15th October 2021Karen Owen

It has been a very busy half term for year 5. The children have settled well into their classes and many of them have made new friends. It is lovely to see them all being able to mix on the playground and have lunch with those from other classes in the hall.

The children have been really enjoying their science topic on materials. They have:-

  • Looked at the properties of a range of materials
  • Identified uses for materials based on those properties
  • Investigated what would be the best thermal insulator
  • Decided what would be the best material for a new lunch box
  • Recorded the results in a graph.
  • Identified reversible and irreversible changes

Here is one of the graphs they produced.

They are looking forward to carrying out some investigations into soluble and insoluble materials next week.

In English we have written poems about a river and for National Poetry day the children wrote poems about the delights of different countries foods. We were very impressed with their enthusiasm for the topics. Currently we are looking at how a writer completes an opening and build up to a suspense story. In their grammar lessons they looked at three new sentences structures, before using those in a short burst write, inspired by a short film clip. Below is one of the many excellent pieces they produced.

We have now sent home new reading records and books to all the children. Those who have only received a reading record are considered a free reader and can read any books of their choice. Please encourage them to read a range of fiction and non-fiction books. As part of the school ‘Give me Ten’ challenge we are asking all children to spend at least ten minutes a day reading a book and recording that in their reading records. The reading books need to be in school every day and an adult will check them at least once a week. The children have a display in their classroom which shows their progress up the challenge wall.

Next half term we will be starting work on our topic of Ancient Egypt. The children will be using their geography skills to look at the physical features of the country, what life was like for ordinary people, the process of mummification, how the pyramids were built and the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. As part of their DT work the children will make a Shaduf. So exciting times ahead.