Welcome to Year 5

Summer Term

     Miss McArdle, Miss Robinson, Madame Leydon and Mrs Bundy

English

Our writing this term, will centre around the book “Kensuke's Kingdom” by Michael Morpurgo.

We will follow Michael's route around the world and base our writing on his experiences.  We will be writing descriptively about events that occur on his journey, a persuasive advert, a balanced argument, a letter plus a diary entry.

Click on the picture to watch the trailer for the short film that is currently in production!

Maths

This term, we will be learning about:  Adding and subtracting decimals within 1 Complements to 1 Adding and subtracting decimals Decimal sequences Multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 1000 Identify angles comparing and ordering angles Measuring angles Drawing lines and angles Calculating angles on a straight line and around a point Triangles Quadrilaterals Calculating length and angles in shapes Regular and irregular polygons Reasoning about 3D shapes Describing position Drawing on a grid Position in the first quadrant Translation Translation with coordinates Lines of symmetry Reflection Reflection with coordinates Kilometres, kilograms, millimetres, millilitres Imperial units Converting units of time Timetables Volume and capacity

These skills will be extended and applied in forms of reasoning and problem solving. 

Please be aware that if you would like to further support your child with any of these areas of maths, you will find a ‘Workbook for Parents’ for each unit on our homepage under ‘Curriculum’ then ‘Maths’.  

http://www.excalibur.cheshire.sch.uk/page/maths-workbooks-for-parents/86832

In maths, mental recall, including times tables, doubling and halving numbers and number bonds is vitally important if children are going to make good progress. Using the internet, games or board games can help reinforce the maths needed for Year 5 in a fun and enjoyable way. Please click on the links below to support both written and mental maths.  Also, at the bottom of this page, you will find a document containing all the mental maths objectives for each year group so that you can suport your child with their mental maths.  

This term our history and geography learning will look at Michael's journey and some of the places that he visited along the way. One of our main focuses will be the continent of South America. We will find out about the different countries that make up the continent as well as some of the key geographical features such as mountain ranges, capitals cities and rivers. A comparison of two different regions of South America will help us gain an understanding of what it is like to live there. 

 This term, we will be focusing on Living Things and their Habitats as well as Animals Including Humans. We will be developing scientific skills through the application of the five types of scientific enquiry:

• Observation over time
• Pattern seeking
• Identifying, classifying and grouping                          
• Comparative and fair testing
• Research using secondary resources

During these topics, we will:

• Describe the differences in the life cycles of a mammal, an amphibian, an insect and a bird
• Describe the life process of reproduction in some plants and animals.
• Find out about the work of naturalists and animal behaviourists, for example, David Attenborough and Jane Goodall.
• Describe the changes as humans develop to old age.
• Draw a timeline to indicate stages in the growth and development of humans.
• Learn about the changes experienced in puberty.

  

Reminders and Information

Staff in Year 5:

Miss McArdle - Class teacher (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and  Friday morning)

Miss Robinson - Class teacher (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday)

Madame Leydon – French teacher (Tuesday pm)

Mrs Bundy – Teaching assistant

PE

Our regular PE days for this term will continue to be Wednesday and Friday. Pupils are asked to come to school in their PE kit on the appropriate days. Please make sure that your child wears the correct Excalibur PE kit.  A list of the full PE kit is on our website.

http://www.excalibur.cheshire.sch.uk/page/school-uniform/6064

Pupils can come to school in their tracksuit bottoms for PE if it is ever too cold.  I would be grateful if you could make sure that long hair is tied back and that earrings are removed or covered with micro-pore or similar on PE days. Any earrings will need to be removed for a PE lesson.

Start and Finish Times

The school gates will be opened at 8:50 to all children.   The school day will end at 3:15 pm.  Parents will continue to follow the one way system for drop off and pick up.

Snacks

Due to considerations regarding the transfer of monies, there will be no snacks for sale at break times. Therefore, could you please send your child in with a healthy snack for their midmorning break.

Water Bottles

It is important for children to drink water throughout the day.  Therefore, children may bring in bottles of water each day so long as the bottle has a secure lid. It is also really helpful if every bottle is clearly labelled.  Please can you remind your child to take their bottle home every night for washing and refilling.  

Homework

Every week, your child will be set the following tasks: 

• Maths - Set each Friday on MyMaths 
• Mental Maths - a mental maths focus to support learning in class
• Guided Reading - questions set from a short text or from a book
• Spellings - either a spelling rule or words from the statutory Y5/6 spelling list

A reminder of the tasks will be loaded onto Seesaw every week.  Occasionally there may be some theme based homework.

             Recommended homework time is half an hour per day for Years 5 and 6.

If you have any queries or questions, please do not hesitate in contacting either Miss McArdle or Miss Robinson through our contact email address (contact@excalibur.cheshire.sch.uk) or you could leave a note in your child's planner.  We look forward to another fabulous term working with you and your child.

Thank you for your continued support.