Merlin

Merlin Class - w/b 2nd December 2019

Can you believe we are only a couple of weeks away from Christmas!? This term has simply whizzed by but we have still managed to cram in so much learning...and there's still more to come!

You all worked so hard and learnt so much last half term. We are going to continue to learn lots and have fun this term, too...!

Maths: 

We are just about to complete our Multiplication and Division unit. We've enjoyed learning about multiples, factors, prime numbers, square numbers and cube numbers. We will now be focusing on multiplication and division methods.  After that, we will continue our work on perimeter and area.  

English:

So far in Year 5, we have written narratives about life on the Moon, non-chronological reports about life on Pandora, poetry based on Walter de la Mare's 'The Magnifying Glass' and stories from other cultures. It's been a very busy term in English, indeed!

Recently, we have been learning how to write persuasive letters. We read a few examples then watched the amazing John Lewis Christmas advert to get some inspiration for our own letters!

We were given the choice between two different purposes and audiences for our letters: 

• Write as a villager persuading the Mayor to banish Edgar from the village forever;
• Write as Ava persuading Edgar to come out from hiding and join in the festivities again. 

Next week, we'll be using everything we have learnt about persuasion to write a leaflet, persuading people to eat Brussels Sprouts this Christmas!

Guided Reading:

We have just finished reading 'Stig of the Dump' by Clive King. For the last two weeks of term, we will be reading 'The Ice Bear' by Jackie Morris. This beautifully illustrated picture book really makes the reader think and feel. We are looking forward to exploring how the emotions change throughout the book and we'll be using drama to infer what the characters might be thinking, feeling and saying. 

Music:

Our baritone horn and trumpet playing will be coming to an end soon. The children have thoroughly enjoyed playing as part of an ensemble and have made great progress throughout the term. Don't forget that we are now offering individual lessons if your child would like to continue playing. Speak to Mr Peaple if you're interested! 

Science:

This term, we are learning about forces. We have already conducted some very exciting investigations and experiments around the effects of gravity, air resistance and friction and will soon be exploring water resistance, too. 

Topic:

This term, our topic is a History unit about 'The Stuarts'. We have been evaluating the reliability of a range of sources when finding information about the Stuarts. Over the coming weeks, we will discover more about Oliver Cromwell and his role in the English Civil War.  

Computing:

This half term, we will use what we learnt about e-safety to conduct safe online searches in various curriculum subjects, such as History and Art. 

PE:

This half term, we are learning gymnastics! We have so far developed skills in balancing, counter-balancing and jumping. Next, we'll incorporate all of these skills into a gymnastic sequence. 

Art:

Our Art project is closely connected to our learning about the Stuarts. Firstly, we explored and responded to some portraits of famous figures from the Stuart era. Then, we explored the different  media we could choose to create a portrait. Having taken photographs of ourselves in  typical Stuart style, we are currently creating pencil portraits or each other and ourselves. In the final week of the term, we will produce a final portrait in full colour!

In PSHE, our unit of learning is called 'Celebrating Difference'. In RE we are continuing to learn about Christianity and in Spanish we are learning how to describe using colours and how to use grammatical structures to create sentences.  

Please visit our class page regularly to keep informed and find out what is happening in Year 5. I will also continue to post photographs, examples of work and reminders about diary dates etc. 

If you have any queries, questions, concerns or celebrations, please don't hesitate to come and speak to me at drop off or pick up times. 

Congratulations to the following pupils for their awards, which were given out at the end of last half term: 

Outstanding Learners: Lacey and Dylan 

Super Spellers: Faith and Kaspar

Marvellous Mathematicians: Phoebe and Hansel

I am extremely proud of you all 

Useful Reminders

• PE is now every Monday but please ensure your child has a PE kit in school all week. 
• Homework books need to be returned every Friday so we can see how you're getting on. You will see a slightly different format for homework this half term. Please feel free to continue last term's project if you wish. Or, if you'd rather now concentrate on the History tasks, that's fine, too. 
• Spelling should be practised at home every week. 
• Please ensure all children bring a water bottle into school so they can stay hydrated. Please also make sure your child wears a coat to school as the weather will be getting chilly over the coming weeks. 
• 'Christmas Around the World', our Year 5 & 6 Christmas concert, is on FRIDAY 13th DECEMBER. There are two performances - one at 9:30am and one at 2:30pm. Letters were sent home recently for you to claim your tickets so if you haven't seen it, please do ask. 

I know the children will be getting increasingly excited over the next two weeks (and to be honest, so will I!) We do still have lots to learn so it's really important we continue to eat and sleep well, read at home and work hard in school. 

Best wishes 

Mr Peaple