Week beginning 18th March 2024

Maths

In maths this week, we have been learning all about finding the area of shapes. We have practiced finding the area of rectangles and compound shapes. To find the area of a compound shape, we need to split the shape up into 2 or more rectangles, find the area of each, and finally add it together. We finished the week by learning how to estimate the area of unusual shapes.

Next week, we will start our new topic of shape.

English

In English this week, we have been practicing the skills to write our own story based on a fairytale gone wrong! We started off the week by practicing ISPACE (-ing words, similes, prepositions, adverbials, conjunctions and -ed words) to start our sentences to make them more interesting and immerse the reader. We have then been practicing using varied vocabulary and figurative language to create pieces of writing with rich description. We completed the week by planning and writing our own stories.

Wider Curriculum

We have been finishing off our DT project about pneumatics this week. The children have been designing and making their own prototype; a product that can be used around the home that helps with every day life.

We have also been working on our science this week, looking at different types of friction, such as water resistance and air resistance. We have been carrying out simple experiments to test the factors affecting water and air resistance.

Week beginning 11th March 2024

Maths

Year 5 have been working very hard in maths this week finishing their decimals and percentages unit. We completed the end of unit test on Wednesday before starting our new area and perimeter topic. We have been learning how to calculate the perimeter (distance around) rectangles and rectilinear shapes (compound rectangles).

Next week, we will continue to explore perimeter and how to calculate perimeter of a variety of regular shapes.

English

We have started our new unit this week, where we will be writing our own scary stories based on fairytales gone wrong! We will be practicing how to write suspenseful stories that entice and engage the reader. We have explored the WAGOLL (what a good one looks like) and decided on the features that make a good story. We then practiced writing our own suspenseful paragraphs, using picture stimuli. 

Wider curriculum

We have been completing our design and technology mini project this week, where we have been learning all about pneumatic machines. We began the week by discovering what a pneumatic machine is and how they are used in daily life. We created our own monsters that use pneumatics to open the monster’s mouth. We finished the week by designing and planning our prototype; a pneumatic machine that can be used to help you around the house. We will be making and evaluating our prototypes next week.

Week beginning 4th March 2024

Maths

In maths this week, we have been comparing and ordering decimals, rounding decimals to both a whole number, and to 1 decimal place, ensuring we check the column to the right to tell us whether we need to round up or down! We finished off the week by beginning to learn about percentages. On Friday, we started by thinking about the percentage symbol, and how this means ‘our of 1 hundred’, to allow us to solve problems including money.

Next week, we will continue to learn about percentages.

English

We started off this week by planning our explanation text all about the water cycle. We ensured that our plans had our key points, as well as our key vocabulary and grammar features. We were then able to start writing our explanations, making sure we use our plans to help us! We finished the week by editing our first drafts, then writing them up in our best handwriting to put on the bookshelves in Year 4 to help them as they learn about the water cycle in ‘Misty Mountain, Winding River’.

Next week, we will start our new unit, where we will be writing our own stories based on traditional tales.

Wider Curriculum

In art this week, we have been learning about Kurt Schwitters and how he has been using mixed media to create pieces of art. We have been thinking about how mixed media artwork can have a range of effects and meanings.

In science this week, we have been thinking about gravity and how this related to mass and weight. Mass is a measure of the matter that an object or substance takes up, and this is not affected by gravity. Weight is a measure of the pull of gravity, which is often affected by the gravitational force of a planet. Humans would have a different weight if they stepped on the moon!

Week Beginning 26th February 2024 

English

In English this week, we have started our new unit of explanations. By the end of the unit, the children will have written an explanation about the water cycle to put in a Year 4 class to help them during their ‘misty mountain, winding river’ unit. We have been practicing how to use parenthesis, modal verbs and creating a piece of writing that is cohesive. Next week, we will begin planning and writing our explanations.

Maths

We have been continuing our decimals and percentages topic. We have been learning about equivalent fractions and decimals, and have been expanding our knowledge by using these skills with thousandths and hundredths. Next week, we will start to look at comparing decimals and percentages.

Wider Curriculum

We finished our geography unit this week by thinking about sustainable manufacturing practices and small changes we can make in our lives to be more sustainable.

We started our new topic of ‘forces’ in science and we have started to think about how gravity affects everyday objects, and also the life that we lead on Earth. We have thought about what would happen if there was more, or less gravity on Earth, and compared this to our every day lives.

Week beginning 19th February 2024

Maths

In maths this week, we finished our statistics topic, and we learned how to use and create timetables. On Thursday, we started our new topic of decimals and percentages, and we have been practicing converting decimals and equivalent fractions.

Next week, we will be extending our knowledge of decimals and percentages by converting hundredths and thousandths.   

English

In English this week, we have been continuing our biography topic and have been practicing how to use linking adverbials and formal conjunctions within a non- fiction text. We finished the week by planning, writing and editing our biographies about Katherine Johnson.

Next week, we will be starting our new unit of explanations.  

Wider Curriculum

Year 5 have been working extremely hard on their geography mini- topic this week. We started the week by learning how to use maps to work out relative locations and practiced using 4 and 6 digit grid references. We have also taken an in- depth look at transport networks across the UK, especially motorways. We finished the week by exploring the wider world, including time zones and vegetation belts. We have been comparing and contrasting different areas of the world. Next week we will be finishing off the topic by thinking about sustainable manufacturing. 

Week beginning 5th February 2024 

Maths

In maths this week. We have been finishing our unit on multiplying fractions. We finished the week by starting our new statistics unit. We have been practicing drawing line graphs and learning to interpret line graphs and use them to solve problems.

After half term, we will be finishing our statistics unit before starting decimals and percentages.

English

We started our new unit on biographies this week. We started off by looking at a biography about Tim Peake and considering the important features that will allow the reader to understand the significance and legacy of the important person. We have been learning how to write in the past perfect tense, using ‘had’ before a verb. We finished the week by learning how to use dashes, brackets and commas for parenthesis (adding extra information into a sentence).

After half term, we will be planning, writing and editing our own biographies about Katherine Johnson.

Wider Curriculum

Year 5 have been very busy in art this week! We have been using all of the skills that we learned in our line, light and shadows unit to recreate a black and white photo using pen and ink and chalk.

We had a very exciting Ibrick Lego workshop on Monday, where the children used their knowledge about space to recreate their own mini Mars Rover out of Lego! They were given a large box of equipment and a set of instructions and used their problem solving skills to create the Rover.

Week beginning 29th January 2024

Maths

This week in maths, we have begun our new unit of fractions and we have been practicing multiplying integers by unit and non- unit fractions. We have been also learning how to find fractions of amounts an quantities, and have been using our problem solving skills to answer questions. 

Next week in maths, we will be finishing our fractions topic and starting a new unit! 

English

In English this week, we have been writing our non- chronological reports about space. We satrted off by choosing one of the 8 planets in our solar system, then we researched facts about it on the internet. We planned our reports and split our information into 4 sections, ensuring that we plan to use fronted adverbials and relative clauses. At the end of the week, we planned and drafted our reports. 

Next week, we will be revisiting and learning a range of grammar skills to help us in our writing! 

Wider Curriculum

In PE this week, the children have been practicing their block- tackling skill in hockey, and their batting skills in cricket.

In computing, we have been making their own digital pets in Microbits (tiny computer). An example of this is if we shake the microbit, the digital pet will get angry; if the light level is low, it will go to sleep. 

In art, we have been using our skills of line, light and shadow to begin our final project of recreating black and white photos. We began by sketching the image's outline and ink-washing the dark areas of the page. 

Week beginning 22nd January 2023 

English

In English this week, we have been exploring non- chronological reports. We started the week by discussing the different features, such as bullet points and commas for cohesion and rhetorical questions. We have been practicing these skills by writing sentences and short paragraphs about space.

Next week in English, we will be choosing a planet to create a non- chronological report.

Maths

Year 5 have been finishing their multiplication and division topic this week by practicing a range of problem-solving questions and using their knowledge of both operations to solve them. We finished the week with the end of unit quiz.

Next week in maths, we will be starting our new unit of fractions. 

Wider Curriculum

The children have been continuing to enjoy ukelele lessons on Monday afternoons and are becoming very skilled musicians!

In history this week, we have been learning all about Oracle Bones and discovering how people used to communicate with the gods and their ancestors. We also learned about religion in the Shang Dynasty and how people made sacrifices and spoke to their loved ones.

Week beginning 15th January 2024

Maths

In maths this week the children have been learning how to use the column method to multiply a 3 digit number by a 2 digit number. They then moved on to multiplying a 4 digit number by a 2 digit number using the column method and were encouraged to check their answers using the inverse. At the end of the week, the children moved on to short division which we will continue into next week.

English

In English, the children started to plan their setting description of a derelict garage using adjectives to describe what they could see, hear feel, touch  and smell. They also used figurative language (metaphors, personification and similes) as well as fronted adverbials, ISPACE to vary their sentence opening. The children finished the week by writing up their first draft.

Wider Curriculum

In History, the children learned about the dig at Yinxu. The 20th century dig uncovered the first evidence that the Shang Dynasty had existed. We look at different artefacts from the dig and discovered each of their uses, what they were made from and what we could infer about the Shang Dynasty.

In Science, we explored the enquiry question, How do we know the sun is at the centre of the solar system? We researched different scientists who have studied the solar system and developed an idea of how and why scientific thinking changed over time. We learned about the geocentric model (Earth being the centre of the solar system) as well as the heliocentric model (the model we understand today, where the sun is at the centre of the solar system).  

Week Beginning 8th January 2024

Maths

In maths this week we have started our new unit on Multiplication and Division. We started the week by multiplying up to a 4 digit number by a 1 digit number. We then moved on to multiplying a 2 digit number by a 2 digit number. We used the area model method to help us and finished the week by using the formal written method of long multiplication.

English

In English this week we have started our new writing unit describing a setting in a story. We explored vocabulary and used a thesaurus to help us enhance meaning and make our writing more interesting. We then looked at the figurative language that was used to make the setting description more interesting.

Wider Curriculum

In History this week we have looked at the different dynasties of ancient China. We learned that China is the longest lasting civilisation starting with the Xia Dynasty in c2070. The Shang Dynasty, c1600 BC until 1046 BC, is the earliest recorded ruling dynasty of China.