English

This half term, we’ve delved into No Ballet Shoes in Syria, experiencing the poignant story through the eyes of Aya, a young girl navigating life as a refugee. One of the highlights was writing a diary from Aya’s perspective, where we explored her feelings and challenges living in Manchester—it really helped us understand her emotions on a deeper level.

Following this, we crafted letters back to her friend in Syria, sharing insights about Aya’s new life. We also retrieved facts about Aleppo from the narrative, enabling us to write a vivid setting description of the city both before and after the attacks. This really illustrated the stark contrasts in Aya’s world.

Most recently, we ventured into the animated short video The Lighthouse. We described the lighthouse’s exterior and interior, then shifted focus to the lighthouse keeper’s feelings using the ‘show, not tell’ technique. This approach allowed us to convey emotions subtly, making our writing more engaging.

Maths

This half term, Year 5 have explored number and place value, learning how to read, write, and understand numbers all the way up to 1,000,000. We used place value grids and the book “How Big Is a Million” to help grasp the significance of such large numbers. The class also ordered and compared numbers to 1 million, which really sharpened their skills, and continued to work on their rounding skills. We also discussed various strategies for mental addition and subtraction, making these operations quicker and easier. 

Science

This half term, Year 5 have explored forces in science. They started by learning what a force is and discovered the different types of forces, such as push and pull, friction, and magnetic force. A big focus was on gravity, where the students investigated how gravity pulls all objects towards Earth at the same rate, regardless of their mass. They conducted experiments to better understand this concept. The class also looked at air resistance and how it affects falling objects. Finally, they explored water resistance, learning how things are designed to be streamlined to reduce drag, making them more efficient in water.

History

This half term, Year 5 have delved into the fascinating topic of the Trojan War. We’ve explored its significance by locating the main cities involved on a modern map of Greece, giving us a better understanding of where these events unfolded. We also got to know key characters like Agamemnon and Hector, discussing their personalities and roles in the story.

Our journey so far has included examining the reasons behind the Trojan War through captivating Greek tales. We uncovered the clever strategies the Greeks used to trick the Trojans, particularly the famous Trojan Horse. Finally, students wrote their own explanations of how the Greeks ultimately triumphed over Troy using this cunning tactic. It’s been an engaging half term filled with collaboration and creativity!

Geography

During this half term, Year 5 have been learning about earthquakes. We began by defining what an earthquake is: a sudden shaking of the ground caused by the movement of tectonic plates in the Earth’s crust. To enhance our understanding, we explored how earthquakes are measured using both the Richter scale and the Mercalli scale. We even applied these scales ourselves while watching videos of different earthquakes, which allowed us to rate their intensity.

Additionally, we learned about the movement of tectonic plates and how this is linked to why earthquakes occur, especially at plate boundaries. As we identified where these boundaries are located on maps, we recognised that most of the world’s earthquakes take place in these regions. This exploration has helped us start to understand the mechanisms behind such natural events.

Art

This half term, Year 5 have been studying installation art. We’ve explored what installation art means and analysed various examples to understand its impact. The class studied the remarkable works of Cai Guo-Qiang, appreciating how he uses his art to convey powerful messages. Students also embraced their problem-solving skills while attempting to create their own installation pieces. Finally, they planned and constructed a final artwork centred around a current global issue, aiming to promote a meaningful message. This project has truly encouraged creativity and critical thinking in our young artists!

PE

Year 5 have been implementing different skills in creative games. As part of the unit the children not only applied the skills that they learnt but also implemented their decision-making skills particularly in relation to when to pass a ball, how to get into a space and outwit an opponent.

RE

This half term, Year 5 has explored some profound themes in Religious Education. We began by discussing whether it is sometimes difficult to do the right thing, which led us to study the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. Through this, we explored the meanings of temptation and sin. We then compared this story to the parable of the lost boy. Additionally, we reflected on our own temptations and examined the relevance of the Ten Commandments today. Finally, we explored the Lord’s Prayer, deepening our understanding of its significance in the lives of Christians.

Spanish

In Spanish, the children have been learning how to answer the question, Tienes una mascota? (Do you have a pet?) We have learnt the names of different animals, as well as how to say the name of the pet. Throughout this, we have worked hard at developing our Spanish pronunciation and phonic knowledge.

PSHE

In this half term, Year 5 has been focusing on important themes in PSHE. We’ve explored what it means to build strong relationships and be a good friend. Students have engaged in discussions about effective communication, both in person and online, recognising the significance of kindness in all interactions. We’ve also delved into various scenarios to help children understand their feelings when they witness hurtful behaviour from peers. To wrap it up, each student contributed to writing a ‘recipe for being a good friend’, outlining key ingredients like empathy, respect, and support.

Computing

This half term, Year 5 have made remarkable strides in Computing. We utilised Scratch to enhance our coding skills, creating a maze game where sprites had to avoid walls and change direction to navigate the maze while collecting points. Building on this, we programmed a 3D robot within a maze, applying our mathematical knowledge to calculate turns. Additionally, we developed a football game where the football sprite moves in various directions. A goal message appears when it scores, while a ‘no goal’ message displays if the ball hits the post or goalkeeper. The children’s coding abilities have truly impressed us!