Year 5 Curriculum Outline 2018-19
Our Learning Wheel explained Our learners
Our schools are small enough to ensure that each learner is known. By placing our learners at the centre of our approach, we create an education that allows individuality to flourish.
Developing character
Fostering a secure bedrock of self-esteem and a sure moral compass is essential preparation for a future in a complex world.
Learning segments
We group our subjects together into six curriculum areas. We teach subjects in an integrated way, because the future belongs
Form teachers
to those who can think way beyond narrow subject boundaries.
Learning to think
Education is not just about imparting knowledge. It’s about teaching young people how to think for themselves: critically, creatively and collaboratively.
Outer circle
We prepare young people to blaze a trail in whatever field they choose. They leave us equipped with a breadth of skills, ready to become responsible global citizens.
5P - Ms Prowse 5N - Mr Newnes
Subject teachers: Humanities - social understanding Ms Prowse and Mr Newnes (Humanities - History and Geography) Mrs Knowles (RS), Miss Terry (RS) Language and Communication Mr Kohler (English), Mr Newnes (English), Ms Prowse (French), Mrs Foreman (Spanish), Mrs Fernรกndez Smart (Spanish) Mathematical Understanding Mrs Digby (Maths), Mr Newnes (Maths), Mr Hewlett (Coding) Physical Education and Well-being Mr Evans (Games and P.E), Mr Godfrey (Games and P.E), Creative and Performing Arts Miss Wynne-Powell (Creative and Design Engineering), Miss Mullaly (Music), Mrs Clark (Drama) Scientific Understanding Mr Hewlett
Humanities - Social Understanding Key Topics In humanities we will be studying China, in particular the Shang Dynasty. Geographical aspects will involve understanding that East Asia is a varied continent in terms of climate and landscape, learning about the different landscapes and environments that make the temperatures vary greatly across the country and studying some of the physical and human features of China, e.g. The Great Wall and the 5 time zones. Historical skills will involve placing the Shang Dynasty on a timeline, comparing pieces of evidence, considering their reliability and using a range of primary and secondary sources to find out about rulers, burials, the calendar and why the Shang Dynasty ended. We will also investigate the history of medicine from Ancient Chinese civilisation to Tudor Britain. You may find the following websites helpful:
www.bbc.co.uk/Bitesize/KS2/History/World History www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk www.woodlands.kent.sch.uk/
In RS we will learn about the Old Testament and consider its importance to Christians. The stories of Abraham and David will be considered and how the writings of David influence the Christian world. We will understand how God revealed himself through prophets and consider the relevance of the Ten Commandments today.
PSHEE Key Topics Digital safety will be a continuing theme in PSHEE work and will be revisited regularly. See links below for general information or you want to check out anything about apps or websites your child may be using or want to use at home. https://ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/ https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10/ https://www.net-aware.org.uk/# Topics will be explored mainly through discussion work and children will be encouraged to express their ideas in a supportive, respectful and safe classroom environment. We will look at ways to develop ‘the voice of the pupil,’ encouraging children to express themselves fully and to know who they can talk to when they want to. We will also look at rights, rules and responsibilities, cultural diversity, how to manage change and consider personal image.
Language and Communication Key Topics Year 5 will participate in activities that will help them to develop their English skills. Weekly spellings will be given on a Friday and tested on the following Friday. Grammar and punctuation skills will generally be taught in context as part of our lessons, although certain topics may be taught discretely as necessary. We will be exploring a traditional Chinese story, reading and writing information texts, letters and diaries linked to our thematic learning, studying a range of poetry and writing instruction texts. Digital learning is an important part of the English curriculum. Children will be given the opportunities to develop their research and digital presentation skills. They will also complete an extended creative writing task each half term. The children will be encouraged to develop their critical thinking skills by regularly evaluating their own work and that of their peers. You may find the following website useful:
www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk
How to help at home: ● Encourage your child to write a brief comment about their reading each day, focusing on their personal reaction to what they have read. Please ensure that the reading scheme book is read every day. You can supplement the scheme with library books and books from home. ● Please encourage your child to participate in the Dame B’s Spring Reading Challenge. ● Help your child to identify key information when using the internet, thus avoiding simply cutting and pasting when engaged in research tasks. Assessment: ● Half termly writing task ● Weekly spelling tests ● Cognitive Ability Tests ● Standardised reading and spelling assessments
French Key Topics Pupils will focus on expanding their knowledge of foods and drinks, dealing with cafe and restaurant situations, buying from shops and markets all the while using their speaking and listening skills to deal with these situations with confidence and fluency. To help at home: pupils can practise vocabulary and conversation from the free websites languagesonline.org.uk and Duolingo.
Spanish Key Topics In Spanish the focus continues to be on speaking and listening and on establishing a good accent. Lessons will be linked to the thematic learning topics and will begin by looking at clothes vocabulary. This will give the pupils the opportunity to consider the gender of nouns and link adjectives accordingly. In the second half of term they will learn how to say if they are hurt or ill and learn a Christmas song. They will take time to continue learning about Spanish culture and, in particular, how Christmas is celebrated in Spain. Pupils can consolidate their learning by using the Linguascope or Grow Story Grow websites or by using one of the free websites which have been used in class.
Mathematical Understanding
Our approach in mathematics is based on a number of key ideas: daily mathematics lessons; direct, interactive teaching; the systematic development of mental calculation; use of manipulatives and visual representations to help pupils breakdown maths problems; subscription websites such as MyMaths and Mathspace to consolidate learning; use of apps such as Explain Everything and iMovie to explain reasoning and weekly maths investigations, as a year group using websites such as Nrich*, to encourage collaboration and deepen mathematical understanding. Year 5 have six forty minutes lessons of core maths per week plus one forty minute lesson of problem-solving through maths investigations and another forty minute lesson devoted to fluency in mental calculations. Mrs Digby and Mr Newnes will share the teaching of these lessons. Key Learning Topics for the Autumn term are: Roman numerals Place value Addition and subtraction Line graphs, tables and timetables Multiplication and division Perimeter and Area There will also be maths clubs running for Years 3 - 6 at various times in the week. Do encourage your child/children to come along and have some maths fun! *Please check out the Nrich website for maths resources and games that you can play with your children: https://nrich.maths.org/9086 Assessment In-class topic tests Cognitive Ability Tests
Physical Education and Well-being Key Topics Pupils will learn about the importance of healthy and active lifestyles through fitness alongside participation in numerous team sports including rugby, badminton, hockey, rugby and football. There will be a specific focus on tactical awareness and a greater drive towards self assessment of practical performance in lessons. Opportunities for leadership and officiating will also be included in lessons.
Do encourage your child to get involved with any of these sports outside of school by joining local clubs, and discuss the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle. If your child is not a confident swimmer, any extra practice that you may be able to provide for your child prior to them starting swimming after February half term will help.
Creative and Performing Arts Key Topics Building on our understanding of the pentatonic scale, pupils will explore the prolific musical culture of China. In addition to describing the various timbres, instruments, melodies, articulations and percussive sounds of Chinese music, pupils will be able to confidently voice their feelings on the construction of the pentatonic scale and its suitability for ceremonies of celebration. They will develop musical notation knowledge by performing as part of a class orchestra. Pupils will learn authentic Chinese songs and how to improvise repeated patterns using the pentatonic scale. In drama lessons, an exciting start to Year 5 sees us looking at William Shakespeare and in particular A Midsummer Night's Dream. We will be focusing on the importance of storytelling and building the skills required to work through a rehearsal process; learning lines, remembering direction, building on character development, voice projection and animation. After taking a closer look at ourselves, developing a knowledge of the elements of art and responding with watercolour, we will jump aboard the topic of China. We will investigate the mysteries surrounding the terracotta warriors that for two thousand years guarded the tomb of China’s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang. From here we will study how the components were made and produce our own clay guardians. Along the way we will be gathering mastery in observing, mark-making, print-making and some carving.
Scientific Understanding Key Topics Our topics this term include: materials and their properties; looking at hardness, solubility, conductivity and various other characteristics. We will learn how to use Bunsen Burners and subsequently will plan an independent investigation using the Bunsen Burner to separate a mixture. Another key topic this term is keeping healthy. We will learn about the anatomical make-up of the digestive system, investigate exercise and the benefit it has on our body as well as look at the circulatory system. Lastly a topic on gases around us will finalise the term. Studying the composition of air, air pressure and weather systems, the children will gain a practical understanding of how air and air quality affects everyday life. How you can help:
Spend time looking at weather charts and weather reports. Look out for any mention of air pressure and think about the type of weather that it brings.