At St Michael’s our aim is to provide a rich curriculum and a wide range of opportunities that will build the habits of ambitious, capable learners.
We have had an excellent start to the term. To finish off our learning about Africa, Y5 went to watch the incredible Lion King Musical at the Lyceum Theatre last week. What an amazing experience that was!
Here is an outline of what Year 5 will be learning during the Spring Term.
English
We will be developing the children’s reading comprehension skills by studying the narrative poem ‘The Highwayman’, using a whole class reading approach.
In writing, the children will be writing a fictional ‘warning tale’ (based on ‘The Caravan‘) as well as non-fictional writing around homelessness (based on ‘Way home’). The children will also be reading ‘Beowulf‘ which is linked to their topic of The Anglo-Saxons and writing some poetry too.
maths
In addition to embedding the children’s mental maths skills, through our daily CLIC programme and BMBT (Big Maths Beat That), we are following the White Rose Maths curriculum, which covers the whole content of the National Curriculum. This term the focus will be:
- Multiplication & Division
- Fractions
- Decimals
- Percentages
The children should also know all their times tables off by heart.
TOPIC (History/Geography)
This term, the focus is History. This half term will focus on the Anglo-Saxons and the Scots while the second half-term will focus on the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings. Did you know that whole communities were filled with terror when the Viking Long ships came into view in the horizon?
Science: ‘PROPERTIES & CHANGING OF MATERIALS’
The aim of this unit is to teach the children about different materials, their uses and their properties, as well as dissolving, separating mixtures and irreversible changes. We want the children to develop their scientific skills by sorting and classifying objects according to their properties; exploring the properties of materials; investigating insulators and conductors; making predictions and forming conclusions. The children will also find out about different ways to separate mixtures of materials, using filtering, sieving and evaporating as well as learn about irreversible changes.
The children have already started applying their investigative skills by carrying out an investigation to decide which material would be best as a lining for a lunch box. Would the material be a thermal insulator or a thermal conductor?
Religious Education
In RE we learn about the 6 main religions in the world, and this term our focus is on Christianity. Our topic this half term is ‘Jesus the Healer‘. Y5 will be exploring a number of miracles Jesus performed.
We will also be dedicating some time to deepen our understanding of our school values of ‘Respect’, ‘Love’ and ‘Perseverance’.
PE
The children’s PE slot is on a Wednesday. This half term the children will be focusing on fitness and gymnastics. Please ensure your child is wearing the navy blue St. Michael’s tracksuit and it is labelled with their name. Alternatively, if your child does not have a school tracksuit, please ensure they bring their house colour t-shirt and jogging bottoms to change into for the lesson.
Music
In music, the children will be participating in lessons exploring how music improves our world. The children will be learning to play a glockenspiel. They will also have an introduction to chords, looking at how music can teach us about our community.
MFL (Modern Foreign Language)
The children will continue to learn Spanish, developing their skills in speaking and listening,
Computing
Computing this term will focus on sharing information and video editing. We will continually have a focus on e-safety weaved into the lessons.
HRE (Health and Relationship Education)
In HRE, the children will be exploring two themes: Dreams and Goals and Healthy Me, which will look at ways to stay healthy in mind and body.
Creative Curriculum
As well as the above, the children will be engaged in art linked to various areas of the curriculum; developing a range of skills.
HOME learning
Home learning will include:
- Mathletics (children’s login and password card is in their homework folder)
- Weekly spelling words to learn (children will be tested on a Friday)
- The children will also be given a fortnightly comprehension (written) task on a Monday, which must be completed and handed in two weeks later on Friday. The date for handing in will be written on their comprehension homework.
Children will be awarded DOJO points for completing their homework.
stay in touch
Despite the current restrictions about entering our school premises, please do not let that stop you from staying in contact with us. If you wish to speak to us, please contact the school office via schoolmail@stmichaels.lewisham.sch.uk and we will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
