. 

The expectation is that children read a book at their individual reading level at least five times per week at home. Children are able to access suitably levelled books from school. Reading books will be given out each week on Thursdays and must be returned into school the following Wednesday. This ensures that we have time to change them. 

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 will be emailed to you shortly.

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.

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

Swimming

Swimming lessons started last Thursday and will continue until the 15th December 2022. Please ensure that your child brings a packed lunch to school on Thursdays in addition to thier swimming kit as the first group will need to eat thier lunch earlier than usual on those days. Please ensure that children wear suitable bathing attire - no bikinis please! Also, please ensure that children with long hair have it tied up. It is also a suggestion that children wear socks as opposed to tights on these days as they are required to remove their footwear before entering the pool area and tights may become wet when walking to the changing rooms. Please ensure that children do not have painted finger or toenails in line with school policy. 

PE

PE will take place on Tuesday mornings this year with Mr Burke. The other PE session at the moment is swimming, however another PE session taught by class teachers will replace these sessions after Christmas. The day on which these second PE sessions will take place is subject to change so please watch this space! 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 attire such as jogging bottoms for PE as the weather becomes colder as some sessions (weather permitting) may be taught outside.

Trips

In the first term, rather than a trip off site, we will be visited by Reptile Rendezvouz. More information about the rest of this year's trips and dates will be published in due course.