Meet the Team 👩🏻‍🦰 👱🏼‍♀️ 👩🏻

We’re excited to introduce our new teaching team for Year 5.  Miss Canham will be your teacher and Mrs Reinis and Mrs Britton will be our wonderful teaching assistants across Year 5. We can’t wait for a fun and fantastic year of learning and adventure together!

Key information- updated for Spring term 

Children in Giraffes will have PE on a Monday. Children will need the correct PE kit: black shorts or joggers, plain white t-shirt and trainers. If children do not have kit, a phone call or message home will be made. Children will be doing PE every session unless we have a note from parents or carers to express a reason why they cannot take part.

Giraffes do not have forest school or swimming this term, so will not need any additional kits. 

Year  5 Curriculum Overview

Spring Term

This Spring term is packed with meaningful learning as we ask big questions, develop new skills and deepen our understanding of the world around us.

📚 English
As readers and writers, we will develop our writing skills through a range of high-quality texts. We will begin with Arthur and the Golden Rope by Joe Todd-Stanton, using this exciting myth-inspired text to help us plan and write our own original myths, focusing on character, setting and narrative structure.

We will then explore The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield, learning how biographies are structured and writing our own recounts that clearly sequence events and include key factual detail.

As poets, we will study Viking kennings and spells, exploring songs and word play to create imaginative good luck spells. We will also read Finding Magic by Eric Finney, using it as inspiration to write free verse poetry, experimenting with imagery, rhythm and language choice.

Across the term, writing purposes and outcomes will be delivered through a wide range of high-quality texts, as outlined in our English Long-Term Plan and Reading Spine.

➕ Mathematics
As mathematicians, we will strengthen our understanding of key number concepts. We will focus on multiplication and division, developing efficient written methods and solving multi-step problems. We will explore fractions, decimals and percentages, learning how these concepts link together and applying them in real-life contexts. We will also study perimeter and area, using reasoning to solve problems and develop our statistics skills by interpreting and presenting data using charts and tables.

🧪 Science
As scientists, we will investigate materials and their properties, learning how materials are chosen based on their characteristics. We will explore reversible and irreversible changes, observing what happens when materials are heated, cooled, mixed or changed, and developing our ability to plan investigations, make predictions and record results accurately.

🏺 History
As historians, we will study the Tudors, learning who they were and why this period was so significant. We will explore key Tudor monarchs and investigate the impact the Tudor period has had on modern Britain, including changes to religion, exploration, society and daily life. We will use historical sources to ask questions, make comparisons and build a clear understanding of the past.

🌍 Geography
As geographers, we will investigate the big question Are we damaging our world? Through human geography, we will explore how people use and affect the environment, examining sustainability, global connections and responsibility. We will develop our fieldwork skills by gathering, analysing and presenting data to help us better understand the impact of human activity on our planet.

✝️ Religious Education
In Religious Education, we will explore two Christianity units. We will begin by asking Creation and Science: conflicting or complementary? as we consider Christian views on creation alongside scientific understanding. Later in the term, we will explore What do Christians believe Jesus did to save people?, learning about key beliefs surrounding salvation and how these beliefs influence Christian life and worship.

🎨 Art & Design Technology
As designers and artists, we will work across both DT and art disciplines. In DT, we will explore mechanical systems by designing and creating our own pop-up books, learning how levers, sliders and pivots create movement. In art, our drawing unit I Need Space will encourage us to experiment with line, tone and perspective, using space as inspiration to develop creativity and technical control.

🎼 Music
As musicians, we will be continuing to learn how to play the ukulele to build on learning in Year 4. We will explore rhythm, chords and performance skills through a blues focus, developing confidence in ensemble playing and musical expression.

💻 Computing
As computer scientists and digital learners, we will explore selection in physical computing by programming a microcontroller, using conditions and selection to control outcomes. We will also work with flat-file databases, learning how to organise data, sort information and create charts to answer questions and draw conclusions.

🇫🇷 French
As linguists, we will develop our confidence in French through the topics My Home and The Olympics. We will practise speaking, listening, reading and writing, building vocabulary and sentence structures while improving pronunciation.

🏃 PE (Physical Education)
As athletes, we will develop our physical skills through Kwik Cricket, focusing on striking, fielding and teamwork. In gymnastics, we will work on balance, flexibility and control, creating sequences that show strength, coordination and precision.

💬 PSHE
As citizens, we will focus on Safety and the Changing Body, learning about physical and emotional changes and how to keep ourselves safe. We will also explore citizenship, developing our understanding of rights, responsibilities and how to contribute positively to our community.

 

Autumn Term

This term is full of exciting learning opportunities as we explore new ideas, challenge ourselves and GROW across the curriculum.

📚 English

As readers and writers, we are diving into powerful texts such as Young, Gifted and Black by Jamia Wilson and Race to the Frozen North by Catherine Johnson. These books will help us understand the lives of significant historical figures and support us in writing a series of diary entries, using emotive language and detailed description. We will also explore The Lost Happy Endings by Carol Ann Duffy, using it as a springboard for writing our own imaginative traditional tales with clear narrative structure and rich vocabulary. Later in the term, we will study The Song of Hiawatha and The Moon, learning how to write both narrative poems and free verse, experimenting with rhythm, imagery and poetic techniques.

➕ Mathematics

As mathematicians, we are developing our confidence with place value, working with numbers up to 1,000,000 and understanding powers of ten. We’ll be refining our written methods for addition and subtraction, including multi-step word problems. In multiplication and division, we will deepen our understanding of factors, multiples, and prime numbers, while also beginning to use formal written methods for larger calculations. As the term progresses, we will explore fractions in greater depth-comparing, ordering and performing calculations with them using visual models and number lines.

🔭 Science

As scientists, we begin with the wonders of Earth and space, investigating the movement of planets, the Moon and the Sun, and exploring how this affects our experience of time. We will develop our use of scientific vocabulary to explain day and night, time zones and lunar phases. Later in the term, we will explore forces, learning how air resistance, water resistance and friction affect movement and how mechanisms such as pulleys and levers help us in everyday life.

🏺 History

As historians, we are investigating the Early Islamic Civilisation, focusing on Baghdad in AD 900 as a centre of learning and culture. We’ll learn about key achievements in science, medicine, maths and literature during this golden age and compare life in Islamic civilisations with modern developments in Britain.

🗺️ Geography

As geographers, we are studying mountains, learning about how they are formed and where they are located across the globe. We’ll use maps, atlases, and digital tools to explore mountain ranges and understand their physical and human features. We will also make links between geography and human life by exploring how people live, travel and survive in mountainous regions.

✝️ ☪️ Religious Education

In Religious Education, we begin by asking, What does it mean if God is holy and loving? as we explore Christian beliefs about the nature of God and how these beliefs affect how Christians live their lives. In the second half of the term, we will focus on Islam, exploring the question What does it mean for Muslims to follow God? and learning about the Five Pillars, prayer and key Islamic practices.

🎨 Art & Design Technology

As designers and artists, we are thinking creatively and practically. In DT, we will design and build our own electrical doodlers, learning about circuits, switches, and motors. In art, we will explore 3D sculpture and installation, using a variety of media to create an interactive piece that engages the viewer and communicates a clear theme.

🎼 Music

As musicians, we are learning to play tuned percussion instruments. We’ll explore melody and rhythm, practise reading musical notation and begin composing short musical pieces. Throughout the unit, we’ll listen to and evaluate different musical styles to inspire our own performance.

💻 Computing

As computer scientists, we are learning about IT systems and digital searching- understanding how technology helps us gather and organise information effectively and safely. We will also become filmmakers by planning, capturing and editing short videos, learning how to tell a story using multimedia tools.

🇫🇷 French

As linguists, we are developing our conversational French through topics such as The Date and Do You Have a Pet? We will revisit key phonics and pronunciation, while also building vocabulary and sentence structures to help us read, write and speak more confidently.

🏃 PE (Physical Education)

As athletes, we are building our fitness and fundamental movement skills. Through our multiskills sessions, we’ll focus on agility, coordination and balance, while fitness sessions will help improve our strength, stamina and endurance.

💬 PSHE 

As citizens, we are focusing on family and relationships, learning how to build positive, respectful friendships and communicate effectively. We’ll also explore health and wellbeing, developing our understanding of emotional health, physical care and strategies for staying safe and resilient.