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Year 5
Welcome to Year 5.
Throughout Autumn Term 1, our key text in English is 'How To Train Your Dragon' by Cressida Cowell. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock The Third , the main character, was an awesome sword fighter, a dragon-whisperer and the greatest Viking Hero that ever lived. The book explores Hiccup's struggle to pass the Dragon Initiation Programme with a toothless dragon and fight the Seadragonus Giganticus Maximus before it gobbles up every Viking on the Isle of Berk. It was time for Hiccup to learn how to be a hero. The children are thoroughly enjoying the book so far and can't wait to hear what will happen next!
In English, the children are learning about instructional writing. They have studied the key features of this genre and covered a variety of activities to enable them to recognise how an excellent set of instructions should be structured. As a part of this process, the children worked in pairs to follow a set of instructions carefully and make a paper dragon. The children thoroughly enjoyed the activity and worked with resilience and enthusiasm.
The Vikings
This term in topic lessons, the children are finding out about who the Vikings were and how they were perceived by others. So far, they have identified where they originated from and the significant events that led to their invasion of Britain.
Earth and Space
Year 5 Visit Winchester Planetarium and Science Museum
As part of our Science topic on Earth and Space, on Friday 3rd November 2023, Year 5 visited Winchester Planetarium and Science Museum. The day started early, with pupils arriving at school at 8.30 a.m so that we could depart promptly at 9a.m with every one on board the coaches. Although it was quite a long journey, the children enjoyed the changing scenery as we journeyed through the countryside. Once we arrived at the Museum, we were warmly welcomed by the staff and split into our four classes. Throughout the day, each class explored two fascinating exhibitions where they were able to fully interact with a variety of engaging activities. We also participated in a rocket ship making workshop, where children worked collaboratively to create their own rocket ships which were safely tested once they had been constructed! After lunch, the children attended the ‘Planetarium Show’ which was absolutely spectacular. As the children gazed into the sky, they were given a detailed account of the planets, stars and galaxies within the universe. Finally, we left the museum for the journey home. The children thoroughly enjoyed the trip and consolidated their understanding of Earth and Space.
Ernest Shackleton
In English this half term, we are learning about Ernest Shackleton and his incredible journey to the South Pole. Our key texts are 'Ice Trap', which is a narrative about the expedition and 'Shackleton’s Journey' which gives us lots of factual information.
Stories in Sikhism
In Religious Education, our Year 5 children are learning about Sikhism. The children have explored the meaning of the Guru Granth Sahib and why it is important to Sikhs. They are exploring different Sikh stories and understand that they are an important way of expressing belief and meaning.
Science
In Science this term, Year 5 have been looking at ‘States of Matter’ and ‘Properties of Materials’. The children have been using their knowledge and understanding of these properties to identify and classify different materials. We started to look at how we could then group these materials by comparing the similarities and differences of their properties and will continue to develop this throughout the term.
PSHE
In PSHE this term our Year 5 pupils discussed the meaning of racism and thought about ways that it can be prevented.
Year 5 Cultural Week
Year 5 pupils had a wonderful time learning about India during Culture Week.
Firstly, we did some map work using atlases to locate India, its cities and places of interest. We learnt a variety of facts and some of the children used this information to make fact files and continued their research at home. We looked closely at Indian art work and made some colourful Rangoli patterns and some pupils even sketched the Taj Mahal. The highlight of the week was our visitor Mr Singh, who taught the children how to perform Bhangra dance. Every one thoroughly enjoyed the workshop.
English
This half term, our Year 5 pupils have been learning how to write biographies. They have studied the language and structural features of a biography and also looked at cohesive devices to link ideas and paragraphs. As part of our work on Ernest Shackleton, the children researched this famous Antarctic explorer before writing their own biographies about his life and achievements.
South America
On Friday 23rd March, year 5 celebrated Brazil Carnival. We talked about the history of Carnival in Brazil and its cultural significance in South America. Throughout the day, we participated in a number of carnival-themed activities including making headdresses, samba dancing and making salsa. The children had a fantastic day and thoroughly enjoyed all of the activities.
The Explorer by Katherine Rundell
This term the children are reading The Explorer by Katherine Rundell. This week they read an extract from the text and made connections with themselves, other texts and the world. They also explored new vocabulary and used their inference skills to understand and find deeper meaning within the text.
Year 5 Science
As part of our Science week, Ms M Mason, a professor of Science, visited Minet Junior School on Wednesday 13th March. Firstly, the whole school attended an assembly and Ms Mason explained lots of interesting information about the planets, stars and the entire universe. Following this, Ms Mason spent an hour in each of our Year 5 classes. Ms Mason revisited many of the key points she had presented in her assembly and then our pupils made pop-up cards. The children used a variety of medium to record their knowledge about space. After this they took part in a ‘show and tell’ session where they looked at each other’s work and evaluated what they had learnt and enjoyed. Ms Mason also showed pupils how an infra- red camera works whilst they were carrying out their task. As the Year 5 pupils completed a unit in the Autumn Term about ‘Earth and Space’ they already knew a lot about the subject and Ms Mason was very impressed by the amount of information they had retained. The children thoroughly enjoyed the visit and were able to extend their understanding of space.
The Amazon Rainforest
As part of our topic on South America, Year 5 have been learning about the Amazon Rainforest. On Wednesday 20th March the children were visited by a VR company who specialise in ‘The Rainforest Experience.’ After some training about VR safety, each class was immersed into the wonders of the rainforest. Our VR representative, Stephen, introduced the children to a variety of rainforest animals and discussed each creature in depth. The children saw a colony of ants, who were able to transport really large objects. They observed monkeys, an orangutan with a baby, a jaguar and even a tarantula in their own natural habitats. Everything they saw was true to life. The children had a wonderful time and really enjoyed the session. They learnt many new facts about the rainforest.
Greek Myths and Legends
This half term Year 5 are focusing on the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. It tells the story of Theseus, an Athenian Prince, sailing to Crete to find and slay the Minotaur, a vicious beast that lived in a labyrinth. With the help of Princess Ariadne, Theseus is able to kill the beast and save the children of Athens, which the beast had threatened to eat. We will be looking at drama and description throughout this unit.
Theseus and the Minotaur
This term year 5 are learning about the Ancient Greeks. In English, the children are reading one of the most iconic ancient Greek myths called ‘Theseus and the Minotaur’. It is about a cruel, vicious king called King Minos who ruled Athens. He owned a bloodthirsty monster called the Minotaur; the Minotaur was a terrible beast with the body of a man, and the head of a bull. The Minotaur lived in a maze called the labyrinth. Every year, King Minos sent seven terrified girls and seven terrified boys entered the labyrinth to be devoured by the Minotaur. The heroic Theseus, son of King Aegeus manages to defeat the Minotaur in a brutal exchange. The deadly beast, who preyed on the Athenians, is finally destroyed! The children took part in some dramatizations of this classic work which has helped them to develop a very good understanding of the plot as well as the key features of Greek Myths and Legends. The deadly beast, who preyed on the Athenians, is finally destroyed! The children took part in some dramatizations of this classic work which has helped them to develop a very good understanding of the plot as well as the key features of Greek Myths and Legends.
