Year 5 - Maple Class

English

This half-term we will be reading 'Shackleton's Journey' by William Grill. The book retells the true story of Ernest Shackleton's 1914 Antarctic expedition, which aimed to be the last of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. The book illustrates the expedition's challenging journey, including the Endurance ship becoming trapped in ice, and the crew's survival against the odds. Through detailed illustrations and informative text, it highlights the crew's perseverance and resourcefulness in the face of extreme conditions. Linked to this book, children will be writing newspaper reports and recounts. Finally we will study a poetry book called 'Cosmic Disco'. We will write and perform our own poems inspired by this book. 

Reading

Fluency in reading is hugely important for so many reasons, from the ability to independently research things of interest to the joy of 'getting lost' in a brilliant story. In addition to the reading practice at school, there is an expectation that children in Year 5 read for 15 minutes each day at home. We also provide a Home Reader book each week which is changed every Thursday. We also visit the school library every other Thursday to give the children the opportunity to choose a book to read either in school or at home. Children are welcome to borrow their chosen book for longer than one week if additional time is needed, please just specify in their home reading record. 

Maths

This half term we will be consolidating our understanding of time before recapping some other parts of our Maths Curriculum. We will be consolidating our understanding of: number patterns, adding and subtracting within 1,000,000, adding and subtracting decimals and angles. 

Science

This half term we are looking at Reversible and Irreversible Change. Our lessons will cover: 

• Dissolving
• Separating Materials
• Evaporation
• Reversible Changes
• Irreversible Changes

Geography 

This half term we will explore 'Trade'. 

RE

This half term we will be exploring the question 'What Matter Most to Christians and Humanists?' In this unit, pupils will think carefully about actions,  sources of authority, values, religious and non-religious worldviews. They will make links with 
sources of authority that tell people how to be good.  Pupils will spend time thinking about the similarities  and difference between Christian and Humanist ideas  about being good and how people live. They will  consider what it means to follow a moral code;  carefully thinking about why this might be both helpful and difficult.

PE

Our PE days will be Tuesdays and Wednesdays. A specialist sports coach will be teaching cricket and the class teacher will be teaching athletics.

For PE lessons, your child will need: either a school logo PE shirt or a plain white or pale blue t shirt (no football shirts, please), black or royal blue shorts or plain black or navy leggings and pumps or trainers.

A plain black or navy tracksuit will be useful in colder weather.

Please ensure PE bags and items of kit are clearly labelled with your child's name.

For safety, long hair should be tied back and earrings either removed or taped over (tape is provided by school; please provide your child's hair bobble).