Welcome to Year 5!

Welcome back Year 5! Our topic will be ‘Ancient Greece’. Below is a little bit about the things that we are going to learn.

New Routines

Please read the Year 5 Move Up Booklet (attached at the bottom of this page) to familiarise yourself with new routines and procedures. 

As a result of current guidelines regarding the Corona Virus pandemic, parents and carers must utilise the revised school procedures for morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up for Year 5.  School staff will assist you by meeting and greeting the children from the family car, outside the main school building.  We politely ask that you are prompt and make every effort to avoid being late.  Please be assured that your child(ren) will be safely guided to the Year 5 classroom.  

If your child(ren) are going to be collected by someone other than a parent or carer, please inform the class teacher or the school office beforehand.  

Please note, for your convenience, siblings may be dropped off together.

Access the following link to watch a video showing you our new procedures in school:  https://www.walfordprimaryschool.co.uk/re-opening-of-schools/

Empowering English

In English, we will be studying the myth of Prometheus and Pandora before writing our own version.  We will develop our understanding of the features of instructional writing.  We will analyse, evaluate and write instructions of our own.  After half term, we will read, Bling!, a modern version of the myth King Midas and write our own endings.  We will explore the difference between a first person recount, such as a diary, and a newspaper report of the same event.

We will also be focusing on reading comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Our English Targets for the term will be:

• I can indicate degrees of possibility using adverbs, e.g., perhaps, surely, etc.
• I can use modal verbs, e.g., might, should, could, will, must, etc.
• I can use brackets, dashes and commas to indicate parenthesis.
• I can create vivid images using similes, personification, alliteration or onomatopoeia.
• I can use expanded noun phrases.
• I can use inverted commas for speech.

Marvellous Maths

In Maths, we will be revising place value and learning to round larger numbers. We will learn more about negative numbers. We will continue to develop the use of written methods for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. We will practise using these methods to solve written problems. We will also have weekly times tables tests in class. We will also extend our knowledge of Roman Numerals.

Our Maths Targets for the term will be:

• I can read, write, order and compare numbers to at least 1,000,000 and determine the value of each digit.
• I can count forwards or backwards in steps of powers of 10 for any number up to 1,000,000.
• I can interpret negative numbers, counting forwards and backwards with positive and negative whole numbers, including through zero.
• I can round any number to the nearest 10, 100, 1000, 10000 and 100000.
• I can read Roman numerals up to 1000 and recognise years written in Roman numerals.
• I can add and subtract whole numbers with more than 4 digits, including using formal written methods.
• I can use rounding to check my answers to calculations.

Sensational Science 

In Science, we will learn about Forces.  We will learn about balanced and unbalanced forces, gravity, friction and the use of mechanisms such as levers, gears and pulleys.  We will identify forces and complete force diagrams.  We will find out about Isaac Newton and his discoveries about gravity, completing a comprehension about his life and his work.  We will look for patterns and links between the mass and weight of objects, using newton metres to measure the force of gravity.  Furthermore, we will work collaboratively to investigate air and water resistance, participating in challenges to design the best parachute and boat. Finally, we will find out about different mechanisms, including levers, gears and pulleys, and will design our own marvellous machine. 

Next, we will compare and group together everyday materials on the basis of their properties, including their hardness, solubility, transparency, conductivity (electrical and thermal), and response to magnets.  We will find out that some materials will dissolve in liquid to form a solution, and describe how to recover a substance from a solution.  We will use our knowledge of solids, liquids and gases to decide how mixtures might be separated, including through filtering, sieving and evaporating.  We will demonstrate that dissolving, mixing and changes of state are reversible changes.  Finally we will learn that some changes result in the formation of new materials, and that this kind of change is not usually reversible, including changes associated with burning and the action of acid on bicarbonate of soda.

Hair-Raising History

Ancient Greece

This term, we will study Ancient Greece, including Greek life, achievements and their lasting influence on the Western World. We will investigate the timeline and four main periods of the Greek Empire and explore different kinds of historical sources and evaluate their usefulness.  We will discover when and where the ancient Greeks lived, how they lived in separate city states, how their armies fought and were structured, the gods they worshipped and much more.  We will look at Alexander the Great and the empire under his leadership, learn about trading and design, research lifestyle and clothing, and study key Ancient Greek buildings. In English sessions, we will study the historical background of Aesop and his fables. In addition, we will learn about the roles and rights of free men, women, children and slaves in Ancient Greece and research democracy. Finally, we will examine the exciting Olympics and its modern legacy.

In Art, we will carve our own ancient Greek busts using soap, paint ancient Greek pottery and create comedy and tragedy masks.

In DT, the story of Theseus and the Minotaur sets the scene as we find out what labyrinths are and how to design, create and evaluate our own model labyrinth.  The Parthenon is an iconic image of ancient Greece and we will look at its design and structure in more detail and explore different ways of using a variety of materials to create a model of the Parthenon.  We will then use what we have learnt to design, build and evaluate a final model.

Globe-Trotting Geography

In Geography, we will learn all about the European country of Greece.  We will explore the physical Geography of modern Greece, looking at aspects such as size, location, landscape, rivers, mountains, and climate. We will explore what Greece is like as a country today and learn some interesting facts about its geography.  We will look at the population and culture of Greece today and use a variety of different sources to find out about areas such as food, music, clothes and leisure.  We will consider what we already know about Greek culture before carrying out some of our own research to further our understanding of this fascinating country.  Finally, we will plan a journey / holiday to Greece, exploring distance, time and cost. 

Pacey PE

There will be plenty of opportunities for sport during the week, so PE kits should be brought to school on a Monday and remain here until Friday each week.

Showbie

Showbie is a program which allows children to upload, save and share their work in class and at home whilst also receiving interactive feedback from their teacher.  Everyone will be given a Showbie username and password and it is available on iPads, tablets and computers.  We will be using this regularly within lessons and for homework each week.

Showbie has proven to be a valuable communication tool during the enforced school closure in order for children, parents/carers and teachers to keep in touch.  The Showbie App includes a range of features which have been utilisied by all:

• Messaging communication
• Sharing / Uploading work
• Instant feedback
• Voice Notes
• Video Uploads
• Class Discussions (Key Stage 2)

From September, Walford will continue to use Showbie as a clear channel of communication between home and school.

I will continue to set and mark homework via the Showbie App on a weekly basis.  Extra (optional) learning activities will be provided where appropriate in order to consolidate learning in school.  Showbie will be used as the new home-school link for reading.  Every child will have a reading folder in their assignments where all reading and comments can be recorded on a nightly basis.

There will also be a general communication folder where any important messages can be shared with class teachers.  Class teachers will endeavour to respond to these messages as soon as possible.  It is important to remember that children will also be able to see this, so anything of a sensitive nature should be dealt with via telephone or email.

As a result of these changes, your child will no longer bring home a Home-School Diary (KS2).  

Helpful Homework

Homework is set on a Thursday and should be returned every Monday.  Homework will be linked to the work that we are covering in class.  Remember homework will be set and uploaded to Showbie.  Paper copies can be provided if required.  

Showbie will be used for you to record any learning that you complete at home, including:

• reading
• times table practise
• spelling practise
• Education City
• Times Tables Rock Stars
• MyOn

As you move through KS2, you should be encouraged to become more and more independent at recording the work completed on Showbie each evening.  I will check Showbie every day to see what you have been doing.

Talk Homework will help you to prepare for your Big Write each week.  This can be found on Showbie too.  Please spend 5-10 minutes chatting with a family member at home in order to feel more confident about your written task the following day.

IMPORTANT DATES

Thursday, 3rd September 2020:  Back to school

Thursday, 3rd September and Friday, 4th September:  'Meet the Teacher' at 3.15pm on the school field

Monday, 26th – Friday, 30th October 2020: Half Term

Monday, 2nd November 2020:  Back to school

Friday, 18th December 2020: Last day of Autumn Term

To support your learning at home, you will be able to find lots of

English and Maths activities on Education City.

You should also encourage your child to explore www.bbc.co.uk/ks2bitesize.

For photographs of class and school activities, please see below or click on ‘CHILDREN’ and then ‘GALLERY’ or 'WALFORD TV'.  Also, remember to keep checking Twitter: @WalfordSchool for regular updates too.

All letters and class reminders will be sent via emails.  Please ensure that the school office have your preferred email address.  Let us know if you think you are not receiving any updates.

My door is always open and I am happy to chat with parents about our topics and any work that we are covering in class. Please don’t hesitate to come and find me if you wish to discuss anything!

Many thanks!

Mrs Hanham