A very warm welcome to Year 5! I hope everyone has had a relaxing and enjoyable summer and is ready for an exciting year ahead. I am really looking forward to welcoming the children back and having the opportunity to teach them again in Year 5.

I would also like to say a huge thank you for the incredibly kind and generous gifts I received at the end of last term. Your thoughtfulness was very much appreciated, and it was such a lovely way to end the year. Thank you for your generosity and for your continued support – it really does mean a great deal.

There is lots to look forward to this term, with a wide range of interesting topics, books and practical experiences planned. Below is an overview of what we will be learning across the curriculum, along with some suggestions for how you can support your child at home.

English

We will begin the year with Robot Girl by Malorie Blackman, a futuristic science-fiction thriller. The children will explore the conventions of science fiction and develop their understanding of the main characters. They will compare characters, experiment with dialogue and write in role through emails. Children will reflect on the events before writing a book review and eventually creating their own science-fiction narrative inspired by the text.

Our next text will be Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly. This true story introduces four African-American women whose exceptional mathematical abilities contributed to America’s success in the Space Race. The children will explore their achievements and the historical context surrounding their work. Across the unit, they will write a variety of text types, including job adverts, formal persuasive letters, diary entries, character descriptions and opinion pieces.

Maths

We will begin Year 5 by securing our understanding of place value, working with numbers up to 1,000,000. The children will represent numbers in a variety of ways and develop confidence when comparing, ordering and rounding larger numbers.

We will then move on to decimals and negative numbers, including interpreting negative numbers within different real-life contexts. Addition and subtraction will also be a key focus, with children developing fluency in both mental and written methods, including column addition and subtraction with larger numbers.

Times tables will continue to be practised regularly throughout the year, alongside mental multiplication and division strategies. The children will also develop their understanding of multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 1,000, including when working with decimal numbers and tenths and hundredths.

Across all of these areas, there will be a strong emphasis on problem-solving and mathematical reasoning. Children will tackle multi-step problems, missing-number questions and challenges which require them to explain their thinking. We will also explore estimation and the use of inverse operations to check calculations and consider whether answers are sensible and appropriately accurate.

History and Geography

Our learning this term will take us to Greece, beginning with the geography of modern-day Greece. We will explore the country’s physical and human geography, including the important role that tourism plays today.

We will then move on to Ancient Greece and consider the influence it continues to have on our lives today. The children will explore what artefacts can reveal about everyday life in Ancient Greece and will consider the important question of where historical artefacts should be housed.

Science

Our first Science topic will focus on the properties of materials. The children will compare and group everyday materials according to their properties, including hardness, transparency and electrical and thermal conductivity.

They will investigate why particular materials are suitable for different purposes and will use evidence from comparative and fair tests to support their conclusions.

Art and Design Technology

Our Art work this term will take inspiration from Gustav Klimt’s Birchwood paintings. The children will explore colour and tone, developing their ability to identify light sources and use shading and shadow effectively within their own artwork.

We will also explore Ancient Greek pottery, looking closely at the patterns and designs used before creating our own simple pots and experimenting with sgraffito techniques.

In Design Technology, the children will will consider ingredients, flavours and combinations before developing their own recipes for Greek inspired flatbreads.

Computing

We will begin our Computing work with coding. The children will develop their understanding of algorithms and programming by creating and modifying games. They will learn how to identify and correct errors in code and explore how changing variables can affect the outcome of a programme.

RE and PSHE

In RE, we will explore different viewpoints about religion and belief. The children will develop their understanding of the terms Theist, Atheist and Agnostic and consider different perspectives on belief in God. We will also explore Christian beliefs and the ideas associated with Humanism.

Our PSHE lessons will focus on relationships, families and feeling safe. We will discuss appropriate and inappropriate physical contact, personal boundaries and how to seek help when needed. We will also consider different family structures and how to manage changes that may occur within family life.

Music

We will continue to follow the Charanga music programme. This term, the children will learn and perform Living on a Prayer, developing their understanding of pulse, rhythm and pitch through singing and playing instruments.

PE

PE will take place on Wednesdays with Mr Snelling and Fridays with myself this term. Please ensure that your child comes to school with the correct full PE kit on these days.

Our first activities will be tag rugby and dodgeball, with further opportunities to take part in sporting clubs, competitions and events throughout the year.

French

Our French learning this term will focus on family members and clothing. The children will learn to describe people and clothing using a wider range of adjectives and will develop their ability to construct increasingly detailed sentences.

Homework and Supporting Learning at Home

One of the most valuable ways you can support your child is by encouraging them to read regularly. Please encourage your child to explore a wide variety of books and text types and to talk to you about what they have read.

Reading together is still hugely beneficial, even as children become increasingly independent readers. Where possible, please continue to enjoy books together and read aloud to your child as well.

If you have any questions, concerns or anything you would like to discuss regarding your child, please do get in touch. Please contact the school office in the first instance and they will arrange for me to contact you.

Thank you for your continued support. I am looking forward to a happy, and exciting Year 5 together!

Many thanks,
Mrs Bond