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Welcome to Year 5

Spring Term 2023

     Miss McArdle, Miss Robinson, Madame Leydon (French teacher) and Miss Donkin (music teacher)

English

Our writing this term will centre around the book “The Abominables” by Eva Ibbotson.

High on a Himalayan mountain, a young explorer is asleep in her tent.  At midnight, she is snatched by a gigantic, hairy monster – and NEVER seen again! Agatha Farlingham has been kidnapped by a yeti. However, she soon discovers that he is a brave and noble beast. His family is in danger – and he needs her help!

Maths

This term, we will be learning about:  Multiplying by a 1 and 2 digit number using short and long multiplication Dividing a 4 digit number by a 1 digit number using short division Multiplying fractions Converting fractions, decimals and percentages Finding fractions of amounts. Rounding decimal numbers to the whole and to 1 decimal place Ordering and comparing decimals with up to 3 decimal places Understanding percentages Finding the perimeter of rectangles, rectilinear shapes and polygons Finding the area of rectangles and compound shapes Drawing, reading and interpreting line graphs, tables and timetables

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

If you would like to support your child further with any of the units covered this term, please click on the following link which will take you to 'Workbooks for Parents' on our school website.  The relevant booklets for this term are:

• Multiplication and Division 2
• Decimals and Percentages (both)
• Perimeter and Area
• Statistics

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.  

We will have a geography focus for the first half term where we will learn about:

• Where the Alps are located
• What it is like in the Alps
• Why people visit the Alps
• What there is to do in Alsager
• How the Alps are different to Alsager
• What life is like in the Alps

Our history focus will be the Mayan Civilisation. Through this topic we will be asking the following questions to help us with our learning. 

*Why do you think we study the Mayan empire in school?

*When the area they lived in was mainly jungle how were the Maya able to grow so strong?

*What was life like at the height of the Mayan civilisation?

*How can we possibly know what it was like there 1,000 years ago?

*If the Maya were so civilised, why then did they believe in human sacrifice?

*How can we solve the riddle of why the Mayan empire ended so quickly?

This term, we will be studying Living Things and their Habitats plus Animals Including Humans. There will be a focus on 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 our Living Things and their Habitats topic, 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

During our Animals Including Humans topic, we will: 

• Describe the changes as humans develop to old age

Reminders and Information

Staff in Year 5:

Miss McArdle - Class teacher - Tuesday (am), Wednesday, Thursday

Miss Robinson - Class teacher - Monday, Friday

Madame Leydon – French teacher -Tuesday (pm)

Miss Donkin - Music teacher - Tuesday (pm)

PE

Our regular PE days for this term will be Wednesday and Friday.  Pupils will bring their PE kits into school and change at school.  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 wear 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. 

Start and Finish Times

The school gates will be opened at 8:50 to all children.   The school day will end at 3:20 pm. 

Snacks

Please could you 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 - Homework will be set weekly on Mathletics (up to two pieces). Your child also has access to extra work in their student area should they wish to complete more tasks. Furthermore, should you wish to complete any extra maths with your child, please find ‘Workbooks for Parents’ for each unit of maths we cover in Year 5 on our homepage under ‘Curriculum’ then ‘Maths’ (link above).  This term, we will cover: Multiplication and Division 2, Decimals and Percentages, Perimeter and Area, Statistics. Furthermore, we would recommend that your child spends time working on their mental maths.  They have a login for TT Rockstars plus they can visit Hit the Button which is free online. 
• Reading - questions set from a short text 
• Spellings - either a spelling rule or words from the statutory Y5/6 spelling list

             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.