Year 5 - Miss richardson

Welcome to year 5!

• Some important reminders:

  • PE is on a Tuesday. Children should come to school in full PE kit (navy shorts or joggers and a plain white T-shirt). 
  •  Children can bring 60p in on a Friday to buy a drink and a snack at break time if  they wish.
  • Children should bring their reading book to school each day and should have it signed by an adult at least three times each week.
  • Homework is given on a Friday and should be returned by the following Tuesday. 
  • Please remember to bring a water bottle to school each day. 

Summer 2

This half term in English, the children will be reading novel ‘The Jamie Drake Equation' and this will inspire their writing. They will write a narrative based around the main character from the book. They will also read the non-fiction text ‘Counting on Katherine’ and they will use the knowledge from this to write an explanation text.  The children will develop their understanding of metaphors to create mood and develop description. They will use semi-colons and colons in their writing. In Maths, the children will be adding and subtracting decimals. They will multiply and divide decimals by 10, 100 and 1000.  The children will identify and measure angles.  They will use a protractor to measure and draw angles. In Science, the children will be learning about animals including humans. They will learn about the gestational periods of mammals and the changes of a human foetus as it develops.  They will consider the changes between babies and children. In computing, the children will be completing a unit called ‘Computer Networks and the Internet’. The children will learn about the different parts that make up a computer network.  They will learn about the internet and cloud computing.  Also, in DT the children will be learning about being both safe and hygienic in a kitchen and finding about seasonal foods and how it is grown.  They will prepare a savoury dish and will consider where the ingredients come from. In geography, the children will learn what it means if a country is described as  developed or developing.  They will be able to identify which countries are developing and why.  In R.E the children will learn about being a Humanist and what their beliefs are. They will consider what matters most to Christians and in which way their beliefs differ to Humanists.  In PSHE, the children will consider their own self-image and will learn about the physical and emotional changes during puberty. In P.E the children will be completing an athletics unit.  They will learn and develop the skills of running, jumping and throwing. 

Summer 1

This half term the children will be reading the novel ‘A 1000 year old boy’, this will inspire their own non-linear narrative. They will also write a balanced discussion based on the book.  They will use commas to avoid ambiguity in their writing and adverbs to show possibility.  The children will use colons and semi colons and develop their use of relative clauses. In Maths, the children will be learning about perimeter and area, they will learn how to calculate this for a variety of shapes and how to estimate. They will also be learning how to draw line graphs and tables and how to interpret them. In science, the children will be continuing to learn about Earth and space; they will be creating a model of the solar system and will learn why and how we have day and night. They will also take part in a debate about whether the Earth is spherical or flat. In computing, the children will be completing a unit called data handling, they will be learning how to use Microsoft excel. In art, the children will be looking at sculptures, they will be basing their final pieces from the work of Peter Thorpe’s space paintings and Anna Borgman and Candy Lenk’s asteroid sculptures. In History, the children will learn about the life of Benedict Biscop and St. Peter's Church at Monkwearmouth.  In R.E, the children will be completing a unit about Christianity and will consider how Christians lead their lives. In P.E, the children will be learning the rules and skills needed to play Kwik Cricket. In PSHE, the children will think about their own personal characteristics.  They will learn about keeping safe when being online and their responsibilities when playing an online game. 

 Harehope Quarry

The children spent a day out at Harehope Quarry. We walked across the countryside looking at the formations of the quarry and discussing why it was there, and what a quarry actually was. We then saw a dry waterfall with limestone foundations and even some fossilised coral. Once we made it down to the river we were able to get involved measuring the width, depth and current of the river as well as hunting for minibeasts. We learnt how to use callipers to measure some river bed pebbles as well. Once we had measured this part of the river in the upper course we walked back to where we started and compared the information with the river we could see in the lower course. The river was so much faster, wider and straighter down in the lower course, it surprised us how fast the river was when it was quite slow where we had measured it before. It was a brilliant day exploring and investigating rivers in the sunshine. We all had a brilliant day out.

Space Day

Year 5 celebrated space day after finishing their space and Earth science unit. All of year 5 got dressed up in spaced themed outfits. Throughout the day we checked the position of the sun and made predictions to see if we could observe a pattern and understand why the sun moves and what the science is behind it. Also, we used plastic water bottles to design and create a rocket; later on we launched them on the field and had a competition to see which one went the furthest. During the afternoon, the children completed the ultimate space quiz, where they really showed off their knowledge. The children had a fun filled day and really enjoyed it!

Spring 2

This half term the children will be reading the novel ‘Song of the Dolphin Boy’ by Elizabeth Laird this will inspire their own narrative from another character’s view point. Also, they will be learning to use relative clauses, adverbials and metaphors. In maths, the children will learn about decimals and percentages, also they will learn how to calculate perimeter and area. In Science, we will be focusing on the topic of Earth and Space, the children will be learning about the movement of Earth, the moon and the sun, also they will be learning about day and night. In Geography, we will be learning about rivers, the children will learn about the main features and the functions of rivers. In D&T, the children will be planning and creating a pop-up book, then they will be evaluating it. In Computing, the children will be using the programme Tinkercad to create a 3D design of the solar system. In PE, the children will be doing volleyball, they will learn the rules and how to hit the ball using the dig shot. In RE, the children will be learning about Judaism, including their practises and beliefs. In PSHE, the children will be learning about making healthy choices and how to stay safe.

Spring 1

This half term the children will be reading the book 'Harry Miller's Run' which is about an old man inspiring a young boy to take part in the Great North Run, this will then inspire the children to write their own narrative. In addition, they will be writing a persuasive letter to persuade a local venue to host a David Almond exhitbition. In maths, the children will learn to multiply and divide 4 digit numbers. Also, they will learn to multiply fractions and write decimals as fractions. In science, the children will be learning about reproduction. They will investigate the life cycles of different animals and compare them. In history, we will be learning about Anglo-Saxons and Vikings and their struggle for the kingdom in England. In art, we will be focusing on Van Gogh, we will be using a range of methods to recreate some of his most famous paintings. In RE, the children will consider why Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah, they will learn about the true meaning of Christmas and how lives can be transformed by Jesus. In computing, the children will be designing an app, they will be learning how to add text, images and hyperlinks. In PSHE, the children will be considering their dreams and goals for the future and looking at ways to achieve them. In PE, we will be doing gymnastics, the children will be practising rolls and forming different shapes.

Autumn 2

This half term the children will be reading the novel 'Holes' in English, and this will inspire their own narrative, which will include humour and tension.  They will also write a non-chronological report about an animal which is found in North America.    In Maths, the children will learn about and use multiples, factors, prime numbers and square numbers.  They will multiply and divide by 10, 100 and 1000.  They will compare and order fractions, convert improper fractions into proper fractions and vice versa and they will add and subtract using fractions.  In Science, the children will be learning about forces.  They will investigate friction, air resistance and water resistance.  In DT, the children will investigate mechanical systems and use pulleys and gears to create a machine that can pick an object up.  In RE, the children will consider what it is like to be a Muslim in Britain today and learn about the 5 Pillars of Islam, the festival of Eid-Ul-Adha and the pilgrimage to Mecca.  In Computing, the children will use a range of music programs to create and edit musical compositions.  In Geography, the children will learn about the countries of North America, the human and physical features of these countries and the capital cities of these countries.  In PE, the children will learn the rules and techniques of volleyball.  In PSHE, the children will consider what racism is and why it is important to be different. 

Coals to Goals 

The children spent a great day at the Beacon of Light taking part in a Heritage Day called 'Coals to Goals'.  The aim of the day was for the children to learn about the coal mining industry in Sunderland and to find out more about the football club, whose stadium now stands on the site of the old Wearmouth Colliery.  The day began with the children hearing from a retired miner who worked at the Wearmouth Colliery, and he told them all about life down a mine and the dangers of being a miner.  The children then learned some songs about coal mining in the North East.  The songs were 'Jowl Jowl and Listen Lads' and 'Just One Spark'.  The songs taught children more about coal mining and used examples of Sunderland dialect like 'marra'.  The children also went over to the Stadium of Light, where they saw the club's mining banner and saw the old pit wheel on display outside.  After lunch, the children learned about the history of the football club's badge and the changes made to it over the years.  The children also completed some physical tasks like completing an obstacle course and a team game involving 'Rock, Paper, Scissors'.  The children had a very enjoyable day and learned lots about the importance of both mining and football to Sunderland. 

Hidden Stories

When the children were in year4, they took part in the Hidden Stories project, where they visited the newly renovated Holy Trinity Church and learned about the history of the building.  Ruth, from the project, came back to school to work with the children again.  Hidden Stories are hoping to put on a play based around a 13-year-old boy called William Elliot.  When the church was being renovated, a letter from William was found asking people to remember him when he went off to war with the navy.  Ruth came into school, to ask the children for ideas for a modern character who will be in the play.  The session started with the children playing games and recapping what they had learned when in year 4.  The children were given a sheet, where they had to think about this modern-day character, their likes and dislikes, their family and what they were good at.  The children were then given a cardboard figure on which they had to design and draw the character.  These were then taken away by Ruth and will be used to help develop a character for the play.

Autumn 1

This half term the children will be learning about the Roman Invasion of Britain and will be reading a book with a Roman theme, called 'The Queen of Darkness' as their class reading book.  This book will be used to inspire their writing in English.  In English they will be writing a narrative set in Roman Britain.  Also in English, they will be learning about alliteration, the rule of three and using speech.  In Maths, the children will learn about Roman Numerals, place value, adding and subtracting with numbers with more than 4 digits and rounding of numbers.  In Art, the children will study the work of LS Lowry and produce their own version of his work using oil pastels.  In RE, the children will complete a Christianity unit, which looks as God as holy and loving.  In Science, the children will be learning about the properties of materials and conducting experiments about these.  In PE, the children will complete a dance unit and in Computing, the children will code using a program called Scratch.  

Segedunum Roman Fort and Museum

The children had a great day when we visited Segedunum Roman Fort and Museum at Wallsend.  The aim of the visit was to allow the children to learn more about the Roman invasion of Britian, which they had been learning about in their history lessons.  The day began with the children pretending to be Roman soldiers and practising their marching skills.  They had to follow instructions in Latin.  The children then learned all about what a Roman soldier would have worn.  Their teacher, Miss McLoughlin, was dressed as the soldier.  The outfit included hobnail boots, a chainmail tunic and a very heavy helmet.  The children then had the opportunity to look at Roman artefacts, which included a spear, knife and a flask.  The children used shields and spears to practise combat training and completed a matching activity, where they had to match a job to the correct piece of equipment.  After lunch, the children climbed the 35-metre-tall watch tower, so they had could have a bird's eye view of the remains of the original Roman fort.  They then had the chance to explore it.  The day ended with the children visiting the museum and viewing displays which showed how the Romans lived, a range of artefacts and watched a film but the lives of the people who would have lived at the fort 2000 years ago.  The children really enjoyed the visit, and it brought the unit of work to life for them.  

Sport Leaders Session

The children worked with a PE coach from Farringdon Academy and took part in a session of Sport Leaders training.  The session began with the children learning about PACE - Participation, Area, Communication and Equipment.  The children were taught about the importance of using this term when planning a sports session with younger children.  The children were taught how to organise the children into teams in a fair way.  The children then played a relay game to show the importance of not having large teams and how to adapt the game, so every child gets a turn.  The children played a game of bench ball.  After, the children were put into small groups, where one of them was the leader and they had to follow the instructions on a card to teach the rest of their group how to play it.  The children really enjoyed the session and will use the skills they have learnt to play games with younger children at playtimes and lunchtimes.