Autumn Term 2007

                                                   Year 5

English

We begin Year 5 by continuing a Transition Unit from Year 4, where pupils read one story from 'The Fib and Other Stories' by George Layton.  We read the story, which takes its title from the book and compare the beginning with other story beginnings.  It is also a time for looking at story structure and establishing regular entries in a reading journal.  Pupils will plan a story of their own and write the opening of it, using the drafting process.

After that, the English/Literacy programme for the term revolves around a children's novel by Jenny Nimmo: 'The Snow Spider'.  As well as reading for pleasure, pupils will continue to study the structure of a novel and the author's craft.  Concrete poetry and poems by W.H. Auden and Edgar Allan Poe, and the study of a short play, also link with the novel.  As well as ongoing spelling, grammar, handwriting and presentation, recounts, instructions and book reviews will be covered.

Maths

The National Numeracy Strategy is now a well-established part of our curriculum. The children will be familiar with the format and will rapidly settle into the Year 5 course.

An outline of the autumn term topics to be covered is given below.

First half term:

·         Place value, ordering and rounding, using a calculator.

·         Understanding multiplication and division, mental and pencil and paper strategies with multiplication and division.

·         Money and real life problems.

·         Checking results.

·         Fractions, decimals, percentage, ratio and proportion.

·         Handling data.

Second half term:

·         Shape and space, properties of triangles.

·         Co-ordinates.

·         Measures and problem solving.

·         Mental and pencil and paper strategies for addition and subtraction.

·         Money and real life problems.

·         Properties of number, number sequences, reasoning about number.

Homework may be related to the topic being covered at the time. Assessments will take place at the end of each half term.

The National Numeracy Strategy is designed to teach a core curriculum largely through whole class interactive teaching. To ensure that both teaching and learning of mathematics is as effective as possible, pupils are taught in ability-banded groups.                                 

Science

Key Stage 2 Science is based on Ginn Star Science and Exploring Science.  Year 5 pupils will be studying a wide range of topics throughout the year.

This term starts with pupils making a lot of noise in the Sound topic.  They will be finding out how sounds are made (as if they didn't already know!); pitch, volume, sound waves and how we hear.

We will then go on to study Gases.  They will be finding out about the solids, liquids and gases. With the emphasis on the fact that gas is real even if you can't see it, the pupils will be carrying out a series of investigations and learning the usefulness of careful observations.

Humanities

During the autumn term the topic is the Tudors. This is mainly history based but will include Geography and English activities.

Pupils will study some of the major events and personalities including monarchs, particularly Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, also the way of life of people at different levels of society in Tudor times.

Some local history is also covered and hopefully will include a visit to the Border History Museum. The museum is housed in the old gaol and contains many interesting artefacts connected to the history of the border region.

Life skills

In Life skills pupils study units of work covering material from Religious Education, Personal and Social Education, Citizenship and, in KS2, Information and Communications Technology.

During the year, pupils will cover six units of work. These will cover subjects such as relationships, rights and responsibilities, bullying and environmental issues as well as looking at aspects of Christianity and introducing other faiths such as Judaism to prepare children to live in a multi' cultural society. 

We will begin with a unit entitled 'Myself'. The pupils start by focusing on themselves, what makes them happy and how they relate to others.  They then go on to talk about looking after themselves with issues such as personal safety in the home, in the swimming pool and with fireworks, and planning safe routes to school.

ICT

In Year 5, the students have one dedicated ICT lesson each week. This term they will be introduced to the computer system at HMS and then start a unit on graphical modelling. In this unit they will learn how to use Word to produce images and visual models. They will learn the key differences between an object-based programme and a paint package and understand that visual models can be used to identify patterns and relationships.

French

 At the start of the term pupils will learn to greet others and introduce themselves, use the French alphabet, count and use numbers up to 31 and say when they have a birthday.

Later in the term we shall be building on the work covered by some pupils in first schools by reading the fable 'Le Corbeau et le Renard'.  The activities related to this story will focus on thinking strategies and knowledge about language, and will be varied ' to include oral and group activities, games, songs and raps designed to stimulate and maintain pupils' interest and to promote self-confidence in language learning skills.  By the end of term pupils will have covered work on phonics, gender of nouns and adjectives.

Art and Design

In the first term for Year 5 we will look at the wide range of graphic media that students will use in their time at Hexham Middle School. We will look at the work of a range of different artists and will develop observational drawing skills. We will look at the use of colour and texture and will hope to develop students' ability to control art materials.

Textiles technology

This year the technology course covers textiles and the pupils will be making a card for a celebration. This introduction to textiles will enable them to learn the safety aspects of working with textiles and how to handle basic equipment. They are going to design and make an embroidered card for a celebration using various stitches. The pupils will do research into different celebrations and use the Internet to find information about appliqué stitches.

Technology

Pupils will be making wind chimes. They will explore and use many varied materials such as aluminium, MDF, clay, bamboo and plastic in developing a chosen design for their own wind chimes based on a theme. Opportunities to access the Internet will be integrated into the project to look at existing examples alongside several chimes on display in the technology room.

Music

Year 5 pupils start the year with a project called Using Percussion Instruments. This project lasts for the term and introduces pupils to classroom percussion instruments: their sound, appearance, names and how to play them creatively in performance. The project includes a class performance of a percussion piece called Haunted House, which is always very popular. We also take a look at Programme music (i.e. music which paints a picture or tells a story), in particular The Carnival of the Animals by Saint '? Saens and Sleigh Ride and The Typewriter by Leroy Anderson.

We also learn about the sections of the orchestra and enjoy performing various songs and rounds.

Physical Education

There will be two lessons of PE each week in Year 5. The pupils will cover games, rugby, football, netball and swimming. Pupils will swim for 1 half term block in the year. The cost of swimming will be £1.15 per week payable by cheque (to Hexham Middle School) or cash, to the class teacher. We will need parents to help with the swimming 'any volunteers' 5/4 will go swimming until October half term and then 5/2 until Christmas.

For PE, the pupils will need to have some outdoor trainers and also some hockey/football/rugby boots or shoes suitable for use on the school field.

Homework

In Year 5 pupils will generally receive two sets of homework each week based around Mathematics and English. Occasionally pupils will bring home tasks that are related to their current topic for additional work to be done. This may involve the pupil researching a particular aspect but this will have always been started in class.

On evenings when no homework is set, pupils are expected to do some reading and/or learn multiplication tables. Pupils have a reading record sheet inside their planners that needs to be filled in both at home and school regularly.

The amount of time spent on homework will vary from pupil to pupil but should generally take 30 minutes.

Orchard Library

We have a pleasant library in the Orchard building, which is manned by part-time helpers. We are not looking for 'experts' but for parents willing to help, perhaps an hour each week, so that pupils can change books. Watch out for a letter soon to recruit willing helpers.

Reading

Pupils are encouraged to take library books home so that they develop good reading habits. On days when homework is not set, or pupils do not have homework to complete, they should be encouraged to read for at least half an hour.

We would also love to welcome into school any adults who would like to hear children read. Let your child's class teacher know if you wish to come into school to help in this way. Thank you.