YEAR 5

Year 5 began the year going back in time to explore what life was like in the Ancient World. The children discovered what it was like to live as a child in Ancient Greece and learned about many famous battles in the region. They conducted their own research into some famous philosophers and produced some fabulous reports and presentations. Throughout the term, the children loved listening to their teachers read them the hilarious fantasy story Who let the Gods Out. In addition, they also read many Greek myths, turning some into playscripts which they orally rehearsed and acted. Greek day was a highlight of the year for many as they produced some beautiful Grecian vases and artwork and learned how to make a Greek salad. Finally, PE lessons became a battle of the city states as they reinacted the Ancient Olympic Games.

In the Spring Term, we explored the Lost World as we discovered how global warming and pollution are affecting the polar regions, coastlines and our oceans. The children enjoyed learning about the artist David McEown and using his style to paint their own water colours of Antarctica. In addition, every child worked collaboratively to produce an ocean scene created from plastic bottle tops. In Guided Reading, we learned about the explorer Ernest Shakleton and in Science, how animals and plants adapt to suit their environment in different ways. Journalist Nick Clarke had the children captivated with his images from the Arctic, as he answered their questions on Zoom about the melting ice caps. In computing lessons, the children continued to develop their skills using a range of new software including Flipgrid and produced some wonderful podcasts as they reported on the effect of plastic pollution on the marine life in our oceans.

The Summer Term saw the children enter the Future World and embark on learning about the future of space travel to Mars. The term begun with a thrilling visit from the Stem Explorers company who conducted lessons in explaining forces and gravity as well as taking the children on a 3D experience of life on the International Space Station in the Space Dome! In English, we introduced a Sci-Fi writing unit which saw the children produce some wonderful imaginative stories. Our focus artist this term was Jackson Pollock and the children loved dripping and splashing paint in his unique style. Throughout the year, Year 5 have loved using the Science Lab to conduct experiments and investigations as well as the VR room to fully experience a range of scenarios and experiences to support their knowledge and understanding.

I have really, really enjoyed learning about Space this year; it is so fascinating and cool!’ Archie Mills,

‘I loved the Art Day where we learned about David McEown. It was fun to do his style of painting and I learnt lots of interesting facts’ Sarah Ramadan, ‘I have enjoyed learning about Space because we looked at lots of interesting things and in English we were able to include powerful words and cool weapons, such as laser swords, to describe a planet’ Maya Kadhim,

‘I loved learning about Ancient Greece because I learnt lots of new things about their lifestyle. Our Greek Day was really fun and I liked how we did different activities’ Shaikha Al Sowaidi

In Year 6, we started the year learning about Wars from Around the World. In History, the children created interactive timelines and learned how history has had an impact on decisions made today, as well as looking at the reliability of sources of information. We were very grateful to Chief Petty Officer Glyn Kneebone, Assistant Defence Attaché at the British Embassy, who laid the wreath during the Remembrance Assembly which saw the children recite poems and sing beautifully. The children used water colours to portray a soft image of a poppy blowing in the wind which reflects the mood of the poem they learned, In Flanders Fields. One of the highlights of the Autumn Term was World War 2 Evacuation Day during which the pupils learnt what life was like for children during the Blitz.

In the Spring Term, we set the scene with the mystery of who had graffitied the school building? Is Graffiti art or vandalism and who had done it? The debate started and not only was the illusive Banksy studied but many other phenomena, including the Bermuda Triangle and Big Foot, as we researched Unsolved Mysteries. The children produced some amazing documentaries and case studies after conducting their own research into an area of their choice. The children began to show their true talent as imaginative, cohesive writers. Furthermore, the children excelled in their ability to write a suspense story.

In the Summer Term, the new theme of Sport Around the World excited the children immensely as the count down to the World Cup in Qatar continues. Throughout the term, we read many biographies of famous sporting legends which followed with the children conducting their own research and writing their own biographies. Following a visit to the Sport and Olympic Museum in Doha, where the children learned about many sportsmen and women, including the Jamaican bobsled team at the 1988 Winter Olympics. The scene was set to help the children write an emotive speech as team manager before a major sporting event. In Science, the children were fascinated learning about the heart and enjoyed making blood in the Science Lab! The final unit of work was the children’s Enterprise project which saw them learn how to be entrepreneurs, set up a business, advertise their product and sell it to raise money for our school charity – United World Schools. Throughout the Summer Term, the boys and girls were introduced to some of the staff and children at the Senior School to help prepare them for their transition in August. They thoroughly enjoyed visiting the school, having some children show them around to experience a typical day, learning from some of the teachers who teamed up with the Prep School Form Teachers in the final weeks and embarking on a PSHE unit of work to prepare them for the changes emotionally.

We wish them the very best on the next stage of their learning journey in Year 7!

Sai Yajamanyam - I loved seeing the new Senior School, it looked phenomenal and I really enjoyed the Transition Day. Although I loved everything on the day, my favourite was looking at all the classrooms - I am very excited to learn various new things in them. I’m looking forward to meeting all the new teachers because they all seemed very kind and the environment looks very friendly and I can’t wait to move there! Saleh Ali - I thought the Transition Day was a helpful experience to learn about the new school and everything about it. My favourite part was seeing the football pitch due to the fact that I am very excited to play on it and do sports on it. I am looking forward to seeing what subjects I will be learning.

Amlan Dakua - I thought the day would the best and it was! On Transition Day the thing that impressed me the most was the auditorium, th swimming pool and the sports pitch. I am looking forward to going to Year 7.