What have Y5 been up to?
Week 8
This week, we had a wonderful walk around the Dothill Nature reserve to appreciate the natural world around us. We are currently using a book of poetry called 'The Lost Words' and looked for those lost words around us. We managed to see a lot of those lost words - acorns, bramble, moss, hazel and ivy, among others. Some of us were fortunate enough to see the heron. We used the sights and sounds of the nature reserve to write our own poetry too.
Week 7
This week, we have been working hard in our writing lessons, creating a plan and writing a recount about the first chapter of Why The Whales Came. We had previously carried out a character study of The Birdman, considering the impact of meeting Gracie and Daniel. Using this, we created our plans so that we could rewrite the story from The Birdman's perspective.
In our science lesson, we look at chemical changes when adding liquids to bicarbonate of soda. We discovered that adding vinegar to the bicarbonate caused a reaction, and this produced carbon dioxide. We learnt that this was an irreversible change.
Week 6
This week, we have been working hard in our Design and Technology lessons to sew our cushions and add some detail to them. We have found this unit of work rather tricky but are trying hard to help each other to be successful by sharing our expertise with others around us.
In maths, we have been exploring perimeter of rectangles, rectilinear shapes and polygons. We have learnt how to find the length of unlabelled sides.
In History, we have been finding out more about how the Vikings and Anglo Saxons tried to avoid conflict - with a particular focus on Danelaw.
Week 5
In our English lessons, we have been exploring what is meant by character perspective using our reading text 'Why the Whales Came' by Michael Murpurgo. The children have almost completed this book in their reading sessions and are therefore able to use their knowledge of the story to discuss character development and perspective.
In maths, we have continued work on the four operations and have developed our understanding of short division. The children have worked really hard, however the children who have been the most successful are those with secure and rapid recall knowledge of their multiplication tables and corresponding division facts. Please continue to ensure your child is completing their Times Table Rock Stars homework each week as this is fundamental in enabling them to calculate efficiently.
In PE, the children have been practising their forehand and backhand strokes in Tennis. It has been great to see these skills developing over the weeks!
Week 4
In our English lessons this week, we have planned and written our independent writing. This time, we have written the diary from a different character's perspective - the Dreamgiver himself. After we'd drafted it, we spent time editing it so that it was ready to be published.
In maths, we have been learning formal written methods of multiplication and multiplied a 4-digit number by a 1-digit number. We then furthered this learning to multiplying by a 2-digit number, which we find quite tricky. However, by the end of the week, we were much more confident with this.
In DT, we have started making the cushions that we designed. They're all starting to really take shape!
Week 3
In English, the children have written their first diary entries based on the short film animation the Dreamgiver. The children imagined they were the unfortunate boy in the film whose dream turned into a nightmare!
In maths, we have revisited addition and subtraction, practising both mental and written strategies when solving worded problems.
Week 2
The children have continued to settle well and impress us with their behaviour this week.
We have begun our Science topic on Changing Materials, considering how we would be able to survive on a desert island surrounded by salt water. We discussed evaporation and set up a experiment to identify salt water from pure water.
In History, the children have worked well in groups to create posters about the first Viking raids in Britain.
The children have begun to design their own cushions in Design Technology, considering which fabrics they would like to use.
Autumn Week 1
What a fantastic start to the beginning of the year! We have been incredibly impressed with the attitudes to learning that the children have shown this week whilst we settle into Year 5.
In our English lessons, we are learning about writing diary entries. We have looked at the features of a diary entry and are beginning to look at each of those features in more detail. We are using The Dreamgiver - a short animation - as a stimulus.
In maths, we have been learning about the expectations for calculating in Year 5 and place value up to tens of thousands. This will be invaluable in setting out calculations and understanding of number.