Year 5 & 6 Class information page 2023 - 2024

Welcome to Years 5 and 6!

It's summer which means that the weather is going to be glorious and will inspire us in school to embark on some exciting new learning opportunities! 

In our history topic this term we will be learning about The Ancient Greeks. The Ancient Greeks were great thinkers and inquirers and fortunately wrote down their theories, poems, plays, investigations, experiments and histories: they have left us many and varied texts as well as a rich architectural and archaeological heritage. We will see how Greek life and achievements have influenced the 
western world. We will be studying all this and more in our exciting summer topic!

In our science topic we will be investigating materials and their properties. In this very practical topic we will be seeing what the words magnetic, conduction, and hardness mean in science. We will learn how technology and nature provide us with the materials we need to live our modern lives. We will learn how to separate out materials using various methods and will learn about reversible changes such as when salt is dissolved in water. We will also discover what happens when we mix an acid with bicarbonate of soda!

Once upon a time in France, a baby was born under the summer sun. His parents named him Jacques. As he grew, Jacques fell in love with the sea. He dreamed of breathing beneath the waves and swimming as gracefully as a fish. In fact, he longed to become a manfish. Jacques Cousteau grew up to become a champion of the seas and one of the best-known oceanographers in the world. We will be using a lovely, poetic telling of his story that includes gorgeous paintings to create a portrait of Cousteau that is as magical as it is inspiring. The book Manfish will be our prompt for producing some fantastic writing of our own which includes many new grammatical concepts.

During reading sessions this term we will be practising our comprehension skills with a focus on using VIPERS to help us to spot the different questions types and answer them effectively and efficiently. During the half term each class will be enjoying a class read and will be given plenty of time to enjoy their own reading books. 

In maths this term, the Year 5s will be studying a broad range of topics. We will look at perimeter and area, statistics, shape, position and direction, volume, converting units and negative numbers...PHEW!

The Year 6s will work their way through shape and geometry and may even try their hand at some themed projects and problem solving later in the summer months. 

PE during the first half term of spring will be on Mondays and Fridays. On Mondays the children will work on their athletics skills and on Friday the children will work on their rounders skills. Dance squad children will still be having their practice sessions on Thursdays. Please make sure that a correct PE kit is in school ready for these lessons. If kits are taken home to be washed (which is encouraged) please make sure they are brought back again. Our uniform list is available on this website if you are unsure as to what children should be wearing for their lessons.

Each week we will have a list of spellings to learn and some maths and English tasks to complete too. Remember homework helps you to practise the skills you learn in school. It does not have to be something to worry about. Be organised with your homework; as soon as you receive it, look at what you have to do and ask your teacher or a friend if you do not understand. Do not leave homework until last minute because that is when it becomes stressful! Your lists of spellings will be attached to this webpage, if you lose them! Don't forget to read regularly and fill in your reading record. This is important and something you should be proud of! 

Please remember to bring in a water bottle each day. Staying hydrated is healthy and helps you to learn! Remember to use a reusable water bottle as this is far better for the environment than disposable ones although please don't spend a fortune on these! You can buy a reusable water bottle cheaply from school. Also, as we head into the warmer months, keep an eye on the weather and consider whether suncream is needed. 

Things you can do at home

Don't forget that we do expect you to spend half an hour or so a week on Times Tables Rockstars. Knowing your times tables is a vital skill so get practising straight away by clicking the link below.

Here are some other websites you may find useful and informative...Click the pictures to be taken to the sites.