This half term we are exploring newspaper articles in both English and guided reading.

The articles in English will be linked to our Vikings topic, and we shall have a go at writing our own at the end of the unit. Guided reading will continue to use VIPERS questions to understand he texts we are reading.

Throughout this half term, we will be focussing on our calculation skills, starting with addition and subtraction. The place value knowledge that was embedded in Autumn 1 will be useful in every unit moving forward. 

There will continue to be opportunities for the children to master their times table knowledge. Fluency in times tables makes other areas of maths much easier. Please encourage your children to practise as much as possible. They have access to TTrockstars which has proven to be both popular and successful.

This half term in science, the children will still  be learning about properties of materials.

We aim to develop their scientific enquiry skills throughout the topic and they will have chance to take part in practical investigations.

This half term, we continue with our history unit by investigating the struggle for Britain between the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings. Key figures of that time include Alfred the Great and his daughter Aethelflaed - Lady of Mercia. We have been fortunate to book a virtual visit with the Jorvik Centre which will take place in week 3 on Tuesday 17th or Wednesday 18th November.

We will continue to explore the coding programme on Purple Mash this half term. 

In addition, we will work with the children to get to grips with platforms such as Google Classroom and Class Dojo, so that they are able to access these at home (should they need to).

This half term we will be introducing our first Design and Technology project: framed structures.

We have invested in new resources and hope to use these to our advantage in year 5. We wanted to link our project with our local community, so have decided to construct prototype (mini) market stalls in honour of Ripley market.

To get year 5 moving over the next 7wks, each class will be developing basketball and /or dance skills.

We will also try to get out for a field walk as much as possible.

Spanish lessons are in their early days, so this half term we are still covering numbers to 10, greetings and saying our names.

Our PSHE will have a huge focus on well-being specifically this year. Year 5 will begin by exploring difference and diversity.

In R.E the children will explore and begin to understand what it means to be a Muslim in Britain today.

This half term we though it would be beneficial to listen and appreciate music. Each lesson will have an opportunity to hear different music genres, then move on to look at the history of music and how it has evolved.