English

In English this week we have been writing a newspaper article about the events that have happened on the planet of Phoenix. We started the week with some drama, considering the mood of the scene and the emotions the characters could have been feeling. We then drafted our newspaper articles, thinking carefully about which presentational devices we could use the guide the reader. We then redrafted our articles with improvements in place.

Maths

This week in Maths we have been revising position and direction. We have been finding coordinates of given points, in the first quadrant and then across 4 quadrants, and we have also been reflecting and translating shapes across 4 quadrants. Some children applied their learning to solving some challenging problems.

Science

In Science this week we found out about the findings of Copernicus and Galileo. We decided which was the best scientist and justified our choices. We then researched further into the findings of our chosen scientist, in preparation for writing a persuasive argument to convince people that the findings accurate in the next session.

Computing

We began exploring databases this week using 2investigate on Purple Mash. We did a quick survey of popular websites used by members of the class, what they were used for, how and how often they were accessed, and the duration of each visit. Everyone then had a go at inputting the data onto the website and looking at the ways in which it could be grouped and organised. We will continue this next week.

RE

Following on from analysing the parable of Matthew 7:24-27 last week, the class wrote their own understanding of the parable. They also considered what Jesus’ message was from this parable.

PE

In PE this week, Class 5 enjoyed Quick Sticks with Mrs J and tennis with Mr Creffield.

English

In English this week, we continued our new novel study ‘Phoenix’. We analysed the first two chapters of the story, and then we drafted a letter from the main character to his father. We discussed the features of a letter and made sure we used these in our writing. We then redrafted our letters with improvements in place, and made sure our writing sounded like a letter rather than a story.

We have also focussed on using accurate punctuation and cursive, joined handwriting this week.

Maths

This week in maths, we have consolidated our learning on percentages. We have completed a range of problem solving activities and investigations, and have done some ‘backwards’ number problems, e.g. if 7 is 20% of a number, what was the starting number? The children have done brilliantly with this and have been using fantastic reasoning to show their working out and prove how their answers are accurate.

Science

We began our new Science topic this week, ‘Earth and Space’. Firstly the children shared what they already knew, and then thought of key questions they would like to find out the answers to over the topic. We then found out about why people used to believe that they Earth was flat, and how it has been proved to be spherical. We also investigated the relative sizes of the Sun, Earth and moon, and then children represented these sizes on a smaller scale using compasses.

French

In French this week, we have begun using a website called ‘Duolingo’. Each child has a profile and is given a variety of tasks to complete, including translating between English and French, and practising pronunciation of French words.

R.E

This week in R.E, we continued our theme of the Gospel, What Would Jesus Do? The children worked in groups to analyse Matthew 7:24-27, the parable of the wise man and the foolish man.

P.E

In PE this week, the children continued to develop their skills in Quicksticks. The focus this week was on ball control. They have also had another Tennis session with Mr Creffield.

Welcome back! I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year.  Class 5 have had a great start to 2018 and we are looking forward to another fun and challenging term.  In case the Spring term newsletter didn’t make it home. I have attached a copy here which gives an overview of what will be learning this term.  Class 5 Spring Curriculum Letter

English

In English, we launched our new novel ‘Phoenix’ by SF Said.  The children explored images relating to the story and made predictions about what the story could be about.  We then began exploring the first two chapters in more detail, and retrieving and inferring information about the story.

Maths

In maths this week we have been exploring equivalences between fractions, decimals and percentages, and began finding percentages of numbers and solving problems using this skill.  The children made a great start with this and we will continue consolidating these skills next week.

R.E

In R.E, Mrs J introduced our new R.E topic, ‘The Gospel, what would Jesus do?’ (WWJD?).  The children considered situations and scenarios and decided how they would deal it and then what Jesus would do.

P.E

Class 5 began a new Quicksticks unit this week with Mrs J.  The children practised their passing skills in pairs and small groups.  They also began tennis with Mr Creffield which will be every Friday until half term.

English

In English this week, we have drafted, edited and published a piece of poetry, based on the witches prophesy in Macbeth. The children were using personification, metaphors, similes, alliteration, and lots of other fantastic poetry features. We then had a session where the children performed their poem to either a peer or the whole class, and were given feedback from their classmates. They all worked really hard on these and produced some excellent poems.

With Mrs J, the children looked again at semi-colons, colons and dashes. They all feel much more confident with when to use these, and it has been lovely to see some in their poems this week.

Maths

We have continued our work on fractions this week. We began the week by subtracting fractions with the same denominator, and denominators that are multiples of the same number. We then moved on to multiplying fractions by whole numbers (Year 5), and multiplying fractions by fractions (Year 6). Year 6 also completed some of the SAT sample papers this week. Once they have all been completed, I will send home copies of the papers so that parents can become familiar with the expectations for the end of Year 6.

Science

In Science, the children have drafted and published their own ‘Just so’ stories. These are fantastic and the children really enjoyed writing and illustrating these. Some are now on display in the classroom.

P.E

In P.E this week the children took part in their NSPCC ‘Big Buddy Workout’ challenge. The class voted for a dodgeball tournament, and they all really enjoyed playing in their teams on Thursday with Mrs J. They were all brilliant team-players and had a fantastic afternoon.