Maths

In Maths, we started by continuing our topic of multiplication and division. The children have learned how to use formal methods to multiply up to three digit numbers by two digit numbers and how to divide up to four digit numbers by one digit numbers. They have also applied their knowledge and understanding of place value to multiply and divide by 10, 100 and 1000. Throughout this whole topic, we have been applying our times table facts to support us.

We have now moved onto fractions. The children have used a CPA approach to gain a secure understanding of what fractions are and how they compare to whole numbers. We have also been learning about improper fractions and mixed numbers with the children exchanging between the two.

English

Charlotte’s web has been our English novel this term. We have read and analysed the first few chapters of the book, getting to know the characters. The children have made inferences using clues from the book to identify how each character is feeling at different stages in the story. We have then used our understanding of the character’s emotions to write diary entries and persuasive notes from their point of view, making sure to include all the relevant features.

Science

This term, our topic has been animals including humans with our primary focus on human life stages. The children have researched about the different stages of human life from birth up to old age and have presented their findings using PowerPoint. We have also written a scientific report on the different stages of human life and their differences between each age group.

On the practical side, the children carried out an investigation testing each person’s eyesight from different distances. Each group had to set up the investigation themselves by carefully measuring the distances using a tape measure; drawing out a table to record their answers and counting the number of letters that could be read from each distance. We then analysed the results and presented them in a line graph.

History

We have been learning about the Trojan War in History this term. The children enjoyed reading and discussing the story of the Trojan horse before examining and analysing the evidence of its occurrence. The children had to decipher and evaluate picture and written evidence from thousands of years ago and come to a conclusion, based on this evidence, whether the siege of Troy really took place.

R.E.

We have learnt about Hinduism in R.E. this half term. Our enquiry question has been: How can Brahman be everywhere and in everything? We have looked at Hindu beliefs in God and how they believe that there is one God with many aspects. The children have listened to traditional stories which have helped explain Hindu beliefs about souls or Atmans and how Hindus believe that Brahman is in everything.

Computing

The children have enjoyed started a new scheme in computing. Our topic has been handling data so the children have learned how to use Microsoft Excel. The topic has covered how to manipulate the size or colour of cells and how to input data in a table so that we can create an appropriate graph using the software. The children have also used their understanding of how to adapt cells to create their own digital art using Excel. 

Spanish

We have been reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears in our Spanish lessons this half term. The children have enjoyed reading and understanding the words from the story. We have started to recognise more vocabulary that has come up in previous topics and therefore been able to translate sentences more easily as well as gaining an understanding of further new words. The children have used their understanding of the story to sequence it just using the written text in Spanish. We did this as an active lesson using our outside space to locate each part of the story before putting them into the correct order.

PSHCE

Within our PSHCE sessions this half-term, we’ve been learning about Dreams and Goals. This has included reflecting on our own goals for the future and discussing what we would need to do beforehand in order to achieve them. The children were given some time to research their dream job and find out if they would need prior qualifications and what their potential earnings could be. All of the children had an idea of what they would like to be when they are older and enjoyed finding out more about what it would entail.

P.E.

 In Year 5, the children have completed two units of PE learning. The first unit was a dance unit all based around the poem ‘The Highwayman’ by Alfred Noyes. During this unit, we learnt about the poem, its words and the emotions that come from them. We explored the ability to portray a character using facial expressions, posture and levels. The children really enjoyed this unit and got a lot out of it cross-curricular links to English and Drama.

The second unit was a netball unit. The children thoroughly enjoyed getting the netball posts out each week! We learnt three ways to pass the ball: chest pass, bounce pass and shoulder pass. We then used these passes each PE session in a passing drill.

Next the children moved onto defence – finding a space and defending, whilst remembering our catch, stop and balance, keeping our landing foot still and passing the ball within four seconds.

Finally, we put all this knowledge and skill together whilst playing games against each other.

Enrichments

Year 5 had the pleasure of the company of Burnley’s MP Antony Higginbotham who explained in detail his role in politics before presiding over a mock debate and answering the children’s questions.

Music

This half term the year 5 children have looked at how rhythm and pith work together.

Mrs Lingard and her family kindly ate lots of chocolate bars for us and saved the wrappers. We looked at the chocolate bars names, clapped the rhythm and then played each on a drum. We then put a few of these short rhythms together to make an ostinato.

We decided whether we needed a crochet, a quaver twin or a semi quaver. Once we had done this, we chose a pitch to play the rhythm on our classroom glockenspiels. Then we had a go using standard notation to write the rhythm in a 4/4 beat rhythm grid.

We celebrated Chinese New Year 2023 is the year of the rabbit. The children listened to Chinese Music and had great fun using dance ribbons creating shapes and making them dance to Chinese music.

Singing

The children have worked in groups and in pairs to compose a Coronation fanfare for King Charles. Whilst studying about fanfares, the pupils have understood how a piece of music can be put together. They have engaged in performing and experimenting and improvising in order to decide on the order of the melody and the rhythm.  The children have used, rhythm combinations based on crotchets, quavers and semiquavers.  All the children then had their pieces recorded; used the correct rhythmic notation and have a copy in the music books of their own composition.

Children were then given verbal feedback to which they have given their own responses to how well they feel they coped with writing a fanfare and how they could improve it.