Year 5 - Friday 4th March 2022

Date: 3rd Mar 2022 @ 5:25pm

Welcome to this week’s Year 5 class blog

Is it really only week two; we have been so busy!

This week in year 5

In Maths this week we have completed lots of work on decimals. We have been multiplying and dividing decimals by 100 and 1000.  We have also looked at number families and what happens to them if one or two of the numbers in the family are decreased by 10 or 100, how does this affect the other numbers? Really tricky work but they were able to understand and work out a number of calculations.

In English we have made amazing progress in our book, Why the Whales Came, and plan to complete it next week.  We have completed a diary entry as Gracie and edited it. Then we have worked really hard on collecting words to help us write a descriptive piece about either the sudden arrival of the fog or the sighting and discovery of the fire beacon.  They will be publishing these and displaying them in class next week.

In Science, we carried out another investigation.  This time we practised our science skills through investigating reversible changes by separating materials.  They had rice, flour and salt.  We had different combinations to firstly mix together and then reverse the process.  They did this by means of sieving, filtering and evaporation – we will conclude the experiment next week when the water in our salt solution has evaporated.

In RE, the children have begun their Sacrifice topic.  This will take us throughout Lent and help us prepare for Easter.  The children have each made a Lenten Promise and these were offered at Friday’s Golden Assembly.  The children tried to think of something they could give up to show sacrifice or something they would commit to do more to help or affect others in a positive way.

In French, as it was Mardi Gras this week, we had a pancake-themed French lesson. We read a poem about Les Crepes, focussing on correct pronunciation of the sounds ou and oi. Then children practised using all parts of the verb 'aimer' with various pancake fillings. A final treat - we ate Crepes au chocolat!

In PE, we developed our athletics skills.  This consisted of practising the relay including the difficult baton change, speed bounce, standing long jump, vertical jump and the triple jump.  Mrs Cookson and I were extremely impressed with their developing skills. Some children were chosen to represent the school in an Athletics Final next week, however, next year I am certain there will be a huge cohort that will get the opportunity.

In PSHE we carried on our emergency situation sessions.  This week we learnt about what to do if we had a casualty with burns and scalds and also a casualty that was bleeding.  We also linked these to casualties developing shock.  Once again the children were really good and learnt some great skills for life.

Please see the separate gallery from our trip to Judge’s Lodgings.  What a great day out!  The children (and staff) had an amazing experience.  I have added all the photos in the gallery (check out the Victorian Mrs Mulgrew in the background in her fetching mop cap!)

DON’T FORGET

Additional warm clothes for PE sessions.

Please bring in a cardboard box for DT. (Many thanks to those who already have.)

All reply slips etc to be returned for Borwick Hall.

There is also an amendment to the Borwick trip, details can be found in the newsletter. The children must bring their own packed lunch on this day.

Common exception words will be being tested before the end of term.

Home Practice all relates to this week's learning - These are the tasks to be completed.

Reading - You all have a Home Reading book for year 5 so reading every night for 15-20 mins is essential. You also have a Reading Journal/Diary that must be completed and signed. Some children had a break from reading over the holidays but please ensure this is made a priority now that we are back at school.  Practise is vital to improve in all areas of English.

You can change your reading book on any school day (book bags to be left on Mrs Mulgrew's desk)

Maths – please ask your child what their times tables target is and help them practise this in order for them to progress.

I’d also encourage you to do a daily count with your child.  This week they can count in 10s and 100s. Give the children a number to start from and they must continue to count from that number in 10s or 100s, this week concentrating on subtractions.  To challenge them give numbers in the higher 1000s.

Spellings words with an ‘or’ sound spelt ‘au’. We will look at these in more detail in school next week, they should be practised at home, ready for the test on Friday. 

pause, cause, sauce, fraud, launch, author, August, applaud, astronaut, restaurant, autograph, cautious, daughter, thesaurus, pauper

Don’t forget the children have a big list of Common Exception words to learn, these can be practised each week to push your child further.  You should all have received a sheet with these words on by now, I have highlighted the words that your child wrote correct in a spelling test before Christmas. This will give you an indication of how well they are remembering these spellings. We will be assessing the children on these words before Easter.

Sumdog challenges

PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO COMPLETE THE SUMDOG CHALLENGES, MANY CHILDREN ARE STILL NOT ACCESSING SUMDOG.

Please encourage your child to complete the Maths and Spelling Training.  As you know, we set weekly challenges that are linked to the learning that takes place in school.  As an extra feature, the maths and spelling training sections will provide a tailored challenge for your child to practise skills, facts and words they find difficult.  Once the diagnostic challenges have been completed Sumdog will set challenges to aid improvement and development in the appropriate areas for your child.  Once you have completed the class challenges, please use this feature for extra challenge in both maths and spelling.  Many children have still not completed the diagnostic section.

Times tables have been set to reflect class targets

Maths the children have been set activities relating to multiplication and division mentally using known facts.  If 40 divided by 5 = 8 then 400 divided by 5 = 80 and 4000 divided by 5 is 8000.

Spellings words containing ‘or’ spelt ‘au’.