Europe and Ancient Greece
ENGLISH
This term, we will begin both our Reading and Writing with our next class book, Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo. We will be developing our inference skills as we learn about Michael and his adventure, writing a persuasive speech and newspaper report linked to the text. We will also be using the story ‘The Journey’ by Francesca Sanna as inspiration in writing a first-person narrative and free verse poem.
In the second part of the summer term, we will be linking our History unit (Ancient Greece) to our reading and writing, using the texts ‘Who Let the Gods Out?’ by Maz Evans and ‘The Adventures of Odysseus’ by Daniel Morden and Hugh Lupton.
HOME READING
Please continue to support your child’s reading by ensuring that they read at least 5 times per week and bring their reading record in daily. Thank you.
SPELLING AND GRAMMAR
Spelling is taught in class using ‘No Nonsense’ Spelling. There will be discrete spelling lessons several times throughout the week. We will also be learning a set of ‘termly’ spellings, to be assessed at the end of each term, which come from the Year 5/6 statutory spelling list.
Grammar is taught in context within our English lessons so that it is purposeful and relevant to current writing. This term, we will focus on adverbs to show degrees of possibility (e.g. possibly, maybe, definitely) and modal verbs (e.g. should, could, might).
MATHS
Maths is taught daily. Key concepts this term will include:
SCIENCE
This term, the children will be learning about ‘Living Things and their Habitats’. There will be a focus on plants and learning about how flowering plants reproduce.
Later in the term, we will look at ‘Animals including Humans’, with a focus on growing older and changes in humans. This will also be linked to health week towards the end of term.
FOUNDATION SUBJECTS
Geography
Our geography unit this term focuses on Europe. We will be identifying countries and their capital cities, time zones, latitude and longitude, as well as looking specifically at mountains in the alps and the town of Annecy (twinned with Cheltenham).
History
Later in the term, we will be studying Ancient Greece within our history lessons. We will be comparing the Ancient Greek civilisation with other ancient civilisations on a timeline, looking at their major achievements (e.g. democracy) and studying the importance of the Battle of Marathon alongside the cities of Athens and Sparta. We also hope to visit the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, to experience real-life Greek artefacts.
Design Technology
We will be designing, constructing and evaluating Greek temples. For this unit, we will learn about how to create wooden joints for strength and skills like measuring, sawing and using a clamp.
Art
The children will be taking inspiration from our history unit on the Ancient Greeks, to sketch Greek buildings.
Computing
The children will use programs to explore and write conditions linked with games on the ipads. They will then design, produce and evaluate their own quiz.
We will also be continuing to teach the importance of E-Safety.
Religious Education
In RE, we will be continuing to work from our new RE syllabus, Discover RE. There will be a focus on Hinduism and answering the question, ‘Do beliefs in Karma, Samsara and Moksha help Hindus lead good lives?’
French
We will be learning French vocabulary linked to clothes and ‘What I Wear’.
Music
In music, we will be focusing on the genre of Motown. There will be a particular focus on Martha and the Vandella’s ‘Dancing in the Street’ using singing and musical instruments.
Physical Education
PE will take place on a Wednesday and Thursday for 5R and Monday and Thursday for 5J. We will be taking part in rounders and athletics in the first half of term and Commando Jo sessions and tennis after half-term. Children will once again be encouraged to wear their PE kit to school on PE days. However, please ensure your child has a change of shoes, as we will have at least one PE session on the field.
HOMEWORK
To promote fast and accurate recall, it is important that children regularly practise their times tables and Times Tables Rockstars will enable them to do this at home. It is also important that your child continues to read at home at least 5 times a week. In Year 5, we will continue to give out one piece of homework (usually maths or spelling/writing/reading) every Friday, which is due in the following Thursday.
If you have any questions or would like to speak to a member of the Year 5 team, please come and see us at the end of the day or make an appointment through the office.
Mrs Rigby and Mr Jones