Welcome to Year 5. 

We are Chestnut Class!

The adult in Chestnut Class are Miss Cooksey and Mrs Cowen.

What will we be learning about in Autumn 2?

In Maths, we will be further developing our addition and subtraction skills. We will be revisiting column addition and column subtraction and developing our knowledge of column addition and column subtraction so that we can apply it to larger numbers and multi-step problems. We will then move onto multiplication and division developing formal and informal strategies. Our daily times tables practice will help increase our fluency.

In English, we will be exploring the text Hidden Figures which is based on the true story of Dorothy Johnson Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Mann Darden  and their contributions during the Space Race. At the end of the unit, we will select one of the women in the story to write a biography about. 

In History, we will be exploring how travel and transport have changed over time. We will be comparing how travel is different today and exploring the advancements in technology over time.

In DT, we will be designing and making a pencil case using our sewing skills.

In PSHE, we will be considering the ways in which people spend money and the importance of saving for the future. We will also be discussing the risks associated with money such as gambling and accumulating debt and the impact this can have on mental health and wellbeing.

Our science topic this half term will link in with our text 'Hidden Figures'. We will be answering the question 'What does the solar system look like?" as part of our Earth and Space topic.

In RE, we will be exploring the question 'Was Jesus the messiah?" We will be exploring the definition of a messiah and responding creatively through individual responses and collaborative tasks evidenced in our RE big book.

We are looking forward to our first residential visit to Nell Bank in Ilkley. This will be a 2 day residential in which we will develop our team building skills, resilience and independence. 

Throughout the half term, we will also be getting ready for Christmas. We will be singing songs and listening to readings during advent and the festive period.

What have we been learning about in Autumn 1?

In Maths, we developed our knowledge of place value through exploring numbers up to 1,000,000.

In English, we completed our Grammarsaurus Unit. Over the first four weeks, we explored the building blocks of grammar needed for Year 5. We then explored the text War Game in preparation for the summer term in which we will be learning about life during World War 2. We participated in drama activities to explore the characters feelings when sent to war. Our final write at the end of the unit was a letter home recounting wartime experiences. 

In Science, we explored the topic 'Forces' through the question 'How can Usain Bolt run so quickly?' We investigated friction, air resistance and gravity through carrying out a number of different investigations. 

In RE, we thought about the question, 'How do religions help people live through good and bad times?' We explored the concept of afterlife and reincarnation as means of providing comfort during difficult and challenging times.

In PHSE, we answered the question 'What makes up a person's identity?' We learnt about diversity within our school community and the wider world exploring ethnicity, faith and culture. We also found out about the different ways we can challenge stereotypes using the texts; The Proudest Blue and Julian is a Mermaid.

In Computing, we answered the question 'Can you create a shared project?' and explored different systems. We learnt about the input and output of electronic devices.

In Geography, we answered the question 'What makes the earth angry?' Our topic helped us to find out about natural hazards and disasters including volcanoes and earthquakes. 

In Art, we further developed our pencil skills using line and tone to show movement in our sketches.

This half term, we have been preparing for our harvest festival. We have been collecting food resources and supplies for the food bank, writing harvest prayers and singing harvest songs. We have also participated in the Big Sing at St George's Hall in Bradford.

We started our swimming sessions at Shipley Swimming Pool as part of PE.

 Take a look at our Curriculum Year Group Plan to find out what else we will be learning about in Year 5 this year. Remember you can find the knowledge organisers for each unit on class dojo – please share these with your children and discuss the key vocabulary!

Important Information:

Tuesday: Swimming

Wednesday: PE 

Thursday: Library and Spellings

Friday: Reading Books