Dear Parents/Carers,
We are really excited to welcome your children into Year 5. This is an important and exciting year where we will be learning lots, having fun, and exploring a wide range of topics together. From creative writing and rainforest studies to coding, art, and preparing for the Young Voices Concert, there are so many great opportunities ahead. We are looking forward to working with your children and celebrating all their achievements this year
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Maths
This term in Maths, we are building confidence with large numbers, following the White Rose Maths scheme. Our first block, Place Value, focuses on reading, writing, and understanding numbers up to 1,000,000. We will also explore Roman numerals to 1,000 and develop the important skill of rounding large numbers to check our work. Following this, our second block is Addition and Subtraction. Children will apply their place value knowledge, using both efficient mental strategies and the formal column method for calculations with large numbers. A key focus will be on checking answers using estimation and inverse operations.
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English
In English this term, we are exploring suspense writing through Pie Corbett’s story Zelda Claw and the Rain Cat and Varjak Paw by SF Said. Children will learn how writers create tension using setting, vocabulary, and character reactions. They will retell the model story, practise short burst writing to build skills, and then plan, write, and publish their own suspense story. This unit will help them develop vocabulary, sentence variety, and confidence as creative writers.
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Geography
Our topic this term is South America: Why is the Amazon Rainforest Important? Our studies will include, the different layers of the rainforest; how animals have adapted to live in the rainforest; food provenance and the issue of deforestation. We will learn the rules of debating and look at how artists use the rainforest as inspiration for their art.
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Science
We will be investigating properties and changes of materials this first term. This lends itself to plenty of opportunities for ‘hands-on’ activities. Our learning will include suggesting which materials will suit a particular purpose; soluble and insoluble materials and reversible and irreversible changes. Alongside these investigations we will enhance our understanding of some key scientific enquiry skills, such as: identifying, grouping and classifying; comparative and fair testing, research and written explanations using scientific vocabulary.
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Spellings
We have devised a fresh new approach to spellings, which aims to encourage children to actively participate in various activities to improve their confidence. We will be praising and rewarding both effort and achievement. Regular short burst spelling tests will be carried out in class, often in pairs. Children who wish to take a copy of any spellings home will be able to.
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PE
We will be focusing on handball and football. We will learn and practise the key skills needed for both sports, such as passing, dribbling, shooting, and teamwork. We will develop our understanding of the rules and tactics, while also improving our fitness, coordination, and communication.
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Art
We will be creating self-portraits to develop our observation and drawing skills. We will also be introduced to typography, learning how letters and words can become a form of art. We will practise designing our own typefaces and making strong, detailed drawings.
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Computing
We will be developing a wide range of digital skills. We will begin by exploring coding, where we will design, write, and debug programs using sequences, selection, repetition, and variables. We will also learn about online safety, focusing on how to use technology responsibly and understand how the internet works.
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Music
We will be working on an exciting project to prepare for the Young Voices Concert at the O2 Arena in London. This project will give us the opportunity to take part in a memorable concert experience alongside thousands of other young singers.
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Homework
Reading will be expected to be at least 20 minutes daily and will be recorded in their reading journals with a parent signature when possible please.
Maths will usually be concentrated on times tables, but when needed for reinforcing learning, other work will be sent out either individually or as a class.
Homework Grids: Grids will be sent home termly in your child's Home Learning Book (find this term's Grid below). These contain a range of activities that your child may complete. They should aim to complete one or two per week.
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REMINDERS:
PE this term will be on a Monday and Friday but children must have a named PE kit in school at all times please as we also have workshops/events going on throughout the term.
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If there are any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to ask.
Miss Willson and Mr Brinkley
