Welcome back! It’s already Spring term and year 5 are ready to rise to new challenges and continue to proudly say: “I AM WHO I AM”.
Maths
This term involves utilizing heuristics for challenges in multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, percentages, as well as techniques for understanding area, perimeter, and statistics.
English
In English, students will engage with ‘The Wind in the Willows’ to inspire their writing. They will also create Greek myths and legends, along with crafting newspaper reports on historical events in Ancient Greece. The term concludes with the reading of ‘Brightstorm,’ exploring unknown parts of the world. Emphasis is placed on developing spelling, punctuation, and grammar skills for accurate and imaginative writing.
Come and See
In RE, the curriculum for the term includes exploring the theme of ‘Mission,’ delving into the concept of life missions inspired by Jesus and his disciples. The second topic, ‘Memorial Sacrifice,’ focuses on understanding the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice and explores the question of why memories are important. The final topic, ‘Sacrifice,’ is connected to Lent and Jesus’ sacrifice, prompting consideration of the need for personal sacrifices.
Wider Topic
Our wider learning will be centred around the question ‘How has Greece shaped our world? History lessons will cover Ancient Greece’s key periods, drawing comparisons between ancient Greece and our current knowledge. Geography focuses on a European region study of Greece, including its physical and human characteristics, climate, biome classification, and exploration of life in Athens and the migrant crisis. In Science, the focus is on evolution and inheritance, exploring changes over time, genetic variation, adaptation, evolution, and survival of the fittest.
Art lessons include analysing pattern art by Damien Hirst. In DT students will craft Greek frames and structures inspired by Gustav Eiffel and Ancient Greek columns.
PE introduces the game of dodgeball and gymnastics! In RHE, the curriculum covers drug awareness, resisting peer pressure, consent, substance abuse, and internet safety.
Help from Home
- Please check Homework diaries regularly for weekly information about your child’s work and progress. Children’s diaries will be checked and signed on Friday mornings to ensure reading is taking place at home. Your child must filling this in every day with the details of the pages they have read.
- Children will be given homework each week on a Thursday. Year 5 children are encouraged to take responsibility for remembering to complete their homework, but they may need the odd reminder from someone at home to get it done! Homework is not something that should worry them and I will remind them that if they are ever struggling to complete a homework task, then they should come and see me.
- It is very important that all children can recall their number facts quickly and correctly, so when possible please encourage your child to practise their times tables and mental addition/subtraction through TTRS, Mathletics and Numbots.
- Reading every day is essential. Please discuss characters, themes, plots and ask for your child’s opinions on the books they are reading; this will help with their success in English. Recording this information in their homework diary is extremely useful evidence of their reading. If any support is needed please let us know and we can provide resources to help.
- Please ensure your child has their PE kit in school every day. They need a PE kit for both indoor and outdoor PE. Their outdoor PE kit should include a hoodie and something to keep their legs warm (gym leggings or jogging bottoms). PE kits must be school colours.
- Children will be given a list of spellings each week. These will be tested the following Friday. Please keep a check of these regularly.
- Your support this year will be crucial and I’d like to thank you in advance for your support over the coming term.
Miss Ashton
Last term, Year 3 began their Music lessons with Mr Jones. This included looking at different types and history of Music, as well as learning to play the recorder. You can see how much progress they made from October to December in these videos. Enjoy!
Year 3 have been learning about light, and what the absence of light means…darkness! By making holes in boxes, they were able to see how light travels in straight lines, and how it affected the darkness in the box. Gradually, they were able to see some of the objects placed at the bottom of the box.
The children have been so busy this month – putting on their amazing Christmas performance of Whoops-a-Daisy Angel – I’m sure all their parents, family and friends were so proud of their confidence, singing, actions and clear voices – they were AMAZING!
That afternoon, we also enjoyed a visit to the Lakeside Theatre to watch A Boy who Cried Wolf – the children were very well behaved and quite mesmerised by the actors and the ‘snow’ spinning around the auditorium.
Back in school, they had a visit from Stanley the dog – as you can see from the photographs, he is very popular and very loved!
Other Christmas activities included making baubles, wearing Christmas jumpers and, of course, the Christmas party, with a special person in red making an appearance and bringing toys to play with in the new year.
All the Foundation Stage Team wish all our children and their families, a very Happy Christmas.
This week, Year 3 and 4 walked to Clifton Village, to investigate the settlement’s features and learn about its History. We were led by our wonderful tour guide, Mr Byrant. He shared his knowledge of the geography and history of the area, taking us on a journey on significant roads and paths and past historical buildings that taught us much about the population of the village throughout time. Some stand out moments were the stables, the old school (which is now the village hall) and the old post office. We also walked by the oldest building in the village, built in the 14th century! The children learnt so much, while applying their knowledge of their topic.
Last week Year 5 went to walk around the local area as part of their history topic Local Area A453. The children enjoyed making observations on how the introduction of the A453 may have impacted life in Clifton.
Year 3 performed their Nativity celebration ‘Lights, Camel, Action.. It’s Strictly the Nativity’ and what a FAB-U-LOUS Nativity it was! They were all-singing, all-dancing and remembered not only all their lines, but where they needed to be and what they had to do! We were all so proud of each and every one of them.
Year 3 recently learned about one of the seven Sacraments, Baptism. They used playdough and Teach Me, Tell Me cards to help them remember important facts. They all became experts quite quickly!
Year 1 took to their stage in their version of A Midwife Crisis on Monday. They have all worked so hard and put in so much time and effort in to learning their lines, songs and dances and it really showed. Everyone who was a part of the show and the audience had a wonderful time. The Nativity also helped us to remember the true meaning of Christmas and how we all need Jesus in our lives. Year 1 you are all superstars!
