Year 5

Hello!

Welcome to our Year 5 class page.  My name is Miss Lewis and I am the Year 5 class teacher.  This page has been set up to help provide some information for you with regards to what happens in our Year 5 class, our expectations and some helpful and handy links to support further learning.  Should you need to contact me, please feel free to send me an email. 

My contact details are bethanylewis@stmargarets.brighton-hove.sch.uk

Spring 1 Information

‘Ahead of you is a dense, vast forest, shrouded in mist. The air starts to thicken, the temperature rises and the humidity makes you feel clammy and sticky. With every footstep, the foliage multiples until it begins to dwarf you. The horizon becomes obscured by plants and the sunlight that reaches the forest floor is dappled; you look up and see that you are shadowed by a giant canopy of trees that tower overhead. Soon, you stand alone, swatting and swiping at insects, and listening to the howls and hoots of animals hidden in the undergrowth. You have entered the Amazon rainforest, the largest tropical rainforest and one of the richest concentrations of life on Earth.’

The Wonder Garden by Kristjana S Williams and Jenny Bloom

Welcome to our new topic which is all about the Amazon rainforest. Throughout this geography-based topic, we will be exploring the physical and human features of the Amazon rainforest. We will also be investigating the effects of human activity, such as deforestation, on the natural environment. In English, the units of work will be inspired by our lead text, The Wonder Garden, which is an exquisitely-illustrated non-fiction book based on five different habitats from around the world. In art, we will be creating collage and line drawings inspired by the illustrations from this book.

So, join us to explore the wonder of the Amazon rainforest!

Autumn 2 - Information

Topic

Our topic for this half term is all about the ancient Maya civilisation. Our investigative title is 'Just how mighty were the ancient Maya?'.  It is a history based topic, so we will be creating maps and timelines to develop our chronological awareness and we will be analysing primary and secondary resources to develop our understanding of the ancient Maya. We will be exploring the Maya writing & number systems, food & drink, gods & religious beliefs and the Maya calendar & astrology. The topic will be rounded off with an ancient Maya day in which the children will dress up and be immersed in Maya culture! Please see the topic web (below) for further information about our learning this term.  

Autumn 1 - Information

Topic

Our topic for this term is all about the chocolate and the concept of Fairtrade. Our investigative title is 'Chocolate: is it as sweet as it tastes?'.  It is a geography based topic, so we will be using maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and identify where Fairtrade products come from. We will be exploring how chocolate is made and who gets what in the supply chain. We will also be learning about the history of chocolate and how it has evolved over centuries. Please see the topic web (below) for further information about our learning this term.  

PE

PE will be on Tuesday afternoons (external swimming coaches) and Thursday afternoons (Harry).  Please ensure that the children come into school on these days wearing their school PE kit : shorts or tracksuit bottoms (depending on the weather), trainers, school jumper or fleece.  

Homework

Children are expected to participate in daily reading, spelling and maths practice as outlined below. If children require any support with their homework, then I will be available at lunchtimes to provide that.

Maths - Times Table Rock Stars (TTRS) can be used to help with number fluency as well as a number of online maths games that you can on Topmarks. https://www.topmarks.co.uk/

Reading - The children have each been set up with access to an account through readtheory.org which provides short quizzes to assess their comprehension skills. The children are also expected to engage with daily reading at home, books from school can be taken home for reading pleasure. This can be recorded in the Reading Journals.

Spelling - Spelling games/activities will be sent home on a Monday for children to complete in their own time. These will be based on the spelling focus for that particular week e.g. words containing the '-ough' letter string.  Children can also practice on Spelling Frame to assist them with their learning.  https://spellingframe.co.uk/

Swimming

Swimming will take place until Christmas. 

Children must come into school in PE kit and bring the following items:

• Swimming shorts/costume
• Swimming hat
• Goggles
• Towel

Children will not shower at the pool - they will get changed straight away. 

If your child has an inhaler, this must be brought into school and adults will ensure that these are taken to the pool if needed.