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 Mellins (Year 5 Teaching Assistant)

The Curriculum

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

In spring term, our topic was 'Sow, Grow and Farm' and was focused on teaching children about the features and characteristics of land use in agricultural regions across the world. This also involved a detailed exploration of significant environmental areas. 

Our topic is summer term is 'Groundbreaking Greeks' and teaches chidren about the developments and changes over six periods of ancient Greek history. We will focus on the city state of Athens in the classical age and explore the lasting legacy of ancient Greece. 

In English, our first book that we studied 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!

The second book we studied was 'Tom's Midnight Garden' by Philippa Pearce. This book begins with Tom being sent to live with his aunt and uncle for the summer in thier flat. With no garden to play in or children to play with he feels lonely and unhappy. That is until he hears the strange grandfather clock strike 13 and decides to investigate. Then, he discovers a secret garden and makes a new friend - Hatty. Will he discover it mysteries? 

This term we will be moving onto studying 'A Monster Calls' by Patrick Ness. This heart-breaking novel tells the story of 13-year-old Conor O'Malley who has been having the same nightmare for several months – he tries to keep hold of a hand that slips away. He wakes at seven minutes past midnight to discover a monster in the shape of a yew tree calling to him from outside his bedroom window. 

In maths, we have covered place value, addition and subtraction, line graphs, timetables, multiplication, division area and perimeter. This term, we will complete our work on fractions and decimals, angles, fractions and percentages. We will then move onto transformations, converting units of measure, calculating with whole numbers and decimals, 2D and 3D shapes, volume and finish with problem solving.  

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.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 have started a new '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 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 17th July (the final week before the Summer break). A hard copy of the completed booklet can returned into school or alternatively can be completed in a digital format (i.e. PowerPoint) and 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 looses their sheet.

We are now a term into the 'Reading on your head' homelearning which is based on the book we are studying in class. Each week the children will be assigned a chapter of the book to read and then will be required to answer a set of questions based upon it. The homework will be issued on a Thursday and will be need to be completed by the following Monday. The children will be able to access their account by scanning the QR code which has been given to them. In addition to this, children will be also given levelled books to read at home. These will be given out on a Wednesday and must be returned to school by the following Wednesday. 

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.

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

Swimming lessons have now finished for this academic year.

PE

PE will take place on Tuesday mornings this year with Mr Burke and the other PE lesson is taught be the class teacher on Thursday afternoons. 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 shorts and t-shirts, a water bottle, hat and sunscreen as the weather gets warmer as many PE lessons will be taught outside. 

Trips

In the first term, rather than a trip off site, we were visited by Reptile Rendezvouz. Our second trip was to Doncaster Museum. More information about our third and final trip will be published in due course.