Welcome to Year 5
Class Teachers: Mr Coleman and Mrs Begum
Teaching Assistants: Ms Royer, Miss Bell and Miss Renard
Spring One
In the spring term we will be starting new units of work for all reads of the curriculum. We will also be taking part in STEM week, focusing on science, maths, engineering and maths. During this week we will also be taking part in our next DT day.
English
Our theme in English for this half term is Sci-Fi. We will be reading Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce as our inspiration for our writing. We will also be creating newspaper reports on UFO sightings looking at using the features of a newspaper report in our writing.
Maths
We are starting this term learning about multiplication and division. The main focus will be on using formal methods of these calculations.
Then our next topics before the half term will be fractions, decimals and percentages.
RE
We will be answering the big question
“How did the first five gurus shape Sikhism?’
We will be focusing on exploring these questions in our lessons
How did Nanak become Sikhi’s first Guru?
Why is the Guru Granth Sahib important to Sikhs?
How is equality shown in the langar?
What does a Sikh wedding ceremony tell us about Sikh beliefs about marriage?
What was Guru Arjun Dev’s greatest achievement?
Key Vocabulary and definitions to support learning
Anand Karaj: The ceremony of bliss – wedding ceremony.
Anand Karaj: The marriage ceremony.
Gurdwara: The doorway to the Guru; Sikh place of Worship.
Guru: Teacher (In Sikhism there are 10 human Gurus and their Holy Book is the 11th)
Guru Granth Sahib: Sikh Scriptures.
Granthi: Person who reads the Guru Granth Sahib.
Khanda: Sikh symbol on the Sikh flag and double-edged sword.
Karah parshad: Food which is shared at the gurdwara.
Langar: The Guru’s Kitchen – the meal served in the gurdwara after diwan (worship), or the place where it is served.
Lavan: Hymn used in Sikh marriage ceremony.
Naam Karan: Naming ceremony.
Sewa: Selfless service.
Sikh: Punjabi word for disciple.
Science
Everyday materials
We will be exploring materials around us and their properties. We will be testing the materials and their effectiveness for the environments they are in.
History
Exploring Multicultural Hammersmith
In our local area history topic we will exploring multicultural Hammersmith and how significant events in history has shaped Hammersmith today. We will be focusing on significant events in history such as Windrush and learning about its impact on Hammersmith today.
Geography
Investigating Climate and Biomes
This unit will teach us all about the climate. We will learn what the five main types of biomes in the world area and what habitats and vegetation they include.
Have a look at the great resources on BBC Bitesize to learn more about this topic https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zvsp92p#zmvsf82
Music
In music this half term we will be focusing on the song ‘Make you feel my love’ by Adele. We will continue to use instruments such as the glockenspiels to explore the melodic sound of this piece.
Why not listen and learn the lyrics here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l83md2sMAA4
Art
Andy Goldsworthy – Photography
We will be learning photography skills in art this half term and will be inspired by the artist Andy Goldsworthy and his use of real materials to create pictures, photographs and sculptures.
Computing
‘We are artists’
We will be investigating using computing programs such as scratch to create computer generated images. We will be learning about tessellation and how to write code to produce tessellating images such as these.
RSHE
‘Dreams and Goals’
Our RSHE lessons will be focusing on our dreams and goals. Focusing on aspirations and how to achieve goals and understanding the emotions that go with this.
Autumn Two
In Autumn Two we will be continuing our fantastic learning as well as preparing for the festivities at the end of the term.
English
We will be starting our English learning on Legends. We will be reading and listening to versions of famous legends, finding the features of this type of text before writing our own.
Characteristics of legends can include:
- Contain elements of truth
- Passed from person to person either through writing, illustration or orally
- Can be based on historic facts e.g. the founding of the city of Rome was told as the myth of Romulus and Remus, who were nurtured in infancy by a she-wolf
- Have heroic characters e.g. the story of Heracles
- Can take place in fantasy settings e.g. In Norse mythology, the dwelling place of the Aesir gods is the city of Asgard
- Can be about the spiritual beliefs of a culture e.g. the story of the Rainbow Serpent arises from the Australian Aboriginal peoples’ belief in the fundamental role of water in sustaining life
We will then move to writing persuasive texts and looking at narrative poetry.
Maths
Fractions
We will be focusing on fractions for the autumn two term. We will be ordering and comparing fractions, looking improper fractions and mixed numbers. Use the knowledge organiser below to help with useful terminology and guides on the different types of fractions.
RE
In RE we will be answering the big question
‘How do art and music convey Christmas’
We will be studying famous religious art and music to answer this question and will cover the following learning objectives:
- To know what makes a piece of art sacred.
- To know the influence carols, have on conveying the central beliefs of Christmas to the world.
- To know and remember the central beliefs in the Nativity narrative.
- To know and remember the key religious vocabulary and what each word means.
Science
We will be learning all about Space in science.
We will be focusing on the planets and the solar system learning lots of facts and information about our cosmos.
Check out some useful videos and information here
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zkbbkqt
History and Geography
We will be continuing our topics of World War 2 and Poland in these lessons. See Autumn 1 details for knowledge organisers and more information.
Music
In music we will be using Glockenspiels. We will be learning how to play these instruments and taking part in lessons where we can be composers writing our own jazz music. Throughout our lessons we will be listening and responding to range of jazz music and learning some of its history.
Art
In Art we are focusing on the artist Keith Haring. We will be inspired by his graffiti art to create our own pieces of work, learning how to create his unique style of work.
Use this helpful video to follow how to create a character like Haring.
Computing
In computing we will be learning about ‘Cracking Codes’ and become cryptographers. We will learn about Morse code and using semaphores.
Here is handy guide to both:
RSHE
In RSHE we will be working on the unit ‘Celebrating Difference’. This will link to our learning during Anti Bullying week in November and will guide us through recognising everyone’s unique qualities and celebrating our diversity.
PGL - Day One
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.”
- Nelson Mandela
We arrived at PGL after a smooth coach journey with a group of excited, energetic children eager for a day full of activities (although, admittedly, their biggest excitement at first was about seeing their rooms — something they had to wait for!).
We enjoyed lunch outdoors in the sunshine and played a few warm-up games to prepare for an afternoon of fun. Afterwards, we divided into three groups with our leaders and headed off to our first activities.
Two groups braved the giant swing, soaring high into the air. The children showed incredible courage, pushing their limits as they were hoisted to the very top before swooping back down. Meanwhile, the third group took part in rifle shooting, honing their accuracy and precision while learning to handle and use the rifles safely at the shooting range.
Later, the groups switched activities so that everyone could enjoy the same experiences. We were particularly impressed with how sensible the children were when handling the rifles.
Afterwards, it was time for dinner — a well-earned opportunity to refuel before the evening’s activities and games. The children were still eagerly waiting to see their rooms!
Following dinner and games, we finally received the long-anticipated room keys, and excitement ran high. After about half an hour of unpacking, exploring and comparing rooms, we headed back out for our night-time activity: Passport Around the World.
The children raced around searching for flags and answering questions about different countries, while staying with their teams and passing through “passport control.” Team Beta (named by Lennox), accompanied by a very competitive Miss Cook, emerged victorious! Our team leader was so impressed by the children’s eagerness and ability to collect so many flags that she said it was a PGL record!
We then headed back to our rooms to shower, warm up and decompress (well, the teachers did!) in preparation for a good night’s sleep ahead of tomorrow’s adventures. The children were definitely tired and retreated to their rooms willingly.
PGL - Day Two
“Nothing is impossible if you have belief and work as a team.”
- Mo Farah
This morning we woke up bright and early to clear blue skies with a hint of crispness in the air. We are pleased to have sunshine! After fuelling up with a hearty breakfast, two groups set off to tackle the heights and abseil, while the other headed into the woods to work together on a series of problem-solving activities.
The children took part in a lively problem-solving activity designed to build teamwork, creativity and communication skills. They were challenged to explore different forms of communication to complete a series of tasks together.
“Those who don’t talk much sometimes say the most.”
- Roald Dahl
One highlight was a task where they had to form a line in alphabetical order by the first letter of their surnames. The twist? They could not speak. Instead, they had to rely entirely on non-verbal communication—gestures, facial expressions, and creative signals—to figure out their order.
To add to the challenge, everyone also had to remain on a red line with at least one foot touching it at all times. This meant thinking carefully about movement, balance and cooperation while still communicating effectively.
The activity was a brilliant example of how children can develop problem-solving skills, empathy and adaptability. It was wonderful to see them laughing, experimenting and finding inventive ways to work together without words.
After a crisp morning in the woods filled with problem-solving, everyone enjoyed burgers and wavy chips for lunch in the warmth. Meanwhile, the teachers relaxed with tea and cake in the staff lounge.
This afternoon began with zip lining for all the children. They learnt all the safety measures needed to use the zip line correctly, including smoothing the landing with a rake, wearing helmets, and unclipping themselves from the line by turning the carabiner properly (the teachers are also getting very skilled at helping the children in and out of their harnesses). The children had multiple turns and were soaring through the air at exhilarating speeds!
After several thrilling rounds on the zip wire, we headed back to the range for an archery session. The children learned how to use a bow and arrow, developing their aiming skills as they tried to hit the coveted gold spot (bullseye). They then enjoyed some friendly competition to see who could score the most points.
Before our final activity, we enjoyed a hearty dinner of lasagne, vegetarian lasagne or nuggets, accompanied by a selection from the salad bar. Afterwards, we visited the gift shop to spend our pocket money on souvenirs to remember our trip.
Our final activity was the campfire, an enchanting experience with a glowing fire, roasted marshmallows and a starry night sky. The children sang songs, listened to and told stories to one another. By this point, we were definitely starting to tire, and many of the children were ready for a well-earned night’s sleep after an epic day of activities (accompanied by four sleepy teachers)!
PGL - Day Three
“Fencing is like a physical game of chess — it’s about thinking, moving and having fun at the same time.”
— Peter Westbrook, Olympic medalist and youth fencing coach
We woke to the excitement of frantic packing and getting ready for an early breakfast before our final two activities. The children enjoyed their tasty, hot breakfasts before finishing off their packing.
There was a real chill in the air so we wrapped up warm in our coats, hats and gloves.
First on the agenda was tackling the heights of the trapeze. We trekked back into the woods and worked as a team to help with the harnesses, ropes and conveyor belt to hoist each child up as they climbed the pole to the top. Once there, they showed real courage as they leapt from the platform, aiming for the target – many singing “I Believe I Can Fly” as they jumped! The rest of the group then worked together to lower their classmates safely back to the ground. We are in awe of their bravery.
The children stepped into the world of fencing today, learning the classic en garde stance and how to hold their swords with confidence. They practised moving forward effectively, discovered how to perform a proper lunge and even learned about making a successful hit — mastering the footwork, focus and flair that make fencing such an exciting sport! To help remember all the key moves — hit, lunge and en garde — they played a fun game of Simon Says, putting their new skills into practice in a playful way.
We then had our final lunch at PGL — Fish Friday! The children were feeling a little sad to leave, especially their dorms, but soon we set off on our coach journey back to school, excited to be reunited with our parents and carers.
Welcome to Year 5. We are really looking forward to the year ahead and seeing the children continue to grow in confidence and blossom as individuals. After spending some time settling back into school, renewing our friendships and making new ones with our new friends we are going to be working hard and making a great start to Upper Key Stage 2! As well as our engaging learning in the classroom, we will also have some great trips and exciting events happening in school.
Autumn One
English
This term, Year 5 will be exploring a rich variety of writing and reading in English. Our first unit will focus on letter writing, inspired by Going Solo by Roald Dahl. This links closely with our History topic on the Second World War, as Dahl’s memoir gives a vivid, first-hand account of his experiences during this period.
As the term continues, we will move on to a range of exciting units, including:
- Suspense and Mystery
- Recount Writing
- Narrative Poetry
- Traditional Tales
- Persuasive Writing
Alongside these units, the children will be reading the classic novel Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian, which will deepen their understanding of life during WWII and provide excellent opportunities for discussion and comprehension.
Our grammar focus this term will include active and passive voice, the subjunctive form, tenses, and a variety of punctuation skills to enhance both writing and reading. We will also continue to develop and refine our comprehension techniques to help the children become thoughtful and confident readers.
Year 5 are set for an inspiring and creative term of English, with strong connections to our wider curriculum learning.
Maths
In Maths this term, we will be following the White Rose Maths scheme to build a strong foundation and develop confidence across a range of key topics. The children will begin by deepening their understanding of place value, before moving on to explore addition and subtraction, and then multiplication and division. Later in the term, we will also be developing our knowledge of fractions, laying the groundwork for more complex fraction work later in the year.
Throughout these units, the children will be rehearsing and revising a variety of calculation methods, ensuring they can select and apply the most efficient strategies when solving problems. There will also be a strong focus on reasoning and problem-solving skills, encouraging pupils to explain their thinking and make connections between different areas of maths.
Times tables will continue to play an important role in Year 5, as rapid recall of multiplication facts underpins much of the new learning we will encounter.
Useful Links:
White Rose Mathematics - https://whiterosemaths.com/
Timestables Rockstars - https://play.ttrockstars.com/
Mathletics - https://portal.3plearning.com/welcome?productId=1
NRich https://nrich.maths.org/
RE
Our Big Question for this half term is:
“What do the miracles tell us about Jesus?”
Through this unit, children will:
- Explore a range of Jesus’ miracles and their meaning in the New Testament.
- Consider what these miracles reveal about Jesus’ identity.
- Learn about the idea of vocation and what it means to live out faith in daily life.
By the end of the unit, children will be expected to know and remember the core Christian concept of Incarnation – the belief that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine.
They will also learn about some of the key miracles, including:
- Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana.
- The feeding of the 5,000.
- The healing of the woman who touched Jesus’ garment.
- The raising of Lazarus.
Through studying these stories, pupils will reflect on how the miracles point towards who Jesus is and why Christians believe he is able to perform them – not through faith in God, but because Christians believe he is God.
This unit will encourage the children to ask thoughtful questions, make links between biblical texts and Christian beliefs, and reflect on what these stories might mean for people of faith today.
Miracles Knowledge Organiser - Autumn 1
Geography
Our Geography unit this term will focus on Poland. Through this topic, children will develop their geographical skills and broaden their understanding of Europe by learning more about Poland’s location, landscape and culture.
By the end of the unit, children will be able to:
- Use digital maps to research and explore geographical features of different locations.
- Use world maps to locate countries and major cities, with a particular focus on Poland and its neighbours.
- Describe and understand aspects of economic activity, including trade links and how these connect Poland with other countries.
This unit will also give children the opportunity to compare and contrast Poland with the UK, helping them to recognise similarities and differences in geography, culture, and economy.
Importantly, our study of Poland will link closely with our History and English learning on the Second World War. Poland’s invasion in 1939 was a key event that led Britain to declare war on Germany, and learning about the country’s geography will help the children better understand its significance in this period of history.
Poland Knowledge Organiser - Autumn term
History
Our History topic this term is World War II – Britain at War. The children will investigate some of the key events and experiences of the war, with a particular focus on Britain’s role and response.
In our lessons, we will be exploring:
- The policy of appeasement and the events that led to the start of WWII.
- The development of alliances on both sides of the conflict.
- The impact of evacuation on children and families.
- The increasing role of technology in warfare, especially through advances in flight.
This unit will connect with our wider curriculum learning. In English, we will read Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian and write letters inspired by Roald Dahl’s Going Solo, both of which give a vivid sense of life during the war. In Geography, we will study Poland, whose invasion in 1939 was the trigger for Britain’s declaration of war.
Through these lessons, the children will not only develop their knowledge of key events but also consider the human stories of resilience, change, and challenge that shaped this period in history.
World War II Knowledge Organiser - Autumn term
Art
We will by working on Skylines, Cityscapes and Architecture
The children will be learning:
- Knowledge and perspective of landscapes
- Use of techniques such as silhouette
- Colour to create impact
- Developing your own artistic style
- Various perspectives of art around us
- Developing your own scene through imagination
Art Skylines Knowledge Organiser - Autumn term
Science
Our Science topic this term is Forces and Mechanisms, which builds on the children’s earlier work in Year 3 on forces and magnets. In that unit, they learned about how objects move on different surfaces, how magnets attract or repel, and that some forces require contact while others, like magnetism, can act at a distance.
This term, we will be moving on to explore:
- How gravity pulls unsupported objects towards the Earth.
- The effects of air resistance, water resistance and friction on moving objects.
- How different mechanisms – including levers, pulleys and gears – allow a smaller force to have a greater effect.
These ideas will help the children understand more about the forces we encounter in everyday life, from cycling and swimming to using simple machines. The unit also prepares them for future learning in Key Stage 3, where they will go deeper into measuring forces, drawing force diagrams and exploring how forces cause turning effects.
This hands-on topic gives the children plenty of opportunities to carry out investigations and experiments, encouraging them to ask scientific questions, make predictions, and explain what they observe in the world around them.
Forces Knowledge Organiser - Autumn 1
Computing
Our Computing unit this term is titled “We Are Game Developers”. In this topic, children will design and create their own interactive computer game, developing both creativity and problem-solving skills.
Using Scratch on laptops and desktop computers, pupils will learn how to plan, code, and test their games. They will also explore how to refine their designs to make them more engaging and user-friendly. Alongside Scratch, we will look at alternative platforms such as Snap!, Pyonkee, and Kodu, giving the children experience of different coding environments.
This unit has a strong focus on computer science and coding, helping children to:
- Understand how simple algorithms are designed and implemented.
- Use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs.
- Detect and correct errors through testing and debugging.
By the end of the unit, each child will have created a playable game that demonstrates their coding knowledge and creative design skills.
We are game developers Knowledge Organiser - Autumn 1
Spanish
Our Spanish unit this term is “¿Tienes una mascota?” (Do you have a pet?). In this topic, children will learn to talk and write about pets, describing whether they have one or not, and giving details about them.
The unit builds on prior learning by moving from first-person singular to third-person singular verb forms, allowing pupils to say what a pet is called and describe it accurately. They will also develop their use of conjunctions to create longer, more connected sentences.
By the end of the unit, children will be able to confidently present information about pets, both orally and in writing, combining grammar and vocabulary to communicate clearly in Spanish.
Music
In Music this term, we will be following the Charanga curriculum. Children will explore two exciting units: “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “Classroom Jazz”.
In “Livin’ on a Prayer”, pupils will learn to listen, appraise, and perform the song, focusing on rhythm, pitch, and ensemble skills. In “Classroom Jazz”, children will explore improvisation, composition, and jazz techniques, developing their ability to create music as part of a group.
These units aim to develop musical understanding, creativity, and performance confidence, while giving the children opportunities to enjoy making music together and individually.
PE
In PE this term, children will be developing their skills in football and dance.
In football, pupils will focus on improving their ball control, passing, and team play, while learning to apply tactics in small-sided games. In dance, children will explore movement, rhythm, and expression, working individually and in groups to create and perform their own sequences.
These activities help to develop fitness, coordination, and teamwork, while also encouraging creativity and confidence in physical performance.
This term our lessons will be on a Tuesday and Friday.
Please use these links to support your child at home
Spelling Frame https://spellingframe.co.uk/
Yoga - https://yogabugsvirtual.com/welcome/
